“I’ll keep getting up and going until I break something!” I said to Reis as we left home, laughing about my regular bike crashes. In the last six months we’ve taken up mountain biking. I am loving it. We ride with some of our friends and I’m the only girl of the group. Being rather competitive, I try to keep up with the boys. My last big bike crash was when we rode to Samford then did some jumps out the front of the Flying Nun Cafe. Sadly, gravity combined with my lack of balance got the best of me when I slightly lost balance at the top of the hill and fell down with Liv (thats my bike) crashing down after me.
This is my baby, Liv. She is a Giant Talon 0 29er. Now I know you’re all wondering what happened THIS time, Amy?!
I was coming up to an intersection slightly too fast not expecting a car to be there and next thing I see is a FWD coming at me! So I slammed on my breaks to stop myself getting hit (and yes I learnt I need to be much more careful on roads!). No time to unclip my shoes from my peddles & I fell with my hand straight out and the weight of my body and bike crashing down behind me. *sigh*
I dragged my bike to the curb and sat down in shock. I didn’t cry though. I did tell Reis not to hurry me and I would sit and look sad on the curb as long as I needed! That adrenalin gets me every time! Anyway, I got back up and soldiered on. Finished the ride to the pool, swam 1km and then rode back home.
The next day (Saturday) I called the home doctor and she said I needed to get an x-ray which would mean sitting in emergency. Yuck. We went to the hospital and the person next to us said they had just waited four hours for an x-ray. Stuff that! I had things to do and could deal with the pain until Monday, I thought.
I went for a run on Sunday, blogged and worked Monday. Finally went for an X-ray after work Monday and was advised I had broken my scaphiod. It’s quite serious apparently as there is only one path for blood supply there and if it had been cut off it would involve an operation to remove the dead bone. Suddenly I wished I had seen a doctor sooner! This diagram aptly describes where the bone is broken and how it happened:
Things I’ve found difficult since the break:
- Reis now has to do my hair;
- typing is one handed and so slow;
- i can’t peel, chop or turn the tap on;
- i can’t carry anything in my left hand;
- i can’t turn on lights, open jars or clip lock bags;
- i am not suppose to run (I may go crazy); and of course,
- i can’t ride.
However I am so thankful it was my left not my right hand! It was bound to happen one day.
Image via
I’ve never broken a bone in my life, so this is a first. Although despite my declaration the afternoon it occurred, I don’t see me stopping riding after this! I love it too much.
I need your help, do you have any tips for making things easier with a broken scaphoid or arm that’s in plaster?

Amy Darcy


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