I guess I'm christening this thread for 2022.

TL/DR: small fracture of the 5th metacarpal in my dominant (left) hand.

I was catapulted off my bike from hitting a guy who crashed in front of me.  Went down at about 25mph, according to my readout.  My hand really hurt right away. But, so, too, did my knees which were bloody, and my shoulder and my ribs.  And I was feeling a little dazed--my helmet had some damage, but not a break or crack.  Rode to the finish.

I got a little cleanup from the EMTs at the race and was going to stay for the finish, but I started to tell I was feeling worse and a friend recommended I go home, change, shower, and head for a good ER (based on the ambulance location, I would have ended up at Lenox Hill's ER, and I didn't want to go back.)  I rode home.

I was at New York Presbyterian from 10-5.  CT scan, chest and hand x-rays.  Only broke the hand.

What's weird to me is that made a plaster cast for my hand.  It's huge.  And the doctor, after wrapping the plaster squeezed the plaster pretty hard around my broken hand.  Apparently that's all the tech they need.  It's just to limit motion.

@David Yang or others with broken hands, is there anything else or anything better?  

Also, I'm told I can't do 'weight bearing' activities with my hand for three weeks.  

Think I'm going to put aerobars on my bike and set up a stationary trainer.  Gotta figure out some strength exercises to do, though I guess without the hand, upper body work is going to be hard.  I had wanted Bear Mountain as a spring goal--state championship for old roadies and all.  Now I don't know.  

That sucks. Sorry to hear it 

Heal up JP. That's a drag about the cast. I know removable splints are sometimes an option—ask your specialist! 

I think you can switch to a Velcro splint - but you’ll have to get that from an orthopedist. (Per KCC Team doc )

Here's what I've got going on.

Fingers are still swollen, particularly middle, ring, and pinky.  It's going to be work getting my hand through almost everything long sleeved.

Sorry to hear that @mugwump!  Heal up quick.

Take good care, heal quick and fast!

Man that's a bummer, but the weeks will go by really quick! And because it is *only* 3 wks, you won't lose too much fitness and there are alternative things you can do to keep your body moving like walking (or, gasp, running). Just be mentally prepared to go in for the checkup at week 3 and be told that you need another few weeks before you can put weight on the hand.

Heal right the first time around and your road back to fitness will be a lot easier and faster.

Not going quickly.

The plaster cast was rather uncomfortable and huge and my index and middle fingers were turning purple last week, so I went to see a specialist orthopedist last Friday.

Good news: I got a lighter, more breathable, more comfortable cast molded to my arm and hand.  It even as a Boa closure system.

Bad news:  I can't do much with my left hand in it.  Definitely can't type, and voice-to-text hasn't been good for working.  And I'm set to see the orthopedist gain three weeks from tomorrow--moving what was once three weeks to just short of five.

And the doctor didn't know why the fingers were turning purple and didn't think it was anything to worry about.  

I'd like to keep it on all the time, but I have yet to master voce-to-text for work, so it's off for more than it should be.  I'm pretty close to calling the orthopedist to see about either cutting off the fingers, or buying a used one on eBay, re-heat-molding it myself, and cutting off the part that's immobilizing my ring and pinky fingers. (yes, not a doctor, I know, but...there's just a tiny fracture, no bone is loose in my body and the basic advice was just not to put any weight on it.)

I've been going to a nearby gym every other day for leg-based strength training.  (extensions, curls, presses, calf-raises, glutes, etc).  I've been walking for about an hour every day.  I've been getting on the bike indoors every other day--I'm having trouble finding inspiration on the stationary trainer and even with aero bars mounted so I can just drape my arms is problematic as teh cast is such that I can't find a comfortable place for my arms, unless I'm more stretched out than I'm ready for.

At least the rib bruises have subsided enough to make sleep easier.  The drop in exercise has otherwise made sleep a challenge.  

That sounds like a prolonged pain in the... sorry to hear it.

A week ago today, I reached out to the orthopedist I saw to ask about possibly getting a smaller cast.  I didn't hear back til Wednesday.  I couldn't tell if she was dismissive or not through email.  But on Thursday, her assistant called back.  We spoke and it seemed like I could get something smaller.  Got an appointment for 8:45am.

When I see the technician, he shows me that he was given the same exact cast I already have on.  Not good.  However, after I was having trouble sleeping last night, I got up again, went to the site of the cast maker, and saw they had ones that might work for my kind of break.  I had to use his phone to show him.

He got one of them out, fitted me, and now i'm wearing it as I type.

Since he didn't know and I haven't seen the doctor, I'm a bit paranoid about having diagnosed myself and pushing for this cast.  Maybe it's the wrong thing.  

But then, tomorrow marks three weeks since the crash and the ER orthopedist though I should be out of the cast in three weeks. And I've got two weeks to go before seeing the specialist orthopedist again.

in the meantime, typing with the cast on is great.  And I forecast, I can get more long-sleeved clothing items over this one.  

That looks aero AF and like 20grams lighter. If you add like wavy ridged moulds on it and slapped a Zipp stencil, that thing should be worth at least $4000.

I know your break sucks, but it’s kinda awesome that your case has the same Boa dial as our road shoes 

I’m surprised you haven’t customized it , like you have done with your shoes 

Seems like you’re on the 10 year installment plan for April bone breaks. Was Battenkill the last one?

Jules said:

Seems like you’re on the 10 year installment plan for April bone breaks. Was Battenkill the last one?

The four ribs at Battenkill was the last time I broke a bone.  On the one hand, much more painful in the five days after.  On the other, I was back riding in a week.  

Hopefully this too will be nothing but forum history before long

Went to see the orthopedist today. My hand was x-rayed and examined.

Don't need the cast!!!!  And it seems like the bone is mostly healed.  There is still some swelling in my palm and around my ring and pinky fingers.  Movement and use should help reduce the swelling and I figure use will bring back mobility.

The doctor wants me to hold off riding outside for another two weeks.  Seems like an eternity.  It's not using my hand that's the issue.  It's landing on it in a crash.

I walked for three miles or so after the appointment.  Then, I hopped a Citibike and rode three miles home.  

mugwump said:

The doctor wants me to hold off riding outside for another two weeks. ...  I hopped a Citibike and rode three miles home.  

What a rebel!  Glad to hear it's healin' up.

So, two years ago I posted that I had a mild aortic stenosis. I was told to watch it and have annual echocardiograms. Well, this spring I went to climb smugglers notch in Vermont with Jim Nelson and Mark Taylor and not only did my legs just not want to turn over but I started wheezing, got dizzy, and had to stop. That passed but I still felt some chest constriction so I checked in with my doctor. This week I had an echocardiogram and I found out why: my stenosis was now severe, which means that I’m not getting enough blood flow through my aorta. 

Good luck with it all, Patrick, anything you need, we are here for you. Please keep us updated

As I do for everyone in our little community, sending you much love and hope. Good luck my friend, we’re here for whatever you need.

So sorry to hear this Patrick as I know you were looking so forward to that trip. Glad you’re keeping close tabs on the condition though and wishing you a speedy recovery! Let us know how we can help

Wishing you the best of luck and a quick return to riding!

Thank you Patrick for being open and honest about what you're going through. It's a good reminder to all of us not to ignore our health and to get regular checkups.  Things like that can happen to any of us, no matter how fit and active, or what age we are. I hope it all works out for you and you're able to visit with your family and resolve the issue and get back to riding soon. 

Hoping for a speedy recovery and smooth sailing through all of it. If you need anything we're all here for you!

What a shock Patrick. Sorry to hear. Here’s hoping you can see your extended family and be back on the bike soon mate. 

@Joe Matunis is right on with the regular checkups for all of us. I think a few of us masters riders are running on 5 cylinders—I found out I have RBBB a couple of years back (wonky electrical wiring). Yay! 

Thanks everyone for the support - both on and off the forum

The update is that my Cardiologist recommended against traveling so I canceled my plans and am awaiting testing at St Francis on July 11th. I tired to move the date up, but the timing of the dates they conduct intakes along with needing to get insurance approval and the upcoming 4th of July holiday means I just have to wait.

So... I can't travel and can't go ride my bike. I'm not working as I took this time off. I have to find something to distract me for while. The Tour will help with that, but who knows, maybe I'll go back to work assuming I can focus on it. Perhaps I can find a good book. I have never been particular good at waiting or sitting still

By the way, I'll definitely need a heart valve replacement. Most of our aortic valves have an opening around 3 square centimeters or more. Mine is a 0.6 square centimeter opening. Yikes. No one can say why. Probably genetic. The good news is that it is common enough that it can be repaired and I've been led to believe that I can return to a normal life... but is racing CX normal? I have yet to find out

CX racing is 100% normal!! Heal up quick and be well Patrick!