First Bad Fall
#27
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,474
Likes: 4,557
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
66 YO, semi-retired and riding 75-100 miles weekly on a new Diverge gravel bike. With a group of six on paved trails when suddenly confronted by a large snake crossing the trail. Instinct was to swerve around which was successful, but was so sharp that my front wheel tucked under when swerving back to regain balance. Landed on my right shoulder and head (thank you helmet). Four hour surgery to repair a badly shattered and displaced clavicle and now in a sling for at least eight weeks. Damn, just as I was getting in decent shape. I now keep hearing my wife’s words when I bought the bike, “You’re gonna get hurt.” (Don’t yet have enough posts to show you a truly impressive pre-op x-ray).
AC Joint Sprain
front wheel tucking under never ends well. hang in there
check out the pills & ills subform over at the 50+ subforum for more good old timers & their bounces. I didn't start falling until I got a mountain bike. kind of got used to it, until the shoulder injury. now I don't want to fall anymore. heh, go figure
Last edited by rumrunn6; 08-07-24 at 07:03 PM.
#28
Senior Member


Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,678
Likes: 2,053
From: Sussex County, Delaware
I feel the OP's pain, and wish them a full recovery. I had a crash on May 28th, just me, resulted in 3 fractures in my neck, 2 broken ribs, and a messed up right shoulder. My neck is doing okay, stiff and sore, having started PT this week. My ribs are healed. My shoulder still has issues. It is protruding to the front, and has an elevated big knot at the rear top of the shoulder. I am seeing an orthopedist Friday, the 9th. I suspect either a torn or detached tendon, or maybe a displaced clavicle. It is very painful with most movement, always sore and stiff. I am soon to be 72, riding bikes for 65+ years. This was the first time I had serious consequences from a ride and fall.
It certainly could have been a lot worse. The ER had me transported to a trauma center, 90 mile ambulance ride, due to the neck fractures being unstable. It was determined at the trauma center that surgery was not necessary, but I wore hard shell neck brace 24/7 for 8 weeks. My shoulder was so swollen and bruised that the deformity of the shoulder could not be seen. X rays showed no fractures. It took a long time for that swelling and bruising to reduce enough to see the deformity. Likely going to need an MRI to determine the actual damage.
It certainly could have been a lot worse. The ER had me transported to a trauma center, 90 mile ambulance ride, due to the neck fractures being unstable. It was determined at the trauma center that surgery was not necessary, but I wore hard shell neck brace 24/7 for 8 weeks. My shoulder was so swollen and bruised that the deformity of the shoulder could not be seen. X rays showed no fractures. It took a long time for that swelling and bruising to reduce enough to see the deformity. Likely going to need an MRI to determine the actual damage.
Last edited by delbiker1; 08-08-24 at 11:21 AM.
#29
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 9
Likes: 11
I feel the O's pain, and wish them a full recovery. I had a crash on May 28th, just me, resulted in 3 fractures in my neck, 2 broken ribs, and a messed up right shoulder. My neck is doing okay, stiff and sore, having started PT this week. My ribs are healed. My shoulder still has issues. It is protruding to the front, and has an elevated big knot at the rear top of the shoulder. I am seeing an orthopedist Friday, the 9th. I suspect either a torn or detached tendon, or maybe a displaced clavicle. It is very painful with most movement, always sore and stiff. I am soon to be 72, riding bikes for 65+ years. This was the first time I had serious consequences from a ride and fall.
Wow, Now feeling blessed that it was only my shoulder. Sounds like you might need a total shoulder arthroplasty to improve functionality. Coincidentally, I’m an occupational therapist that works at a specialty hospital for joint replacements. My surgeon did state that I may eventually need a TSA as well. It would mean another eight weeks in a sling, but that’s better than shoulder dysfunction forever. Good luck with your consult!
#30
I've been wondering how many other participants here are currently sidelined from cycling due to injury or illness. Since I can't walk without pain, even with a walker, and I live in a second-floor apartment, I won't have been outside for most of the summer except to go to medical appointments. All because I carried a somewhat heavy shopping bag a bit further than I'd planned. I was intending to extend my touring experience that I started last year, but now that'll have to wait until next year. I'm not getting any younger in the meantime. I've been very fortunate in that my mood has been consistently upbeat except for one deep plunge for a few hours in the hospital when my internal state made me fear having to have a Foley catheter on a permanent basis because my bladder wasn't emptying properly. Luckily, things started functioning again soon after.
I know none of you personally and I've been hanging around here only since last year, but your existence is a great help to me and hopefully others who can't meet other cyclists on the road, in real life, due to some situation or condition. Injury or illness, while a real drag to go through, is not completely unpleasant however. I'm very fortunate to have a few close people in my life and it has been an experience close to spiritual in accepting and rejoicing in the help and encouragement they've offered me. In the last few weeks I've gotten closer to my two daughters than we've been most of our lives. I have people at church praying for me. Not that long ago I was a mostly unhappy person who kept to himself, but in the last few years, through a lot of soul-searching, I've come to realize the joy of being in close relationships with others. To be able to draw on their support in moments of pain or distress has given me a whole new outlook on life. I now deeply cherish my friends and family. Their presence allows me to me keep my spirits up while I crawl my way back into the swing of things.
So to any others of you who currently can't ride, for whatever reason, but still feel part of this cycling crowd, you're not alone and I for one would enjoy hearing about your current misfortune, or past misfortunes. I've thought about starting a new thread on the subject, but this current one seems appropriate, thanks to jevery57's initial sharing and the posts that followed.
I know none of you personally and I've been hanging around here only since last year, but your existence is a great help to me and hopefully others who can't meet other cyclists on the road, in real life, due to some situation or condition. Injury or illness, while a real drag to go through, is not completely unpleasant however. I'm very fortunate to have a few close people in my life and it has been an experience close to spiritual in accepting and rejoicing in the help and encouragement they've offered me. In the last few weeks I've gotten closer to my two daughters than we've been most of our lives. I have people at church praying for me. Not that long ago I was a mostly unhappy person who kept to himself, but in the last few years, through a lot of soul-searching, I've come to realize the joy of being in close relationships with others. To be able to draw on their support in moments of pain or distress has given me a whole new outlook on life. I now deeply cherish my friends and family. Their presence allows me to me keep my spirits up while I crawl my way back into the swing of things.
So to any others of you who currently can't ride, for whatever reason, but still feel part of this cycling crowd, you're not alone and I for one would enjoy hearing about your current misfortune, or past misfortunes. I've thought about starting a new thread on the subject, but this current one seems appropriate, thanks to jevery57's initial sharing and the posts that followed.
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 1,515
Likes: 908
About two years ago I was riding along a path shortly after a rain. In this area, when it rains, it often washes loose sand and rock from one place to another. I happened to look down, just resting, at exactly the wrong time. I looked back up to see a full dusting of sand right across my path, which also happened to be immediately before a turn. I hit the loose sand, slid off the path into a shallow ditch. Ended up breaking both arm bones in my right wrist. Then I had to get back on the bike and ride 6 miles back to my truck so I could drive myself to the ED.





