Recovery time after severe crash.
 

Dear fellow avid +50 cycling crowd. On 11/10/19 I tried to avoid a collision with a pair of rapidly approaching barking dogs in the same shoulder, opposite direction, about 100 feet away. . I was riding in the sweet zone: speed 45 km/hr tail cross wind 5-7 mph. I chose to out run them by accelerating on my Colnago C60 to 50-51 km/hr. As I looked up, a fraction of a second later there they were, blocking my sprinting line! I chose to run over them at worst case scenario. I passed out after that, waking up on an ambulance stretcher in the ambulance with an oxygen mask and the medic placing a neck immobilizer. I was then transported to a Level 1 Trauma ER and after x rays and CT’s, a pneumothorax with a developing hemothorax was treated with a Wayne 14 Fr chest tube, helping to relief the 20-30% right middle lobe pneumothorax. I was hurting all over: right ribs #1-9 fractured, #8 displaced. Comminuted right scapula fracture, Labrum fracture.
I’m wearing a shoulder immobilizer now, ready for discharge ASAP and God willing.
Anyone else has anything to share, wether from personal experience or word of mouth? The pulmonologist and trauma surgeon have forbidden cycling in any manner indefinitely, due to my age, soon to be 60, and severity of trauma, including loosing consciousness for about 15-20 minutes, or so, as I was told. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6a233f968.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...258b7c089.jpeg

No apparent major frame fork damage or scratches. The handlebar tape ripped a little, saddle cover intact. Both wheels intact no flats and chain came off on impact with asphalt.

I had a serious motorcycle accident about 6 years ago. Broke my clavicle in two places, broke my scapula, and 3 ribs. I was off work for over 3 months but part of that was that I had to wait for skin injuries to heal before they could do surgery on my clavicle, and then that was postponed for several more weeks due to the surgeon having an emergency call. After surgery it was a while before they started me on physical therapy and by that time, I could barely move my arm because it had atrophied so badly. It was a few weeks of PT before I could drive.

I'm sure it would have been a lot faster without the delays but still a long time. All I could say for advice is do all the PT they tell you to do and more. That will minimize the recovery time. Good luck with the healing.

I'm sorry about your accident. I hope that you heal quickly. I would say just focus on your recovery in PT, then bicycle when you're allowed to.

As bad as it was, it could have been much worse. Glad you survived. Everyone heals differently, but in general it takes longer the older you are. I’m four weeks out of surgery for a major RC tear, labrum reattachment, debridement, etc. Just now getting some use of that arm. Starting PT tomorrow. Not sure when I’ll be back on a road bike. Several months at least. Take your time and follow your PT plan. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

Does the prohibition extend to trikes?

Geez. That’s a lot to deal with. How do they handle a displaced rib?

Recovery time after severe crash.Hi @1AvidCyclistCat

That’s quite a detailed description of the crash, and medical follow-up. I’m replying not to one-up your experience, but since you asked. I too lost conciousness briefly, I have further previously posted:BTW, I was only slightly older than you at the time of my crash. :50:

PS: I just recalled that I did have a chest tube for a short amount of time in the immediate aftermath.

No, just words of encouragement. It could happen to anyone (and I'm thinking of a particular dog on my route). Godspeed and heal well.

I had a similar accident several years ago, with cracked ribs, pneumothorax and chest tube, etc. I was doing short rides on my upright 3-speed after a couple weeks. Didn't get on the road bike for at least a month, and didn't feel fully recovered for more than a month after that. I didn't have any loss of consciousness or shoulder injury (that time, at least :innocent:), though. At least it happened at the end of the season!

Yeah, all of that this June but only 3 of the ribs were broken and no unconsciousness. A week from birthday 60. I didn't go directly to ER though, I went home hoping not knowing how bad it was and tried to sleep it off.


It was a couple of weeks before I started riding again, just commutes nothing long or strenuous. The road bike position was actually less painful on the ribs than regular walking around and sitting, although the shoulder and clavicle can be problematic if you're stressing them with leaning on the bars.


A couple of months before I got to actually strenuous exercise, and it's been a struggle to regain the lost conditioning.


The labrum tear in my shoulder still hurts and weakens me, after 5 months, but I've put off anything more than a steroid shot and MRI. It may need surgery and more recovery.

Thank you for taking the time to share your story- best of luck with your recovery

I really, really dislike irresponsible dog owners. :mad:

My one serious crash (blown tire on a descent) had me with several broken ribs, a minor pneumothorax, and a clavicle broken in two places. The good news is that bones heal. I recovered completely from those injuries.

I really think the only issues for you are going to be (1) the soft tissue injuries and (2) the head injury.

For the soft tissue injuries, get the best doc you can and a second opinion besides. Do what they and your PT tells you to do and you should recover and be mostly yourself again.

I would explore the head injury a little further, and again get second (and perhaps third) opinions about that the damage is and whether or not you really need to give up cycling.

In other words, I would not give it up unless it was CLEAR that I had to ... and not without a fight.

I’m replying further, not with medical advice per se, but from a sucessful recovery based on sound medical advice. My wife and her best friend, both nurses, really kept on top of me, especially about my nutritional needs for protein despite my anorexia, and need to walk. I was plied with milkshakes, and the only food I had any kind of appetite for was Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.

I didn’t recognize from your OP the specific soft tissue injuries you sustained, but mine included a few surgeries to correct, and the work of the plastic surgeon was widely praised by his colleagues, especially to avoid a skin graft. Nonetheless, I was really convinced to get protein when he showed me the results of a pre-albumin lab value, a test of nutritional status, that was profoundly low.

My angels of mercy also got me walking as often as possible, first for brief rounds on the Hospital corridors, outside at the rehab hospital, and for a few blocks in our neighborhood. Fortunately, Kenmore Square is a very interesting neighborhood to stroll, though these walks were reluctantly taken.

Finally I had such excellent PT in hospitals, at home, and as an outpatient, with knowledgeable advice, and specialized machines to work out. Even when I returned to work at my job I tried to regularly for a few months perform the prescribed excercises. To this day I still recall the advice of my first therapist every time I get up from a chair, the way she explained. :D

I write not to dwell on my experience, but hopefully to advise and encourage you or others, and frankly for the satisfaction of reviewing that life-changing event and recovery for myself. :innocent:

That's a rough accident. Glad it wasn't any worse.

To be honest, you should expect a year to recover. I'll be 62 this week. In May 2018 I was hit by a car. Second time. First was 2001, which broke my back and neck in six places. That took a full decade to recover. I was walking with a cane until 2014. I resumed cycling in 2015 after working up to it gradually with long walks.

My injury last year after being hit by a car took more than a year to recover, and I'll always have a permanent shoulder and neck injury.

Physical therapy is a daily routine now. At a minimum I do massage and stretching. For a couple of months this spring and summer I was in PT at a nearby clinic 3 times a week. Now I work out at home twice a week, mostly body weight calisthenics. I ride 3-4 times a week, averaging 150 miles a week.

My main hindrance to rides longer than 20-30 miles is still neck and shoulder pain. That won't improve. I'm not sure I'd accept surgery even if it was recommended. Too risky for the neck.

BTW, that RXL handlebar must be pretty tough. I was considering one for a bike I'm building up. It just moved up on my list of components to consider.

Apologies to all who have heard this story before. On July 24, 2013 I was on a group ride with my club. As we were slowing to about 15 mph to make a right turn, I hit a pot hole which jammed my hand on the front brake lever. I face planted, the result of which was a broken neck. I spent 8 days in hospital and had two 5-hr. operations to fuse C1 & C2. I also had a couple other vertebrae fractures, chipped teeth that went through upper and lower lips, and a few other relatively insignificant injures. I was 67 at the time. I was home on August 1st. I did what the docs told me to do to heal. Around mid-November I was back on the bike on a local rail/trail. Listen to the medical professionals. Good luck.

That is my nightmare. Not really going that fast, no involvement with an auto ... just odd circumstances that has you getting a terrible injury. OMG.

That you escaped without permanent injury is inspiring.

Wow! Listening to some of these crash stories makes yesterday's collision with another cyclist seems like getting a scratch on a finger. But we both survived, with a few bruises and sore ribs, and the bikes made out quite well, other than I have to replace the bar tape.

PCS (Post Cuncussion Syndrome) is no joke. Accident 3/19/19. No broken bones but lots of contusions and sprains and a concussion. The docs do not want you back on the bike and risk another concussion until fully recovered from the first. As I understand it that can be EXTREMELY bad.

I would try to get a doctor who rides, or who at least does some kind of exercise strenuously.

I have seen a lot of these stories, and in most, the doctors recommend never getting off the couch, and wearing a seatbelt while on the couch--and a helmet. Most doctors are so convinced that only by swaddling people in bubble-wrap, can t[patients survive, they have no idea that Quality of life is the prime motivator---people live longer and better if they like their lives.

never ride again? Well, sure ... because you could crash and die ... or you could stay home and watch TV and die, or die driving to the bike shop ... or the the doctor's. On the other hand lots of people who have had severe head trauma have recovered and do just fine. As for physical frailty ... best defense is exercise.

I definitely recommend going Really slowly, doing all the PT, and all that ... but most doctors seem to be afraid of life, and even more afraid of death. They Always seem to recommend staying indoors, breathing filtered air, drinking purified water, and eating only oatmeal.

On the other hand, an athlete doctor will understand that some people are a lo more healthy and alive when they are active, and will work out a sensible program to get you back to your chosen activity at a reasonable pace. And such a doctor would be a lot more likely to tell you if you really couldn't do what you loved, and might suggest safe alternatives, because s/he would understand how important exercise and activity was for some people.

If you cannot find a suitable doctor, then do what your doctor says, but don't listen to him if you are sure you can do a little more, eventually ... listen Very closely to your body, and quit way before you think you need to .... build very slowly if you are the sort that gets over-excited and enthusiastic.

I lost a lot of fitness after a broken collarbone which I rebroke twice because I refused to let it heal completely before exercising. I finally decided not to let my courage, but my fears, moderate my exercise ... so i am still just regaining what I had lost .... but at least I am making solid progress now. Just building a base of fitness took several months ... but now I am at least fit enough to start getting fit.

Wow, so many of you have been through hell. As for the thread starter, since you clearly seem to have a background in healthcare of some sort, I am pretty sure you know that what is likely to slow you most in terms of comfort is the rib situation. As far as your brain goes, if your scans are all negative and you are not symptomatic after, say, a couple of weeks, then there really is no neurosurg/neuro basis to keep you off the bike. If you are symptomatic in any way, though, obviously that's a non-starter and you must not ride.

Wishing you all the best. There's an old saying where I trained in general surgery that goes: If you don't think it can get any worse, you're wrong. It can get way, way worse."

Unfortunately, in the trauma business, I do believe that is true. So, I am grateful your injuries were not even more severe. And I wish you a quick recovery. All the best--

There's always a lowracer or trike if head trauma from a fall is an unacceptable possibility. The downside is, you'd be right at the dog's level.

I hope the owner was identified for future action.

My crash was not near as bad. I face planted at only 12 mph and broke my left outer metacarpals , my orbital bone , and shattered my cheek bone into 5 small pieces floating freely in my face. The other rashes and stitches on appendages healed quickly and I did exactly as the doctor ordered, off the bike for 10-12 weeks. I was told if I bumped my face with a broken orbital bone the optic nerve could be severed and I would be blind in that eye. Do what your doctor says and seek multiple doctors(specialists for each of your injuries) I had three specialists for my injuries which were far less serious than yours and I wish you the best possible outcome, I was 64 when I crashed. Joe.

TRUE DAT !!! x ∞

My worst so far in 2011 at almost 61 was a flip-up off bike ejection while in a pace-line then landing on my back when buddy in front of me slammed on his brakes to prevent a head-on into a SUV that came into our lane resulting in a minor neck/collar bone break and LTN injury. 24/7 for 16 weeks in a Philadelphia collar or Aspen collar with chilling-out and only walking OKed by neurosurgeon. Wasn't even allowed to no load spin the crank on my recumbent exerciser. Broken bones and egos often heal with a return to 100% being the goal.

Now dealing with cancer with goal being maintaining the best QOL (Quality Of Life) for what ever time remains understanding that the decline from 100% is simply accelerated.

main takeaway (for me at least) is to stay somewhat active by at least walking/staying mobile vs shutting everything down and laying around.
sure...you're not crushing a 50-miler but anything is better than being sedentary...especially for cyclists. it's one thing to not ride because it's windy/raining/too hot/etc.
it's another thing because of injury. (hopefully) doesn't mean you can't get off your posterior. imho, too much rest is the worst possible thing.

As others have said I'm not retelling my story to one-up anyone.

My big trauma experience wasn't a bike crash but I did suffer a left leg tib/fib fracture at age 52. I have plates, screws and pins. I didn't have any other boo-boos, I repeating this to give an idea of what my recovery was like at that age, keeping in mind that I was in good physical shape with a body height of 5'6" and weight of 145 pounds.

I was on crutches for 10 weeks and used a cane for another 6 weeks. PT for 5 months. I worked very hard to get my mojo back. Right about the time I finished PT, I started walking as my main form of exercise. As a result of all this I have given up skiing and running.

When I started reading this thread this was my thoughts exactly...

When I look back it it, 9 years ago, the thing that was the hardest for me was recovering from the lower GI slowdown that comes from pain meds. The lower unit totally shut down for many days and once it re-fired, I couldn't sit for a week. Just saying.

Sorry to hear of your experience. I've had enough incidents, not all cycling related, to appreciate the value of Physical Therapy as a profession. Without them there would many more "walking wounded." My advice is follow their direction to a "T."

P.S. I, for one, am impressed with your ability to accelerate from 27-28 mph.:thumb: