Well, after seven months of using a bone stimulator (
), my wrist has healed! I still ride with the thumb spica wrist brace (with the top aluminum band removed) because it really protects the scaphoid from pressure from the bars/ground.
The biggest things I learned from this injury:
1.) Not all docs are equal. It took a hand specialist to see that the break was still there when two other docs had said it was "clinically healed" (I could see the break on the very enlarged x-ray the specialist had, but not on the regular sized x-ray the other docs had). If you have broken this bone, I highly recommend seeing a specialist.
2.) Confirm that it is truly healed by having a CT scan before returning to riding.
3.) Try a bone stimulator (make sure you're lined up in it correctly. I used it for two months with little result because I was not exactly centered over the break). I used the bone stimulator every night for half an hour for seven months. I rode during this time, but just doing smooth easy circles, working on skills for the first few months.
4.) Ride with the soft cast/brace they give you after the cast. It really protects that bone from impact. I use the one that looks exactly like a thumb spica cast, but with the top aluminum removed. Made by Medical Specialties (Med Specs).
5.) Get a full arm cast (over the elbow) when you first break it. A short arm cast allows twisting which causes the forearm bones to push on the scaphoid and prevent union.
Going riding...
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