After the Serious Accident

[ivorygorgon]

I don't think this has been covered yet, but your insurance plan will usually not pay the entire hospital the bill. Most hospitals have contracts with insurers and agree to accept pennies on the dollar for the bills. In some cases I have seen hospitals accept less than half of the actual bill, and they "adjust" the remainder off. So the amount your insurance eventually pays is much less than the bill. Here is a recent example. The doctor's bill was well over $24,000.00. The insurance paid $6,000ish. The remainder was written off. So even though it looked like the bill was $24,000, the amount paid was only $6,000, and the customer was not charged the remainder.

[featuretile]

I had an accident about 8 weeks ago that I wrote about here. Unfortunately, my medical insurance seems to cover almost nothing and the costs are high.

I had a concussion, facial bruises and a broken finger. I was only in the hospital one night, so glad I did not have worse injuries. They never told me in the hospital how fatigued I would be for the first few weeks (because of the head injury). A friend of mine who is a PT told me that the fatigue was normal, and that there is also something called 'physical depression'. It eventually goes away.

After 4 weeks, I started riding my trainer again. After 6 weeks and the finger knit together, I went out for my first ride. I went down to the Monterey bike path so I would not have to deal with traffic at all. That went well, and I have worked up to 28 miles and feeling ok. I still find myself going down hill slower, not drafting anyone and looking at the ground a lot. My accident was caused by road debris, not a car.

I did 2 things to make me feel safer and have one to go. I went and got a bike fit because someone at my club said that not only could that make you more comfortable, but could also make bike handling better. I had not done it before because my bike was not uncomfortable. The fitter is a lovely women who owns a shop. She also suggested that I get 700/25 tires and fill them to 95psi instead of the 700/23 tires that I had and would fill to 110psi. The road conditions here in my county are really crappy and this would help. Saturday I am going to a bike handling skills clinic.

I have gotten in so much better shape from cycling, have so many cycling friends and go on cycling trips, that I can't imagine giving it up. That does not mean that I am totally comfortable now. I was amazed how much strength you can lose in 6 weeks. I don't remember the accident because I was briefly unconscious, so I don't have bad memories playing in my head. Still, I would have preferred to skip the concussion.

Please give yourself some time - you may still be in the time of physical depression.

[kajero]

A friend of mine who is a PT told me that the fatigue was normal, and that there is also something called 'physical depression'. It eventually goes away.

Saturday I am going to a bike handling skills clinic.

I have gotten in so much better shape from cycling, have so many cycling friends and go on cycling trips, that I can't imagine giving it up. That does not mean that I am totally comfortable now. I was amazed how much strength you can lose in 6 weeks. I don't remember the accident because I was briefly unconscious, so I don't have bad memories playing in my head. Still, I would have preferred to skip the concussion.

.

I was wondering wny I was so tired all the time. Also, I can understand myself a littlle better once you mentioned something called 'physical depression'. I have been really feel down, maybe this is part of it.

I have looked for a bike handling skills clinic in our area, but haven't been able to find one. I am not sure what happened at my accident seeing as I was unconscious. I have had heard several different scenarios, most of them different.

I also have so many friends as a result of my cycling. I don't know if I will continue to go with them on group rides, though. I guess that decision will be made when I can ride again.

We did buy a trainer and my old bike is on it. I see the doctor on Wednesday and will see when he says I can use it. If I can handle that comfortablly,I may think about riding again.

Thank you so much for your insight. I wish you the best