It's a very slow process - two steps forward, one step back - but I'm inching in the right direction. - Rob Reiner

May 02, 2013

My First Bike Wreck - CAUTION bloody photos

Since I started riding 3 years ago I have often heard people say it's not a matter of if you will wreck, but when.  For 3 years I have been accident free...yes I fell while standing still a few times, when getting used to my clipless pedals, but that was not a wreck.

Yesterday changed that.

You might remember  a month ago or so I posted about getting my new tri bike.  I was a little intimidated about riding it because it is quite different than a road bike.  The weather in Kansas City has been pretty crappy so far this Spring and I hadn't gotten a chance to ride outside.  On Monday, I finally took the bike out to an empty parking lot and rode it for about 15 minutes to get comfortable.

Yesterday, I was working from home, and it was beautiful.  Sunny and 70s.  It was perfect, so I thought I would go for a short ride around my neighborhood.  It would give me another chance to get comfortable on the bike with minimal traffic. 

I had been riding about 15 minutes and was feel pretty good. I was moving in and out of the aerobars, changing gears and riding really smoothly.  I was loving it.  I rounded a corner and was on a short straight stretch when I saw a truck.  I immediately got off the aerobars, put my hands near the brakes and started slowing down. I was watching him, just being cautious and then he suddenly turned left into a neighborhood right in front of me.  I slammed on my brakes, and my front tire came to an immediate stop causing the back tire to flip completely over my head.  I'm sure I stopped to abruptly, but think I did what anyone would do.  My instincts kicked in ans said...get the bike stopped!

I got up, shaken, but feeling ok.  He immediately got out of his car and ran over to me.  "Oh my gosh, are you ok?  I didn't even see you I am so sorry!"  He was freaking out, and kept saying your bleeding are you ok?  I told him I thought I was ok, just scratched up, and I only lived about a half mile away.  It's weird how you react in a situation like that.  I was shaking all over, but got up and rode home.  I even paused my Garmin after the accident!!!  I honestly didn't think I was hurt too bad, just scraped up some.

Anyway, after I got home I decided to shower and get the blood washed off, it was then I realized just how bad my left wrist was hurting.  It didn't seem to be swelling, but it was very painful.  I had road rash on my left shoulder from shoulder to elbow.  Both hands are scraped pretty bad, I'm missing part of a fingernail, and I have 3 huge bruises on my left thigh, but my wrist HURTS!

So, I made a trip to the Urgent Care clinic for good measure.  They took x-rays and I "might" have a broken wrist...WTH??  How can they not tell.  He said one x-ray showed a thin line across the top of the wrist bone which could indicate a break, but was inconclusive.  He said he was treating it as a break and soft casting it.  I am to follow-up in a week with a Sports Med Dr.  If it's feeling better it's probably just a bad sprain, if not, I may need to have a follow-up x-ray or MRI to determine if it's broken.....

This sucks.  I'm just hopeful it's a sprain. 

Just another reminder to please, please, please watch out for bikers.  This could have been much worse.

Road Rash on my shoulder

One of my scraped palms, the other one looks just the same

Ouch...this hurt.

My hopefully temporary cast.
I have 3 huge bruises on my hips and thighs that look worse than these, but I'll spare you those parts of my anatomy.  I also later found a small bruise along my hairline on the left side as well.  I didn't realize I had hit my head.  Definitely a good thing I was wearing my helmet as I always do.  The helmet I'm sure is what caused the bruise.

Now I'm just ticked!  I had finally had a really good injury free period and was really making some gains in my training, weight loss, and strength training.  Now much of that is gone.  Even if it's just a sprain I'm sure I won't be able to swim or bike for several weeks.

Jim and I have a half marathon on Sat too....still not sure about that one.  We shall see.

Man typing one handed is hard!

36 comments:

  1. Ouch!!! I hope your wrist is not broken. I had a nasty fall (not that bad) running last year where I was bleeding and bruised hands, knees, shoulder and chin and I too didn't realize the extent because I was wearing pants.
    Take care of yourself, actually let Jim take care of you!!!

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  2. Ouch! Glad it wasn't any worse, hope your wrist isn't really broken :( I did have to laugh at you pausing your Garmin, I probably would have too.

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  3. Holy cow. I'm glad you are not hurt worse. People are so stupid when driving and never see runners or bikers. Dare I ask how the new bike is?

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  4. I am so glad you are ok. I hope the wrist is just a sprain. I am glad he stopped to make sure he was ok, my accident, the driver took off.

    I hope you heal quickly.

    Then there is issues with getting back on the bike. After my accident, I was scared to death to get back on the roads, I just rode the trainer. I finally had a race and was forced to ride again or DNS. The first 10 mins, I jumped at every little thing, after that I got settled in and was able to ride outdoors again. It is something that you might experience as well.

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  5. Suuuuuuuucks. We need some quick healing powers! We have a race in June friend :) I'm just glad you're ok AND that the guy helped you when that happened.

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  6. Aw man, this stinks!! I haven't taken a bike crash yet either... dreading it. Glad you are ok.

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  7. Sorry about your wreck and hopefully your wrist will be ok. I noticed 2 things in your story and hope you don't mind some advice. 1) Practice emergency stops, specifically throwing your weight backwards as you hit the brakes hard. I like to do this in my driveway at the end of each ride. You'll learn to control it quickly. 2) Scraped up palms means you instinctively threw your hands out for protection which leads to a broken clavicle and/or wrists (hmmm). When going down keep your hands on the bars and tuck your head and shoulders in. Tuck and roll will most often leave you with only road rash in manageable areas that won't severely impact your training. Heal up quick and get back on that bike!

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  8. Oh man that really sucks! When I fell while running a few weeks ago I though how lucky I was running and not biking. Still, it cost me my Comrades marathon this year. Take care of yourself. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

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  9. Oh my goodness!! Riding my tri bike was always scary for me! I was always afraid of when I'd wipe out. I hope you heal quickly!

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  10. Ouch! I'm glad you're okay-ish. I've never had a serious bike crash. I find I'm more cautious riding in the summer than in fall/spring because I'm terrified of road rash, and in the winter I feel protected by all my layers.

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  11. Oh my gosh!!!! I am glad to see no major injuries. You could have had it a lot worse! Poor thing. hang in there. Hope the wrist isn't broken!!

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  12. I hope that you recover quickly and that your wrist is okay. When I am driving and I see a biker in front of me, i will get into the other lane all the way if I can. For him not to see you.....people really need to open their freaking eyes. Best wishes on the half marathon if you decide to do that one.

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  13. yikes! so scary! I'm glad that you'll be okay!

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  14. I am waiting for my IF moment yet too, glad that overall you ok. Consider this a chance to focus even more on your running and get faster there!

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  15. Oh my gosh. I hope your wrist is ok and that you heal quickly.

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  16. Holy smokes! So glad you are for the most part OK. I hope your wrist is not broken.

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  17. oh my gosh! Soooo glad it wasn't worse! I hope that it is just a sprain for you. Thanks goodness you stopped the Garmin LOL... I probably would have done that too! Can't let this impact my MPH. :)

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  18. You have my COMPLETE sympathy! Be careful with that wrist. Typing one handed is hard. Oh man, I hope it's not broken. Cars backing up are my biggest fear but odd turns are right up there. How frustrating that they don't know if it is a break. I could swim right away with mine and running wasn't far behind but biking was whole other story. Good luck!!!!

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  19. Oh wow. Hope you heal up quick.

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  20. And all that road rash looks like it hurts!!!!

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  21. Ouch! Glad you are ok. That's scary stuff. How did your new bike fare?

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  22. So glad youre ok!!!! And thankful you wore your helmet!!!!

    Smaller hairline fractures are very hard to see on an xray when taken soon after an accident. Hopefully it not a fracture and a some TLC will take care of it!!

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  23. That looks so sore! You poor thing. Good job on remembering to stop your Garmin. That show's the true athlete in you.

    How's the bike?

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  24. So glad you are ok! And really hoping for the best on the wrist!

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  25. I'm so sad to hear this! I know it sucks, but I'm glad it wasn't more serious. Hope you get well soon.

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  26. OUCH!! Sorry but I couldn't help but laugh when I read that you stopped your Garmin :-) naturally that's what we'd all do! I hope your wrist ok and that you are still able to run your race. Road rash sux it swells and doesn't let you sleep well but glad you are ok!!

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  27. Nooooooooooooo!

    I'm so sorry. I hope you get feeling better soon.

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  29. Holy cow! Take care gorgeous!

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  30. First and foremost, I hope you feel better soon.

    Given the caveat that I am not a doctor and only play one in a blog, it seems like you do have a broken wrist. Even an MRI wont show it now as the bones are small. In about 6 weeks it will show up on XRAY/MRI as the part which heals will show. I had the same injury from going over the bars. It sucks. I wore a smaller brace similar to a roller blade wrist guard for a long time. The good part is that there is very little PT necessary.

    Email me if you think I can help with any questions.

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  31. So sorry to hear about your accident. Glad you could tell the story though :) Take good care of y.o.u!

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  32. Oh, no! Hope you are healing up by now and the wrist isn't an actual break!

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  33. I'm so sorry about the crash! I hope that the scrapes and bruises are all the damage and that your wrist isn't broken. Scary!

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  34. Ok I am waaaayyyyy behind on this - but holy crap!!!! I am so glad it wast worse, but how scary!!! So so sorry this happened!!! I hope you heal quickly!!!

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  35. THANK GOODNESS it wasn't worse. So sorry this happened, and hope you are healing well.

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