Silver is Home

[silver]

Silver, let me thank you, I posted a thread yesterday with regards to info on wearing a helmet. After looking at the state of your helmet after the crash, I realise how dumb I have been, in not wearing one.


Sally
x

Sally, I saw your post but didn't want to reply there. I fully believe that I would be a vegetable today if I didn't have my helmet on. Please do wear a helmet, my dear! and thank you for your sweet words.

elaine

[silver]

Silver, wow, you are quite a trooper. Those are some awful-looking owwies!

When I had my crash (April 2005) that fractured my pelvis, I was bad off on the inside, but only had two small scrapes on the outside (thumb and elbow), since I didn't slide but just went right over sideways with all the force going to my hip. My helmet also "looked" perfect, but of course I replaced it anyway, since my head did hit the pavement (after my hip!) I looked a lot better than you on the outside! I would have been an even bigger baby than I was if I'd been all scraped up on the outside -- those things HURT.

Healing wishes!
Emily

Emily, my hip looks ugly but it's still pretty superficial. my biggest pain comes from the broken ribs. and the thing thtat kept me inthe hospital form 10 days was the collapsing lung. but even though the doctors say its ok my pelvic bone hurts. so I've wondered if there's something wrong there.

It hurts to bang the ole hip bone on the pavement, doesn't it?

Emily I'm feeling afraid of riding again. how did you go back?

elaine

[mary9761]

You may not have broken the hip, but you could have BRUISED the bone. I fell once right onto my shin hitting the edge of our concrete steps, I was in terrible pain and the swelling was something aweful, ended up having bruised the bone. I hope you heal up quick, let those pain meds work for ya though. ((((gentle hugs))))
Mary

[bike4ever]

Elaine - I am so glad you are home. Please try to rest. I am also glad you responded to Sally in regards to a helmet.

When I crashed in April (no where near as bad as you), I received a "deep bone bruise" in my left cheek bone. I was lucky it was not broken; unfortunately, it still is uncomfortable at times even today. My doctor at the time told me it can take up to 6 months to heal these type of bruises.

When you can, I would suggest you get up on your bike on a trainer to spin. Get comfortable again with your bike. I know it can be scary back on the road - I am still playing mental games going around corners. Everyone I speak with says this will take time.

Rest and I am glad you had on a helmet.

[silver]

Mary, I think you are right, that there may be some element of bruising there. it just feels loose, like after childbirth. They said everything looked fine on the scans. And I know that a great element is the inactivity when I was on the suction chest tube. I could not be "unplugged" to take walks like theyusually take the patients on to keep them moving. I'd have to move around a small 4x4 foot space in my room.

Mary thank you for your continued kind words. I'm soooo glad that we got to meet at the Hilly. I only wish that I gotten to spend more time with you.

[silver]

Elaine - I am so glad you are home. Please try to rest. I am also glad you responded to Sally in regards to a helmet.

When I crashed in April (no where near as bad as you), I received a "deep bone bruise" in my left cheek bone. I was lucky it was not broken; unfortunately, it still is uncomfortable at times even today. My doctor at the time told me it can take up to 6 months to heal these type of bruises.

When you can, I would suggest you get up on your bike on a trainer to spin. Get comfortable again with your bike. I know it can be scary back on the road - I am still playing mental games going around corners. Everyone I speak with says this will take time.

Rest and I am glad you had on a helmet.

Thank you, that sounds like a good idea. Right at first Ifelt so determined to get back on the back on the bike, but as the days go on and dealing with this pain in reality (trying to go about my regular life, not in the hospital with lots of vistiors stopping by to tell me how great I'm doing) now I'm getting so fearful and teary about trying to ride again.

I feel quilty for having the Madone sitting downstairs in my kitchen and for causing everyone so much trouble.

elaine (feeling whiney this morning)

[DeniseGoldberg]

Right at first I felt so determined to get back on the back on the bike, but as the days go on and dealing with this pain in reality (trying to go about my regular life, not in the hospital with lots of vistiors stopping by to tell me how great I'm doing) now I'm getting so fearful and teary about trying to ride again.

I feel quilty for having the Madone sitting downstairs in my kitchen and for causing everyone so much trouble.

elaine (feeling whiney this morning)

Elaine -
Try not to feel guilty about not riding. Right now it's much more important to give yourself time to heal, and to ease back into both your normal daily life and riding. Your bike will still be there when you're ready; I'm sure she is patiently waiting.

I don't know if it will help you any, but recovery from my own crash experience took longer than I expected initially. I was off of my bike totally for 6 weeks, and then it took me a number of months to work up to my previous mileage levels. Give yourself time; I'm sure that you will be back.

--- Denise

[SR500]

Best wishes for continued fast recovery. Feeling good on the bike will take some time. Start slow, ride a trainer some, take it easy, you will be back. The really neat thing is you will LOVE that Madone, riding it will be so much different then your 1000, IT will help you get back as much as anything else.

[mary9761]

I too wish we'd had a little more time together at the Hilly in October. I'm just glad that we saw each other at all in the madness that is pre-ride LOL!! There's always NEXT year. Get well!

[eclectic]

So glad to hear you are home safe and sound. (well almost sound)

Wow - after seeing the pics it really hit home, accidents do happen - I haven't had a bad crash since 1975 and at that I wasn't really injured except for some road rash (I was very lucky - 25mph going down hill and another kid riding with us was screwing around and locked pedals w/ someone else - domino effect - we all went down and slid, and back in the no helmet days)

Healing body and mind thoughts and prayers being sent your way

[Triskeliongirl]

Hi Silver- speaking as another recovered crash victim I totally understand where you are coming from. I broke my pelvis, hip, sacrum and L5 vertebrae when hit by SUV who made an illegal right turn into my hip. At first, I was afraid it would hurt too much to ride a bike, so I just hopped onto a gym exercise bike to see that I could physically do it. But, then I was afraid to face traffic, so I just started back with slow easy rides on a car free bike path. After about a month of this I was ready to face the road. The hardest was facing my commute, and to this day I sometimes get panic attacks on the street I had my accident on. The first time I road through the intersection, I burst into tears, not even realizing how much emotion was stuck inside, but it was also cathartic to get it out. My husband also had a serious crash, and the only way both of us can really enjoy riding again was to make rules that decrease the liklihood of another accident. We don't ride in the dark, we don't ride on wet pavement, we take our descents cautiously, we choose our riding buds carefully, only paceline with folks we feel have good bike handling skills, and try to 'ride within ourselves'. We also ride very defensivley. If we don't make eye contact with a driver, we don't go even if we have the right of way if we think they didn't see us and could end up hitting us. I also think its important to give yourself time to heal. Don't feel guilty about anything, when you are ready to ride again, you'll know. And, remember we are hear when you need to talk about it. -eileen

[BeeLady]

Geeze silver - so glad you are home. Right now job 1 is taking good care of yourself; please don't pressure yourself about if/when you'll be back on your bike. That will take care of itself when the time is right.

You are a brave, tough lady. Please be gentle and patient with yourself!


Eileen - I had no idea about your bad wreck. You mentioned an accident, but
I had no idea it involved an SUV and broken bones! I'm so glad you are back cycling and have the voice of experience to help Silver and others.

[silver]

thank you ladies, dang i'm so emotional tonight.

[latelatebloomer]

Silver, I am so glad you are home and as a human, not a brussel sprout! I wasn't nearly the rider you are when I had my crash (same kind as you, just lower speed, so not so banged up) and I did have to work out some panic. People here really helped out, I took my time but didn't quit. I will always be a cautious rider now - and I think that's a good thing. DH has never gone down, and I hope he never, ever does but I think he's foolhardy sometimes. Hugs to you and Mr.TE

[Bikingmomof3]

((((Silver)))))))
Please give yourself time to heal and allow yourself the emotions. We are here to listen to you. Remember this will take time. Be gentle to yourself and your body.