Hello all,

Many thanks for all of the good advice - not necessarily what I wanted to hear but it chimes with what I know if the more sensible decision.

Had the surgery to put the metal plate in in. Quite a long scar down the inside of my wrist (about 4 inches or 10cm) and still lacking quite a lot of flexibility - but very glad to have the cast off in the Barcelona summer heat.

Before the cast came off, the lack of pain and returning strength to my hand had me thinking it might just be possible to leave at the end of this month. Now the cast's off and I've been able to properly judge the state of my arm, it's clear that motorcycling is out of the question for the time being.

Here are the shots from just after the accident, after the doctors had pulled everything back into position, and after the surgery:



For now I'm looking for a new flat and will need to get another job to tide me over till next year. Not where I had hoped to be at this time but you have to look on the bright side - plenty more time to prepare the route and pick out key places to visit. And when I finally do set off it'll be all the more enjoyable for the wait.

All the best for a full recovery! For me, once the bones mostly healed, doing Physical Therapy really helped regain full range of motion and eventually full strength. Lots of hard work!

It took months to heal and a few surgeries ... but I had a compound tibia fracture.

Let the bone heal then work like Hell with PT to break down the stiff scar tissue and get your muscles and ligaments stretched back out, strong and flexible again. (this can be really hard!) A good PT team really helped me get full recovery.

I think Snakeboy's advice is the best and safest, but....

When faced with a 'do I cancel?' decision some years ago after fracturing my ankle, I thought bugger it. I'd be in pain sitting at home on the couch or riding. So two days after the 2nd operation (which I made the doctor bring forward by two weeks), I started riding. Sure it hurt, but the recovery time for my soul was much faster. And I still have fond memories of removing stitches with an leatherman and side-cutter sitting in a wet Innesdale LOL...

I just opted to take it easy and slow. If it hurt too much, I stopped. The view from a secluded beach was much better than that in my living room.

Whatever you decide - good luck

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Squily

From my own experience seek advice from a physiotherapist ASAP to begin building up the strength in the muscles that have been dormant for several weeks. As stated in earlier posts it is not a quick fix (eight months after a shattered wrist for me), but exercising correctly and frequently, will speed your return to motorcycling.

I'm definitely in the "bugger it, keep riding" category.

Over the past 45 years of riding I have had numerous injuries:
A broken gear change toe (after 2 days I took the cast off, bought a pair of steel capped boots and continued riding
A broken tibia (during the second month in plaster I learnt how to hoist the cast up on the engine case) and rode that way.
Bilateral broken wrists (collies fracture - both ulna and radius fractured in both arms) and fractured ankle, I continued to drive my car with my arms in plaster (very slow to turn the wheel) but had to wait 6 weeks for the casts to be removed before I could ride again.
A broken right fibula. I continued to ride regardless and ignored the surgeon's advice to have it set.
A broken left fibula and ankle fracture. I also ignored the surgeon's advice and continued riding.

Yes, it does take a good 12-18 months for the muscle atrophy to recover from incapacitation (this is why I try and avoid it) and yes, you will feel restricted and have aches and pains for a year or two after the injury was caused; but it's not enough to keep me off a bike.

As someone who has spent many years working in orthopaedic operating theatres I know enough to avoid letting a surgeon place any metal in my body (unless absolutely necessary) as it brings its own risk of infection and significantly extends the recovery period.

I think that is why you are having to postpone your trip Cal. Had you not had the pins put in I'm sure you would now be back on the bike.

I can also relate to the bicycle accident as I am still nursing on a sore shoulder (ligament damage) 18 months after falling heavily from my bike when I got the front wheel stuck in a Melbourne tram track.

Get better soon.

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman