My cycling accident update

[Cdalekat]

I know pelvic break pain all too well.

Just take care of yourself and be careful with the trainer. I pushed myself too hard while healing and I paid for it for months!

You are doing well - best wishes for continued healing!

---
ETA: After reading your blog....
.... I still have some various hardware within me. I was told that surgical grade hardware doesn't set off metal detectors. In fact, I did test it at an airport and never set off the detectors. So you might be ok in that respect!

Also, there are few cases in which keeping the hardware is required - I've had most of my hardware removed because it caused me additional pain (and therefore was covered by insurance). Don't hesitate to get pain checked out even a year from now - I tend to grow bone spurs in injury areas - it's pain that you *don't* have to live with!

[Jo-n-NY]

Hi Emily,
I also was thinking about you during the week. Due to organizational changes here are work, I have been very busy I just got a chance to long on to the TE board.

I am happy to hear you continue to do well. You sound in good spirits and with that attitude you will get better quickly I am sure. This may sound silly but I printed out your blob to read on the train ride home. I am sure it will make for very interesting reading.

Thanks for posting the update. Continue to keep in touch.

~JoAnn

[emily_in_nc]

I know pelvic break pain all too well.

Just take care of yourself and be careful with the trainer. I pushed myself too hard while healing and I paid for it for months!

You are doing well - best wishes for continued healing!

---
ETA: After reading your blog....
.... I still have some various hardware within me. I was told that surgical grade hardware doesn't set off metal detectors. In fact, I did test it at an airport and never set off the detectors. So you might be ok in that respect!

Also, there are few cases in which keeping the hardware is required - I've had most of my hardware removed because it caused me additional pain (and therefore was covered by insurance). Don't hesitate to get pain checked out even a year from now - I tend to grow bone spurs in injury areas - it's pain that you *don't* have to live with!

Oh gosh, sorry you've been down this road too. I wouldn't wish this on anyone!

That's good news that you didn't set off the plane metal detectors. We'll be rescheduling our 20th anniversary trip for late this year, so that will be my first test of it. As far as having the hardware removed, though...that's more surgery...ugh! I sure hope I don't have to do that. The doc never mentioned that possibility, but I'll try to remember to ask him at my next appointment. I really want to be done with hospitals! Fortunately, my pain is very minor at this point - I only took two ibuprofen all day today, prior to exercise. I'm at 4.5 weeks since surgery. I do have muscle tightness, and numbness below the incision, plus the occasional odd feeling/sensation, but not actual "pain" any more, even when I do my exercises (other than muscle pain like you'd get at the gym). Perhaps I'll get lucky and heal up really well. Hoping.....!!!

Emily

[Cdalekat]

As far as having the hardware removed, though...that's more surgery...ugh! Fortunately, my pain is very minor at this point - I only took two ibuprofen all day today, prior to exercise. I'm at 4.5 weeks since surgery. I do have muscle tightness, and numbness below the incision, plus the occasional odd feeling/sensation, but not actual "pain" any more, even when I do my exercises (other than muscle pain like you'd get at the gym). Perhaps I'll get lucky and heal up really well. Hoping.....!!!

Emily

Second surgeries are WAY easier than the first! (yes, I've been through this more than one time - different body parts thought).

It sounds like you are already doing better than me in the pain department. I'll be honest - 5 years after the fact and I still have pelvic pain everyday. (It's the nature of where my breaks occured - I was almost paralized)

I definitely know what you mean by the weird sensations, but it really does sound like you are doing phenominally!!!! In case you were worried - walking again will be easy. Stiff, maybe, but totally do-able!

Hope your 20th anniversary trip is a blast!

[Jo-n-NY]

Hi Emily,
I just wanted to quickly mention that I read your blog. You mentioned that you might have a numbness where the surgery was done and afraid that the feeling would not come back. I have had a few surgery's over the years, one on my ovaries, two c-sections both in the same place as the ovaries and my thyroid removed. I will say that in all incisions I had numbness. In my case it did last years, but it was not a problem for me. I just got use to it but feeling did eventually come back.

Just thought I would offer you that bit of info on my past experience.

~JoAnn

[emily_in_nc]

Hi Emily,
I just wanted to quickly mention that I read your blog. You mentioned that you might have a numbness where the surgery was done and afraid that the feeling would not come back. I have had a few surgery's over the years, one on my ovaries, two c-sections both in the same place as the ovaries and my thyroid removed. I will say that in all incisions I had numbness. In my case it did last years, but it was not a problem for me. I just got use to it but feeling did eventually come back.

Just thought I would offer you that bit of info on my past experience.

~JoAnn

JoAnn ~ thanks for sharing your experience. The doctors told me that the numbness could last forever or recede very slowly. So, I guess the jury is still out on what will happen. I can live with it even if it never goes away. If I hadn't had the surgery, I would have risked healing up wrong with a great likelihood of sacro-iliac (SI) joint problems, leg length discrepancy, and chronic pain, all of which would have given me problems cycling in the future. I can certainly live with some numbness and a 6" incision since it resulted from the surgery to fix me up right. And check this out - I'm riding indoors again!!! No resistance and only 15 minutes, but at least it's a start!

~Emily

[snapdragen]

Kewel!

......

[Jo-n-NY]

Emily, you look great. By the looks of the pic, I wouldn't have even thought you had any kind of accident. It looks like you are just riding your trainer. Keep up the good work, keep smiling, and that up beat attitude and you will be back to your good ole self in no time.

I will keep checking for your updates.

~JoAnn