Second opinion on broken arm

Michael Byerts

On Tuesday, I crashed while riding the indoor trainer, and hurt my left (non-writing) wrist.  X-rays showed I broke both the radius and ulna.  It's not displaced, but apparently the ulna was compacted a little and the joint is now angled 10% in the wrong direction.  The orthopedic surgeon said this is on  the edge of acceptable.  The doctor said that with a younger patient like me, he prefers the more aggressive treatment of surgery to re-align the joint.   I am quite nervous about having surgery to put a plate and screws in my wrist, and was hoping someone in the EN community might have experience with this.  Any thoughts?

Michael

GMAN 19030

Posted By Michael Byerts on 02 Feb 2012 07:10 PM

On Tuesday, I crashed while riding the indoor trainer

I'm not sure which smiley to go with here...

This one 

or this one 

possibly this one 

maybe this one 

or 

Sorry, just trying to throw some humor your way.  Seriously, I hope all goes well with the healing process.

 

Michael Byerts

if you are going to crash, at least do it in an amusing, almost impossible way. Wish I had a youtube video of the bike coming loose, and me realizing I was going down. I could retire on the ad revenue.

GMAN 19030

Rollers???

Michael Byerts

Nope. A trainer (cheap one). I didn't secure the trainer to the skewer sufficiently, and the bike popped out. No forward momentum, and I down I went.

Nate Parady

Sorry to hear this Michael, Pretty sure every ENer who reads this is gong to make sure their bike is properly secured before they get on it next time. I know I will...

Michael Johnson

I'm tightening my trainer today!

Dave Campbell

Tightening and moving set-up away from the window.. If I were to tip over to the left, I'd go out the windows 3 stories up!! Ouch

Coach Rich

Michael, sorry about your accident! Needless to say, as primates, our hands are rather valuable! I would get a second opinion and if surgery was indicated, I would do it.

Let me know if you need a referral. My guy does elbows and shoulders only he's part a group that does hands, knees, feet, etc. Congress Medical Center in Pasadena, on Raymond.

Michael Byerts

Thanks for the sympathy and the referral. Rich, could you send me the number?

Coach Rich

Congress Medical Center: 626-795-8051

Tell them you have a friend who's working with Dr Shankwiler and you're interested in their/his recommendation for a wrist/hand guy (?).

J.T. Thompson

Yes - get a second opinion...Going thru this myself with a shoulder injury from a crash this fall...Surprising how much difference you can hear in the medical community.....

jhbinsc

YIKES! Sorry to hear. I asked my wife the DPT and she agreed to get a 2nd opinion before you let anybody cut on you! Good luck and keep us posted.

Michael Byerts

Just got my second opinion, from Congress Medical Center as Rich suggested. No surgery for now. Just 4 more weeks in a cast.  Thanks to all for the advice!

jamison.gaddy

2nd opinion certainly worth the time. You're long term outcome will be the same. If you have surgery it will be "reduced" and stable. You'll be able to return to activity slight faster. Having your ulna internally fixed is not as complicated as your distal radius. Patience and education. You don't wear a cape and will not heal faster than enyone else so give your body time to heal. Surgery will likely reduce you pain slighly because the bones are stable and will no longer be moving. Still going to hurt for weeks. Sorry. At least you can rest your upper body on the aero bars. Don't use your wrist as much.

Coach Rich

Posted By Michael Byerts on 13 Feb 2012 02:09 PM

Just got my second opinion, from Congress Medical Center as Rich suggested. No surgery for now. Just 4 more weeks in a cast.  Thanks to all for the advice!

Who was the doc you saw? I ask because between bicycles, motorcycles, snowboarding and who know what other stuff I'll try next, I know it's only matter of time....

Michael Byerts

Dr. Kenneth Sabbag

He was quite decisive.