How long will I be off the bike?

[kimba]

Hi- I know most of you aren't doctors, but I figure there's a ton of experience here- so I'll just ask.
By now, I'm sure a lot of you know about my leg- giant hematoma in the thigh. The doctor told me to rest, ice and elevate it- which I have been doing, when I can, since I walk at work.

But- he didn't really give me a time frame. It's been 5 days now- so do you think it's safe to ride a bit?

I've been getting horror stories from people about - "you better be careful - my (fill in the blank relative/friend/acquaintance/dog)had one of those and got a blood clot and ( fill in the other blank - fell asleep forever/ lost their limbs/ died a horrible death/became invisible/became a carrot - you see what I mean, right?)But now they've got me concerned...y'know kinda freaked out.

I was aware of some of the potential for a clot whatever- and I specifically asked the doctor about it. He seemed unconcerned, and said just watch it- if I had flu like symptoms, unusual pain and swelling...etc..come back or go to the hospital.

Well- I've got none of that. Still very swollen - technicolour thigh- but- how do I know when to start cycling again? I mean- wait til the swelling goes right down? It's gonna be purple for WEEKS!!!

Y'know- usually the doctor says...stay off it for 2 weeks- and I'm back on it in like 3 days- so-
any suggestions?


Kimba
don't wanna be an sleepy invisible cabbage....

[bounceswoosh]

I think you should call the doctor and ask. Your doctor has seen this thing in person and has medical training; two advantages that pretty much everyone on this forum will lack. If you don't have a doctor who's sympathetic to the concerns of people with active/adventurous lifestyles, now is a good time to start shopping around. (If they tell you not to ride every time you get a little booboo, they're probably not the right doctor for you.)

Also, if you do go riding, be a bit conservative. I had a nasty spill last weekend, and I managed to fall onto the *exact same* areas yesterday. Luckily, yesterday's fall was a slo-mo endo that wouldn't even have hurt if it hadn't been for the existing injuries, but -- I had the existing injuries, and yes, they burned like fire. No further damage that I can tell, but it was definitely not the most pleasant experience I've ever had.

[pedalfaster]

Most doctors aren't athletes so I find they tend to be a bit conservative on the whole "time off" issue.

I'll share a happy "It Could Happen to You" story just for balance.



One of my good ridding buddies is also a RN. She crashed her bike and had a nasty bruise. One week later she was doing a long trail run and fell on the exact same spot. Now she had a huge nasty hemotoma (looked similar to the pics you posted) on her thigh. She did the ice and elevation thing.

She took one day off, then started swimmimg. Two days later she did an easy spin. By the end of the week she was running again.
Less than a month later she did an olympic distance tri.

What does this prove?

Nothing.

Just wanted to let you know that not everyone who gets injured ends up with a blood clot and loss of life and limb.

I think her theory was that keeping active would help with blood flow and help with healing. She still has some light bruising and bumpiness in the area, but doesn't seem overly concerned about it (and she does have the benefit of medical training).

[massbikebabe]

Kim:

I am sorry about your crash, but You had me laughing about
your well meaning friends and their stories about blood clots. It reminded me of when I was pregnant for my children and everyone in the world couldn't wait to tell me about labor and delivery!!


karen

[kimba]

Went to the doctor today and she said that I can ride! well- I'm medically cleared to ride, though she advocates rest. Hah! I say!

She also thinks I shouldn't do the charity ride coming up June 6th.
Hah! I say to that too.
I won't be singletrack riding tomorrow- but I believe I will be riding a nice quiet nature trail...

No blood clots! No death by invisibilty!
I shall not be a kumquat!
Yay!

Take that neighbour/friend/acquaintance/loved ones/dogs!
I laugh at your horror stories now!!!

BTW- get this-
I did get an infection IN MY EAR!!! like- the top part of my ear.
From scraping the gravel I guess- there was a bump there- but not a scrape that I could see- my ear was swollen and stuck out from my head!
Yep- I have to put antibiotics on it. Weird huh?

and no- she won't drain this sucker....so I have to walk around with a fat leg- for weeks- until it goes away on it's own.

Kimba
technicolour thigh girl

[bounceswoosh]

Good for you! Get back in that saddle!

Ugh, ear infection. Although at least this sounds like an infection of the skin near the ear, and not a full-blown inner ear infection. Those are awful -- I've had way too many of 'em.

However, be careful -- anything that affects your ear can affect your balance. Don't get on that bike if you're having trouble balancing on two feet!

[kimba]

Yeah- I know- last month I had a wicked viral inner ear problem. I felt like my head was disconnected from my body ...talk about weaving and falling...whooo!

I said if I ever have to live like that 24 - 7 - shoot me now. I couldn't stand it. It may sound flippant- but seriously - I don't think I could cope with that.

But - back to my ear.
It's in the cartiledge on the top of my ear- it's the same as a boxer's cauliflower ear- this is how they start- with a blow to the ear. Now, whether it was caused by my helmet- or my head scraping the ground I don't know. but it was enough that somehow bacteria entered my ear- and set up shop.
The lymph node behind the affected ear is massive and hard.

I have to apply an antibiotic prescription cream to get rid of it.

But I mean- what an ignoble ending!

All that- and I get an infection on my EAR?!

I am grateful though- I got off very easily- no broken bones, no lost teeth, no broken nose, a technicolour thigh that is healing quickly- and a face that's 99 per cent healed up. In 6 days.
Yep- I'm lucky.

Kimba
Ol' Lividity Leg