returning from a traumatic brain injury

[loopybunny]

I think it's safe to say that last Friday was the worst day of my life. I crashed my bike while on a group ride going between 25-30 mph when, according to witnesses, another cyclist pulled in front of me. I was out cold for 15-20 min and in and out of consciousness for a couple of hours.

After a couple of CT scans, an MRI, and some x-rays, doctors determined that I had a grade 3 concussion with a some minor bleeding on the brain. No broken bones and skin completely in tact (seriously, no road rash, just bruising). My Giro Ionos saved my life.

I spent a couple of days in two different hospitals and saw about 15 different doctors. I was told that it could take me 3 weeks to a year before I feel back to normal.

Only one nurse had any personal experience recovering from a severe head injury. I'm looking for stories from other cyclists regarding how long it took them before they were back on the bike.

Of course, this may all be moot if I find out my bike is totaled. Still waiting for the verdict regarding a dent in the top tube.

I also want to point out how awesome the cycling community has been during my ordeal. I've gotten get well wishes from people all over the world including a few pro cyclists and ex pros. I've even had offers for bike parts and replacement clothing!

(Please note that this is being typed on my iPhone because I can't sit up long enough at the computer. I apologize for any typing errors.)

[Biciclista]

goodness, I am sorry to hear this. A friend of ours had a head injury and saw double for over a year. She's out riding normally now, but for a while she could only ride on the back of a tandem.

[NbyNW]

Wow, I'm glad you're well enough to let us know how you are doing!

I don't have experience with this type of injury, but I wish you a smooth recovery. Be good to yourself.

[maillotpois]

Wow - what an ordeal. I am so glad you are ok enough to write this post. Please take care of yourself. Don't expect too much too soon. Heal. Big hug to you.

[jobob]

Hi loopybunny -

I was in a crash similar to yours, on the last Saturday in March two years ago - hey, that's right, I have an anniversary coming up! I was training for the Markleeville Death Ride at the time, with melissam, dachshund, and our esteemed coach maillotpois.

Here's a thread that described the crash & its immediate aftermath, according to MP, Mel, and Amy-- to this day I remember nothing about it! -- and assorted silliness mixed in with updates on my condition during that first month.
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=30027

I had a vertebra compression fracture, so I had to wear a back brace for a few months, and I had a bit of nerve damage which gave me double vision for a few weeks. And I had some cognitive problems for a short time.

Here's my helmet, I still keep it out on our sideboard, with Emmaline nestled in it. It served me well!
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showp...7&postcount=14

I also wrote a lot in my blog about my recovery:
http://callmepokey.blogspot.com/2009...oing-well.html

I started riding a trainer again at the end of May:
http://callmepokey.blogspot.com/2009...m-sort-of.html

I was finally able to ditch my back brace in early July. So I went out for a short ride to celebrate!
http://callmepokey.blogspot.com/2009...-for-real.html

This was my 6 month update:
http://callmepokey.blogspot.com/2009...ago-today.html

So, it took a while, but I'm happy to tell you I completely recovered. Well, I still have the bump on my back, but it doesn't affect me in the least. The only lingering symptom I have is that my speech tends to slur easily when I'm tired, or after 1 beer. Oh well.

And, I rode the Death Ride this past summer. I wasn't as into it this time around, in large part because I was going through oodles of crap at work at the time, so I only rode half of it. Eh, it's better than the alternative.

I hope this helps.

The only advice I can give you is, try to be patient (easier said, I know!), and be kind to yourself.

{hugs}, - Jo.

[Kiwi Stoker]

Sorry to hear about your crash. Be gentle with yourself, expect up and downs on how you are feeling and do rest and keep on TE for support. I had a major crash (shoulder destroyed, thankfully not my head) almost 3 years ago and still working through things now.

A member of my cycle club had a major head injury. He was going down a steep descent and his jacket stuffed in his pocket came out and lodged in his back wheel. He fell off backwards on his bike (bike OK) and hit his head. Of course helmets are not really designed for backwards falls.

He spent 3 weeks in a head trauma clinic as he had short term memory loss (couldn't remmebr what happened during the day). However I must say- he was back riding after 4 months. He recovered for his head injury in 2 months. Considering he also broke ribs etc in this fall I think that was pretty amazing.

Another member fell while riding and we found him out cold in the ditch. His head injury affected one of his eyes- it refused to focus and gave him double vision. He started riding again after 6 months with an eye patch over that eye, but did lots of riding with a small group of people he knew because he couldn't see on his blind side and didn't want to crash again.

+1 for stoking on a tandem- that's what I have done. You can close your eyes and don't worry about things while your legs turn over. Also spin classes kept me sane while I was off the road.

And yes, the best people who know what you are going through are other riders. I would go out to my club on Sundays just to have a coffee and lunch with my friends and other riders because they understood and gave me all the love and support I needed. including answering my emails I typed at 2am in the morning when I couldn't sleep because of the pain, telling me to go to the doctor when I got very down and blue and lending me magazines, DVDs, telephone calls and taking me out for coffee. It's wonderful what the cycling community does to support the injured!

[zoom-zoom]

Loopy, so glad that you're well enough to have (flawlessly) typed all that on your phone (I couldn't ever do that on a good day! ). I'm sorry you experienced this. I hope your recovery goes better than expected and that you can be back on your bike soon.

[Roadtrip]

+1 on the well wishes and speedy recovery. That's some scary stuff and so glad the helmet did it's job!! We all enjoy going fast and often forget how easily it can go wrong.

Thanks for posting and hope you're feeling better soon!!

Shannon

[Veronica]

Hope you have a speedy recovery!

Veronica

[SpeedyChix]

I'm looking for stories from other cyclists regarding how long it took them before they were back on the bike.

Go by how your feel. But biggest mistake I made was failing to rest, rest some more and oh, by the way .... rest. Seriously sleep is critical. Might be good to inquire if the docs feel it's wise to do a follow-up scan on the bleeding too.

You'll know when you're ready to go. But start inside on a trainer. Bumps / jarring hurt. If you find you're getting tired, grumpy, have trouble typing, speaking, seeing, etc. It's still messing with you. Some of the aftereffects from a concussion can last a long time.

Once you do decide to go outside to ride, have company, go very easy. Again, if your head hurts, head back home and stick to non-jarring activities.

To a speedy recovery.

[ladyicon]

Geeez, put a lump in my throat. God speed on your recovery.

[lo123]

Only one nurse had any personal experience recovering from a severe head injury. I'm looking for stories from other cyclists regarding how long it took them before they were back on the bike.

I'm so sorry to hear about your wreck.

I wrecked on October 12, 2010 on an evening group ride. The last thing I remember was seeing a set of fountains at a particular park. Everything is pretty hazy for the next 7 days--I only remember flashes. Anyway, I fractured my skull (and got a lovely laceration, now scar, on my right temple) and had a subarachnoid hemhorrage (bleed on the brain). I spent 3 days in the ICU in an induced coma.

After effects: The first week home I was just a bum. I had massive headaches and vertigo. I was drugged up on pain pills and slept most of the time. I went back to work part time after 2.5 weeks. It took me 1 month before I could drive. It was probably mid-December before the daily headaches reduced to a few a week. I had some concentration and memory issues, but nothing severe.

I've been in a research study for TBI at the local research hospital. They've said that for the severity of the crash and damage that I'm very lucky how quickly I've recovered. I'll chalk it up to being a hardheaded *****.

I went for my first ride on New Years Day. It was only a short loop around the high school campus by my house, but it gave me the confidence that I could do it. (I did spend a good amount of time on the trainer before then).

Since then, I've done 8 rides of increasing length/intensity. One of which my hubby organized as a welcome back group ride with all my friends (many of whom were present at my wreck). The cycling community has been great. Many folks were there in the hospital checking in on my husband and me, and coming to check on me after I got home.

It's been a long road, but I do feel like I'm finally recovered. I have sworn off night rides. I don't remember the wreck, but I know that railroad tracks were involved. I don't see all that well at night anyway, and it's just not worth the risk anymore. I'm replacing my winter night rides with spin class and running.

I hope you recover well. Just be patient with yourself.

[loopybunny]

I'm trying to be more independent because my mom is leaving tomorrow so I tried making myself nachos for a snack. I couldn't remember how to open the bag of chips. Then I got dizzy and disoriented and spilled cheese on the floor.

I'm also quite sick of having a constant headache and being sensitive to sounds. I'm hopeful this will go away soon.

My main concern right now is that my vision in the left eye is not what it used to be. I'll talk to my doctor tomorrow.

[marni]

I was sick dizzy and cruising on pain meds because of broken ribs for about six weeks, then I weaned off the pain meds because the ribs were starting to heal up. Dizziness had reduced down to just if I stood up suddenly or when I lay down in bed at night. I started in with easy stationary and recumbent biking at 8 weeks and eased into cardio rate and some intensity over the next three weeks. Took my first road bike ride at 12 weeks, with someone riding along with me just in case. Did a short and very easy 25. The dizziness at night continued for another couple of weeks and gradually eased off and was totally gone by about 4 1/2 months. Only thing I really notice now is that I seem to have lost a bit more short term memory, so write copious steps by step lists to compensate, but then I am also going through the menopause process yet again because of breast cancer chemo therapy issues, and menopause the first time did a real trip on my brain. I am resigned to being ditzy and totally absent minded and not dizzy. I should also point out that the whole episode was probably more severe because it was the second head hit/helmet/ accident in two months.

[redrhodie]

I'm trying to be more independent because my mom is leaving tomorrow so I tried making myself nachos for a snack. I couldn't remember how to open the bag of chips. Then I got dizzy and disoriented and spilled cheese on the floor.

I'm also quite sick of having a constant headache and being sensitive to sounds. I'm hopeful this will go away soon.

My main concern right now is that my vision in the left eye is not what it used to be. I'll talk to my doctor tomorrow.

Do you have anyone else to help? Or, can you go home with your mom to recover with her care a little longer? It sounds like you still could use some help. I know you want to get back to normal as soon as possible, but maybe that will happen faster if you get more rest.