So I fell off my bike....
The bad:
1 cm separation of the AC joint, and a lot of bruising to the bone (I never knew bones bleed)
The Good:
A miracle happened, no lasting ligament damage, apparently this is very rare with such a large separation (AC joint is normally 1-3 mm gap).
I didn't hurt anything else.
The Recovery
I'm writing this for anyone else who has an off, and to remind myself what to do.
Week 1 - 2
I knew I'd had a proper bash on route down the hill, the next day it really hurt, I knew I'd not broken the collarbone but something wasn't right and my shoulder was stuck up by my ear. X-rays and a trip to Hereford confirmed my suspicions, I'd moved my collarbone, with a AC joint separation (what ever that is) and my bones had bled from the impact.
I was give a sling to support my injured arm, and told to keep my arm rested for 2 weeks, no biking for 6 weeks, I pulled a very sad face, said '6 WEEKS' Dr relented and said maybe 4 if I was good. I wasn't going to listen to this and nearly took my arm out of the sling until a friend showed me his deformed AC joint, he'd not taken the advice. So the sling remained in place for the 2 weeks.
During week one, wearing a bra was out of the question, anything touching the top of my shoulder hurt, so halter neck bikinis and baggy tops it was. Also I realised how 90% of my wardrobe is made up of tops that you pull on, so I think I spent the first week in about 3 different tops that I had which did up at the front.
However I did manage to do some gentle exercises with my arm in the sling and towards the end of the 2nd week with my arm out of the sling. I did movements really just to stop the shoulder seizing up and to prevent it becoming fixed in the wrong place, no weigh bearing just gentle opening of the joint.
Wine drinking was limited as pain killers and vino don't mix, I couldn't drive so watched a lot of crap TV and surfed the internet a lot. Oh, and ladies, if you bugger your shoulder be prepared for the pits of despair, I'm not on about mentally, I'm on about arm pits. I couldn't move my injured arm to shave that arm pit, or use my injured arm to shave the other. Shoulder injuries = Hairy pits.
Also expect little sleep, I hurt my left shoulder and predominantly sleep on my left so nights were dreaded.
Week 3
The novelty of injury had worn off, I was pissed off, bored and irritable through lack of sleep, Darrel gave up on the sympathy and the cooking.
I'd ditched the sling which although was great not to have it, my arm ached permanently and I just couldn't get comfortable. I introduced more exercises, using a very soft/weak exercise band to give my arm some resistance and worked on getting the shoulder joint to move. I also booked an appointment to see Dave Smith the excellent Sports Physio who had sorted out my other shoulder. I was booked in on the Thursday and although I knew it would hurt I was looking forward to some expert help in sorting the joint out. However I noticed my shoulder was dropping and returning to it's normal place.
The more I was able to move my joint, meant with some pain and determination I could shave my arm pits, it's amazing how much growth you can get in 2 weeks... And how the hell do men cope, boy it felt good to have a proper trim. Talk about celebrating small victories.
Week 3 however was the worse, I'm always a very up beat person and I found this week the hardest, I over analysed my accident, blaming myself and my lack of skills, I even took to blaming myself for being short as if I was taller then my small sized bike would fit properly (don't ask I was depressed).
I started driving my car, not very well and in hindsight probably not very safely, but living in a very rural area driving is essential and I needed to be able to get around.
However my appointment with Dave picked me up, ok the exercises were simple and minimal and I got home after my hour session, had to take 2 pain killers and a 15 min stint on the TENS. I religiously did my exercises, Friday morning before work I was there for 30mins just pushing down on the exercise ball, opening the joint and although the movements were small, everything was starting to feel more normal. I was moving around better and by Sunday had a great time watching friend race DH at the forest of dean.
Week 4
I'd been short listed for a stupid online voting contest (entered during my depressed end of week 2 stage) which gave me focus.. Monday I rode Sherry for the first time, although it was one handed and a plod. Tuesday I got out on the bike, I was very wobbly and just stuck to the road and a 100m trail... but it was so nice to go out, I'd been pain killer free just using the TENs machine since the Friday the week before.
I was doing the exercises Dave gave me twice a day now and feeling the difference, this pulled me up mentally, and I was starting to be able to sleep better so less moody. Dave session was booked for the Thursday and I was hoping for good news, as I'd worked hard and really hoping he'd see the improvement as that night I wanted to go off road.
I'm a nervous person who's confidence is easily dented and watching the DH racing although I missed not racing I looked at the track and knew my confidence had taken a blow, just walking it I was fixating on parts. The sooner I could get out and ride the sooner I could work on building up my confidence and getting over my spill.
I was given the OK to ride as long as I was sensible, so Darrel and I set of for Nant Y Arian to do the short loop. I started of shaky and on the first descent Darrel got a pinch puncture, as we'd only been doing the short loop we hadn't bothered to bring a repair kit, Darrel pushed back and I opted to continue. I wasn't feeling comfortable on the bike, partly my shoulder was sore and also my confidence was low. I made my self to continue I couldn't pump the bike over the small steps instead rolling them which shocked my shoulder but wasn't as bad as I expected. What was worse was my steering, weaving through the trees was more like wobbling and dodging trees. But I survived and shoulder was better than I expected.
Week 5 (well just)
Having survived Thursday, the following weekend was a Bank Holiday and we'd had so many plans which my off wreaked. Sunday I was determined to go out on the bike. I chose Llandegla I love the trails here and know the place pretty well so if things weren't going to plan I knew the short cuts home. We set of and I have to confess I forgot how rough the red trail is, my option with my bad side was hold on for grim death, braking wasn't easy. So biting my lip I just went for it on the rough bits hoping speed would smooth out the trails (bollocks is all I can say to that theory). Despite the pain on the rough this ended as soon as I got on to the smoother trails and we had a great ride, even taking the B-line option.
Feeling more confident on the Bike, Monday we decided to meet some friends at Afan Bike park, James and Lindsay are a couple we've met through DH'ing and both are determined to see me in the air. We had a great time playing at Afan, and it's definitely a place to visit again. The bike park / skills section is brill for practice, all routes are short with an easy push up, and by the end of the day I was happily getting the little Yeti in the air forgetting my shoulder and acting like a kid.
Week 6 and Beyond.
So week 6 I was back on the DH bike, the bigger heavier bike was harder to manoeuvre but that's just a case of working to build the muscles up and get the joint strong again. My confidence has taken a knock, I'm back to getting apprehensive at the mere thought of DH. I've entered the Taff Buggy DH race on the 21/22 Sept, this will hopefully settle the DH butterflies in my stomach and get me back in the swing of things.
My shoulder is still sore, this isn't going to stop over night. I was so lucky not to have torn ligaments and I think this is down to the work I'd been doing with Dave on my posture and the body armour I had on. I've got to remind myself not to over do it, as it's no longer in the nagging pain stage I have a habit of forgetting it's a little weak and going to lift stuff, or worse with it only to be reminded by a shot of pain. I'm still doing the exercises I was given and trying not only to build up the injured area but also the muscles around it.
So next blog will probably be my next DH race report ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
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