Two Activities Per Day

Sat, Dec 30, 2017

It’s a day early but Happy New Year’s everyone 🙂

Yesterday marked five weeks since my ATV accident and I’ve been healing, albeit slower than I had hoped.

My right hip, rib and shoulder are still sore but I’m returning to somewhat of a normal lifestyle.  For example, I can walk without my cane but the pain builds throughout the day and I’ll start to limp (which minimizes the pain).  I’ve also returned to the gym but am working with light weights otherwise my rib or shoulder will complain, depending on the particular exercise.  And I’m a long way from running and road cycling is still out as I can’t afford a fall, not with unhealed vertebrae.

The good news is that I’m back to two activities per day, somewhat of a retirement goal for me.  In the past, it might have been a run or ride in the morning followed by an afternoon hitting golf balls.  These days, it’s the gym or a swim in the morning and then chipping & putting or perhaps the wood shop in the afternoon.  The latter has been fun as our wood working club has every tool and machine imaginable and the guys and gals in the club are really good.

The Road to Recovery

Fri, Dec 8, 2017

Two weeks ago today, I joined a group of guys for a day of riding Honda Quads in the CA desert.  Unfortunately, I didn’t make it up one of the climbs and the Honda and I tumbled back down the hill and the Honda rolled over me pushing my legs into my chest.  The result was seven fractures:  three vertebrae, three in my right hip and a rib.

After four nights in the hospital (two in the ICU), I was discharged and walked out under my own power.  Thanks to crutches, that is, as my right hip was not able to support my body weight.

Over the past few days, I’ve transitioned to a single crutch and can walk a bit without support, although very gingerly.  I’m hoping to ditch the crutches for a cane in the next few days.

I’m also required to wear a TLSO brace (thoracolumbosacral orthosis) whenever I’m out of bed.  Mine was made by Aspen and is designed to immobilize my spine to allow the fractures to heal.  Basically, it prevents me from rotating or arching my back and I could be stuck in this thing for 2-3 months.  We’ll see.

Sleep continues to be a challenge as any movement, such as rolling onto my side, creates pain in my hip and rib.  I’ve learned how to do it with the least amount of pain but it doesn’t always work.

As for meds, I have a prescription for the generic form of Vicodin, a mixture of hydrocodone & acetaminophen at a strength of 5 – 325 mg.  The other option is Percocet that is a mixture of oxycodone & acetaminophen.  Oxycodone is similar to hydrocodone and is the active ingredient in Oxycontin.

5 mg is a low dosage and no doubt reflects the current state of opioid addiction sweeping the nation.  Nonetheless, it’s been fine for me as I’ve only taken 13 pills in the 11 days since my discharge while the recommended dosage is one every six hours.  I’ve been able to do this since the pain subsides if I don’t move.  Steady as she goes, no?

Boredom.  I’m not one for sitting around all day and that’s another of my challenges.  Don’t laugh but I watched an NFL game last Sunday.  First time in years (decades?) that I’ve sat by myself and watched football.  Seriously.  And just for the sake of full disclosure, I’ve watched plenty of TV golf, at least on those days that Carol was willing to give up the clicker 🙂