1st crash too

[doc]

First, Yvonne I feel your pain. Literally! Heal fast.

Now here's my story. At 5am today I was out riding with my usual posse. A new, inexperienced guy joined us. He was 2 riders ahead of me. He slammed on the brakes while we were in a paceline doing over 20mph. The guy in front of me touched his wheel and fell. It was one of those slow motion things. I saw him fall and slowly saw myself ride right into him. There was no choice. I was too close to turn. I did aim for his bike instead of his body. Then I flipped over the downed rider and managed to land flat on my back. Right there in the road I knew it wasn't good. 1 CT scan later and I now know I fractured my 5th sacral vertebra. (That is just above the coccyx). So I literally broke my ***. The other guy had some nice road rash but his bike was pretty beat up. My bike was fine. I think I would trade if I could! Weird thing is I have no road rash at all, but I do have a fat bloody lip. Where'd that come from?

I really want back on the bike. NOW. I know there have been lots of injuries. How do you pass the time when you can't ride??

[Adventure Girl]

Sorry to hear about your crash! I hope you mend quickly and completely!

Riding with a newbie is always risky. I try to avoid them and stay in front of them when I can. You get used to the regulars in your group. The, um... irregulars are sometimes shaky with their group riding skills.

Cookies might help you feel better. :)

[SnappyPix]

Doc, OWWW. So SO sorry to hear about your crash.
The biggest virtual <<hugs>> are on their way to you.
What a rough deal. I hope you recover quickly sweetie. x

[Veronica]

Yikes! Hope you heal up soon!

V.

[pkq]

Sorry to hear about the crash. Ouch! Is that a hard area to heal?

[runnergirl]

Ouch!!! how long will you be off the bike?

Hope you're not in too much pain!

[doc]

Thanks for all the well wishes. Off the bike 6-8 weeks :(
Any ideas how to pass the time, stay fit and not go crazy?

[DirtDiva]

Hope your recovery is swift and that the time off the bike tends toward six weeks rather than eight. Hmm, not sure what you can do to keep fit with that kind of injury... Can you swim with a broken arse? Like, pulling with your arms rather than a lot of kicking? Guess you'll have to talk with your doc(s).

[mtbdarby]

Doc,
So sorry about the crash. I'll be praying for a speedy recovery. What restrictions do you have with it? Do you have to lay on your side/stomach, what kind of mobility, etc. My bf just crashed the other day and landed the same way on a rock (mtb). Luckily he only bruised the coccyx but he's got a lump from there down to his left cheek. He has a really hard time walking up steps and sitting upright.

Keep us posted on your recovery.

[caligurl]

OMG! OUCH! so sorry to hear about your crash and hope you are back on the bike soon...

uhm.... see.... i'm glad i don't paceline and do all my rides on my own power! :eek: :eek: :eek: sounds a LOT safer!!!!!!

[CorsairMac]

sending healing wishes your way Doc!! Off the bike for 6-8 wks?? That has to be a royal pain in the........oh yeah right...it is! ;) You might ask your Doctor what he/she advises and/or do you belong to a gym?? They may offer things like water aerobics or some of the other softer workout routines or a personal trainer that might be able to steer you in the right direciton.

[bikerchick68]

yikes... I'm so sorry to hear about your crash! I am working (coaching) with a newbie right now... and she is learning all about group riding, drafting, how to point out road hazards etc... safety, safety, safety... group riding is definitely a skill that is different from the others required to ride safely...

healing thoughts coming your way...

[emily_in_nc]

Doc,

I sure am sorry to hear about your crash! I was off my bike for 3.5 months after my pelvic fracture in April, and it was very hard to miss such a nice part of the cycling season (well, until the really hot weather came in late June/July!) However, I was allowed to start riding gently on the indoor trainer after 8 weeks, and that was sooooo nice, just to be "riding" again.

While I was healing I made good use of my time. I did a lot of exercising indoors (prescribed by physical therapy), of course, but I also read books (never have time to read more than magazines in normal life, it seems), made some macrame bracelets, watched TV and videos, emailed buddies and chatted on the phone, entertained visitors who came to see how I was doing, kept a journal (see link below), and so forth. I couldn't bear weight on the right side for 8 weeks so was limited in what I could from a physical perspective, but I did lift weights for my upper body at home (dumbbells), just so I didn't lose all muscle tone there.

Hope you heal up fast and this causes you no long-term problems. Keep your chin up - the time will pass faster than you think!

Emily

[profàvélo]

Doc, so sorry to hear about your crash. Okay, ladies, let's make a list of things Doc can do in her new spare time.

1. Organize those recipes.
2. Vacuum behind the refrigerator. (Oh, wait--you probably shouldn't do that yet. Too heavy.)
3. ...

[Jo-n-NY]

doc, i am sorry to hear about your injury. i am in the injury boat also. i am glad my brother was riding far enough behind me so at least he stayed crash free.

did the dr tell you what you can and cannot do? i cannot imagine with your type of injury.

well wishes sent your way also and yes, recovery in 6 not 8 weeks as i am really hoping for 4 wks not 6 for me.

ok now to try to find yvonnes injury thread. if everything happens in 3s i guess i made the 3rd.

[Kimred]

Ohh Newbies. It's so hard you want to encourage and make them feel welcome but keep your distance. I've did tons of Mass start races elbow to elbow tire to tire No problem. Get me on a "rec tour" with newbies and rec riders only and I am more stressed because they don't know what a straight line is, never looking backing before moving around and eventually I race ahead because I cannot stand the stress, go figure. Defintly give all newbies a good safety 101 before starting with a group. I did a racing clinic and we had to ride in packs and a new guy's bike would go in whatever direction he was looking sometimes at me when he was talking. Finally I told him to look straight and he laughed then the other guy in our group piped up and we both got on him pretty good. He took it great and improved alot! Most riders want the advice if you see them doing something wrong.

Good Luck!
Kim

[kestrel]

Heya Doc,

Awww! Sorry to hear of your crash! Hope you rest and heal up properly!

Is there PT that you have to do or what happens when you have to wait for that fracture to heal?

[doc]

Thanks again everybody for all the quick healing vibes you're sending out. It's been a week and a half and I intend to go to the gym today and lift weights very carefully, keeping my pelvis still at all times. Luckily I can walk. Not too fast but... I'm also going to just see what it feels like to spin the pedals on a stationary bike without resistance. You never know!

[profàvélo]

How did the workout go? Are you able to spin? How about the weights?

[doc]

I am thrilled. I chose my weight lifting routine carefully and that went well. Very little pain. Plus, I could spin so long as I didn't stand up. Woo hooo

[DeniseGoldberg]

Doc -
Wow, too many accidents out there... I was out of reach of this board for two weeks, and I just saw this thread about your crash. I'm sending wishes for a fast recovery your way.

I'm glad to hear that spinning worked well for you today. After my crash last year, I was off of my bike for 6 weeks. In that time my only exercise was walking. It was the only thing I was given the ok to do initially because of a broken pelvic bone. I'd have to say that your successful attempt at spinning sounds like a good thing. Can you walk as well, or does the location of your fracture make that not a good idea?

--- Denise

[doc]

Strangely enough, walking is painful. Walking slowly is ok, but there is something about the long strides I take when walking quickly must twist my pelvis in such a way that it irritates the fracture. Go figure. But I am definitely having less pain every day, so no complaints here. It could always be worse. Way worse.

[kestrel]

That's so cool! Congrats!! :) :) :)

!!!I'm so jealous!!!

I went spinning, too, for the first time after my labor day crash! Woo! Which did not turn out so well. No pain, but soon the headache turned into nausea. Couldn't breathe.. And I got those shaky chills. *WAH!!!*

I'd love to whine that you're lucky, but really! Pelvic fracture!!! WOW! You're just so HARDCORE!!! Woo! =)

Best of recoveries to you!

[doc]

It never ceases to amaze me that although we are all humans with nearly 100% identical DNA, we are all so different. We process drugs differently, we process nutrients differently, we fight infections differently, we deal with physical injury differently, and we sure deal with emotional injury differently. Although we are supposed to be the same, no two human engines actually run the same. Listen to your body. Trust the messages it sends you.

I had to stop any pain meds including ibuprofen 1 week after my injury. They were working so well, I had no pain. Then with no pain, I would do too much. I don't need to tell what happened next: Really bad pain! Pain is an important message to STOP. So was your nausea and headache. Go for healthy diet and mild exercise. Work up slowly. I got lucky this time.