Trying to stay positive.

[avroncotton]

Two Saturdays' ago, 50kms into a training ride, the rider in front of me slipped off the road into the gravel, he went down and I had no place to go except into him and over my bars. Cut a long story, my 42 year record ended with my collar bone in two pieces.
Now, I don't claim to be some sort of top athlete, however, I was well into training for the Melboune half marathon and my second half ironman in Feb next year. So I was doing something most days. Now nothing! I have been in a lot of pain and still am for most of the day. So walking and indoor trainer are still not an option.

I'm watching dvds and reading most days, but there doesn't seem a lot to look forward to atm. I've even started dreaming at night about cycling and running.

Any ideas on how to stay positive?

Thanks

Tony

P.S. Bike was ok apart from a slight buckle in the front wheel and $250 helmet - Toast!

[gorilla monsoon]

Try the Monty Python approach: Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

Sorry, best I can do. Or see a physio who can suggest an exercise regimen.

[jules21]

roll with the punches! imagine how the pros feel in that situation..

when you're riding heaps, you're thinking about slacking off. when you're injured, you're thinking about riding heaps. enjoy your time off! a break is often a great way to inspire yourself to new heights.

i've recently been in a similar boat, with an infection.

[winstonw]

for minimizing fitness - walk, stationary bike, leg and core strength (ab crunches)

for your mind - realize how narrow and exercise focused your life had become beforehand, and that there is so much more to it. explore the other stuff.

study :
- extra work related tertiary stuff that improves your income earning potential
- personal investment and financial planning
- a language (French for your eventual trip to TdF, or Italian which women seem to love)
- public speaking, motivation, self improvement courses, meditation for better stress management
- nutrition formally through a university post grad dip or certificate course.

- expand your cooking prowess. (admittedly hard to do with one arm, but your effected side should be usable within a few weeks.
- explore business opportunities you could do on the side in the future.
- bushwalking. explore some of the parks within 30k of home.
- take an interest in the town plan and its history. this could make money for you by helping you buy more strategically located property.
- take up a 30 day vegan challenge. this could very well help prevent weight gain during your more sedentary rehab time.

Think of others (parents, partner, kids, friends) that you might be able to use your extra time to help.

It's a good time for reflection on what life is all about. what really is important. Many guys I know who are really INTO cycling are avoiding a more rounded life that considers deeply what it is all about...and I include myself in that.

[macca33]

Two Saturdays' ago, 50kms into a training ride, the rider in front of me slipped off the road into the gravel, he went down and I had no place to go except into him and over my bars. Cut a long story, my 42 year record ended with my collar bone in two pieces.
Now, I don't claim to be some sort of top athlete, however, I was well into training for the Melboune half marathon and my second half ironman in Feb next year. So I was doing something most days. Now nothing! I have been in a lot of pain and still am for most of the day. So walking and indoor trainer are still not an option.

I'm watching dvds and reading most days, but there doesn't seem a lot to look forward to atm. I've even started dreaming at night about cycling and running.

Any ideas on how to stay positive?

Thanks

Tony

P.S. Bike was ok apart from a slight buckle in the front wheel and $250 helmet - Toast!

Once the collarbone is stabilised, you should be able to do things that don't require you to put pressure on it - you could still ride a trainer, seated up straight, or walk.

As for the depression side, don't hang about inside all day - get outside and look around, as Spring has sprung and there is plenty outside to keep one's senses occupied.

Glad you were wearing a helmet!

Cheers and get well soon.

[cowled]

Avro, I think I know how you feel. I got hit by a Jeep a month ago and suffered a compound fracture of my right femur right up in the hip. 7 hrs of surgery later and I now have a whole lot of titanium in my leg.

Although I'm not into competitive cycling I am a very active person who rides a lot of kms to work (22km each way). The sudden loss of mobility, coupled with the constant pain has been a massive change for me. I wasn't at all prepared for how down I have been feeling. I've even been getting teary at times (very uncharacteristic for me).

Went to see my doctor about my moods. He suggested that I Google "mood gym ANU". Still haven't done it because I've had my wife at home this week, but will definitely check it out next week.

I think it is important to find ways of staying positive because I have another 4 to 6 months reduced mobility and it might take 12 months or more to regain my full strength and mobility. And there's no guarantee that I will ever get back to 'normal'. I'm actually quite scared of getting depression because I've heard how debilitating it can be.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[Leiothrix]

- take up a 30 day vegan challenge. this could very well help prevent weight gain during your more sedentary rehab time.

How is the thought of giving up bacon a good one?

Constructive advice, people!

[il padrone]

All my commiserations to you. I really feel for you, as I had a similar sudden, inexplicable fall that keft me with a broken collarbone last February. As it was a second break, and I am in my 50s, the mending was somewhat delayed as well. I continued to have pain when lifting or carrying things for up to 12 weeks after the break.

Collarbones are just damned painful anyway - every manual action seems to be involved as well as breathing and sleeping, and getting a cold or hay-fever (as I did) is truly fearful.

I had a planned 3-month tour of Italy coming up, luckily it was not curtailed because of the injury, so this was something to keep me motivated and more hopeful. As for exercise, I did not do a great deal. A bit of walking to keep active was about all. For me it was more important to heal well and not cause any further injuries, with the overseas tour coming up. If you are already very fit then you will retain a fair bit of fitness over the relatively short recuperation period, then it is just a matter of beginning slowly and steadily ramping things up as you learn your capabilities. I have been through this sort of routine a few times over the past 15 years with a few injuries.

[rustychisel]

42 years vs 8 weeks for the scapula... you're ahead in the game. Some people lose their cycling mojo for a lot longer than that... in my case, nearly 12 years. I'm not being hard hearted, but only you know what's going on in your head.

Me, I think you just used this as a reason to post your original lament: "it wasn't my fault and now I've got a broken collar bone". That's how mine happened, too.

[Alex Simmons/RST]

Injury sucks and no one deals with it in the same way. But in big scheme of things collar bone breaks are relatively common, not that bad from a medium/longer term perspective and typically one can be back doing some light training fairly quickly and be back to full fitness within a few months. Before you know it, you'll be back out there and have an even greater appreciation of cycling.

Reset your goals, having a sound understanding of why you are riding/training is a powerful motivational aid.

Maybe read up about others that have come back from greater challenges, e.g. Anna Meares

[toolonglegs]

Good time to watch the Vuelta... that will pass a bit of time!.
Heal up quick!!!.
Don't eat to much ... depression eating sucks!!!.

[trailgumby]

roll with the punches! imagine how the pros feel in that situation..

when you're riding heaps, you're thinking about slacking off. when you're injured, you're thinking about riding heaps. enjoy your time off! a break is often a great way to inspire yourself to new heights.

i've recently been in a similar boat, with an infection.

What he said ^^^

Including the infection.

Go and see a physio for guidance on what you should and shouldn't do with shoulder movements. You still need to keep it mobile to avoid atrophy and (worse) frozen shoulder.

From memory I was spinning gently on the trainer no hands from about end of week 4, back to road riding about week 8 with a stern warning not to fall off and off road again end of week 12.

My break was in situ so your situation may be different. Take your xrays with you to the physio. Follow your orthopaedic surgeon's guidance. Mine was quite accurate with his initial predictions of the timings of the various stages of the process.

[briztoon]

Don't eat to much ... depression eating sucks!!!.

So I'm finding out. I've already gained one size in just 2 and bit weeks being off the bike.

For those that haven't seen my thread, I have a broken right collar bone and 9 fractured ribs from being hit by a truck a couple of weeks ago.

I've stuck to the pain medication plan the hospital gave me, so my pain has largely been managed. I've had occasions where I've hurt my ribs in my sleep and this impacts upon my lungs and breathing. I ended up back in hospital last Thursday, for a couple of hours until my breathing and pain stabilised.

By and large my collar bone hasn't given me too much grief, but I really haven't done anything to aggravate it. I keep my arm immobilised in a sling when leaving the house, and am careful with what I do around the house. If I feel a tweak or twinge I stop what ever I'm doing and put my arm in an immobilised position.

But as the doctors said, the pain from my ribs largely over ride the pain from my collar bone.

As for depression and the psychological side. I don't know how to explain it or talk to people about it. For the most part I just try and bury it deep and lock it away. My family have tried to be there for me, and I have told them I appreciate their concern and help, but more often I push them away and try to deal with thing by myself, mainly by burying it.

I have had two good talks with my GP about my injuries and the recovery process to help allay my fears, and I found this much more beneficial than any talks I've had with orthopaedic surgeon and rib specialist. Basically it's just a waiting game while my collar bone and ribs heal, then the surgeons will refer me to a physio when it's time to start rehab.

I do have fears about getting back on my bike and riding in traffic, but I'll face them when it's time.

To keep myself occupied I spend a lot of time on the internet on a couple of different forums, news services and I even joined Face Book (actually find it pretty boring/over rated/annoying). That and I watch a fair bit of movies, the doco channels, general sport and road racing (good to have Euro Sport on Fox). I do spend a lot of time posting on threads on BNA.

I spend a lot of time reading about different bikes and equipment online as well. I have very little knowledge about how bikes and their parts work, so I have been trying to learn about bikes, gears, wheel sets, etc. A lot of time is also spent just looking at cycling bling.

I am planning on obtaining manuals from work to start studying, so that when I return to work I'll have a broader knowledge base beyond my current positions requirements. Hopefully this will give me an advantage when moving up the ladder at work.

I'll probably start walking for exercise on Monday, and start getting out and about more in the house and yard. But I've needed to wait for my ribs to stop pushing on my lungs.



Basically I have just been trying to distract myself from the realities of where I am at this stage, and putting off stuff, telling myself I don't have to start dealing with things or worrying about stuff until I start rehab. Oh, and eating lots of ice cream.

[moosterbounce]

All advice here is good. I spent about 6 weeks off the bike prior to double knee surgery (Tuesday) and gained about 10kg in that time It's not just "depression eating" but your body is used to fueling what you usually do. When you stop, the fueling doesn't!! I'm porky - I'm over it!! I'm also now eating less, but it takes time to find a balance.

So what to do? Well, I'm looking at a new bike. I needed one anyway so this has become my rehab incentive. Definitely a good goal. I've got another 3 odd weeks before I am allowed to spend 10 minutes on the trainer. I'm studying an online animal behaviour qualification to complement part time dog training so I'm about to kick off the next unit. Hoping to finish 2 units before I'm back at work. I've also lined up a day for tax returns, but only when I'm really depressed Movies, a good book, Internet forum posting...it all works. I've even been joking that I needed to have surgery to take a holiday from work!! It's sad, but not far from the truth.

Everyone has a story of accident or injury and how they coped, so hopefully you can Benefit from advice given. You do need to see the positives though. You can walk while others haven't been able to afteinterior accident. You didn't end up in icu for days or weeks. You still have your limb. I'm not trying to sound mean here, but stop focussing on what you can't do and appreciate what you can.

Don't listen to Briz - icecream is not a food group although Rest, Icecream, Compression, Elevation has a certain ring to it!!

[warthog1]

Injury sucks and no one deals with it in the same way. But in big scheme of things collar bone breaks are relatively common, not that bad from a medium/longer term perspective and typically one can be back doing some light training fairly quickly and be back to full fitness within a few months. Before you know it, you'll be back out there and have an even greater appreciation of cycling.

Reset your goals, having a sound understanding of why you are riding/training is a powerful motivational aid.

Maybe read up about others that have come back from greater challenges, e.g. Anna Meares

Or yourself Alex

[Croweater]

Two Saturdays' ago, 50kms into a training ride, the rider in front of me slipped off the road into the gravel, he went down and I had no place to go except into him and over my bars. Cut a long story, my 42 year record ended with my collar bone in two pieces.
Now, I don't claim to be some sort of top athlete, however, I was well into training for the Melboune half marathon and my second half ironman in Feb next year. So I was doing something most days. Now nothing! I have been in a lot of pain and still am for most of the day. So walking and indoor trainer are still not an option.

I'm watching dvds and reading most days, but there doesn't seem a lot to look forward to atm. I've even started dreaming at night about cycling and running.

Any ideas on how to stay positive?

Thanks

Tony

P.S. Bike was ok apart from a slight buckle in the front wheel and $250 helmet - Toast!

Sorry to hear that mate. Terrible stuff.

But yeah, I agree with a couple others on here. Try and dip your feet in other things. For many, cycling is their life and it takes attention away from other important things.

Every individual is different. Some can talk about it, others can't, but need to try. It's part of the healing process.

As for exercise, try what feels comfortable. Immerse yourself in other forms of entertainment, such as reading a book or watching the Showcase Channel. Haha.

Anyway, all the best mate; heal up quick and stay positive!

[Xplora]

I'll go with Rule 5 here. There is absolutely nothing you can do about it so ignore it. Read some cycling books (The Secret Race is supposed to be good). Check out some Joe Friel if you haven't already. Investigate supplements. There is a lot to learn. You can't do anything else, but the key is to say to yourself "I will get back on the saddle as soon as I'm physically able". Prepare for a couple of bike fits to cope with the injury, and then recovery. Consider going to the gym and sitting on a recumbent machine.

I absolutely smashed up my knee, and it seems I may have caused "permanent damage" AKA needs some reconstruction, but I got a new bike and got into the game. Who cares about the damage, if you can still ride you will do it if you want. Maybe time to ride with the wife a bit more while you are building. If you aren't married, find a lady who wants to ride

Ignore being positive. Just use the time productively. You can't change your situation, but you can take advantage of it.