I just had a baaaad crash...

[silver]

Even though I'm sure you would rather not have the surgery, i think that you will probably be more comfortable after it. And you won't have a big bobble on your collarbone.

Hang in there!!!

[IFjane]

RiRi - hang in there! You will be back on the bike soon. {{{HUGS}}}

Keep us posted on your progress - and let your mom do everything she can for you while she is there!

[luv2ride94]

Bike wrecks suck... but make for great storys My ambulance ride afterwards was the worst too, well not the worst, the worst was when they promised i wouldnt feel anything or remember anything when they reset it.. they were wrong on both parts! Anyway, heal fast, I'll be praying for you and eat lots of JELLO i was told it make your bones fuze faster? Don know if its true but it sure tast good

[run it, ride it]

The orthopaedic surgeon called to tell me that the clavicle plate he ordered should be in tonight and my surgery will happen tomorrow. I'm nervous but excited! I guess my situation is sort of considered an emergency, but I am so thankfull nonetheless the surgeon is willing to do it on a Sunday. I told him straight out more than once that short term discomfort is not an issue to me; future functionality is top priority. I could have just left the bone to heal overlapped, but I will get so much more out of proper corrective surgery--this is the girl who had no qualms about Lasik not one year back, and I don't regret it for a second; I doubt I will regret this.

Oh goodness; cake and ice cream and jello--I'm a vegetarian with a wheat allergy but thank you for the kind words! With the codeine taking its toll I'm not up to eating much of anything. It is, however, doing its job and managing the pain.

I was a little worried when my period came this morning two weeks early--usually I can set a watch to it. But after talking to my mother I realized it was probably due to the intense stresses I've been under over the past few weeks (find my post near the bottom of this page for more detail from the day it all started: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...59#post188659). Basically, I finished my undergrad, boyfriend of three years broke up with me--and since that post, I started seeing a new guy, came off the horse, started mountain-biking pretty hardcore, helped more than four people move across town, had this accident, haven't told work yet--and I still have to move out! My subletter moved in and I'm camping out in the living room. Whew! I'm certainly starting a very new life chapter, but I'm still stuck partway in limbo.

My mother met the new guy I'm seeing and approves--he brought me (homemade meat-free/wheat-free) chilli and (thoughtful) books and movies last night and chatted with us over tea. He loves horses, he actually gets me, has the kindest soul, works with kids, cooks, is going somewhere in life, does as many diverse physical activities as do I (including mtbing) ... not to mention, he is -good-looking- (nordic skiing, rock climbing, soccer and lacrosse--yum). Forget the last guy who never so much as talked to me! I've had two crises in the past week alone and this new guy has been there for me. When my horse threw me onto my head, I feebly called him asking if he'd call me before I went to sleep--instead, he offered to let me stay at his place for the night so he could periodically wake me up. That sweet man held me all night long and never once thought of taking advantage of the situation--and it's not as though there isn't chemistry between us. We have this amazing sensual, intellectual connection--I love that it's not just about sex. But I digress!

My dear mother is more in love, instead, with the guy whose bike I crashed on! I guess I get where she's coming from: he drove me to the er at 5am and wouldn't leave me be till she got here at 3pm. Had to remind her that he has a girlfriend, I'm not necessarily attracted to him in the same way, and I woulda done the same if the tables were turned and say he'd come off my horse instead! But I digress; he IS wonderful regardless, and I have a great support system of new friends and family.

Saw my dad--he is totally on board about the surgery. I'm glad; I trust his opinion as a family physician himself and he answered all my silly questions about anesthesia. My mother, who also works in the healthcare field, has already said she's referred lots of patients to the surgeon who will operate on me and never heard a complaint. It's reassuring to have connections!

My mother cut my sports bra off me today--had to be done eventually, and I plan to attempt a gentle shower later. After trying to determine the best way to rip the seams so it could be resewn, she just sliced through the easiest part and told me she'd buy me a new one as part of my graduation present, as well as replace my very cracked bike helmet.

Then she asked, by the way, was I thinking of anything in particular I wanted for a graduation present? I hadn't much thought about it--my parents raised me well to appreciate what I have and to work hard for everything. But I had no trouble coming up with something more exciting than financial help with the horse's yearly spring innoculations. The first thing that came to mind was: money to go toward a mountain bike! The crash happened on a bike I was borrowing from the guy who got me started in the whole thing (and who my mother secretly wants me to marry), and he's offered to pull some strings helping me find my own bike.

Before my mother had a chance to react, I reminded her that the day we bought my other 'big present' nine years back, the horse, he'd thrown me off thrice and I had to go to the hospital thinking he'd stepped on my cheekbone. And look at all the happiness that horse has brought me since then: all the character he's built; how hard I work to afford to keep him; all we've accomplished; how much we've taught one another.

But far from support my argument, of course, that only reminded me that I needed a new equestrian helmet as well as bike helmet because that very same horse bucked me onto the very same head and shoulder the bike did about one week back. Oops. Not what a parent wants to hear.

Oh boy! Sorry for the novel; you'd think typing with one hand would make for shorter posts, but no such luck! I will keep you ladies updated, and once again, thanks for all the words of support and reassurance (Silver, you come to mind in particular--I remember reading all about your crash and your ability to pull through has certainly inspired me), and am I ever glad to hear I'm not alone for interesting ambulance rides!

[silver]

riri, I so hope that your surgery goes well. Your surgery will be more extensive than the surgery that I had after my wreck, I had to have a chest tube inserted. but I can't help but think that you will really be able to heal up quickly after it's done. I'm so glad that your mom is there. I think no matter how old you are, your mom is the only one who can really take care of you.

My mom came after my wreck and she would come to my room every day and wash my hair in a basin. Ahhh!!!!!!! That made me feel so much better.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you the my period came early after my wreck. They told me in the hospital that is common. This is my theory, the body reacts to extreme physical stress but shutting down all unnecessary (to the body's survival) functions. That includes trying to sustain a baby.

i think that you are like me and that this whole experience will just heighten your appreciation for the physical activities that you enjoy and that once you are back at it (and you WILL be SOON) that you will enjoy them all the more.

Take care!!!!!

[run it, ride it]

pre-surgery. You can see the clavcle overlapping on my left side. I will add more pictures after it is screwed back in place!

[silver]

[SandyLS]

Ouch! That does look painful. I'm glad the codine is helping. Good luck with the surgery tomorrow and best wishes for a quick and full recovery.

[margo49]

You are lucky it didn't puncture. Doesnt look too displaced thought.
Make sure your shoulder doesn't end up dropped after its all over. (Good PT)
Good luck with the surgery.
Eat ice cream (for the calcium).

[run it, ride it]

margo: it is displaced enough to be borderline for surgery--which I wholeheartedly opted for because straightness and evenness is VITAL to me as an equestrian. My horse will not tolerate my riding with a dropped shoulder and my physiotherapist already knows he's going to be put to work!

I will eat plenty of non-wheat yogourt and frogourt for calcium, no worries!

[pooks]

Good luck with your surgery. It sounds like you're already having good luck with finding friends and boyfriends!

[smilingcat]

Hi riri,

You have a wonderful family and a wonderful boy friend. So nice of him to keep an eye on you. To stay up with you most of the night to make sure you are alright. Then drive you to ER. then stay with you until your mother came by. He is really special. You are in good hand. Well, now that you've graduated, maybe this is a good time to take some time off and recouperate. Let your boy friend take care of you for a while.

Wish you the best and a speedy recovery.

[IntenseRide]

I remember watching my husband go over the bars on a very steep downhill, he flipped several times, thank god he separated from his bike. His shoulder hangs down now as it was never set correctly. Actually, he says he has more flexibility now then before , but I will never forget the pain he was in as we walked two miles back to the trailhead. I wish you a 100 percent recovery, sending all the healing thoughts your way I can.

[margo49]

[QUOTE]margo: it is displaced enough to be borderline for surgery--which I wholeheartedly opted for QUOTE]

Good for you!
I was of the near enough is good enough school myself, but am suffering the consequences (later, ie now; or should that be now,ie later?).
Seemed like a good idea at the time and I don't regret it much (or often); but now the kids are bigger if I was in a similar situation I would prob'ly treat things more seriously/thoroughly

[DebW]

Good luck through your surgery and healing process. I was like Margot and let my fractured clavicle heal as it was. The overlap in the collarbone hasn't presented a problem, and the sharp bone ends smoothed out over time. But I assume that by having the surgery you'll be able to move your shoulder much sooner and avoid possible frozen shoulder and months of painful PT. BTW, looks like you have very little swelling or bruising around your collarbone which should improve your healing. I had lots of swelling and bruising that took 6 weeks to go away. Somewhere on the board (a thread about bike scars?) is the x-ray of my clavicle which was snapped into 4 pieces.