Emily's progress - awesome

[DeniseGoldberg]

Emily -
I just got caught up on your blog, and hey - congratulations! I'm awed by your continued healing progress. It's great that you are able to walk without crutches, and I loved that picture of you on your Friday. Yes, I know it's from last year, but it's a good thing to dream about.

--- Denise

[emily_in_nc]

I guess we are a mutual admiration society because I read your logs during your Maine tour (need to go and check for the last day of your tour - but the crazyguy... site seems to be down at the moment) and thought it sounded so wonderful. And so great that you were able to tour again after your crash last year. Congratulations! It was very inspirational to me. I loved your comment early on about your seafood and fruit/veggie diet as those are my very favorite foods as well.

I'm doing really well, considering where I was a month ago. I can walk slowly without crutches, though I feel like I'm about 90 because my entire right hip area feels so tight and unnatural, but my PT assures me that it will get better and better and that I'll be doing my "power walks" around our building at work at lunchtime again someday. And riding the trainer feels downright normal, much moreso than walking. I tried to climb out of the saddle and discovered that my right leg just won't do that yet, but I'll get there! I'm hoping to be able to tour again next year, and I changed my avatar so that every time I see it, it will reinforce that goal.

Welcome home!
Emily

[DeniseGoldberg]

You're right - we are a mutual admiration society. I was lucky in that my pelvic fracture was minor in comparison with yours. It still took me a long time to get back to what I consider normal walking and cycling, but I really believe what I was fighting was the brain injury. It seems that my poor brain was dictating what I was able to do. While my desire was to do more, it was quite obvious (to me) that I couldn't. Somehow I had to be satisfied with a lot of walking and what I consider to be short bike rides (I just looked back at my exercise log from last year, and most of my post-crash rides were in the 18 to 22 mile range). It felt really good to be out traveling on my bike again - and I feel sure that you'll be back too.

I was really glad to see that you've been referred to a PT who knows more about athletes.

On the bike journal front - I know that Neil (the webmaster of crazyguyonabike.com) is trying to get to the bottom of the problems with the server over the last couple of weeks. I'm hoping it behaves better this weekend so I can get my pictures uploaded! I plan to add a note to the thread about my trip in the Adventures section when I finish uploading pics & complete my journal.

--- Denise

[emily_in_nc]

Denise,

I was just able to get to your trip journal to finish reading it and will be looking forward to more photos. I'm so glad you got to see your puffins! I am an avid bird-watcher (though a beginner) and would love to see puffins someday myself. Such interesting birds! I also got a laugh out of your North/South routes on the same sign! Good photo op, for sure.

I guess this year I'll have to get my touring dreams fulfilled vicariously through others' experiences, but I'm really not complaining. This too shall pass...

~Emily

[Dirt Girl]

I'm hoping to be able to tour again next year, and I changed my avatar so that every time I see it, it will reinforce that goal.
Emily

Well, okay, now that I understand why you changed your avatar I'll be able to get over it! I was missing that gorgeous raspberry ride and wondering why you changed. I can still drool over it in my dreams, though.

Continued good wishes on your recovery!

[betagirl]

I concur. Great work Emily. I hope you are able to get back to touring as planned, if not sooner.

Cheers

[annie]

I'm doing really well, considering where I was a month ago. I can walk slowly without crutches, though I feel like I'm about 90 because my entire right hip area feels so tight and unnatural, but my PT assures me that it will get better and better and that I'll be doing my "power walks" around our building at work at lunchtime again someday. And riding the trainer feels downright normal, much moreso than walking. I tried to climb out of the saddle and discovered that my right leg just won't do that yet, but I'll get there! I'm hoping to be able to tour again next year, and I changed my avatar so that every time I see it, it will reinforce that goal.

Emily

You are doing wonderfully, Emily! I remember so well beginning to walk without crutches! I was pathetic! I know I must have looked drunk and staggering to anyone watching me at first! Trying to cross a street quickly........ NOT! I couldn't do it. But perseverance pays! You just keep getting better.

Definitely, riding the bike on the trainer felt better than walking. Less weight on the broken pelvic area. Just to be RIDING! That's what was good. You are a bike rider! You need to on the bike to feel like you are you.

At some point, when you get back out there, you will do a ride and try and push harder than you should............ doing a big hill, trying to keep up, whatever. You tell yourself you won't but it is just about impossible not to. The place in your body that was injured will let you know you overdid it. You will be sore and tired. But you'll know you are able to do it. You might back off a bit, but you will be out there riding, knowing you still have what it takes. You WILL eventually get over the fears and worries about crashing. You will probably never feel quite so invulnerable, but that is not neccesarily a bad thing. t just makes us more careful.

Okay, I am done with my advising. I can get a bit long-winded sometimes, when it commes to bicycling. Did you notice??

annie

[emily_in_nc]

Well, okay, now that I understand why you changed your avatar I'll be able to get over it! I was missing that gorgeous raspberry ride and wondering why you changed. I can still droll over it in my dreams, though.

Continued good wishes on your recovery!

Thanks, Dirt Girl! I was getting a bit bored with that avatar since I'd had it for over a year. It was time for a change!

~Emily

[emily_in_nc]

You are doing wonderfully, Emily! I remember so well beginning to walk without crutches! I was pathetic! I know I must have looked drunk and staggering to anyone watching me at first! Trying to cross a street quickly........ NOT! I couldn't do it. But perseverance pays! You just keep getting better.

Definitely, riding the bike on the trainer felt better than walking. Less weight on the broken pelvic area. Just to be RIDING! That's what was good. You are a bike rider! You need to on the bike to feel like you are you.

At some point, when you get back out there, you will do a ride and try and push harder than you should............ doing a big hill, trying to keep up, whatever. You tell yourself you won't but it is just about impossible not to. The place in your body that was injured will let you know you overdid it. You will be sore and tired. But you'll know you are able to do it. You might back off a bit, but you will be out there riding, knowing you still have what it takes. You WILL eventually get over the fears and worries about crashing. You will probably never feel quite so invulnerable, but that is not neccesarily a bad thing. t just makes us more careful.

Okay, I am done with my advising. I can get a bit long-winded sometimes, when it commes to bicycling. Did you notice??

annie

Not a problem, annie! I appreciate your insights and predictions, and I am absolutely sure you are right. I know I'll push too hard at times; that's just me. But I also know that I'll get back out there and conquer my fears. I just don't know how to do anything else!

Thanks for the support!

Emily