Cycling UK Forum

OKwithmydecay - Sorry to hear of your fall. You are really young to cop this inujury, but, my surgeon tells me he is seeing it more and more with cyclists.

I'm now 13 weeks post op. Things have been going well, apart from the gulf of difference in opinion between physio and consultant. The physio wants to push hard and the consultant is concerned I'm doing too much and pulls me back. I have now actually dropped the physio. I feel I'm paying 35 quid a week for this guy to just bend and pull my leg around with no effect. The benefit has come from doing loads of leg squats and light spins on the rack. I'm begining to think I don't need the physio anymore and it's just a regular pay day for him.

I have a limp, shortening in the damaged leg and restricted lateral movement. I'm sure that will improve with time, but certainly not back to what was considered normal. I also damaged my knee in the fall and am awaiting an MRI scan.

I'm just not sure about the future. Currently, I'm still in a bit of a feeling sorry for myself situation. My normal diet has gone out of the window and I'm boozing quite heavily. The result being that I'm unfit and now 9kgs heavier than my racing weight. I feel robbed of a pastime that I loved and for my age was pretty good at. The fear of riding on the road and falling or being knocked off is quite overwhelming. I just cannot afford to be in this situation again.

Has anyone had conversations with their surgeons/consultants regarding the risk involved with another fall on the repaired hip?

The desire to try and get back to full fitness and race again is still there for me. However, I fear the prospect of a full hip replacement, should I land on this hip again. I am self-employed and currently starting another business. The fallout of this accident has been extensive. Financially - a minor disaster, emotionally - I now have a deep seated fear of falling off again and my marital relationship has been tested to the point, that another cycling related accident won't be, well, quiet as well accepted.

I've been passionate about training and racing for some time. However, this bloody freak accident may well have called time for me.

I'm now 6 weeks post accident. Physio started this week and is quite demanding. This week I plan to start some very light 20 min spins on the turbo.

I still have some discomfort and a strange, alarming click and pain from my hip if I do too much or find myself in an awkward position. I fear I may be pushing too hard. My next appointment with the consultant is this coming Friday. I have found myself weight bearing more on the leg and sometimes getting around on one crutch. I was asked to keep the weight bearing to a light touch, but, I guess it's human nature and the desire to 'get-on' to push a bit more.

Sleeping on my back I find impossible. I tend to roll on my uninjured side, put a cushion between my knees and get maybe 1 hour before discomfort sets in. I tend to get up in the early hours for a cuppa and an hours work, then go back to bed.

Here2eternity. Your story is quite unfortunate. Good luck with the new hip and recovery.

Had a great meeting with the consultant yesterday. He's very happy with the first x-rays and progress so far. Infact, he suggested I could even be off crutches in 4 weeks time. Apparently I'm slightly out-of-line on the broken side due to the compacting. But, again, it's slight and he feels I should make a full recovery.

I start with the physio on the 27th and plan to get back on the turbo for some light work around then.

Guys. Theres an awful lot for me to take in here at this early stage. I will come back with a more detailed post in the near future.

Can I ask one thing? Did any of you suffer with your foot swelling? If my foot is not elevated it's constantly really puffy.

Thanks for the support all. Crap night lastnight, lot's of pain, so I hit the Tramodol

Your responses have given me a clear picture of what I need to discuss with my consultant next Friday.

Mark. Thank you for taking the time to post such an in-depth reply. Currently, as expected, I feel very downbeat. Infact, I'm going to sell all but my road bike. I just can't stand seeing that TT bike sitting on a rack, not knowing if I'll ever get back to a decent race pace.

Perhaps I can post progress on here and get some advice from you fella's who have been through it.

I had a fall on Sunday while out on a pre-race warm up ride. Monday I had surgery for a fractured upper femur and 3 screws put in.

There was me thinking i could be back to full strength time trialling by next Spring...I could cry after reading this thread.