Broken Wrist

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. I've been watching more snowboarding movies this season and this encouraged my confidence to overstep the mark last weekend in Silvretta Nova (Austria).

I was on the boarder park doing jumps when one went wrong. I leaned back too much in the jump and was coming down backside first. Fortunately (unfortunately?), my natural reaction took over as I came in to land, and I put my arm out to stop me cracking my head as back met snow (or rather, solid ice).

See for yourself (14MB video).

It took about 30 seconds for my wrist to start swelling and I knew instantly that it was bad. I packed snow onto it and fought the pain, before continuing on down the mountain, up the chair lift, and into the first aid centre. They bandaged me up and we went to wait in the bar until it was time for the coach to bring us home. :)



We got to the hospital around 10.30pm, and after having an x-ray the doctor told me I needed an operation to put a metal plate in my wrist. We got home around midnight, packed a bag and went to bed, ready for a 9am return to the hospital.



Sunday was rather surreal. One minute I'm down in the emergency reception, the next I'm being wheeled out of my room upstairs and into the operating theatre, saying goodbye to my nearest and dearest. It took about 10 minutes from passing through the doors to going unconscious, and the next thing I know I'm in a corridor waking up. I remember being wheeled back to the room, and sleeping for a couple of hours until Dew came to visit.



Monday was x-ray day, and all my visitors came in the evening (thank you!), and I left the hospital on Tuesday. Now I'm at home, resting my arm but still trying to do what I can. Typing is so much slower one-handed...



See more pics in the gallery.