Tuesday 9/18

Today I think I took a step back. My lower back on the left side is starting to hurt. It feels as if something has shifted where my pelvis connects to my sacrum.

Walking seems a little more difficult today. I was having stomach problems which I suspect were caused by . Instead of taking 2 per dose I went down to one per dose. Consequently, I felt more pain. It was interesting to get a sense of how much pain there is in the absence of any painkillers. The answer is quite a bit.

I woke up around 3 am and could not get back to sleep. I ended up going to watch TV around 5 until 7 ish. Getting out of bed required laying back, supporting my bad leg with the good, and swinging both over the side of the bed simultaneously. Then I stand upright using the walker.

I took a shower today. The first one since Thursday. Elizabeth had to help me get over the tub side. I used the walker to get alongside the tub then braced myself against the walls for stability. Getting out of the tub was the same in reverse. I was only able to dry off my top half. Elizabeth had to dry my legs.

She also had to assist me with putting on my underwear, shorts, socks and shoes.

Monday 9/17

I woke up around 5-ish out of habit. Didn't get up until 6-ish. Getting up was still painful but I managed to do it on my own in a few minutes. I used the walker for support as I stood up and walked down the hall.

I sat on the padded stool in the kitchen which was a little painful. My left leg is still sore inside and on the back.

Elizabeth noticed that the veins on the back side of my knee seem to be more pronounced. She made an appointment with my family physician, Dr. Hoben, so that he could examine them.

I took at around 11 am then took another "sink shower" and washed my hair and shaved. I'm starting to feel human again.

I was able to walk with almost a normal type stride with the walker today. I still have a lot of pain getting up and sitting down though.

I missed work today and am juggling my upcoming appointments. I cancelled my flight to St Louis and Kansas City that were scheduled for this week.

I saw Dr hoben around 5 pm. He was concerned about the appearance of swelling and recommended an ultrasound immediately. We were able to be worked in to the radiology dept at Presbyterian Main.

The ultrasound came back negative for any blockages and we were sent home. He prescribed as an alternative to . was causing stomach distress.

The rest of the evening was uneventful. I was very tired by 9 pm and went to bed around 9:30.

Today's Progress

Let's see, what have I done so far today. Well, last night was OK actually. My first night at home in my own bed. I was able to sponge down and change clothes before bed. Elizabeth had to help me undress. I stood at the bathroom sink and used a washcloth.

I was able to wrap myself with a towel and get to the bed. Elizabeth had to help me put on my underwear and get into bed. The method that works best seems to be:

a.) use the walker to get perpendicular to the bed.
b.) sit down on the edge of the bed.
c.) lay back straight out
d.) hook my good leg under my bad left leg and lift up.
e.) swing both legs up onto the bed.
f.) inch my way into a comfortable position.

It is still very painful getting into bed. The most pain happens when my legs spread apart at all.

Walking around the house last night wasn't too bad. I still had to walk one step at a time; advancing the walker then stepping forward with the bad leg, then good leg. It is very slow also.

I slept from 10-ish until about 1-ish when I woke up and had to urinate. Rather than a slow painful trip to the bathroom I used the bottle from the hospital. I was able to fall back asleep until about 3 am when Mary Elizabeth came in feeling sick. After that I was unable to relax and resume sleeping.

Ironically, the baby slept all night without interruption.

2nd night, 3rd day in hospital

Last night I slept much better than the first night. I still have a lot of trouble getting in and out of bed. My left leg and hip are very painful when pressed on the edge of the bed. Once I am able to stand with my walker and can fully extend my leg, it feels a little better.

The pain feels like it is coming from my inner thigh towards the rear. It feels like soft tissue soreness lying down. When I move it hurts at certain points during the movement.

I was able to have a BM around 11 am for the first time since Thursday. One of the side effects of LORTAB is apparently constipation. I should be good for the rest of the day though.

I'm starting to wonder about being compensated for my pain and suffering, as well as the inconvenience to my family. Not to mention the impact on my job. I think I'll be unable to travel on planes for at least a few weeks. I don't want to take unfair advantage of the driver's insurance but on the other hand she was legitimately wrong for passing me and then turning across my path. If I was a car she would not have done that. I am so tired of drivers treating cyclists like inconveniences.

2nd day in hospital

This morning was very busy with nurses running in and out of my room seemingly every 15 minutes. They're been checking my vital signs every few hours.

At 4 am a nurse came in to draw blood for a CBC

I was told I don't appear to have any symptoms of internal bleeding.

A PT, Jim, came in around 8 am. He showed me how to get out of bed and stand up with the aid of crutches. He ended up setting me up with a walker instead of crutches.

Emergency Room, Xrays, CT scan 3-7pm

The ambulance took me to the emergency room at CMC. I was brought into a room and attended to immediately by several nurses. A doctor, Jane Batts, also came in and asked what happened. She inspected me for a spinal injury and determined there was none apparent.

She requested x-rays of the left thigh and hip.

The xrays were read by an orthopedic resident, Dr. Bray. He identified 2 fractures from the xray and a possible third at the rear. He stated that I sustained a Ramai fracture of the pelvis.

I was taken to a room on the orthopedic floor (11) at 6:50 pm. I spent the night in considerable discomfort, sleeping on and off through the night.

Cut off by a car while biking 2:45 pm

Yesterday, Friday September 14, I crashed my bike into the side of a Toyota 4Runner that turned right across my path. I never lost consciousness but ended up in the hospital with a fractured pelvis. The police and paramedics arrived and I filled out a police report. Here are the rest of the details as best I can recall:

• I had just started from the parking lot of the Myers Park UMC. I was riding with DAvid Frame who was behind me at the point of the accident.
• It had just started to rain. The only reason we decided to go was that we had cancelled a ride that morning due to rain and it turned out some other riders went ahead and rode. Plus, the weather forecaster had been wrong already about the whole day being a drenching. We assumed this was a brief passing shower.
• We chose to ride this route due to its popularity with the cycling community which we felt made it a safer route. Also, we were both extremely familiar with the circuit. We decided to avoid other roads in the vicinity since it was nearing rush hour on a Friday afternoon.
• We were riding on Queens Road which becomes Selwyn Avenue near Queens University. It is a two lane road with a 35 mph limit. At the point of the accident the left lane becomes a "left turn only" lane. The right lane continues straight. There was no dedicated right turn lane.
• The accident occurred at the intersection of Queens and Radcliffe.
• We were riding single file about 3 feet left of the right curb in the right lane. Our rate was about 18 mph at the accident site.
• As I approached the intersection of Queens and Radcliffe I became aware that a vehicle was overtaking me on my left side.
• I heard David call out an alarm behind me "she's turning!" and I immediately applied the brakes. Suddenly the vehicle turned across my path.
• I immediately realized that a) it was a Toyota Forerunner and b) an impact was unavoidable.
• The front wheel of my bike impacted the Forerunner at the right rear quarter panel, immediately behind the right rear wheel well.
• My bike and I slammed to the pavement, which was black asphalt.
• The brunt of my impact was borne by my left thigh, in the vicinity of the superior process of the femur (the greater trochanter.)
• I immediately felt severe pain emanating from my thigh. At that point I had come to a stop and was able to roll onto my back with my legs bent at the knees.
• I could hear David getting off of his bike. I was also aware of several bystanders who came forward with offers to help. I remember screaming loudly 4-5 times as I rolled onto my back.
• I was asked if I wanted to move and declined. I was unable to extend my left leg. I was able to extend the right leg. At that time I was more furious than anything.
• Most of my pain was in my hip. At that time I had no idea what was wrong and suspected a broken femoral neck or hip socket joint.
• When the firemen arrived they began examing my neck and spine. I had no pain in either. I stated that my head did not impact the pavement.
• The driver of the Forerunner asked me "Are you all right?" while I was lying on the pavement in obvious pain.
• A nursing student from Queens University stopped her car to block traffic and shield me until the authorities could arrive.
• Shortly thereafter, the police arrived and began asking similar questions. I again stated no head impact.
• The Medics arrived and attempted to lift me but there was too much pain on the left side of my hip. I still could not extend my left leg at the knee. They used a scoop to put me on the stretcher and load me into the ambulance.
• A different police officer came into the ambulance and asked questions while they prepared me for transport.
• The female medics name was "Maudy." I'm unsure of the spelling. She rode in the back with me and attempted to stabilize my left leg, which was still bent at the knee.