Broken Toe
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- fatherofmany
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Broken Toe
Postby fatherofmany » Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:04 pm
I was letting the dog out for a midnight pee (her not me) so I thought I'd be kind and considerate to the rest of the family and didn't put the light on. My tired eyes relying solely on the faint green glow from the microwave clock, what could possibly go wrong?. Not so carefully navigating my way across the dining room into the kitchen I had veered off course and by the time I had crossed the room was about 20cm too far to the right. I kicked a childproof gate we have up between the kitchen and dining room, unintentionally I assure you. The gate was open, I just clipped the edge of it, and no, the upright bar could not just slide straight between my naked digits, I managed to whack it fair and square on the end of my second toe. Needless to say my efforts at not waking the household were now in vain as the noise from a: the loud impact between body and metal and b: my vocal expression of searing pain, was let's say, not subdued.
So after recovering from a broken rib and wrist in a crash a few months back I've now gone and broken a toe. Second toe right foot at the 3rd joint right where it meets the foot, underneath. It's hard enough applying no pressure while walking so riding is definitely out for a couple more weeks. I'm into week 3 now and already missing my rides. I suppose it could have happened in warmer weather and I'd be feeling worse, it's not that hard to stay off the bike in winter, but it will make getting back on a bit more of a tough time.
Anyone else out there broken toes, I have but it was a long time ago, and I wasn't riding back then. Should be able to start applying pressure again about week 5 or 6 shouldn't I?
FoM
- twizzle
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby twizzle » Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:01 pm
I broke my little toe and raced on it the following day. And kept on training and racing, I just avoided anything with bumps on it - thank goodness for the smooth crit circuit.
That was January - it still hurts if I try and curl it up.
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
- fatherofmany
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby fatherofmany » Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:46 pm
5 months recovery for a broken toe is not what I really want. I'm not a stranger to htfu, I broke my rib and wrist in a crash on my way home from work on a Friday and then rode the 90km LTL in just over 3hrs on the Sunday. Now that was a whole new experience. I want to give this one the best chance at a good recovery and not be in pain around summer, when I would prefer to be out and about on the bike ejoying each pedal. FoMtwizzle wrote:That was January - it still hurts if I try and curl it up.
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby rustychisel » Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:29 am
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby gorilla monsoon » Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:14 pm
Please stay away from me
- fatherofmany
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby fatherofmany » Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:23 pm
FoM
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby philip » Thu Jul 01, 2010 1:34 pm
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby fatherofmany » Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:02 pm
The break is actually underneath, right at the base of the toe. Just enough to be in the way of the spds. One of the guys at work said can't you just unclip and ride on your heel or something? but alas not.
The last toe I broke at the 1st joint and although there was a little swelling and wonderful technicolour changes there was no need to apply real pressure to it and it didn't even affect my walking too much. This time if I walk (or ride) applying pressure it feels like someone's hammering in a nail with each step.
I will be putting the bike in the trainer this weekend (think TDF Tragic) to give it a go. I think that's better for safety's sake, ie there's no emergency unclipping and also for the wimp out factor... if it gets too sore after 15 - 20 minutes then I don't have to get the 15 - 20 minutes back home again.
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby Alex Sniga » Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:38 pm
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby rogan » Thu Jul 01, 2010 10:32 pm
Fracture in the third bone of second toe, right foot, fairly clean and not too close to the joints. Also sprained my ankle at the same time, so walking was very difficult and painful for days, but due to both toe and ankle. Cycling was possible with a slight ache after 4 weeks. I didn't try earlier, but it would have been possible. Absolutely no ongoing pain or other effects.
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby twizzle » Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:13 am
Which bone did you break? I split my metatarsal in half at the first joint running back to the top of the second joint. Ie. I split the articulate surface of the first joint down the middle, which is why it's never going to be pain free. Got an XRay? There's a pic of my break in this thread. I just kept the toe taped to the second toe, wore thongs for weeks... but I could ride as long as there were no bumps.fatherofmany wrote:The break is actually underneath, right at the base of the toe. Just enough to be in the way of the spds. One of the guys at work said can't you just unclip and ride on your heel or something? but alas not.
What you might want to try is putting a tarsal dome in the shoe to lift/separate the tarsal bones under the ball of the foot, this *should* take keep the load through the ball of the foot and away from the toes.
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
- fatherofmany
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby fatherofmany » Mon Jul 05, 2010 12:22 pm
FoM
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby twizzle » Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:01 pm
Good luck with the bunion pads.
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
- fatherofmany
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby fatherofmany » Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:39 pm
- fatherofmany
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Re: Broken Toe
Postby fatherofmany » Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:57 am
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