Best to Worst in a Day

[Cassandra_Cain]

It was a perfect day, cool and breezy, sparkling sun dotting the deep blue horizon. A day that had seen my best ride to date, by far, since returning to riding after a 6 year absence.

I did over 1500 feet of climbing on tough grades, 5-10 percent, even some a bit more steep than that. What was rare, was even me passing some riders in the flats, were I'm anything but fast. Ok, I'm slow!

A mere six blocks from home, airy pedal strokes hasting my descent, is when it suddenly changed. An all too common situation, going straight through an intersection, and then (right then), a car turned right in front of me from my own lane.

I remember the sudden appearance of the truck in my path. It was that instantaneous recognition in the mind that states, loudly and clearly - F#*k, I'm not going to make it.

Then as if in slow motion, the impact. Going over the bars of the bike, catapulted into the air, landing heavily on my right shoulder. The impact. The radiating pain. The hazy gaze through flowing tears. The bike, crushed under the tire of the truck. The paramedics. My head spinning. The ambulance.

A badly sprained shoulder, sharp abrasions and cuts on my shoulders, elbow, and knee, plus a cracked rib.

Now I'm home, alive, and doing ok, though with a badly aching shoulder, a rotator cuff in pieces, stinging road rash, ribs that hurt immensely at movement, don't even ask me about sneezing or coughing. That's absolute masochism for me at this juncture.

In my mind, I've replayed the entire sequence endlessly. Could I have somehow done anything different? What if I had been going faster or slower? The possibilities are never-ending, and there's little sense outsmarting yourself with 'what if's'

[kelownagirl]

Wow, how scary! I have come close to that several times - I don't know what you could have done differently. So glad you're not more seriously hurt though. Take care of yourself and hope you're back on your bike soon!

[mary9761]

I'm so sorry to hear about your accident but I'm glad it wasn't worse. I'm sure there's nothing you could have done to avoid the accident. We can ride as safely as we know how, but we cannot predict or control motor vehicular traffic nor the drivers in them. I hope you heal quickly, as bad as it sounds, better that it was the bike under the wheels of the truck than you. ((((HUGS))))
Mary

[Selkie]

Cass - Take care of yourself. You are OK and that's the most important thing. You'll heal quickly--think positive.

[Cassandra_Cain]

Thanks

Definitely, it could have been far, far worse. Bad as it may sound, my bike fared much worse than me. I admit, I get a little glassy-eyed looking at what is now a distorted heap of metal in my living room - she was soooo purrrrty, and new just 3 weeks ago.

I'm sure I'll be back to riding again soon enough.

[spokewench]

I'm so glad your injuries weren't worse! There are times when we just can't avoid the impact even though we do everything that we know to be safe! All it takes is a moment of indecision or inattention on the part of a driver to put us in harm's way. I know you will be sore for a while and that recuperation will take a little while. Hopefully not too long. I don't think that car driver's ever think about the person they hit afterwards to realize how long it takes to get over the bruises, contusions, and all the pt to rehabilitate! I know, I've been hit once too (I think I'm luck it has only been once). Anyway, if you need to bit_ _ while the healing takes place - you just come on this site and do so ! Maybe it will help.

[Bike Goddess]

Cassandra- You say " a rotator cuff in pieces". What does that mean- do you have to have surgery?

Please let us know- meanwhile many wishes to a speedy recovery (hmm- not sure how long that might be!). I too am sorry to hear the news, and, no don't let your mind make you think you could have done anything differently.

What happened, happened. Now you just need to heal and that means putting to rest the "what if" stuff! Whatever we can do to support you, please ask. This is a great group of women.

[mtkitchn]

OMG, Cassandra, that is just awful. Glad you are home and healing up and will be okay.
There is nothing you can do about the way people drive. Get yourself better!

[KSH]

WOAH! Very scary stuff!

Thank goodness you are alive! What a very close call!

I hope you have quick healing.

[Lifesgreat]

I was so sad when I read what happened to you. I am wishing you a speedy recovery.

I don't mean to be a doo-dah (a derogatory term my toddler nephew conjured up)by suggesting the following so soon after your accident, but I have mentioned this with others who have been hit and I will with you. BE CAREFUL when the driver's insurance person contacts you. Don't be too hasty to settle. In fact, you may want to contact a "bicycle injury specialty" attorney in your area. Yes, sadly, there is a need for that type of specialty.

Rest and remember we are all thinking of you.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Wonderful idea you had, riding stationary bike as part of keep in shape while you are recovering slowly. Keep your diet healthy too, to give your body all the tools it needs. Mend well!

[Brina]

I am so sorry about your crash and hope you are feeling better soon.

Pleae stop second guessing yourself. First, you were obeying traffic laws and there is nothing you could have done to change this. Some drivers do not see bikes - they just don't. Or maybe the driver was on a cell phone, or just lost in his or her own head. Whatever it was, you cannot change it, and it was not your fault. Second, you cannot undo the accident. Use your energy to heal.

[colby]

Oh no, Cassandra, that sounds horrible! I'm so glad you turned out okay.

I messed up my rotator cuff 6 months ago and my advice is to start the healing process now and do NOT be afraid to tell them when something isn't working. I was seeing a chiropractor who was trying to help for 2 months, who then sent me to PT who tried to help for 2 months, and then I had an MRI which didn't spell "surgery" clearly, which led to possible steroid injections, which led me somewhat trepdiatiously to acupuncture... I am healing on my own, maybe with assistance, who knows, but finally improving to the point that I don't think about it constantly.

The earlier you start, the earlier you'll feel better. Tell them (whether you go to a PT, or you stick with your MD, or a chiropractor, or all of the above!) everything you are feeling. Write it down if you have to -- where exactly it hurts, what sensations you are feeling (are you getting the tingles? stiffness? is it directly in the rotator cuff area over the shoulder or is it in your armpit or elbow or neck or all of the above?). You will be off the bike for as long as you can stand, probably longer -- a trainer might be possible to keep your legs going.

If you go to more than one place (a PT, a chiro, MD, your grandmother for free healing or at least good tasting cookies, anything) try to get them communicating, and at the very least know how you are being treated so you can relay this information yourself. I thought sending "reports" to my MD meant he would read them, not true. I tried to relay how many treatments I'd had, what they had done in each, how long they did things for... it was mesmerising at times.

I really wouldn't be afraid of telling them when things are NOT improving. If you feel like you've felt the same way for a week with zero improvement or change at all, they need to know. Encourage dialog and interaction, share as much as you can, and still try to make progress.

I've been down a hard healing road for not being completely torn, and it's been frustrating. Hopefully my experience can help someone