I just had a baaaad crash...

[run it, ride it]

Today was about my 5th time mountain biking. My friend Derek and I were nearing the end of our route, speeding down one last downhill. There were two jumps right in a row at the bottom. Derek cleared them both. I only saw the first one.

The bike's front tire planted between the jumps and acted as a catapault. My head slammed into the ground hard--the same place I hit it coming off my horse last week. Thank god, no concussion. Thank God, helmet. But it was one of those falls I knew I wasn't getting up from. My left shoulder was not sitting right. Pure determination kept me from blacking out from the intense pain.

It became clear I was far from mobile. Thank God, though neither of us had cell phones a runner stopped on the trail and called 911. The paramedics arrived within half an hour and managed to maneuvre the ambulance to within 20 feet of the trail I was on. Derek's brother came to pick up the bikes--no damage to the one that flung me, of course.

The ambulance ride back up the trail made for the absolute worst pain of my life. Indescribable. I moaned and yelled, came close to blacking out... but never screamed or shed a tear. I rationalized myself through the pain and made it where I had to. The paramedics were impressed.

I got a bed right away at Guelph General. The hospital staff threatened to cut off the jersey I was wearing and I would have none of it. I made them pull it off me in one piece even though it hurt like nothing else.

When they finally injected me with pain killers, after nearly two hours of agony, I just moaned "thank god" over and over as I numbed and stilled. My exhausted body could finally relax. I am still really hurting, but no pain now can compare to the initial trauma.

It was all I could do to stay conscious for x-rays, which confirmed a broken clavicle.

I'll be off the bike a while. And the horse, and running, and probably work when it starts. I pushed too hard too soon on the bike, made one misstep. And paid for it.

What an awful crash... but I will recover. The pain is bad but managable. I will have to take it slow, learn to listen to and appreciate my body. I have friends to help me get by, the amazing support of you ladies on the forum, and a whack of T3s.

[mountainchick]

Wow...best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[northstar]

Oh, no!

I am glad you are "ok." How scary. I hope you are able to feel comfortable as you start to heal.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Poor thing!!! That sounds just awful.
I wish you less pain with each passing day. Treat yourself well while recovering.

[7rider]

OUCH!!!
Oh, you poor thing!
Take care of yourself.
Don't get too hooked on those painkillers, tho!

[wannaduacentury]

Today was about my 5th time mountain biking. Long story short, I missed seeing a hidden jump at the bottom of a hill and got flung HARD over the handlebars.

Interesting facts:

-My clavicle is snapped in half.

-The paramedics managed to park the ambulance within 20 feet of the trail I was on. That is talent!

-An ambulance ride with a broken clavicle on trails? Worst pain of my life! I moaned and yelled but never screamed or shed a tear. Paramedics were impressed!

-Yes, the bike was fine.

-The hospital staff threatened to cut off the jersey I was wearing and I would have none of it. I made them pull it off me in one piece even though it hurt like nothing else.

-TYLENOL 3 IS MY NEW BEST FRIEND

Looks like I'll be confined to the forums and off the bike a while. What an awful crash... I actually hit my head hard the same place I hit it coming off my horse last week. No concussion and thank god for helmets!

I hope you feel better soon, I'm glad it wasn't worse. Jenn

[run it, ride it]

I hope you feel better soon, I'm glad it wasn't worse. Jenn

Thank you. After talking to my mother on the phone I realize how lucky I am; with that kind of force I could have snapped my neck instead.

[Python]

Ooh. Ouch. Hope you get better soon.

Sending healing thoughts your way.

[teigyr]

oooooh OUCH! ohmygosh ouch. I would've demanded far more than T3's!

At least you are ok!! I guess yeah, it could've been worse but still, that sounds pretty bad. Have you tried to sleep yet?

Sounds like there was skill all the way around though AND you impressed paramedics

[Mr. Bloom]

Hang in ther RiRi! Silver had a bad one a few months ago...and said the same thing about the ambulance ride.

Take it easy. Job one is recovering!

[singletrackmind]

First one's always the toughest. Hope you feel better soon minus the T3's, nothing like the feeling of your insides wanting to visit your outsides when you move it certain ways.

Don't forget a new helmet, got several weeks to shop for it.

[Wahine]

yikes, I'm so sorry to hear about your crash. That's awful. Glad it wasn't worse.

As for pain management, take what you need to within the parametres of what the doc said was OK. Don't let your pain get out of control. You're much better off in the long run if you keep your pain down now. You'll get off the pain killers sooner and you'll be less likely to suffer from chronic pain. As for T3s, they are considered non-addictive. They do not cause physiological addiction tho some people claim that they cause psychological addiction. Another reason to make sure you take them at a frequency that keeps the pain down. You won't get that psych reinforcement of being in unmanageable pain and relieving it suddenly with meds, and cycling through that pattern.

If you are having to take a lot pain meds. Get off the T3s and ask the Doc to put you on straight codiene. T3s have acetaminophen in them which is toxic if taken excessively. Straight codiene is actually easier on your organ systems.

Take care.

[colby]

Wow! Glad you didn't get injured any worse, it sounds scary. A guy I work with got hit by a snowboarder while helping another snowboarder and broke his collarbone, until they discovered it wasn't a clean break he was just on pain meds and sent off to heal, overall pretty functional. It sounded REALLY painful, though.

I admire your strength, and here's to a speedy recovery.

[runningteach]

I am sorry about the crash. The pain must be awful, but you are very lucky it wasn't worse.

[cosc]

I hope you'll be feeling better soon. Broken bones can be so painful. You now have a good excuse to be lazy and let friends step up to help you out.