Wow, I'm sorry you had such a bad fall!

Even though it did not work out for you, your original thought was probably the best. A friend of mine found himself drifting off the pavement and tried to bump back up (there was about a 4" step down onto gravel that sloped away). He of course did not get his front wheel back up on the pavement, so instead got caught along the edge....down he went at about 18mph. He ended up breaking his collar bone.

Hope your knee and shoulder are okay.

Barbara