[Closed] Double fracture of arm - how long out

If you haven't got one already, might be worth getting a smart turbo and getting someone to set up your bike on it, perhaps with a different set of bars with less reach.

Gws!

Plated the arm will be usable in a couple of weeks but will not have its strength in the bones

8 weeks to get the bones mostly healed

12 weeks to full strength

all very approximte

I did both my arms in a crash a few years ago. Both bones in one and one and dislocated wrist in the other. I wasn't in plaster as the plates will hold it together (bandages only). Healing was pretty good (in one arm, the other had a plate fail and had to be redone after 6 weeks), back on a turbo in less than a week, riding on road was 3-4 and off road a bit after that.
I didn't do the physio well enough though and have limited rotation from elbow to wrist, so make sure you do it properly!

I snapped my radius.......

And snapped it again.......

And snapped it again!

My advice based on that bitter experience would be to give it plenty of time to heal. That includes time not even on the turbo, bones need energy to build just like muscles so don't overcompensate for not riding by starving yourself and spending hours on Zwift.

In the end I took up sailing again as I figured that it was less traumatic. Followed by a year on the road bike. Riding the MTB just seemed to result in snapping it in even minor tumbles.

My sympathies. I too had a stupid accident and fractured my radius only, quite a minor one I think (not open or displaced or even much pain, barely visible on x-ray, no plates) as it was a bruised thumb I went to hospital for a day later. So got away lightly compared to you. I'm in a cast for 4 weeks. I didn't get to speak to the consultant so haven't been able to ask anything, but in my head I've written off this summer and hoping to be doing some XC rides just when it starts getting muddy.

Thanks for the advice, not all doom and gloom it appears

Will leaving it a few weeks before setting the turbo up

A turbo 😕 Its not his legs he's broken 😆
I'd suggest some light weights, to help put some strength back into the damaged arm.

Broke my ulna and radius and had them plated and screwed. Backslab cast for 10days, cast came off then quite limited wrist movement.
Did physio religiously so movement improved to about 98-99% eventually. Went on a snowboarding holiday 8 weeks after breaking arm and ballsed up my rotator cuff of same arm but radius and ulna were fine.

I’d suggest some light weights, to help put some strength back into the damaged arm.

no no no and thrice no. NOt until many weeks have passed and the bones regain strength Otherwise you just snap it at the end of the plate then you have real issues

Yeah, this is @tjagain day job, I’d be listening to his advice on this.
Also, from personal experience, listen to the surgeons advice, he/she knows best.
I have a plate in my ankle after a fall a few years ago, 6 weeks NWB, 22 weeks off work, i was back on my feet (gingerly) after the 6 weeks, but used crutches for 2 months after that.
Took 3 years before i can actually say i don’t think about it every single day, but i do have 99% movement in it, and 100% strength.
Rushing things at an early stage will be counter productive.
Also, you’ll hear lots of “i had the same injury and was only off the bike for 20 minutes”, treat these stories with scepticism, every injury is different.

Errmmm - its not really my day job. I am a semi informed amateur on orthapeadics. Dementia care / palliative care is my bag 🙂

Had open fractures of the ulnar and radius in 2001. Was back on the bike in 10 months but not back to full strength for a couple of years

still gives me problems now though

@tjagain
My mistake.
You still know more than me though 😂😂

Did the same 15 years ago (but not an open fracture). Plated. They gave me a cast with velcro straps that I could remove at my leisure, and was told that weight-bearing was OK ("if it really hurts don't do it, and don't come crying to me if you fall on it again").

The surgeon who did the work told me that the length of time it's immobilised is a personal choice and some go for a conservative approach. Mine has healed perfectly and the plate / screws are still in. Powerballs (the spinning gyro toy things) are brilliant at recovering lost flexibility and strength.

If you do go on the turbo then a removable cast is worth begging for because your arm will absolutely stink after about three days. It's poisonous.

Get well soon.

Condolences. Sounds like quite a gnarly injury.

+1 to a removable splint/cast if at all possible.
In the summer, especially it will get rather fecund in a cast. Being able to wash properly once the wound has sufficently healed makes life much easier. I expect you will be advised not to get it wet for a week of so though.

They won't offer a removable cast untill at least the 1st checkup appointment. I asked why and:

1) Surgeons know plaster of paris, why change if it works.
2) It can absorb a lot of blood unlike the plastic ones.

I ended up with a 2nd plaster one first time, fiberglass the 2nd and thermoplastic the 3rd. The thermoplastic ones really are good if they can do one but they are quite time consuming to fit. No idea what the criteria is for them.

I've had a thermoplastic splint fitted during/directly after surgery.
Depends on the nature of the injury and, I expect, which surgeon and/or hospital you find yourself paired with.
In any case, don't be afraid to be a little pushy, within reason. If they offer you X, see whether that really is the only option.