my century, dog crash

[Miranda]

Thanks you guys for those additional post of support. It helps.

Well, I learned today if you just physically show up at the doctor's office, looking completely pathetic, beat-up, and beg desperately for assistance... you get in.

The short of it is that my shoulder / collar bone acl appears to have seperated. Plus, the doc is concerned about my neck too.

Was pretty much last patient of the day so the office scheduling staff had gone. One of them will call soon. Doc wants me to have an MRI of my shoulder / collar bone, and neck area. Ordered PT as well.

Doc's first impression was that it would heal without surgery; but wanted to see my MRI results to determine that for sure. Plus, something about PT assessing me.

My arm just hanging by my side feels like it did when my kids were toddlers holding my hand and trying to swing on me like a piece of playground equipment.

I asked if I should be wearing a sling or something for support. For now, to my surprise, he said "no". He does not like to see shoulders get "frozen". Guess people get in pain and don't move at all... then things heal tight w/limited range of motion etc.

Steering the outdoor bici is a "no-go" he said. But, I could spin my legs only stationary.

I told him I teach spinning at my gym. Boss & buddies have been covering my classes. I miss it. I couldn't do everything on the spin bike. But some stuff. Doc said that would at least give me "something". He sees a lot of athletes and knows we need our happy exercise endorphines. That's nice since some docs just say "deal with it, and give the sport up".

Just waiting to hear about the appointments. But...

OMG... I HATE that MRI machine. I've been in it serveral times in my life. I'm cholostrophobic and emotional upset triggers the real problem of my asthma. They drug me, but sometimes it's still just bad. Yuck.

[wackyjacky1]

Holy *beeeep*! What an awful experience. Hang in there, Miranda. Here's to your swift recovery.

[Cataboo]

Miranda, can you have an open MRI done? You don't have to get into the tube for those.

[Blueberry]

Take heart on your shoulder. I had a partial AC joint separation and bicep strain from my crash in early July. I had x-rays - no MRI. I'm still going to PT (when the scheduling people don't screw up), but 80% came back really fast - loads better in about a week, and then most of the rest of the 80% in the next 2 weeks. Still seeing lots of improvement (and my life is back to normal, more or less).

Take it easy - ice, anti-inflamatories and not sleeping on that side are your friends. And yes - they don't like to sling it. It tends to cause more problems if you're over 25 (or so says my sports med doc).

CA

[Fredwina]

what I was told when I broke my elbow was that those joints would "freeze" from lack of activity. Most of my PT work was aimed at restoring a full rande of motion
keep your chin up.

[ilima]

Wow, Miranda. I am glad you are well enough to post.

But please, please get your insurance involved. You are going to have significant medical costs, you are going to lose income (maybe your job, cuz who knows in this economy whether they'll hold it for you), and you may have lasting, permanent damage for which you deserve to be compensated. Not to mention if your face ends up with permanent scarring.

Seriously. I'm not the lawsuit type, but you are due some serious pain & suffering and loss of income $$$.

Watch out for the dog owner's insurance company trying to give you the bum's rush & sign your rights away to get just a dribble of money.

Heal well!!!!

[OakLeaf]

get your insurance involved.

Your insurance will be involved as soon as they receive the ER claim. They'll send you a subrogation form they haven't already. But they will be looking out ONLY for their interests, NOT for yours. Once they've recovered whatever fraction of your medical expenses they pay, they are done.

Your insurance company won't get you any recovery for your lost wages; pain and suffering; any recovery for permanent scarring; any replacement of your gear which it sounds like is too small an amount to submit to your homeowners'/renters' insurance. If you need a lot of therapy for your shoulder (sounds likely) and your insurance doesn't cover it (in general pretty likely with most insurance plans), they won't help you get recovery for that, either.

Get an attorney of your own. At least talk to someone; nearly all plaintiffs' firms won't charge you for an initial consultation.

[Jo-n-NY]

Miranda...so sorry to hear about your crash. A few years ago my season ended on Labor Day because of a crash where I fratured my shoulder. I put my mtn bike on the trainer because it was easier to get on and off and pedeled sitting upright because my arm was in a sling. It mentally felt good to keep my legs spinning.

I think that was a horrilbe attitude of the dog owner. Something needs to be done, not just for you and your future and what you will intail during recovery, but for any other cyclist that rides past their house.

BTW...I often thought if keeping my shoulder mobile would have been better because PT was so painful as my shoulder was stuck and I still do not have full range of motion. Then again it might be different with a collarbone than a shoulder.

as you have heard from others, take time to heal

~ JoAnn

[ilima]

Your insurance will be involved as soon as they receive the ER claim. They'll send you a subrogation form they haven't already. But they will be looking out ONLY for their interests, NOT for yours. Once they've recovered whatever fraction of your medical expenses they pay, they are done.

Your insurance company won't get you any recovery for your lost wages; pain and suffering; any recovery for permanent scarring; any replacement of your gear which it sounds like is too small an amount to submit to your homeowners'/renters' insurance. If you need a lot of therapy for your shoulder (sounds likely) and your insurance doesn't cover it (in general pretty likely with most insurance plans), they won't help you get recovery for that, either.

Get an attorney of your own. At least talk to someone; nearly all plaintiffs' firms won't charge you for an initial consultation.

Her insurance company can get the ball rolling as far as legal responsibility. I'd probably contact my homeowner's insurance first.

I don't think a lawyer is a must have, however.