Flying down "The Zoo Run" where, (not for the first time), my speed overtook my talent... LH bend... Low-side... Gathered myself to avoid getting run over by the next rider, then rode to the bottom where my thumb bloody hurt and I couldn't use the thumb shifters, so ride over.
Fast forward, through 5 days of pain, to nurse telling me I've busted ligaments around my thumb and should have gone to A&E sooner...
Have you done similar?
How long did it take to heal?
When will I be back on my bike?
sorry to say think that's not good news - mate did something similar few years ago (off a boulder problem) and took some months to heal - ligaments aren't like bone, believe the usual source for this type of injury is dry ski slopes - not sure what A&E do - if they didn't refer you to a specialist - i'd go to GP and ask to be
edit hope a pro' is along soon to be more upbeat
Fall on 22/12 - broke my 5th metacarpal but also did some unspecified 'soft tissue damage' to the knuckle (PIP) on my 4th finger (right hand). Despite loads of physio it still won't bend past 90 degrees and grip/control with that hand is dodgy at best so I'm limited to what I can ride
You thought about rigging a singlespeed? With your thumb braced it might be a way to get back on the bike, even if you're not back to what you used to do.
Don't broken ligaments usually get replaced with dyneema/some similar kevlar-y thread these days if they've failed?
I used my ski pole as a nicre long lever to dislocate my thumb and snap the tendons.
Didnt really hurt that much , and 2 x black eyes and concussion / police interveiw were my main concern .
I got to see a local doctor in Austria , after a quick examination and a couple of tests said X ray + surgery .
Xray confirmed i couldnt put the tip of my thumb to the base of my little finger , and make a 90' angle between thumb and forefinger .
Had a high power TENS machine connected into my upper arm and a very quick 15 min operation to suture the snapped tendon together .
Have a nice clean 2" scar across the top of my thumb .
Squeezy ball re-hab and various stretching exercises which i did without fail . The thought of not being able to grip properly put me straight as biking/ windsurfing / work all rely on RH strength .
4 weeks in a cast permanently, then another 2 night time only .
Never got the strength back and my left grip is better than my right .
It only hurts if i accidently whack it , end on , into something .
Plus holding pints , which is a ball ache .
man up!
Trashed the anular pully tendons on my middle finger a couple of months ago and am still waiting for a freekin consultants appointment to try and sort it. Riding hurts a bit and climbing is right out which is gutting although that's how it happened. Will most likely need an opp oration to replace the tendons which are taken from else where on the body and looped around the finger (not dyneema). Any way good luck with it.
Going by your user name I don't suppose you are a sparky by chance? as that's what I do And using a hammer is a nightmare with a shahged hand 😥
[url] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamekeepe r's_thumb[/url]
I took my first ever ski lesson 2 months ago and left with classic Skiers Thumb. Some might see that as a success, but to me it was just chuffing painful & annoying! After spending the night using ice & ibuprofen, I went along to A&E to get it checked out. Got xrayed to make sure it wasn't broken, the Doc put my thumb/wrist in a half splint and told me to keep it on for 2 weeks...
.. that lasted for about 4 days, then I had to take it off to go on a planned snowboarding trip!
2 months later - doesn't ache, but it still hurts to grip anything substantial, probably 30% grip. Can lift an empty pint glass, but a full one hurts a lot. :o( Haven't been on my bike since due to other stuff, but will be soon, hoping that it doesn't affect riding too much.
Bear, haven't you just had a week off work with a runny nose?
Singletrackmind - I've got a feeling, (a bad one) that I may be in your situation... I can't touch my little finger, or bend it 90 degrees... The end of my thumb is also numb and tingly. I've already had it x-rayed and it's not broken, but I think I might go back tomorrow to see what the quacks have got to say...
Did my one thumb skiing on a dry slope and did one on the other hand doing karate some time ago about 10 yrs ligaments shot and still get problems now its the one injury i just have never shaken off
I reckon you jammed it up somewhere in the dark......
Nope didn't have a week off, one day actually....
And sorry how many days do you 'work' a year....
sparkyspice .
You need an xray on the ligaments . I could see where the gap in mine was , once pointed out to me .
You must push to get this fixed . My mum ( must be genetic) tore a tendon in her middle finger making a bed ! Sounds like Donks' climbing misshap. Did nothing for months , and by then the repair wasnt possible .This was '70's so things might have changed .
I still cant make a 90' angle with mine, gets to about 80' i guess , and if i try and undo a large 4" nut by hand and give it beans i can feel the injury .
Tell them you have skiers thumb and need an operation and rehab .
Get it done quick and you will able to ride this summer .
Doing things 1 handed for weeks takes abit of getting used to. Esp in the bathroom IYKWIM
HTH
Did mine a few years ago, thought I just cracked my thumb and got talked into going to the A&E, turned out I bust my thumb and put a hair line crack in the wrist but they were more concerened that I tore most of the ligament off my thumb. Spent the night in hospital with the prospect of morning surgery to repair the ligament but they decided not to do surgery in the morning but instead I spent 6 weeks in a cast with my thumb out at an angle like I was thumbing for a ride to let it heal naturally and going back every two weeks for x-rays and continual talk of surgery right up to the cast came off then 3 weeks of going back to physio then carrying on with physio at home.
Took about 12 months to kinda of feel like normal again. I can't bend it quite like the other thumb and can ache when cold and like singletrackminded hurt if I knock it.
Been told both times I've damaged my ligaments by docs, your better off breaking the bone than damaging the ligament.
UPDATE
After being fobbed off with "up to 13 weeks" for an appointment, a neighbour/doctor/biker got me an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon last Monday who operated two days later. Apparently I'd busted 3 ligaments with 2 being completely detached at one end. I'm in a wrist plaster cast for a week and then I get a smaller thumb/strapped cast next week. He also 'wired' the main ligament in a belt and braces way to make sure I don't ruin his surgery as I do a manual job. I've been advised that he'll give me yet another cast after the wire is taken out in 4 weeks to protect it while I'm working. No biking for another 7 weeks sucks and the turbo trainer does not exactly fill me with joy!!!
It blood hurts! Co codamol is my best friend right now!
I should make a full recovery in time, but there is a chance I may have tingling permanently or it may not actually attach, but the surgeon seems to think the op went well...
I'll keep you updated and thanks for the replies...