I fell at a stoplight!!

[j.nurse63]

:o
Well, I guess in the back of my mind I thought it may happen but I wasn't prepared for the potential results....
Started my ride last night and was even excited for icecream!!! I got 4 miles out and came to a stoplight, unclipping on my left as I always do. Stopped and leaned left....then, somehow in the midst of conversation lost my center of gravity or something and teatered to the right. Down I went...and felt the snap immediately...!!! Yes, I now have a trimalleolar fracture of the right ankle! :eek:
I never had time to think about attempting to unclip the right! I had been sooooo comfortable cycling with clips/pedals!!
Motorists were concerned and helpful. My sons came to get me but before they arrived the Chief of the Fire Dept. stopped...really encouraged an ambulance and finally I agreed. Boys took the bike home and off I went to the hospital. Long story short...no beds at the hospital so I am home awaiting the ortho surgeon to call for this morning surgery. And this foot hurts!
I type this on the porch, in a splint...hungry (nothing after midnight :mad:) and a bit scared. I am sad about the riding. :( It is such a wonderful part of my life! I am a nurse so work is a huge issue...my boys were wonderful last night but they both leave for college in 2 weeks...then it is just me for the first time. (empty nest and recent divorce) My youngest is headed for Hawaii University and we were going together....that's not happening! No weightbearing for min. 6 weeks. CRAP!!!!!!!

OK...one step at a time (HA...no pun intended!) I'll get through today and figure out the rest. You can't change things...just work hard and heal!

So, if I could ask for good thoughts as my day rolls on. Thanks ladies! I love this site and all the support over the last few months!

ciao,
Jean

good news!!! no scratches on my beautiful bike! Handlebars may need adjustment...

[KnottedYet]

(((((j.nurse63)))))

[OakLeaf]

Ow ow ow (((((jnurse)))))

Good thoughts for your surgery and recovery - heal quick!

[pardes]

My Goodness Jean, I am so sorry to hear of your accident. It makes me want to come over and make chicken soup and help you plan you big bike ride when your ankle is better.

[crazycanuck]

:( Owie! I can assure you that the time off your bike will go quickly :) . I know people will tell you however you need to believe it!

Be kind to yourself & rest!!

:)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

oh my gosh that is awful. So sorry! :(

I am a big fan of people riding their new bikes for a while without clipless just so they can get comfortable with leaning the bike confidently to a certain side while stopping and starting, getting used to pushing off on your pedal, getting your foot ready to come down well before you stop, etc. When I read stories of newish riders falling over in traffic at intersections it really makes me uncomfortable.

Heal quickly. My advice is to try some regular pedals for a little while when you get back on your bike, until you get really confident in stopping in traffic. :o

[rij73]

Oh my! I'm so sorry... I fell over twice in my first week with clipless pedals, but all I had were very minor bruises. I can't believe you got a fracture from tipping over! That's awful... And terrible timing with your son going to college. So sorry.

Hang in there! We'll all be thinking about you.

[Grog]

Big hug - I hope you heal quickly.

[rachael24]

Sounds like not a whole lot of fun. Hope you get better soon! :p

[emily_in_nc]

So sorry to hear about your fall and fracture! I hope your surgery will be uneventful, and your healing quick. Big bummer about not getting to go to Hawaii! :(

It all sounds vaguely reminiscent of my "big crash" of '05. I touched my DH's rear wheel with my front wheel when two dogs ran out right at me. I crashed and broke my pelvis in three places, in hospital for five days, surgery, no weight bearing for eight weeks. We had a dream trip to the BVI booked the following month that we had to postpone until 7 months later.

One bike ride can definitely change your life. Best wishes for a quick recovery for you.

Emily

[mimitabby]

Do you need some books to read? Tell us what you like and we'll inundate you!
and LOOSEN those cleats on your pedals. Your ankle shouldn't be the first thing that gives, the cleat should be.

Get well soon. Stick with us, we'll keep you company!

[Possegal]

Agreed with mimi - how can we help? I feel so bad for you and I'm sure many of us would love to help you deal with the down time!

[Smilie]

Oh no, I am so sorry. That just is rotten luck. I have done that before, not to the extent you have, but feel just like a dork, falling while stopped.:rolleyes:

You could use crutches and ride the little carts at the airport, would hate to miss a trip to Hawaii. Sending you good vibes.

[cosc]

So sorry about your accident. :( I hope you can find a new passion or catch up with a old one while waiting for a healed ankle.

[cyclingmama]

Oh no, that's terrible! I fell at a stoplight when I was new to clipless, but was fortunate to escape with nothing more than a bruised and bleeding elbow and some road rash. I'm so so sorry about your broken ankle.

Hawaii sounds like a lovely place to recuperate to me. I hope there is a way you can make your trip happen after all.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

hey if you're in Mass I can come by and entertain you while I learn how to do a 'manual'. Now talk about non stop laughter....

Seriously hit me up if you need help!

BTW I am selling my clipless on ebay. Seems that all my foot problems started when I tried to go clipless. And cramming my foot between two rocks didn't help either. Ah well. No loss. Expensive tho. PT is not cheap.

[LoriO]

I've done that before, thankfully all I came away with was a lot of bruises and the loss of a few layers of skin.

OUch, you must be hurting you poor thing. Let us know what the ortho says!

Just wanted to add that I see you are in Longmeadow. I'm probably about an hour away from youin CT, but if you need anything let me know, I can shoot on up 91!

[coyote]

Wow, thats just horrible. Its a drag about Hawaii. Perhaps you can spend Christmas there :D

Hope your surgery goes well and you mend quickly

[amy]

Ouch. That's really terrible. I came sooo close to having a similar fall today. I almost always unclip with the left. I made the conscious choice to "go right" for a change... I unclipped, stepped down, and then my exhausted body (after 20 miles in the heat) decided to lean left. I almost didn't get my foot out. I let out a little shriek just before it finally snapped out. I just pretended no one noticed.

Feel better soon!

[Tokie]

Owie Jnurse! "Keep your toes above your nose" and be sure to see if it's ok with your surgeon if you can take ibuprofen after your surgery. I had surgery on my broken thumb this spring, and put the codeine away quickly when given the ok to take ibuprofen-it worked very well. Be sure to not hop on your non-operative leg, I've had at least one patient injure her knee doing that, and then she had to have knee surgery on her "good" leg too. If you're too tired or woozy to use your crutches you can always scoot backwards on your butt!(at least in the privacy of your home)Propelling yourself around on a wheeled desk chair is sketchy too - don't be tempted! How disappointing to miss seeing your son off to Hawaii! Good time to read up on all the things you will see and do there when you are back on your feet! And after your ankle starts to feel better, you can catch up on all the sleep that a working woman never gets quite enough of! Good luck - it looks like you have a few TE neighbors to meet in your neck of the woods! Tokie

[j.nurse63]

hey if you're in Mass I can come by and entertain you while I learn how to do a 'manual'. Now talk about non stop laughter....

Seriously hit me up if you need help!

BTW I am selling my clipless on ebay. Seems that all my foot problems started when I tried to go clipless. And cramming my foot between two rocks didn't help either. Ah well. No loss. Expensive tho. PT is not cheap.

Tahoe...are you here in MA visiting?? Work??

Believe me when I tell you ladies that there was noooo bed at the hospital so I had to wait until today for surgery! :confused:
I go in for 1 PM and will need to spend the night. Probably a good thing. I have two wonderful college boys who have been awsome helping me so far...BUT, first day post-op may not be totally without some bathroom help...more than they need to do! :o

Bleeker & Mimi, I had been soooo comfortable making the transition from flat pedals to cages to clipless...it was interesting that it was happening so effortlessly. My bike was perfect and life was GREAT on it!! The Speedplays I have were set at the lowest resistance so getting out was a dream! I was actually out when I was "done" falling. Frankly, I think I really fought the fall and that may be the reason my ankle took the hit. I should have just gone over...would have been less angled as I hit the ground. Oh well....

I have some new books for the next several weeks. Hawaii will come next spring when I have vacation time again! I am a healthy woman and things could be sooo much worse. THANKS again for the hugs and concern. Today will be long...but I look forward to having stability in the ankle. This temporary cast is not cutting it! :eek:

Jean

[j.nurse63]

I've done that before, thankfully all I came away with was a lot of bruises and the loss of a few layers of skin.

OUch, you must be hurting you poor thing. Let us know what the ortho says!

Just wanted to add that I see you are in Longmeadow. I'm probably about an hour away from youin CT, but if you need anything let me know, I can shoot on up 91!

LoriO....I always wanted to tell you that I LOVE your pic! It makes me laugh everytime!
I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the help. :)

[j.nurse63]

So sorry to hear about your fall and fracture! I hope your surgery will be uneventful, and your healing quick. Big bummer about not getting to go to Hawaii! :(

It all sounds vaguely reminiscent of my "big crash" of '05. I touched my DH's rear wheel with my front wheel when two dogs ran out right at me. I crashed and broke my pelvis in three places, in hospital for five days, surgery, no weight bearing for eight weeks. We had a dream trip to the BVI booked the following month that we had to postpone until 7 months later.

One bike ride can definitely change your life. Best wishes for a quick recovery for you.

Emily

Wow!!! That sounds like it was quite a mend and painful! Glad you are healed and riding again! The no weight bearing for 6 weeks is gonna drive me NUTS! But, Physical Therapy while healing should keep me feeling strong.
Thanks, Jean

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Ahh the wonderful world of PT aka Painful Torture. I think I'm coming up on my last visit. I tell you it's so painful for me but afterward I feel so great.

I'm in Mass, I am trying to decide if I want to live her permanently (as permanent as permanent gets for me means my KitchenAid mixer is on the counter). I'll have to look up where you are, I'm 'pre Cape' in Marion.

[tuckerbrown]

Sorry to hear about the your fall Jean. Wish you well and a quick recovery. I am new to riding and had my bike for a month or so and thought I was ready for clipless pedals Well, first day out I fell at a stop sign. Luckily no one was around. Had a big bruise on my thigh. 2 days later lost balance and went down in my driveway in the flowerbed. This was all in May. Was doing pretty good and then 2 weeks ago I took a bigger fall on the road with a car behind me. Wasn't thinking. Was all excited that I hit 300 miles. Ripped open my knee and really hurt my wrist. I have only been out 3 times since then and I am changing back to pedals this week. Maybe after several months I might feel different and want them back on.

[j.nurse63]

Hi everyone,

Surgery went very well yesterday and I am home tonight about 7:30 pm. First week is the hardest...that is true! Ankle hurts, toes are numb (circulation is great...warm and pink) and my backside is already sore from sitting.
Man...a long 6 weeks! Started reading "The Lobster Chronicles" by Linda Greenlaw. Seems to be great so far.

My boys are around through the middle of August. I'll have some help then. After that, I just need to ask my friends for some help.

Positive thinking and good therapy and healing and I will ride in October!!

Thanks!
jean

[emily_in_nc]

Good for you, Jean!

Recovery seems so slow at the time (but I did enjoy all the reading I got to do when I was recovering), but when you look back a couple of years later, you'll be amazed at how long ago it seems, and such a short time in the scheme of a life. Heal fast, but enjoy being a bit pampered for awhile. Do stuff you wouldn't normally have time to do. Nap. Talk on the phone. And read read read!

Emily