Racing with broken hand

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2014-10-08 2:24 PM


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Subject: Racing with broken hand
I am 4 weeks out form IM Florida and i have broken a couple bones in my hand -- the 4th and 5th metacarpal. At this point it's still really swollen. The doctor says my hand needs 6 weeks to heal. I told him I had an IM race in 4 weeks. He did not rule out me racing but said it was going to hurt really bad. Has any body been through some thing like this so close to race day? How realistic is it to think I can race? I feel like if I can survive the swim, I can complete the race. Part of me wants to go for it...another part wants to just skip the race and find a marathon to run so all this training doesn't go to waste.


2014-10-08 6:27 PM
in reply to: TriTN71

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Subject: RE: Racing with broken hand
Are you in a splint that can withstand the swim? Will the refs be ok with your splint? How do you plan to ride your bike?

There are a lot of questions that you should look into...
2014-10-08 6:40 PM
in reply to: S_Franklin99

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Subject: RE: Racing with broken hand

1-Ask the race director if it would be allowable to swim with a cast or splint.  A cast will be better and protect your hand
2-If the answer is yes then ask your orthopod to give you a goretex cast.  It will be expensive and your insurance won't pay for it because your insurer won't care if you do your race or not
3-Another alternative is a custom fracture brace. DJOrtho makes them and your orthopod sholud be able to get one for you http://www.djortho.com

 as a sports trained orthopod you will probably be OK to race but if you dont' protect your hand somehow you could undo the healing or even make it worse changing from something fairly simple to something that needs surgery and your race would be ruined anyway.  I think the biggest danger would be getting your hand whacked on the swim followed buy falling off your bike

2014-10-09 10:31 AM
in reply to: TriTN71


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Subject: RE: Racing with broken hand
They say I can swim with a brace as long as it doesn't have a paddle effect. My biggest concern is the swim start. I've done FL IM before and know how brutal the swim start is. So I guess I'll need to sit back and wait til I have plenty of space to swim, which means I also give up the benefit of drafting.
2014-10-09 10:36 AM
in reply to: TriTN71

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Subject: RE: Racing with broken hand
I KNow a guy that did IMLP with a broken collar bone after 4.5 weeks. took him almost 17 hours, but he finished. He had to swim different and stop on the bike several times. I would think collar bone would be worse than hand, but everyone is different. Good luck, I'm sure you can do it!
2014-10-09 12:51 PM
in reply to: SEADOCHA

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Subject: RE: Racing with broken hand

See if you can get your doc to order you one of these. http://www.djoglobal.com/products/brand?f[0]=im_field_brand:18

 

Plan on riding aero a LOT

2014-10-12 12:10 PM
in reply to: SEADOCHA

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Subject: RE: Racing with broken hand
Originally posted by SEADOCHA

I KNow a guy that did IMLP with a broken collar bone after 4.5 weeks. took him almost 17 hours, but he finished. He had to swim different and stop on the bike several times. I would think collar bone would be worse than hand, but everyone is different. Good luck, I'm sure you can do it!




That's nuts ! I broke my collarbone 10 weeks ago and still can't swim. Suffering for 17 hrs. is not fun.
2014-10-13 12:20 PM
in reply to: louamerica

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Subject: RE: Racing with broken hand
I actually met the guy on this forum. He went to volunteer the day before at the bag check and I saw him. Recognized him from his photos. Anyhow, I was on the run course and see this guy walking with a sling. I was like "NO WAY!" I yelled his name and He gave me a high five and kept going. he crossed the finish line right before 17hrs. It was incredible. He has a story floating around here some where. he said he wasn't even sure he was going to race, but someone helped him develop a stroke for swimming so he did that. I also remember him saying he took a few breaks on the bike and sat down on the grass. it was truly awesome and inspiring to hear this!
2014-10-13 12:23 PM
in reply to: SEADOCHA

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Subject: RE: Racing with broken hand
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