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I came off my bike first thing this morning on a fast, steep trail - typically about 30 seconds before the end of my ride!
I pushed the bike away from me as I went down, but took the weight of my body on my hand with my thumb bent back underneath.
Really painful, but i still have good movement in it & immediiate ice seems to have minimised swelling - I just can't grip with my thumb though.
When I attempt to grip, my lower thumb knuckle buckles in sdeways/up & causes a lot of pain - I just can't physically hold anything, not because of the pain, my thumb just folds.
I have just been x-ray'd (at a walk-in centre) & no fractures visible - i don't think it is dislocated now because of the movement that I have.
The "virtual fracture clinic" are going to call me within 72 hours to follow up after checking the x-rays & suggest what it might be / treatment.
I'm thinking I may have torn the ligaments so my joint isn't being held in position when gripping.
Anyone had a similar injury & have any info on treatment or length of time to heal?
Any info / advise welcome.
Was thinking just this morning that at least I could still keep riding my bike during "Lockdown 2.0" even if all other activities were off limits - pretty p!ssed off with myself now!
Yes, I tore a ligament in my thumb while sledging years ago.
The way it swelled up was amusing to everyone except myself.
My friend (who is a occupational therapist - specialising in hands) made me a support. which helped.
It was sore for quite a while and I had little strength. Unfortunately it took about 12 weeks to heal and is still not completely back to normal even now.
Luckily you did the correct thing getting some medical assistance. Maybe a visit to a physiotherapist would be an idea.
Good luck.
Google Stener lesion / ucl tear.
This is a potential consequence of the injury you describe but difficult to tell from the history alone.
The trauma clinic should be able to sort things out.
I’ve done similar to both thumbs, rugby injuries, but not as bad as you describe. Mine were either dislocated or mild stretching of the ligaments. Took quite a long time for them to settle so they weren’t a weak spot, but I kept re-injuring them before they had fully healed.
Although I did mess my ring finger on my left hand in an OTB and fractured the second joint and snap the Volar plate, the cartilage that holds finger bones together. That required surgery and a Suzuki frame to hold everything together whilst it healed. That was 4 months of the bike for it to heal. Loads of physio afterwards too.
Did my thumb in a similar way - took about 6 months to get better.
Yes, did it a couple of years ago whilst in goal at kids 5 a side. Initially after examination at the local hospital they strapped it up, but the pain was incessant, and made worse by knocking it. I went to a minor injuries unit at a major hospital, where after an x ray confirmed a strain rather than a break I was put in plaster.
Though the cast was a PITA, actually it made life a lot easier.
It came off after about a month.
It took about another 6 months for the aches and full movement began to return.
Good luck!!
Thanks for sharing your injuries & all the info - really hoping I have just stretched by ligaments rather than any tear, but there is a lot of sideways movement in my joint.
Really gutted to have done this, but at least it isn't my right hand!
I seem to be able to still hold a can of beer & tv remote, but unfortunately not a washing up brush!
bigblackshed - those pics look horrendous!
Yes
Torn my ulnar collateral ligaments twice in the same hand.
Can you touch your thumb to the tip of each finger
Can you touch your thumb to the top of your little finger to make a loop, then stop a pencil from separating the loop..
If not then it might be torn or snapped
Had mine repaired twice
Off the bike for 2 or 3 months and now gear chages are becoming painful
You will need decent x rays or ultrasound to be certain its borked
I had local then general anaesthetic on my repairs
I did something very similar about 3 months ago and I didn't get it seen straight away but I don't think it was as bad as yours.
Doctor sent me to get x-rays but they didn't show any fractures or breaks so I was sent to a physio who specializes in thumbs - this was 1.5 months post injury.
Just for context, at this point I was unable to touch my little fingertip with my thumb.
She made me a thermoplastic splint which allowed me to use most of my hand and pinch things with my thumb and other fingers but stopped me over extending it in any directions. It also stopped the general knocks from doing any damage! (I never noticed how often I knock my hand/thumb into things until I injured it and it hurt every time...)
I wore that for about 90% of the day and a cloth one for night, this lasted about two weeks.
I was then told to do some basic strengthening exercises which really helped and she said I could try riding. I went on two rides and it hurt but I powered through... Stupid I know.
It has been two weeks since that weekend of riding and I have no low level daily pain, just pain when I pick something up weirdly or when I knock it. I am only wearing the splint at night and at work.
I have been using therapy putty to pinch and squeeze with my thumb and this has really helped.
I have another session with the physio tomorrow and I should be getting some further strengthening exercises. I hope to be back riding in a couple of weeks but I will be taking it easy this time!
Can you touch your thumb to the tip of each finger
Can you touch your thumb to the top of your little finger to make a loop, then stop a pencil from separating the loop..
If not then it might be torn or snapped
Thanks for this info.
I can touch all fingertips with my thumb, although painful when doing the little & ring fingers & can actually stop the pencil (which surprised me!) - has given me hope that I may not have any tear (fingers crossed).
I seem to be able to grip stuff if I keep my thumb straight, but with the knuckle(s) bent then my thumb joint folds instead of bracing aginst the pressure.
I have another session with the physio tomorrow and I should be getting some further strengthening exercises. I hope to be back riding in a couple of weeks but I will be taking it easy this time!
Thanks for sharing your recent experience & best of luck - sounds like you are well on the way to being back on your bike.
I have now had 2 visits to the trauma centre / faracture clinic + an ultra-sound scan.
The upshot is that I have totally ruptured my UCL ligament & possibly also damaged the radial ligament, but my tendons & joint are OK.
I spoke to the consultant orthopedic surgeon today & definately need reconstructive surgery, as won't heal without it. He has told me that I should expect to have total "normal" use of my hand again within 6 weeks of the procedure.
I know he's the expert, but from previous experience does anyone know if 6 weeks is about right & should I expect to be back on my bike then, or is "normal" just using a knife & fork rather than full on mtb trail riding?
Have a good weekend everyone.
Not for me.
6 weeks in a cast / fibreglass velcro thing, then maybe 4 weeks witj therapy.
I had a sutered repair the first time
Then a pin and new string drilled onto an anchrage point for the second go.
The surgeon went in the same scar, just lengthened it by another 2cm
Be aware if it takes too long and the tendon shrink then it will be longr to sort, or in my case as 2nd go round potential unfixable. So i had to be prepared to lose the joint if they had to fuse it.
I bought a road bike as i couldnt change gear with my right hand and the flappy paddle shifters were a godsend
Joimt is borked tho and is susceptible to injury
Hey ho
Get as much advise as you can for physio and strengthening exercises. I did both of mine at the same time in a crash, presumed they would sort themselves out but years later they still don’t grip properly due to knackered ligaments.
Yep, nearly ripped the ligament completely off my thumb but I also broke the bone as well also the wrist. Spent the night in the hospital as they were going to operate the following morning but then the head consultant decided not to.
I'd love to say 17 years later it's 100% right but it's not its probably about 75% right.