bike accident
My training was going very well but now everything comes to a stop. I had a bike accident on Friday evening (I was wearing my helmet -- no one saw it and i dont remember it exactly, but I'm pretty sure the umbrella I had around my wrist got caught in my front spokes, stupid stupid).
I lost consciousness, had a concussion, and broke my right clavicle. While in the ER i had amnesia and a memory span of about 30 seconds. My sister and Gillian were with me the whole time and they made me a timeline of what had happened on a piece of cardboard. On the other side of the piece of cardboard, I added my own commentary about things like "I might have flown through the air" and "I was riding alone." I would ask the same questions over and over and they would say, refer to the sheet, Lindsay. It was very much like the movie Memento. I couldnt remember anything past June basically, which makes sense since my summer routine is not as normal and established as the rest of the year. They said I still had my sense of humor and said "whose the perpetrator?? the pants are the perpetrator" -- because I thought my pants caught in my bike. Or "how fucked is my arm -- that's my money arm!!"
They released me at 2am and I got to wake up at home with my loving sister and sweet notes from my buddies and a cut flower by my bed side. No cuts on my face but road rash on my shoulder. We actually packed up my ice packs and went to the beach in the afternoon to relax. Sunday, Gillian helped me buy clothes that I could get into easily (she was my body double) and go shopping at the Fairway for things easy to eat without lots of prep.
Monday I had my follow-up with the neurologist and there are still some lingering symptoms. Reading sucks, I have headaches, neckaches, light sensitivity, weak memory, difficulty concentrating. I have another followup with her in a week and hopefully my brain should be normal again in a week.
Tuesday I had a follow-up with the orthopedist that I researched and even though I had to go to New Jersey today, he was worth it. Normally he's a NY Presbyterian, and I'm really glad I found him. He's like the shoulder guru and head of sports med for all of Columbia University. He told me I can take my arm out of the sling when at home or the office, just keep it on when travelling, in public, and sleeping. In 2 days I'll be able to start walking my fingers up the wall to stretch it. In a week, I may be able to do the stationary recumbent bike or water walking if there is no pain.
He did not bat an eye about me being able to compete in December. Hooray! So while I feel this is a major setback, I'm very very lucky.
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET!!!
I lost consciousness, had a concussion, and broke my right clavicle. While in the ER i had amnesia and a memory span of about 30 seconds. My sister and Gillian were with me the whole time and they made me a timeline of what had happened on a piece of cardboard. On the other side of the piece of cardboard, I added my own commentary about things like "I might have flown through the air" and "I was riding alone." I would ask the same questions over and over and they would say, refer to the sheet, Lindsay. It was very much like the movie Memento. I couldnt remember anything past June basically, which makes sense since my summer routine is not as normal and established as the rest of the year. They said I still had my sense of humor and said "whose the perpetrator?? the pants are the perpetrator" -- because I thought my pants caught in my bike. Or "how fucked is my arm -- that's my money arm!!"
They released me at 2am and I got to wake up at home with my loving sister and sweet notes from my buddies and a cut flower by my bed side. No cuts on my face but road rash on my shoulder. We actually packed up my ice packs and went to the beach in the afternoon to relax. Sunday, Gillian helped me buy clothes that I could get into easily (she was my body double) and go shopping at the Fairway for things easy to eat without lots of prep.
Monday I had my follow-up with the neurologist and there are still some lingering symptoms. Reading sucks, I have headaches, neckaches, light sensitivity, weak memory, difficulty concentrating. I have another followup with her in a week and hopefully my brain should be normal again in a week.
Tuesday I had a follow-up with the orthopedist that I researched and even though I had to go to New Jersey today, he was worth it. Normally he's a NY Presbyterian, and I'm really glad I found him. He's like the shoulder guru and head of sports med for all of Columbia University. He told me I can take my arm out of the sling when at home or the office, just keep it on when travelling, in public, and sleeping. In 2 days I'll be able to start walking my fingers up the wall to stretch it. In a week, I may be able to do the stationary recumbent bike or water walking if there is no pain.
He did not bat an eye about me being able to compete in December. Hooray! So while I feel this is a major setback, I'm very very lucky.
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET!!!