Road Rash healing & return to swimming timeline?
So I had what could be considered in the big picture a minor fall on the bike yesterday (Saturday).
I cleaned it out really well and have kept it clean & covered.
If you have had in the past, approximately how long should I plan for this to be healed enough to return to swimming?
Thanks for your help.
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I'm not saying this is the right thing to do, nor, despite having been an MD for 45 years, am I saying it is what doctors would recommend ( in fact, Ive been told by them it's not recommended). But I will relay my own experience over the years. Most recent example: a week ago Saturday, I fell (forward, like Superman) - twice! - while running in an Olympic triathlon, in the gravel. "Road rash" on both forearms, hands, and knees. 72 hours later I swam 4000yds in a lake, and again today. Another example: two days before an Xterra race, I fell off my mtn bike, again in gravel, bad enough to require a few stitches in my elbow. Two days later, I swam the 1500m leg. And others, over the years...
it should be noted that each of these was swimming with a wetsuit, which IMO provides some protection.
now, what would I suggest? First, proper cleaning and dressing as you describe. Second, no swimming while the wounds are still "weeping" unless you are both stupid and stubborn, as I apparently am. Swimming will soften the hardening eschar covering the raw sub-dermis, and therefore, might theoretically retard healing. Third, attentive wound care after exposure to water, including antibiotic cream.
Others may not be as lucky as I have been when dealing with the prolonged immersion of raw skin in water. But, after 2-3 days, I have not yet found swimming, at least in a wet suit, to have caused any problems to my episodes of road rash. Bear in mind that most public pools, and some state laws, proscribe against swimming with "open wounds."
@Al Truscott Thank you very much for your feedback, and I can totally see where you are coming from. I will keep it up with the neosporin and keeping it as clean as possible. So far it is healing up pretty well for it only being 48 hours old. I am currently still planning on going up to Lake Placid this weekend to train and watch the race and hope to get in a swim in the lake but only if it is healed up enough. I totally don't want to be that guy at the pool with the open sore on his arm, I am way to much of a germophobe for that and want to make sure it is good for the long term.
Have a great day, and thanks again!
You can use the Duoderm stuff which is AMAZEBALLS to cover it up and then wear a wetsuit over it....swear by that stuff don't ask how I know. You can clean wound and put this on for 3-4 days...after 2-3 times your wound is amazingly healed up...
Amazon.com: DuoDerm Hydrocolloid Dressing 187955 4 X 4 Inch Box of 10, Sand: Health & Personal Care
https://endurancenation.vanillacommunities.com/home/leaving?allowTrusted=1&target=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FConvatec-DuoDERM-Extra-Thin-Dressing%2Fdp%2FB000PQ735Y%2Fref%3DascdfB000PQ735Y%2F%3Ftag%3Dhyprod-20%26linkCode%3Ddf0%26hvadid%3D312025890921%26hvpos%3D1o1%26hvnetw%3Dg%26hvrand%3D10946729371707656467%26hvpone%3D%26hvptwo%3D%26hvqmt%3D%26hvdev%3Dc%26hvdvcmdl%3D%26hvlocint%3D%26hvlocphy%3D9002180%26hvtargid%3Dpla-571531706108%26psc%3D1%26tag%3D%26ref%3D%26adgrpid%3D64728044760%26hvpone%3D%26hvptwo%3D%26hvadid%3D312025890921%26hvpos%3D1o1%26hvnetw%3Dg%26hvrand%3D10946729371707656467%26hvqmt%3D%26hvdev%3Dc%26hvdvcmdl%3D%26hvlocint%3D%26hvlocphy%3D9002180%26hvtargid%3Dpla-571531706108Sorry for the long link!!!
~ Coach P
Agreed on DuoDerm (or Tegaderm which is similar). It might need some tape if you use it while exercising. Alternately, switch to a "Water Block" Band Aid while you swim, and then clean it and put DuoDerm/Tegaderm back on after.
@John Bayone I used Tegaderm Absorbant on a shoulder road rash a couple years ago. It absorbed alot of the drainage and seemed to speed up healing. Tip is to clean the skin around the wound so the stuff sticks very good to the skin and its water tight after that.
@Josh Church THanks for the heads up, I will check on that stuff. I have been taking really good care of is these last few days and it has been healing up really well and I would like to get to swim by this weekend.
Overall getting on it early and keeping it really clean has helped, and thankfully now looking at it after a few days it seems like it is healing up and the pain in it is mostly gone. The huge black & blue bruise on my leg is a different story...hahaha. However, overall I am grateful that it was not worse and I can keep running and riding the bike inside.