Monday, April 14, 2014

Bike Accident, Fractured/Displaced Clavicle

                                              Post-surgery with titanium plate and 7 screws

On Monday, March 3rd, I met the guys I normally bike with for our regular bike ride up to Oracle.  There were a couple of guests from Canada that day and I was excited to meet them and have them bike with us.  I also didn't want them to think I was a "weenie-girl" and was biking at a fast clip down Saddlebrooke hill and enjoying some of their draft... when suddenly, I spotted a huge rock (bigger than my fist) but too late to maneuver around it and I hit it and crashed to my right side.  The guys asked if I was all right to which I replied that I had broken my collarbone!... How did I know that they asked... and I said that I could feel the bone end poking into my skin!... Luckily, I had on cycling tights and my red TriSports' jacket which saved me a lot of skin... still the force of the impact did cause some road rash especially to parts not covered but even under the jacket and tights.  One good Samaritan stopped and took me to Urgent Care where x-rays confirmed not only the fracture but the displaced bone.  It was recommended that I see an orthopedic.  Fortunately, there is a great group of hand/shoulder orthopedic specialists here called Southwest Hand.  They even sponsor a cycling team (How smart is that)!... also some of the doctors are cyclists!... so I thought this would be the best place to be seen.  The earliest appointment I could get was two days later and believe me, I was really uncomfortable but refused to take pain killers figuring they would make me loopy among other side effects.  However, every little movement was agonizing because the displaced bone would just poke that much more.

On Wed. I saw Dr. Chafit and had more x-rays taken.  My clavicle was fractured in three places with a segment that was really crooked and tearing into my upper trapezius muscle.  The following Monday I had surgery to realign the bone and it was stabilized with a titanium plate and seven screws... amazing what they can do!  At the follow-up visit, I was shown the x-rays as to how really messed up my bone was and then the repair job with the meticulously placed titanium plate and the neatly aligned screws.  I was to remain in a sling for another 6-8 weeks, no driving, no lifting of the arm (and it had to be my dominant right side, too), no physical activity... not even walking... just taking it easy and laying low (so difficult for a Type A person)!

After a couple of weeks, I was permitted to return to some walking... and being so excited about that, I walked excessively.  By the weekend my right foot (where I had been having some issues) swelled up like a balloon and was red and warm to the touch.  By Monday it was worse and you couldn't even see my ankle.  I was supposed to be accompanying my husband to Galveston where he was still doing the 70.3 (I had to cancel) but now I wanted to find out if I had perhaps pushed so hard that I had a stress fracture.  I couldn't get into my local podiatrist but my husband's ortho "knee" guy was willing to see me and take x-rays.  When he saw how swollen and red my foot/ankle were, he diagnosed it as "cellulitis" and put me on heavy doses of antibiotic which if it didn't knock it down could become really serious and even lead to sepsis!  So, I opted out of going to Galveston and stayed home and tried to keep my foot elevated and take it easy.  I couldn't put weight on it anyway and just dragged my foot around (while wearing socks so the floor got dusted anyway)!  I didn't want to be in the middle of Texas and have a medical issue.

Fortunately, the foot is improving and the swelling is almost gone but my foot is still a bit sore as it blistered and now the blisters are cracking/peeling and the tissue underneath is sensitive.  This is really frustrating as I'm not getting any activity... but luckily, it is healing.

Yesterday I had a surprise phone call from Sister Madonna (in her 80's now and still racing up until her recent bike accident in which she fractured her pelvis.  She was supposed to be running Boston next Monday)!  I admire her faith and she puts things in perspective but both of us agreed that it is hard to be patient.

I have been getting a lot of reading done... posted race reports onto my blog... spent a lot of time cancelling out on races and doing whatever paperwork was involved.  Plus, it takes me a lot longer to do daily activities with my left hand (like dressing, cleaning, washing/combing my hair, brushing my teeth) but I'm getting better at being a "lefty!" so perhaps that will help me when I return to my activities especially in swimming where I was less than effective with my left arm.

Having worked with people with disabilities and also fundraised for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, I realize that I am one of the lucky ones. I will heal and gradually build back my level of fitness which is at a low point right now.  For such a quick accident, it is such a long recovery.  I so appreciate all the support family, friends, neighbors, other athletes and especially TriSports.com have given me.

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