Thread: FYI: Broken bones take 6 weeks to heal

This may not be startling information to most of you. However, going into my doctor's appt. today, I had this idea that he'd tell me I could ditch the boot, start pedaling on the road, and be back on singletrack by next weekend.
It's only been three weeks since the damage was done. The bone is healing and my ligaments and joints are fine, but it's still visibly broken on the x-ray (though not as broken as the original pic I posted).
I get to start PT next week, and maybe start spinning without the boot later next week too (I've been going to spin class with the boot). It's a far cry from dirt, though.
The real kick in the stomach came when the Doc said he'd like to have the follow-up visit 3 weeks from today. Seems reasonable considering that would put me just shy of 6 weeks since the crash. Then the receptionist tells me that 3 weeks from today is April 11. The day before Sea Otter.
I made the appt. for April 9 instead.
Even if he tells me I'm fine to ride on dirt, and even if I go to every spin/pilates/PT session/yoga class between now and then, it doesn't seem very likely that I'll be racing. That makes me sad.

friggin bummer booboo. At least you hurt yourself early enough in the year that you'll still get out for lots of riding when the snow melts. sounds like you are keeping in shape. Breaking my wrist was a huge bummer last year, but i did it in april and missed riding till june. Careful on that thing though, don't want to be the catty one, but too much pressure and you'll be waiting longer for it to completely heal.

There's more to a season than racing at sea otter.

Like not having to wait in line to practice a lame course at sea otter

Take care of things.......summer's a coming and it would be a shame if there weren't greater things in it than a SO race.

Yeah, I was just super amped to get my first major pro race under my belt. C'est la vie.

That sucks, sory to hear it. I know the feeling of wanting to get your first pro race under your belt - my first will be Fontana since I'm still in PT for my knee(s) and won't be ready to go by Sea Otter. Plus, my bikes may not even be ready then either, sigh. Maybe we'll have our pro baptism together at Fontana?

Take care, get that thing healed up!

Yeah! We'll show them what's up at Fontucky.

Thread hijack - but are you going to the Nationals at Mt. Snow? I'm toying with the idea, but not sure yet.

Ok, back to broken bones.

bbk, that's a serious bummer on the delay-to-play, but I bet in hindsight 2 years from now you'll wish you'd been conservative on trying to get back to full activity. Most bones don't like being jostled while they're knitting. As you may have guessed, that's why casts are used!

Originally Posted by yentna

Thread hijack - but are you going to the Nationals at Mt. Snow? I'm toying with the idea, but not sure yet.

Ok, back to broken bones.

If I qualify, Yes. If I do not qualify, No.

Originally Posted by uncle crud

bbk, that's a serious bummer on the delay-to-play, but I bet in hindsight 2 years from now you'll wish you'd been conservative on trying to get back to full activity. Most bones don't like being jostled while they're knitting. As you may have guessed, that's why casts are used!

Ok, Ok! I'll behave.
I'm stoked everything's fine and dandy after I spent the first week walking around on it. I'm not going to push my luck any further.

Originally Posted by yentna

Nationals at Mt. Snow

It's fun, fast and scary. If either of you qualify, you should try to make it.

What's super gay about it though is that the only EC national is after Mt. Snow. So... How are EC people supposed to qualify?

Originally Posted by crashnburn'd

What's super gay about it though is that the only EC national is after Mt. Snow. So... How are EC people supposed to qualify?

Come visit us in UT!

Originally Posted by crashnburn'd

What's super gay about it though is that the only EC national is after Mt. Snow. So... How are EC people supposed to qualify?

when the fuck is it? or am i just blind & missing it on the Norba site?

Double fuck. I won't be around this year for DV nationals. sucky.

hehe, oh well, i wasn't planning on racing the sinister just yet anyway

Originally Posted by skiguide

when the fuck is it? or am i just blind & missing it on the Norba site?

Double fuck. I won't be around this year for DV nationals. sucky.

hehe, oh well, i wasn't planning on racing the sinister just yet anyway

The NORBA site seems to have gone to hell in a handbasket. Either way, it's not showing up because VT isn't part of the series--it's THE National Championships (ala Sonoma 2006, Mammoth 2005, etc.).

Good point, CnB. Ironic how the only EC Nat happens after the Championships.

Oh, and Skiguide, that's a bummer you won't be around for DV. There's always the Utah Series and the MSC.

Mt. Snow is July 17-22

I wouldn't mind a visit to Utah, except that I'm not really serious enough as a racer to take that trip.

Keep in mind that bones take a lot longer than 6 weeks to heal fully...that's just the time to get enough mineralization going that it won't re-break when you look at it. You won't be at full strength for about 9-12 months (though sometime in the 1-2 year time frame you will actually be stronger, since the healed part is tougher than original bone).

Generally doctors advise 3 months before moderate activity, and 6 months before anything like DH biking. Of course no one pays attention to this, but you should keep it in mind when choosing your degree of risk.

Bone stimulators really do work, but insurance won't pay for them unless you are at risk for non-union

I'm learning the downfalls of out of state insurance too. My Cobra plan seems all happy and fine until I try to use it in CA. I actually have to hold off on official PT sessions because my out-of-network deductable is 1000. I've used $88 so far. Lame. Luckily, I have several PT friends I can nag.