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You Shall Not Scrub
This is Dave's friendly way of reminding me NOT to wash the dishes. I am a compulsive dish-washer. Dirty dishes drive me nuts. But I can't wash dishes without hurting my wrist or getting my cast wet.
I saw an orthopedist today, and he thinks the various fractures in my wrist will heal fine without surgery. I am getting an MRI tomorrow just to be sure.
The doctor wasn't too keen on me running on the treadmill, though (which I haven't tried yet). Or even riding my bike upright on the trainer (which I have done every day since Saturday). The sweat makes my cast quite damp inside, which could lead to skin problems. I don't think I can go four to six otherwise healthy weeks without working up a good sweat. I can't even imagine; I might go insane. It has already been ten days since my last run. I'm trying not to think about it too hard. I am likely to burst into tears at any moment.
I'll take a day off tomorrow at any rate, since our bike trainer is slightly broken. An important bolt is stripped, but we think we can saw it off and replace it if the manufacturer will just send us a couple of parts. If only I could order and install a new arm bone so easily.
All I want to do right now is go for a swim.
January 3, 2008 9:22 PM
Does your orthopedist deal with sports people much? The reason I ask is 'cause he really should have offered you a splint - to be placed a couple of weeks out from the break - to allow you to continue to train. You're "set" enough probably right now to allow for you to work with a removable splint, provided you're not doing much more than simply removing it to clean & things. That way you'd not have the skin problems, and you'd be able to train.
They did it for Steven Colbert ... I really don't know why they couldn't do it for you!
Hey there - check out andy J-M's website too (getwellandy.blogspot.com) - he did lots of trainer riding while trying to recover from all his various injuries. I'm sure your doc can give you more of a training friendly cast... even so - you could take a hairdryer to your arm or something! I would do it too... good luck wiith the mri.
Bummer!! But, I'd go ahead and ride the trainer. I had a cast on my leg for 8 weeks prior to IM Cali 00 and rode the trainer every day. You'll have a sticky arm by the end when they take the cast off though.
I've also had the same cast on my right arm. The thumb spica sucks! Makes you realize just how important that thumb is. At the time Levis 501 button front jeans were the rage. Well....kinda hard to button with that cast.
Good luck!