broken collar bone and ribs- what now?

On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 13:28:17 -0700, "Suz"
wrote:

Hey all,
17 days ago, I was doing a local master men's crit, just for fun and
training. Was going to do the master-A's, but didn't was still warmed up
from the women's race, and didn't want to wait around for another hour. I
looked around at the start line, saw some sketchy looking riders, and
wondered if I was making a mistake. But I figured I'd be okay if I would
stay up front, or maybe try to get off the front. Well guess what- one of
the sketchy guys was also pretty strong, and marked me the entire first half
of the race. As I was rounding the last corner, going for a prime, he tried
to come up the inside, clipped my handlebars hard, and sent me flying toward
the pavement. Witnesses say he landed on top of me, though I don't remember
this.

Anyway, he got up, got his free lap, and finished the race, in 2nd or 4th
place I think, ( i know the guys who were 1st and 3rd) while I went to the
hospital with a broken rt. collar bone (two places, displaced), at least 3
broken ribs on the rt., maybe more, and a pneumothorax (punctured rt. lung).
Was hospitalized for two days with a chest-tube to re-inflate my lung. I
don't think the pneumothorax is holding me back much now. The collar bone
is mending- it seems I can do a little more each day, though I'm not yet
ready to hold the handlebars. I've been on the trainer daily since day-6.
(I can do a little intensity now, for short periods of time, as long as I
don't hold the handlebars.) But the ribs, they feel fine when I'm just
walking around, but they don't seem to be improving much. I still can't
roll over in bed, or lie on either side without feeling like my chest is
caving in..

Has anybody had similar injuries? If so, how long did it take for you to
get back to racing, or even riding? Any ortho or sports med-types out
there? Murray? My ortho docs are always so conservative, one is saying
possibly 3 months, but I don't buy it. I want to be ready to compete by the
"Tour of Altoona" a 7 day stage race, which will be 7 weeks post-injury.
Realistic?

I'm supposed to be at Elite Natz this week, but instead am sitting here
writing to RBR. Man, my life DOES suck!

crash pics:
one lap before the crash: http://www.wheelsinfocus.com/img_7187vp.jpg (see
the dude in on my wheel?)
~10 seconds after the crash: http://www.wheelsinfocus.com/img_7192vp.jpg
(same dude)
finish: http://www.wheelsinfocus.com/img_7241vp.jpg (same dude in 2nd wheel,
~20 meters from finish line)

thanks, suz

p.s. I had a lot of friends at the race, but nobody knew who this guy was.
The official said he was an out-of-towner, probably from Oregon. Any of you
OBRA people recognize him, or his team kit?


It's always wise to do what your doctor say to do. Why else would
you pay him/her the big bucks?

Robert

Suz wrote:


p.s. I had a lot of friends at the race, but nobody knew who this guy was.
The official said he was an out-of-towner, probably from Oregon. Any of you
OBRA people recognize him, or his team kit?

is this the race?

MASTERS C (48 RIDERS)
1 JOSHUA GUNN
2 HUGH REED
3 WOODY COX
4 PAUL WERNER
5 SHAWN LARSON
6 KEVIN RUSCH

h squared wrote:
3 WOODY COX

I think I have a non-cycling video where he has a piece of the action.

Ewoud Dronkert wrote:

h squared wrote:

3 WOODY COX


I think I have a non-cycling video where he has a piece of the action.


we've talked about him before a couple years ago. (you wanted to know if
he worked for vivid, iirc
h

h squared wrote:
we've talked about him before a couple years ago.

Damn, that is sad. 1. I haven´t grown in years. 2. I don´t even remember my
same old stupid joke.

Sorry.

Ewoud Dronkert wrote:

Sorry.

lol, it wasn't a reprimand, don't worry.

he and another cyclist pinched me once to test my body fat percentage; i
can see your video starting likewise

h

So Suz got hit from behind by Hugh Reed, not Woody Cox? hmm

RVD

Rik Van Diesel wrote:

So Suz got hit from behind by Hugh Reed, not Woody Cox? hmm

RVD


potm

"Ewoud Dronkert" wrote in message
...
h squared wrote:
3 WOODY COX

I think I have a non-cycling video where he has a piece of the action.


Master Chubby?

Give up these little insignificant crit races. They remind me of 200
guys all lined up, so they can see who can get to the end of Farmer Johns
road first, with about half laying on the pavement trying to get there.
It's 3 stooges stuff. Train and participate in RAAM. You have a whole
continent to spread your wings, without some goofball running into you. Too
little road, with too many riders means crashes, everytime. I gave up
crits, when I switched to an HMO. I got tired of bouncing off the pavement.