I’ve got a very minor case of road rash, really not a big deal except for the palm of my hand. Any tips for bandaging the palm? I can’t find anything that will stay on very long.
I’ve got a very minor case of road rash, really not a big deal except for the palm of my hand. Any tips for bandaging the palm? I can’t find anything that will stay on very long.
Maybe sacrifice a summer riding glove. Bandage on, slide glove on, fasten velcro on glove. Since most fasten at the wrist it would allow sliding it on without interfering with the palm, then it would press on the palm when fastened.
I’ve got a very minor case of road rash, really not a big deal except for the palm of my hand. Any tips for bandaging the palm? I can’t find anything that will stay on very long.
A ginormous piece of hydrocolloid dressing (e.g. Dynaderm) right on top of the wound. The dressing itself is adhering and will stay on without the need of tapes. You may need to reposition it from time to time, but it will stay on for a while (2-3 days at a time). If the oozing is severe, some nonstick dressings covering the edges of the hydrocolloid and adhered to your skin using a decently strong tape (e.g. 3M Transpore)
Only issue is that last time I checked (~5-6 years ago), they weren’t readily available and had to be shipped from a specialty supplier somewhere. You’ll still need to figure out what to do in the mean time (I’d recommend nonstick dressing)
Neosporin and non-stick pads held in place w/tape, until the weeping subsides. After that, tegraderm. As mentioned, an old cycling glove (or a polyester mesh gardening glove with the fingers cut off) for coverage (if needed).
I’ve taken my palms off twice. Once in the US, once in Rwanda. I hope to what gods we are worshiping today that I never do it again. Anyway, clean them as best as you or the hospital can, use as much triple antibiotic ointment or similar, wrap in non-stick gauze and then wrap is bandages enough to cushion any possible pressure you could possibly inflict on your wounds. If you’re in an area that has rec licenses, a trip to your local dispensary might help too.
And wear gloves on the bike. Helmets are important, but gloves are a close second. Road rash on legs, backs, and shoulders is pretty bad, but skinned palms is right up there on the pain scale, and pain in the arse scale.
To keep the wound clean is also very important. Get some anti biotic cream, non sticky bandage and simple outside sticky layer is ennough.
Thanks for all the advice. From these suggestions I was able to find a huge roll of hydrocolloid dressing from Amazon and get it the next day. You guys were right, using a huge piece helps it to stay on my hand a lot better.
I’m glad it was so minor, I can’t believe the amount of pain and frustration over such tiny wounds.
I believe the Unwritten Forum Rules state that you must disclose how you acquired your boo-boo?
Slide out on loose gravel? Over the bars from a pothole? Run off the road by someone rolling coal in his F-250? Unclipped the wrong foot at a stoplight & fell over?
Depending on where you are in the healing cycle, the dressing may get some fluid in it. Leave it on. Do not drain and change the dressing if it is otherwise in good condition and shows no sign of infection. Clean wounds heal better when they are moist.
I believe the Unwritten Forum Rules state that you must disclose how you acquired your boo-boo?
Slide out on loose gravel? Over the bars from a pothole? Run off the road by someone rolling coal in his F-250? Unclipped the wrong foot at a stoplight & fell over?
Sigh, it is even worse than unclipping the wrong foot.
I lost my best running buddy a few years ago, 14,000 miles running with our Dobermann. Our new Dobie is old enough to run now and I have almost got her trained. Emphasis on the almost. She loves interval day. She loves intervals more than chasing squirrels. She loves them so much that sometimes she gives me kisses on my knee while we are running intervals. Well, last week she was excited about intervals and a little extra excited because it was unexpectedly cool. When the interval started she surged ahead and our feet collided in just the wrong way. I couldn’t salvage anything out of the situation because I had to roll sideways to keep from falling on her. The concrete got my knees and palms and then my right thigh as I tried to stay off her. Thankfully she is fine and was completely oblivious as to why I was rolling on the ground.
Needless to say, she is getting extra training sessions daily.
Sigh, it is even worse than unclipping the wrong foot.
Nah - that’s a cute story, stick with it
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Few other things to note about hydrocolloid dressings.
It probably won’t hurt to apply a piece or two of 3M transpore tape to secure everything. Most dressings come with an adhesive border, but one often needs to cut things down a bit to get everything to fit.
Also, the thing won’t stay in place if you are cycling. The dressing is soft and rubbery enough that the gripping of the handlebar would deform it.
It will reek after 2-3 days. Be prepared. You may also want to use bedding that’s bleachable. I use it despite of the drawbacks (actually needed it for my palm on 2 occasions).
Speedy recovery!
I’ve used the hydrocolloidal dressing when I removed a chunk of my palm with kitchen shears, it worked well and healed up a lot in a week. I think I changed the dressing once after 3 days.
YES this!!! I also consider gloves to be my 2nd PPE when riding. Yes I put them on in a triathlon too - I’d rather lose 5 seconds in an ironman than lose all the skin on my palms if i fell. Plus I feel like I don’t have an appropriate grip on the bars without them (sweaty hands and all).
The quick rate of recovery is why I put up with the annoyance of the stench and shifting of the dressing when I cycle.
The stuff is most amazing for large-area abrasions (e.g. somewhere on the leg). Just slap on entire pieces, and the thing promotes healing all the while not leaving much (if any) scars.
And wear gloves on the bike. Helmets are important, but gloves are a close second. Road rash on legs, backs, and shoulders is pretty bad, but skinned palms is right up there on the pain scale, and pain in the arse scale.
You are right! I typically always race with gloves, I’ll some times train with gloves. I hit oil coming down a mountain in Rwanda, gloves could have help the amount of skin that I lost but I was still losing some. All of my clothes were destroyed. In Ohio, they absolutely would have saved my hands. I hit a sink hole that hadn’t cracked through the pavement yet. In slow motion my hands were bounced off the hoods and went straight to the road as I tumbled off the bike.
And wear gloves on the bike. Helmets are important, but gloves are a close second. Road rash on legs, backs, and shoulders is pretty bad, but skinned palms is right up there on the pain scale, and pain in the arse scale.
And I can’t do my job without functioning palms. £30 gloves pay back in <20 minutes of lost work.
And wear gloves on the bike. Helmets are important, but gloves are a close second. Road rash on legs, backs, and shoulders is pretty bad, but skinned palms is right up there on the pain scale, and pain in the arse scale.
And I can’t do my job without functioning palms. £30 gloves pay back in <20 minutes of lost work.And finger tips. Gotta be long-fingered glove. Not trying to judge, but i’ve got a mortgage and a child and type at work, so it would be stupid - idiotic - to not wear long gloves all the time. So dumb. But that’s just me - maybe that doesn’t matter to other people. Maybe they can afford it or it’s worth it to look “pro” with short gloves or not gloves. That’s on them. YMMV. To me it’d be foolish w/o the PPE of gloves on my finger tips. That’s just me.
And I can’t do my job without functioning palms. £30 gloves pay back in <20 minutes of lost work.
I do NOT want to know what field you’re in