Crunch time

[sudsmaster]

Thanks Marty.

The only problem is that there really isn't an uninjured side. The broken ribs and shoulderblade are all on the right, but the blade break is close to the center of the back, and rolling to either side causes it to flare up. Additionally the joint between my left collarbone and top center of the rib cage appears to be sprained, so that causes left side pain as well.

My solution has been to commandeer a wedge-shaped back cushion from the living room couch, and with some extra pillows sort of duplicate the slope of an adjustable bed. I find I can sleep much better in this semi-reclined position than flat on my back, which is still painful, and can get out of bed much easier as well.

The good news is that I've gone off the narcotic painkillers for the whole day now, without incident, and am feeling much better. Still need to sleep a lot, which I suppose is understandable since about half my chest was more or less crushed just a few days ago. Lots of soft tissue damage to repair in addition to the fractures.

 

[eluxomarty]

Rich

The patients on the floor i work on have either been burned, shot, stabbed, been hit by a car been in a car, motorcycle or ATV accident, fallen off a cliff or off a horse or out of a palm tree (tree trimmers) so after taking care of these people i'd tell you to get rid of the bike, although you probably don't want to hear that. I'm glad you are doing better. Sorry to be such a downer right now.

 

[sudsmaster]

Well, Marty, I can see that. However I've gone a full 12 years without a bike accident, so that's not too bad a record. As you can guess, I'm not inclined to part with it, although I admit I'm not as enthused about riding it as I used to be.

What I think I *should* do is get in better physical shape so if I do have another tumble or spill - and there are lots of ways off a bike to do that - my injuries will be less severe.

I visited the accident scene today, just to refresh my memory, and as the eyewitness told me, there really wasn't anything I could have done to avoid the crash - other than not being in that place at that time.

And yeah, I'm on ladders and the roofs here from time to time. I work with potentially dangerous powerful metal cutting machines. I try to take as many precautions as possible, but there is always the possibility of a mishap. I guess I'd rather live an interesting life than a boring one.

But I can't argue that one isn't much more likely to be injured in a bike accident than in a car accident. It goes with the territory. I promise, however, never to go quail hunting with Dick Cheney.

 

[panthera]

Rich,

It sounds like you might be doing a bit better - glad to hear that. I never once in my life did any sports or physical fitness until after I broke my horse's fall...poor thing, despite the soft landing on me, he still broke a leg.
We are both just fine today...but my doctors told me I would have recovered much faster if I had been fitter.
I still ride horses, still ride motorcycles...etc. But one thing I have noticed in my circle of friends: The reports of hit and run accidents involving bikes (all types), skate-boards, inline skaters is way up. Either we are all getting more careless or...

 

[sudsmaster]

Panthera,

I would guess the prime problem on our roads today is the cell phone. People are inattentive enough already to other traffic without having their attention diverted by phone conversation. A conversation with someone in the car beside you is different - they can see what's happening on the road and will generally have the sense to pause or shut up when things get dicey. Not so with a cell phone conversation - it generally removes the driver's attention from the road and transports it to the other party on the line. Perhaps the technology is here to make all cell phones used in automobiles have their cameras activated so the other party can see what's happening on the road. But implementation of such a solution would probably take years and might not resolve all the issues anyway.

 

[eluxomarty]

favorite bumper sticker

Or more cars could display the best bumper sticker i have seen in years: "Perhaps You Would Driver Better With That Cell Phone Shoved Up Your Ass!"

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Rich, wow I'm so sorry to hear that, it sounds really scary. Glad you're ok though. I had no idea you rode a motorcycle.

 

[sudsmaster]

Marty,

LOL! I have often wanted an electronic LED display screen, which could display useful messages for other drivers, such as "Hang up the damn phone, and DRIVE!".

Robert,

Thanks. I've been riding motorcycles for about 25 years now. Had my share of accidents, three that resulted in relatively serious injury - this was one of them. Luckily my helmet, work boots, and leather jacket with hard foam padding on the arms and shoulders helped to prevent even more serious injury this time. The helmet, and jacket, especially. I didn't slide far but I think when the car nudged the front wheel of my bike it sent it down hard to the pavement. I wound up landing mostly on the front of my right shoulder - ouch! Planning on returning to work on Monday, although I'm finding that I have to keep up the Aleve if I want to be able to do almost normal daily activities. So it will be interesting. Of course rototilling my garden with lots of pull starting to diagnose an engine problem isn't exactly taking it easy, either.

I love motorcycles but I am really tired of the risk and the potential for injury. If it's not an errant driver, it's a deer or a slippery spot in the road. And sometimes it's just my own damn fault ;-)

But they sure are fun - amazing acceleration on even a small engine bike.