C
Chris Lundberg
Guest
I slipped on the ice (while walking) two weeks ago and suffered a type-I radial head fracture. After
being immobilzed for about 4 days, my elbow seems to be recovering nicely, but I still have some
loss of flexion/extension and my orthopedist tells me that I shouldn't go bicycle riding for at
least another four weeks. Does anybody else have experience in recovering from such a fracture,
particularly as it relates to returning to bicycling as soon as possible? Could using aerobars be
helpful in reducing stresses on the elbow? (I have no experience with aerobars).
Not being able to bicycle, especially as spring finally seems to have arrived in the last three days
in NW Pennsylvania, is a major bummer. Only slightly less annoying is that everyone seemed to assume
that I must have fallen while riding my bike as if bicycling were exceptionally dangerous.
One good thing is that I've taken to walking many of my favorite cycling roads and routes and I'm
always amazed at just how different I experience the landscape by the different modes of travel. In
the last two days I've taken walks of 21 km (13 mi) and 27 km (17 mi) out to and around two
reservoirs in the area along routes that I normally bicycle.
One curious note is that after I asked the orthpedist how long until I could bicycle and he replied
"at least another four weeks", I then asked him how long after that that I could drive a car. He
told me that driving now shouldn't be a problem - after all many people drive one handed (other hand
using a cell phone)! I told him that I don't believe that that's a good idea, and he responded that
I could probably drive two-handed. But I would still be concerned about having to make sudden turns
of the wheel, making tight turning radii, etc., but I guess that's another topic. Any helpful hints
regarding returning to cycling are appreciated.
Chris Lundberg
being immobilzed for about 4 days, my elbow seems to be recovering nicely, but I still have some
loss of flexion/extension and my orthopedist tells me that I shouldn't go bicycle riding for at
least another four weeks. Does anybody else have experience in recovering from such a fracture,
particularly as it relates to returning to bicycling as soon as possible? Could using aerobars be
helpful in reducing stresses on the elbow? (I have no experience with aerobars).
Not being able to bicycle, especially as spring finally seems to have arrived in the last three days
in NW Pennsylvania, is a major bummer. Only slightly less annoying is that everyone seemed to assume
that I must have fallen while riding my bike as if bicycling were exceptionally dangerous.
One good thing is that I've taken to walking many of my favorite cycling roads and routes and I'm
always amazed at just how different I experience the landscape by the different modes of travel. In
the last two days I've taken walks of 21 km (13 mi) and 27 km (17 mi) out to and around two
reservoirs in the area along routes that I normally bicycle.
One curious note is that after I asked the orthpedist how long until I could bicycle and he replied
"at least another four weeks", I then asked him how long after that that I could drive a car. He
told me that driving now shouldn't be a problem - after all many people drive one handed (other hand
using a cell phone)! I told him that I don't believe that that's a good idea, and he responded that
I could probably drive two-handed. But I would still be concerned about having to make sudden turns
of the wheel, making tight turning radii, etc., but I guess that's another topic. Any helpful hints
regarding returning to cycling are appreciated.
Chris Lundberg