Back home / busted thumb

Back home now from the trip to Guatemala (non bike - could not ride).

The medics took off the cast today, and took the wires out of my right thumb holding the bone together. I got the all clear on the bone damage, it is healed. I have limited movement no doubt due to tendon damage, some minor nerve damage and a load of muscle atrophy from the 6 weeks in a cast.

The docs told me to take exercise. So I got one of those clip on cruise control /cramp buster things. I fitted it to the 650 V Star rather than the Harley since the V Star is a lot lighter and lower. The attachment will make riding a lot easier while my thumb, hand and wrist recover. I am not sure if this is what the docs had in mind, but in my book it counts as sensible exercise.

I tested it out briefly this evening. I was able to safely (but painfully) operate all controls. It should ease up quickly. I hope.

I know what ya mean that one needs a cramp grip. But I think that that is all a part of the fun of riding. I hope that you will be back in shape to ride without pain. What happened anyways?

Make sure you do all of the exercises the Dr gives you. I had tendon transfer surery done on my thumb 8 weeks ago and I have just about got everything back . I did hand exercises 4-6 times a day to get it back and it works.

Progress. I managed to get a glove on and go for a short ride on the V Star this evening. The cramp grip worked fine, helped a lot. The ride went really well with no issues beyond the expected idiots in cages.

For the Harley I may get the Kuryakyn Iso grips with their Throttle Boss, or maybe something similar. I have not decided yet., but there is no great hurry. Until my thumb is a bit better I'll use the Yamaha. Anyone here tried the Iso grips? Or similar?

As to what happened I tripped on a sidewalk, landed on my thumb, bust it real badly. The sidewalk was in good condition, I was stone cold sober, just one of those things at a guess. A freak accident. For now I'm doing my own physio, trying to exercise the thumb, hand and wrist. I may need to sort some professional physio for it, to help speed recovery. The NHS referral the docs made will maybe get me an appointment in 8 to 12 weeks so is not going to be much use for anything.

I plan to go riding at the weekend, get out of London for a couple of days. The weather looks set to be good.

I hope you have a faster recovery.

I have the Iso grips with the throttle boss and I love them. really comfortable for long rides. I went into physical therapy with a hand specialist the day I got my cast off 4 weeks ago .They gave me a bunch of special hand exersises to do 4-6 times per day and right now I am at 90% of what I had before the accident and tendon transfer surgery. 12 week ordeal but I am done with it now.

Hey there Steve. It has been a while since I have seen you online. Glad to here that your hand is feeling better. Have you thought about hooking up and going for a cruise sometime this summer?

I can appreciate what everyone is saying about having to grip the throttle for an extended period of time. I looked at those ISO grips but I just did not like them.

Anyways, I am glad to hear that everyone is feeling better and back out on the bike. :biker:

I know of one wrist exercise that you can do all by yourself


Ahhh come on now... someone had to say it :roflmao:

I have ordered the Iso Grips and Throttle Boss. They should arrive within a week and get fitted soon after.

In the meantime I have been informed a physiotherapist said riding a bike was good hand exercise, so I am going to follow the orders. I have the 650 V Star to ride for now, much lighter than the Softail.

And there are plenty of other hand and wrist exercises I can do.