Jeannierides is back in the saddle!

[IFjane]

Ths is most excellent! Find out where the Dr. lives and start riding by his house.

Hey Jeannie - I will spring for a case of toilet paper. I'm sure KayTee (and maybe even Velobambina) will help!

Dinner afterward?

[silver]

Of course, I don't mind you asking, Silver. Ohhh yes, I did/do feel stiff!!

I didn't ever have too much pain from the ribs. Of course, in the beginning, I suppose most of that pain was very well medicated! The lung did cause some discomfort, and yes, I had a chest tube. I have a not so pretty scar just under my right shoulder blade from the chest tube and ensuing stitches. They didn't worry so much about the look of things. I also had a stint put in my ureter to keep it open because my bladder was lacerated.
I'm not having any issues with those injuries, and surprisingly never had any real issues with the ribs. I guess the pelvis was enough.

As far as issues I'm still dealing with... there are many, but mostly manageable. Some pain in my lower back/coccyx/pelvis - mostly achy, and mostly when I've over done (which is pretty much every day). My knee was also involved somehow, and the nerves going to my right foot, and I have a good bit of pain from that. Flexibility. I can't sit yoga-style with my feet crossed. I can't stoop. I can do squats, but if I just stoop down to, say, get something out of a bottom cabinet, it hurts so bad I have to go all the way to the floor! Those are things I can work on... Not major, and life goes on...
There are other things that aren't physical... I'm very emotional these days, and have a bit of trouble focusing on things for more than a short while. I have trouble dealing with crowds. That is at least partially due, I'm thinking, to the fact that I've pretty much been out of *real* life for six months now. Hopefully it will get better with a little more time.

And now I'm getting prepared to go back to work part time this week. My disability company has totally messed things up, and stopped paying me with no warning, so I'm dealing with the added stress of having, through no fault of mine, absolutely no money.

My strength and patience are being tested at every turn.

I ended up finding out later that I had broken my wrist in my wreck. But I think that the broken rib pain was so over whelming that I never noticed. My right wrist was the only thing not x-rayed/MRI'd during my hospital stay.

So, with all your injuries, it's not surprising that the ribs were not as big an issue. It's absolutely amazing how strong you are and how hard you have worked. I hope that the continuing issues will resolve soon. I had to use one of those "grabbers" to get things off the ground for quite some time. I found that I tried to keep my torso as straight as possible to avoid engaging the broken ribs.

I still have some emotional issues. Flashbacks mostly. Every time I descend a hill that curves to the left I feel myself holding back and stiffening up.

I did not realized that you had not gone back to work. take it easy there. insurance companies.......don't even get me started.......

You are awesome!!!!!

(I learned from the kids who most recently TP'd my house, that using a badminton racket is the most effective way to get the rolls up really high )

[amy]

Good for you for coming out of this and riding again! My husband had similar injuries 4 years ago when he was knocked off his motorcycle and run over by a car... shattered pelvis, 3 back fractures, collapsed lung, etc. I'm very proud to say that you wouldn't know it ever happened unless you see the long scars running down both sides of his hips.

For him, a big help was yoga. He had never done it before the accident, but I had for years and with my gentle encouragement, he gradually came around. Now he goes more often than I do. CranioSacral Therapy also helped a lot. It didn't hurt that he married a fabulous occupational therapist who happens to do therapeutic yoga and CranioSacral Therapy. For him the pelvic tightness and back weakness were tricky things to work out but slowly they shifted and he can now be found rock climbing with me or chasing me down on my bike with his inline race skates (can't seem to convince him to bike).

Good luck and keep riding!!

[Eden]

Go Jeannie Go!

[HappyAnika]

I just can't believe how much progress you've made after the initial prognosis. Yay! You rock.

[emily_in_nc]

Jeannie,

Congratulations! That is such great news! I've been away from the forum for a week dealing with our new sailboat purchase, so I am just now hearing this wonderful news. I am very proud of you! I know you didn't expect to be back on your bike on the road quite so soon.

Wonderful!

Emily

[KayTee]

(I learned from the kids who most recently TP'd my house, that using a badminton racket is the most effective way to get the rolls up really high )

I'll spring for the badminton racket as well as some TP -- thanks, Silver, who'd 'a' thunk it? Oh yes, and a camera so we can report back to the brain trust here

Jeannie, you'll have to update us on how your return to work went today. That's a huge step, and I know you'll feel better when it's behind you. Sending encouragement and hugs to ya through cyberspace....

[DeniseGoldberg]

Jeannie -
That is just awesome news! I'm so glad that you're back on your bike. I know how good that feels after an unplanned absence - and what a wonderful recovery!

--- Denise

[wannaduacentury]

All - I received an email from jeannierides this morning. She and her SO had been away on a camping trip & she took her bike. For the first time since her accident (way back in....what was it? February???) Jeannie rode her bike - on the road!! In fact, she not only rode her bike once, but several times during the week for a total of 102 miles!!

Is she amazing or what?? Jeannie says there are still issues with the saddle and whatnot, but she is BACK. Yippee!!!!

WONDERFUL!! Go Jeannie!!!!