Ouch (possible NSFW pictures of my rear to follow)
Discussion
Had an accident on 31 May and been in hospital since. First off, the staff in the NHS Sre f
king brilliant. I don't necessarily mean the surgeons (although they are) but for me it's been the staff on the Major Trauma Unit and the orthopaedic ward who've got me this far. They've pushed me, held my hand, wiped away my tears, wiped "other" stuff too and have generally been utter superstars. I've accrued a debt I'll never be able to repay them.
My Tiger Explorer has been written off, as has my jacket and jeans (more about the jeans later...). Long story short, I was heading home from work, in lane two, when the driver of a Nissan Micra (FML!) pulled out from lane one into lane two to turn right at a roundabout a good half mile ahead. I braked but ended up going into the back of the Micra before sliding down the road. I ended up in lane two, on my back, head pointing towards the traffic I'd just filtered through at the lights... I then saw my bike sliding past me in lane one, on its side. One less thing to worry about hitting me. Then a bloke runs up and says "Are you ok mate? Oh funk, look at your leg!"
I did. Big mistake as my right thigh now had an extra 90° bend that isn't usually there and it was beginning to smart somewhat. Shortly after, the rapid response paramedic arrived and whacked me full of morphine and Entonox. Then the ambulance arrived and they set about getting me ready. Despite the drugs, them straightening my leg was agonising. So was being rolled to be put on the scoop stretcher. So was being put on the trolley. So was being put in the ambulance. So was the drive to hospital on blues... You get the idea. It REALLY fking hurt.
I don't remember much about A&E (thank you, morphine). I ended up with a shattered right femur, an "open book" pelvis fracture, a fractured right wrist, lots of gravel rash and some fairly spectacular bruising. I ended up having three separate lots of surgery, one to fix my femur, one to fix my pelvis and another to reopen my femur and debride/flush out the subsequent infection. I then developed blood clots on both lungs and then hospital acquired pneumonia...
I'm now able to get out of bed, use a walking frame to get to the loo and shower and move about a bit. It is exhausting! I've also lost over 25 kilos, although I wouldn't recommend this as a diet plan! I'm hopefully going home in the next couple of weeks, but it'll be another two or three months before I can get back to work. Luckily I'm mainly office based so a phased return will be fairly easy to sort.
The jeans? Yeah, about them... Regular Tesco ones. I was lucky not to get worse road rash. My two pairs of Kevlar jeans were in for some minor repair and stupidly I wasn't wearing any protective trousers. Would I ride without "all the gear, all the time" again? I'm honestly not sure. Right now I should be in Sweden, on my bike. I think I'll probably get another bike, but who knows how I'll feel when that times comes? Although I was badly injured, it could have been lots worse.
Right, the pictures:
Femur before surgery
The only titanium I've ever owned!
Apart from this bit of titanium
Apologies if you're eating
That's not going to buff out I don't think...
One of us is off our tits on morphine. Also, not wearing clothes.
My current "wheels"
king brilliant. I don't necessarily mean the surgeons (although they are) but for me it's been the staff on the Major Trauma Unit and the orthopaedic ward who've got me this far. They've pushed me, held my hand, wiped away my tears, wiped "other" stuff too and have generally been utter superstars. I've accrued a debt I'll never be able to repay them.My Tiger Explorer has been written off, as has my jacket and jeans (more about the jeans later...). Long story short, I was heading home from work, in lane two, when the driver of a Nissan Micra (FML!) pulled out from lane one into lane two to turn right at a roundabout a good half mile ahead. I braked but ended up going into the back of the Micra before sliding down the road. I ended up in lane two, on my back, head pointing towards the traffic I'd just filtered through at the lights... I then saw my bike sliding past me in lane one, on its side. One less thing to worry about hitting me. Then a bloke runs up and says "Are you ok mate? Oh funk, look at your leg!"
I did. Big mistake as my right thigh now had an extra 90° bend that isn't usually there and it was beginning to smart somewhat. Shortly after, the rapid response paramedic arrived and whacked me full of morphine and Entonox. Then the ambulance arrived and they set about getting me ready. Despite the drugs, them straightening my leg was agonising. So was being rolled to be put on the scoop stretcher. So was being put on the trolley. So was being put in the ambulance. So was the drive to hospital on blues... You get the idea. It REALLY f
king hurt.I don't remember much about A&E (thank you, morphine). I ended up with a shattered right femur, an "open book" pelvis fracture, a fractured right wrist, lots of gravel rash and some fairly spectacular bruising. I ended up having three separate lots of surgery, one to fix my femur, one to fix my pelvis and another to reopen my femur and debride/flush out the subsequent infection. I then developed blood clots on both lungs and then hospital acquired pneumonia...
I'm now able to get out of bed, use a walking frame to get to the loo and shower and move about a bit. It is exhausting! I've also lost over 25 kilos, although I wouldn't recommend this as a diet plan! I'm hopefully going home in the next couple of weeks, but it'll be another two or three months before I can get back to work. Luckily I'm mainly office based so a phased return will be fairly easy to sort.
The jeans? Yeah, about them... Regular Tesco ones. I was lucky not to get worse road rash. My two pairs of Kevlar jeans were in for some minor repair and stupidly I wasn't wearing any protective trousers. Would I ride without "all the gear, all the time" again? I'm honestly not sure. Right now I should be in Sweden, on my bike. I think I'll probably get another bike, but who knows how I'll feel when that times comes? Although I was badly injured, it could have been lots worse.
Right, the pictures:
Femur before surgery
The only titanium I've ever owned!
Apart from this bit of titanium
Apologies if you're eating
That's not going to buff out I don't think...
One of us is off our tits on morphine. Also, not wearing clothes.
My current "wheels"
Cheers guys!
It's not been easy but once the bones were fixed, with the hefty painkillers, the pain has been fairly manageable and now it's more discomfort than anything.
I cannot understate how brilliant the major trauma staff are. When it was confirmed I had pulmonary embolisms, which were agonising, one of the nurses should have finished at 9pm. She didn't leave until after midnight as she was making sure everything that should be happening, pain relief and drugs wise, was. That reduced me to a blubbering wreck, the care she showed. She was on her day off the next day and I know she phoned in to ch ck on how I was doing.
It's not been easy but once the bones were fixed, with the hefty painkillers, the pain has been fairly manageable and now it's more discomfort than anything.
I cannot understate how brilliant the major trauma staff are. When it was confirmed I had pulmonary embolisms, which were agonising, one of the nurses should have finished at 9pm. She didn't leave until after midnight as she was making sure everything that should be happening, pain relief and drugs wise, was. That reduced me to a blubbering wreck, the care she showed. She was on her day off the next day and I know she phoned in to ch ck on how I was doing.
Thanks for all the well wishes guys, I really appreciate them.
I'll try and answer questions...
I was in lane 2/outside lane, Micra (driven by a bloke, retired Police officer of all people!) was in lane 1/inside lane. I was effectively "overtaking" slower traffic in lane 1 and the Micra driver has moved left to right from lane 1 into lane 2 in front of me, so I ended up going into the back of him, despite heavy braking. He had his grandkids in the car and no one else was injured. I don't bear him any ill will, it's an accident at the end of the day and he didn't set out to injure me. He may have been careless but I'm still here and still breathing. Everything else will get resolved in the fullness of time.
Accident investigation put my speed at mid 50s at point of impact. I couldn't say what the differential between me and the Micra was at point of impact. Enough for me to fracture my pelvis and turn my knackers into rotten grapefruit for a while...
Yes, I had a pelvic binder on me when I was loaded into the ambulance. The accident was on a Wednesday, my femur was fixed on the Saturday and then I was transferred by road ambulance to have my pelvis sorted a few days later - again, I had the pelvic binder on for transfer there and back.
It is effectively a cable tie. The phrase "box of cornflakes" was used by the registrar to describe the bone! I was a bit surprised at the post operative gaps, but this is how they fix it. Basically, everything gets aligned but the gaps are needed to allow the new bone to,form, Hadith grows across the gaps and knits together. Without the gaps, there is nowhere for new bone to form and any h along that might occur would take much longer. The "floaty" bits will bet tea sorted to the new bone over time.
For now I'm planning to get back on a bike at some point. I may change my mind but that's my plan for now.
The one picture I forgot from the original post was the scar left on my leg (50 clips). And no, that's not my deformed cock in the background, it's my left hand.
Oh yeah, and the wrist, breaks highlighted by me
I'll try and answer questions...
I was in lane 2/outside lane, Micra (driven by a bloke, retired Police officer of all people!) was in lane 1/inside lane. I was effectively "overtaking" slower traffic in lane 1 and the Micra driver has moved left to right from lane 1 into lane 2 in front of me, so I ended up going into the back of him, despite heavy braking. He had his grandkids in the car and no one else was injured. I don't bear him any ill will, it's an accident at the end of the day and he didn't set out to injure me. He may have been careless but I'm still here and still breathing. Everything else will get resolved in the fullness of time.
Accident investigation put my speed at mid 50s at point of impact. I couldn't say what the differential between me and the Micra was at point of impact. Enough for me to fracture my pelvis and turn my knackers into rotten grapefruit for a while...
Yes, I had a pelvic binder on me when I was loaded into the ambulance. The accident was on a Wednesday, my femur was fixed on the Saturday and then I was transferred by road ambulance to have my pelvis sorted a few days later - again, I had the pelvic binder on for transfer there and back.
It is effectively a cable tie. The phrase "box of cornflakes" was used by the registrar to describe the bone! I was a bit surprised at the post operative gaps, but this is how they fix it. Basically, everything gets aligned but the gaps are needed to allow the new bone to,form, Hadith grows across the gaps and knits together. Without the gaps, there is nowhere for new bone to form and any h along that might occur would take much longer. The "floaty" bits will bet tea sorted to the new bone over time.
For now I'm planning to get back on a bike at some point. I may change my mind but that's my plan for now.
The one picture I forgot from the original post was the scar left on my leg (50 clips). And no, that's not my deformed cock in the background, it's my left hand.
Oh yeah, and the wrist, breaks highlighted by me
Gavia said:
As a bystander, I've picked up on two parts of your view of the crash. As highlighted above in bold. They won't do you any favours. Heavy braking and still mid 50s at point of impact 
The heavy braking was as soon as he pulled out in front of me - he was only a few yards in front and I had probably not more than a second or two to do anything about it. It was almost instinctive to get on the brakes as hard as I could, think "Oh st" and then I was off. It all happened very quickly indeed.Again, thanks for all the messages, I really appreciate them.
I'm bored rigid but hopefully getting out of hospital soon. I'm doing ok in my head now, but I've had some terrible low points. I've had to get my head round not only how long it will take to get better, but also how hard it will be.
Joking aside, you have to suspend your dignity to a certain extent. There is nothing remotely erotic about a bed bath while you're fighting nausea and a temperature the wrong side of 40° C. Having a 20 year old student wiping your stty arse for the third time in an hour is not something that's pleasant for either of you, on any level.
But the brilliant staff do all this, and so much more, without fuss or grumble. I cannot overstate just how fantastic every single member of staff has been, even when I've been at my lowest ebb. The extra 30 seconds they spend with you when they should have finished their shift cannot be valued monetarily. They laugh, they cajole, they push, but most of all, they really do care.
The staff are the real heroes in all this, I'm just a participant.
I'm bored rigid but hopefully getting out of hospital soon. I'm doing ok in my head now, but I've had some terrible low points. I've had to get my head round not only how long it will take to get better, but also how hard it will be.
Joking aside, you have to suspend your dignity to a certain extent. There is nothing remotely erotic about a bed bath while you're fighting nausea and a temperature the wrong side of 40° C. Having a 20 year old student wiping your s
tty arse for the third time in an hour is not something that's pleasant for either of you, on any level.But the brilliant staff do all this, and so much more, without fuss or grumble. I cannot overstate just how fantastic every single member of staff has been, even when I've been at my lowest ebb. The extra 30 seconds they spend with you when they should have finished their shift cannot be valued monetarily. They laugh, they cajole, they push, but most of all, they really do care.
The staff are the real heroes in all this, I'm just a participant.
Thanks again to everyone.
I had a really stty day mentally yesterday where it all got on top of me. These days happen and I know yesterday won't be the last but it's still difficult when you're at the bottom of that pit. So thanks to all you random internet weirdos for making yesterday that little bit easier for me.
I don't think Kevlar jeans/leathers etc would have prevented the breaks, but they would have definitely reduced the gravel rash. In the early days, that was really painful and it's still healing now. I'll be left with some permanent scarring, but as I'm not planning on launching a new career as a Speedo model, I can live with that.
I'm getting close to using crutches and have had a couple of test rides. Because of my wrist, I use one normal crutch with the arm loop and handle and one "gutter" crutch which I rest my forearm on. Using crutches is complicated enough when you're live firing with them, but two different styles adds a whole extra level of faff! Additionally all the damage is on my right hand side, which is my dominant side, so I'm having to use my naturally weaker side to do a lot more of the work.
Cheers again BBers, I'll keep you posted on any news...
I had a really s
tty day mentally yesterday where it all got on top of me. These days happen and I know yesterday won't be the last but it's still difficult when you're at the bottom of that pit. So thanks to all you random internet weirdos for making yesterday that little bit easier for me.I don't think Kevlar jeans/leathers etc would have prevented the breaks, but they would have definitely reduced the gravel rash. In the early days, that was really painful and it's still healing now. I'll be left with some permanent scarring, but as I'm not planning on launching a new career as a Speedo model, I can live with that.
I'm getting close to using crutches and have had a couple of test rides. Because of my wrist, I use one normal crutch with the arm loop and handle and one "gutter" crutch which I rest my forearm on. Using crutches is complicated enough when you're live firing with them, but two different styles adds a whole extra level of faff! Additionally all the damage is on my right hand side, which is my dominant side, so I'm having to use my naturally weaker side to do a lot more of the work.
Cheers again BBers, I'll keep you posted on any news...
Someone asked about boots... I was wearing very unfashionable (but slipper comfy and totally waterproof AltBergs (unsurprisingly very similar to Police issue ones...)). They managed to get the boots off without cutting them and as far as I know they survived intact.
I managed to take my own helmet and gloves off and unzip my jacket (Triumph mesh job with a Knox back protector in). The jacket did its job but was cut off me at the scene. As were my jeans, my t shirt, my undies (the right leg anyway) and my right sock. The gloves have probably had it from where they slid. Apart from possibly my boots, the only item of clothing that survived was one stripy red sock from my left foot, which bizarrely stayed on for about two days... That fker's getting framed when I eventually get back to something like full health!
I had another run out on the crutches today and got 3 or 4 metres further than last time. It is absolutely knackering! My resting heart rate at the moment is around 75. Getting back from crutch/frame use has it up around 140...
I saw the orthopaedic registrar on Sunday night. He's finishing his run and rotating to another trauma hospital. He came to see me almost "socially" at the end of what I know had been a long day for him (I'd seen him first thing with another patient). He put it all into perspective for me and said I'd had life threatening injuries just from the accident, so considering all the additional faff of infection/embolisms/pneumonia on top of that, he was really pleased with how well I'm doing. He is another of the staff I've been utterly bowled over and humbled by.
I managed to take my own helmet and gloves off and unzip my jacket (Triumph mesh job with a Knox back protector in). The jacket did its job but was cut off me at the scene. As were my jeans, my t shirt, my undies (the right leg anyway) and my right sock. The gloves have probably had it from where they slid. Apart from possibly my boots, the only item of clothing that survived was one stripy red sock from my left foot, which bizarrely stayed on for about two days... That f
ker's getting framed when I eventually get back to something like full health!I had another run out on the crutches today and got 3 or 4 metres further than last time. It is absolutely knackering! My resting heart rate at the moment is around 75. Getting back from crutch/frame use has it up around 140...
I saw the orthopaedic registrar on Sunday night. He's finishing his run and rotating to another trauma hospital. He came to see me almost "socially" at the end of what I know had been a long day for him (I'd seen him first thing with another patient). He put it all into perspective for me and said I'd had life threatening injuries just from the accident, so considering all the additional faff of infection/embolisms/pneumonia on top of that, he was really pleased with how well I'm doing. He is another of the staff I've been utterly bowled over and humbled by.
At least I was wearing a Triumph t shirt!
I've upped the game with the physio today... Rather than just puttering round on crutches (exhausting) the main physio (physioterrorist!) took me to the gym (not somewhere I'm too familiar with normally) and had me "walking" backwards and forwards on the parallel bars. If I thought the crutches were hard work, four or five goes on the bars had me sweating like a paedophile in a kindergarten...
If you can bear to look, you can see how swollen my right knee still is compared to my left. I've got exercises to try and get as much bend and straighten in my right leg as possible. I can confirm this bloody hurts!
I'm not sure I've necessarily got a positive attitude, I'm just trying to do what I can to get back to where I was before the accident, as soon as possible. The physios are great but they do work you hard! They push you, but they get you to do one more step/rep/stretch when you think you can't. They cajole, they joke, they ask but they get you there. More importantly, they know when to stop when I think I could manage a bit more, when really I can't. They say they're not going to let me undo all the good work and progress we've already made so far.
As a Police Officer, I also pay into a fund which means I can get two weeks solid, intensive physiotherapy at one of the Police treatment centres. These are privately funded/charitable organisations - it's a bit like health insurance, it's a monthly premium. I've paid in 21 years and never used them so it's about time I had a do! I've spoken to the head physio at one of the centres, but she says I'll benefit more from what they can provide in another 6-8 weeks, when I can fully weight bear on both legs and arms. I could go now, but it would only be of limited benefit, so I'm happy to wait.
Have a great weekend everyone and if you're out, keep it shiny side up.
I've upped the game with the physio today... Rather than just puttering round on crutches (exhausting) the main physio (physioterrorist!) took me to the gym (not somewhere I'm too familiar with normally) and had me "walking" backwards and forwards on the parallel bars. If I thought the crutches were hard work, four or five goes on the bars had me sweating like a paedophile in a kindergarten...
If you can bear to look, you can see how swollen my right knee still is compared to my left. I've got exercises to try and get as much bend and straighten in my right leg as possible. I can confirm this bloody hurts!
I'm not sure I've necessarily got a positive attitude, I'm just trying to do what I can to get back to where I was before the accident, as soon as possible. The physios are great but they do work you hard! They push you, but they get you to do one more step/rep/stretch when you think you can't. They cajole, they joke, they ask but they get you there. More importantly, they know when to stop when I think I could manage a bit more, when really I can't. They say they're not going to let me undo all the good work and progress we've already made so far.
As a Police Officer, I also pay into a fund which means I can get two weeks solid, intensive physiotherapy at one of the Police treatment centres. These are privately funded/charitable organisations - it's a bit like health insurance, it's a monthly premium. I've paid in 21 years and never used them so it's about time I had a do! I've spoken to the head physio at one of the centres, but she says I'll benefit more from what they can provide in another 6-8 weeks, when I can fully weight bear on both legs and arms. I could go now, but it would only be of limited benefit, so I'm happy to wait.
Have a great weekend everyone and if you're out, keep it shiny side up.
dudleybloke said:
How's things now Dib?
Hello BBersWell I'm still in hospital... A bit over 9 weeks now. I'm medically fit for discharge but the walking/mobility is still an issue. I'm hoping to get out in the next week/ten days but the physios won't let me out until they're happy. The physios and OTs do push me but that's what I need to get the most out of their limited time.
I'm making slow but steady progress with the crutches but it's bloody hard work. I'm on a 4 bed bay with quite a turnover of other patients, apart from one guy who has a badly fractured pelvis but who is also making steady progress. We get on really quite well and have all sorts of random chats with each other through the day. Our frequent respective guests also "know" each other by now, so on days when one of us might not have a visitor, we sort of share!
The food has become tedious. It's fairly bland but edible and hot or cold as appropriate. The menu is the same every week, so it's a bit limited in scope and you tend to find there's either three options you want or none...
I'm hoping to be able to use the damaged leg a bit more by the end of the next week, but that is subject to a further X-Ray. I've had a couple of sessions in the hospital gym on the parallel bars, using my arms to take my weight while I "walk" backwards and forwards. Again, hard work. The big achievement is I've finally managed my first "standing up"* piss in nine weeks!
One of,the other patients is 90 and has had a really adverse reaction to some anaesthetic. He came in quite lucid, but post surgery has spent the last 48 hours trying to get out of bed and fight with the staff, quite aggressively. It's quite exhausting for everyone but as usual, the staff are fantastic and so patient with him and us. I couldn't do their job and they really don't get paid enough for what they do.
I've had a couple of trips out from the hospital, once to work for a couple of hours and a couple to a supermarket cafe (Booths - northern Waitrose) across the road so I've had some different meals. Just getting out, even in a wheelchair, is a massive boost but more tiring than you'd anticipate.
And just to keep you all happy, another photo of me, from the gym. My hair does need a decent cut, but the photo looks like I've started growing a mullet (it's actually a poster on the wall behind me)! Thanks for the continued good thoughts, it really does mean a lot to me.
- Standing means balancing on one leg, arms jammed against the cubicle sides like a fat, pissed up flamingo...
Sorry for the lack of updates recently.
I escaped from hospital on Monday to my girlfriend's house. The downside is her bathroom is upstairs, so I'm reduced to a strip wash from a bowl in the kitchen and using a commode chair. I think the commode chair was designed for an evacuated child. I'll never take a "full sized" loo seat for granted ever again. It's like stting through a Polo mint...
I've graduated from "toe touch" weight bearing on my damaged leg to "partial weight bearing". This is tricky because I still can't straighten that leg, so when I do try and put weight on it, the knee bends so it's a bit tricky. I'm still using crutches/walking frame and I'm in the process of getting a wheel chair from the Red Cross. It's a bizarre situation, but my injuries aren't serious enough to get a wheel chair from the hospital, so I have to organise one myself.
I also earn too much to qualify for any benefits or assistance with carers, so anything "extra" I have to fund myself. But I'm glad to be out, even though I'm sleeping downstairs on a day bed. I'm getting proper food and the lack of hospital noise is fantastic! I can watch crap to, open the French doors and basically relax. I feel like I'm catching up on three months worth of no/broken sleep.
Altogether, I spent two days shy of 12 weeks in hospital. The bone in my femur isn't healing properly, so I may still need reconstructive surgery before too long. Not ideal, but if I need it, I need it. I'm looking at 12-18 months for a full recovery.
I escaped from hospital on Monday to my girlfriend's house. The downside is her bathroom is upstairs, so I'm reduced to a strip wash from a bowl in the kitchen and using a commode chair. I think the commode chair was designed for an evacuated child. I'll never take a "full sized" loo seat for granted ever again. It's like s
tting through a Polo mint...I've graduated from "toe touch" weight bearing on my damaged leg to "partial weight bearing". This is tricky because I still can't straighten that leg, so when I do try and put weight on it, the knee bends so it's a bit tricky. I'm still using crutches/walking frame and I'm in the process of getting a wheel chair from the Red Cross. It's a bizarre situation, but my injuries aren't serious enough to get a wheel chair from the hospital, so I have to organise one myself.
I also earn too much to qualify for any benefits or assistance with carers, so anything "extra" I have to fund myself. But I'm glad to be out, even though I'm sleeping downstairs on a day bed. I'm getting proper food and the lack of hospital noise is fantastic! I can watch crap to, open the French doors and basically relax. I feel like I'm catching up on three months worth of no/broken sleep.
Altogether, I spent two days shy of 12 weeks in hospital. The bone in my femur isn't healing properly, so I may still need reconstructive surgery before too long. Not ideal, but if I need it, I need it. I'm looking at 12-18 months for a full recovery.
kiethton said:
Separate note, keep receipts/track of payments made for carers etc.
Any decent AMC will expense them as uninsured losses via the TP's insurance co
Glad for the update however and good to see you're on the mend!
Cheers for the advice - have heard the same from a few other people so will do.Any decent AMC will expense them as uninsured losses via the TP's insurance co
Glad for the update however and good to see you're on the mend!
Fleegle said:
I feel for you bud. That's a long recovery period.
Keep your chin(s) up
I'm three months in at the moment. The big thing is the boredom. Keep your chin(s) up
I miss my dog, I miss not being able to do anything for myself as I can't get that far or carry stuff on my frame/crutches. So I can't even make a brew or a butty and get it from the kitchen to the lounge... I can just about stand up unsupported, so I did some washing up today. I'm still taking most of my (still substantial) weight on my left leg, so that gets sore pretty quickly and is a limiting factor for stuff like that. I'm not use to having to rely on other people so much.
I can't just go outside, everything is a bit of a production. That in itself is frustrating. But it's nice to be able to just spend som time with my girlfriend that's not in hospital or governed by visiting hours.
I've missed the summer and I'm still on antibiotics for at least another three months. Once I stop taking them, there's the risk the infection round the metal in my leg will flare up again. There's no way ahead of time to know whether that will happen or not, it's just a case of wait and see. I'm also on anticoagulants that have to be injected daily. The dose I'm on means it's two injections as well. I have to take a ton of tablets every day as well.
My follow up at the fracture clinic is in a couple of weeks so I should find out more then.
I'm out of hospital and I've spent a couple of week's at my girlfriend's house. I heading back home tomorrow as she is off on a prebooked trip to Iceland this week. The bathroom is downstairs at mine, so no stairs to deal with while I'm on my own.
I had my first follow up with the consultant last Thursday, which was a mixed bag. The top of my femur is healing fine but the bottom, where the chunk of bone is still missing, not so much. I've had a CT scan ordered, as from the X-rays it wasn't clear whether or not there was any healing going on.
Reconstructive surgery is still an option but the consultant won't commit until he has seen the results of the CT scan. The issue with the X-rays was lack of "penetration of soft tissue" (I think the consultant was basically calling me a fat knacker) and the metal work is shielding the view of where any healing might be taking place.
I'm also still struggling a bit with betting my right leg straight and lifting it up straight from the bed. The muscles in my thigh are basically "switching off" when I lift it, due to pain, so I have about a 30° bend at the knee. To counter this, I've been given anothertorture device piece of medical equipment to hold my leg straight when I'm doing the leg raises. I've also got a fit note to get back to work in a couple of weeks or so, which I'm keen to do.
Bike was initially valued at £7,000 then upped to £7,595 when I disagreed with them about it. Second engineer has gone to £8,000 and I have GAP insurance high will hopefully soak up some of the difference. I've finally submitted my claim form and spoken to the GAP people. I'm due to be interviewed by the Police in the next couple of weeks, once I get my solicitor sorted.
And for all you sickos, here's a picture of said device (Thackeray/"cricket pad" splint).
I had my first follow up with the consultant last Thursday, which was a mixed bag. The top of my femur is healing fine but the bottom, where the chunk of bone is still missing, not so much. I've had a CT scan ordered, as from the X-rays it wasn't clear whether or not there was any healing going on.
Reconstructive surgery is still an option but the consultant won't commit until he has seen the results of the CT scan. The issue with the X-rays was lack of "penetration of soft tissue" (I think the consultant was basically calling me a fat knacker) and the metal work is shielding the view of where any healing might be taking place.
I'm also still struggling a bit with betting my right leg straight and lifting it up straight from the bed. The muscles in my thigh are basically "switching off" when I lift it, due to pain, so I have about a 30° bend at the knee. To counter this, I've been given another
Bike was initially valued at £7,000 then upped to £7,595 when I disagreed with them about it. Second engineer has gone to £8,000 and I have GAP insurance high will hopefully soak up some of the difference. I've finally submitted my claim form and spoken to the GAP people. I'm due to be interviewed by the Police in the next couple of weeks, once I get my solicitor sorted.
And for all you sickos, here's a picture of said device (Thackeray/"cricket pad" splint).
RemaL said:
Now I know this is still a long way away and you may have already answered this.
But you going to get back on the horse again when your fit a able?
Cheers RemalBut you going to get back on the horse again when your fit a able?
At the moment, I'm definitely leaning towards yes. I really enjoy biking, it's great for commuting to work and I've been to some brilliant places. The accident, although I think it was someone else's fault, is just "one of those things". The driver didn't set out that day to injure me. It's been hard work and a load of faff, but I'm still alive.
I really enjoy my trips to Scandinavia. I've seen things, done stuff and met people I wouldn't have if I'd not been on the bike - including my 580 euro speeding fine in Finland back in 2014...
That said, I might get well enough and think "Nope, not pushing my luck again". I don't think so at the moment and right now, I'd like to get back on a bike as soon as I can. I guess I'm not 100% decided either way. I'm definitely leaning towards riding again, but I'll know once I'm fully physically fit whether I'm willing to take the risk.
Realistically, being a biker IS risky. We make up just 1% of the road users in the UK, but account for 20% of the KSI (killed/seriously injured) figures. Of course, I could get run over by a bus/have a stroke etc etc. You can't always remove all risk from just being alive. The problem with being a biker is we can be 100% in the right, but still come out of it worse off...
TL;DR - Probably.
The good news is, I'm still alive. I started back at work on 22 September and driving my car again just before Christmas. Had two weeks intense physio at the Police Treatment Centre at Harrogate in November, which got me into one crutch. All good.
However... My femur still isn't healing, at all, and last week, the metal implant finally gave way and snapped. I spent two nights in hospital, via A & E and I'm off driving and off work again, on bed rest. I am bored out of my tiny mind! The metal was never meant to be weight bearing, it was just meant to hold the bits in place while bone healed. It's no wonder it's given up.
I'm seeing a limb reconstruction specialist consultant at the regional centre of excellence tomorrow, so I'll have more of an idea what the the future holds after that. More surgery is looking likely. Very, very likely.
I'm uncomfortable rather than in pain, although the feeling/sound of the broken ends of my femur grinding against each other is fairly nauseating...
However... My femur still isn't healing, at all, and last week, the metal implant finally gave way and snapped. I spent two nights in hospital, via A & E and I'm off driving and off work again, on bed rest. I am bored out of my tiny mind! The metal was never meant to be weight bearing, it was just meant to hold the bits in place while bone healed. It's no wonder it's given up.
I'm seeing a limb reconstruction specialist consultant at the regional centre of excellence tomorrow, so I'll have more of an idea what the the future holds after that. More surgery is looking likely. Very, very likely.
I'm uncomfortable rather than in pain, although the feeling/sound of the broken ends of my femur grinding against each other is fairly nauseating...
Cheers for the good wishes.
The lack of healing is a bit of a mystery at the moment. The previous previous orthopaedic consultant was a wrist specialist (not a euphemism) and punted me off in December to a lower limb specialist. Since day one, my local hospital have been extolling the virtues of the Royal Liverpool as the "go to" place for anything tricky, while at the same time being very much "wait and see". I've been asking for at least a second opinion from Royal Liverpool since July.
The plate giving way was the final straw, so to speak, and rather than let the local hospital "try something different" (their words) I've insisted on the referral to Royal Liverpool. It's been nine months so I think we are safely at the end of the "wait and see" period, something a little more proactive needs to happen.
The consultants I've seen so far think it is down to continuing infection, possibly... I spent six months plus on some fairly hefty antibiotics (Rifampicin, turns everything that comes out of you Irn Bru orange, and Doxycycline). I had a bone scan last Monday, where I was injected with radiation (Technetium) and the scan showed my bone cells were merrily pinging away and trying to heal, so that is at least positive.
I'll have to wait and see what the new specialist says tomorrow.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technetium?wprov=sft...
The lack of healing is a bit of a mystery at the moment. The previous previous orthopaedic consultant was a wrist specialist (not a euphemism) and punted me off in December to a lower limb specialist. Since day one, my local hospital have been extolling the virtues of the Royal Liverpool as the "go to" place for anything tricky, while at the same time being very much "wait and see". I've been asking for at least a second opinion from Royal Liverpool since July.
The plate giving way was the final straw, so to speak, and rather than let the local hospital "try something different" (their words) I've insisted on the referral to Royal Liverpool. It's been nine months so I think we are safely at the end of the "wait and see" period, something a little more proactive needs to happen.
The consultants I've seen so far think it is down to continuing infection, possibly... I spent six months plus on some fairly hefty antibiotics (Rifampicin, turns everything that comes out of you Irn Bru orange, and Doxycycline). I had a bone scan last Monday, where I was injected with radiation (Technetium) and the scan showed my bone cells were merrily pinging away and trying to heal, so that is at least positive.
I'll have to wait and see what the new specialist says tomorrow.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technetium?wprov=sft...
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