It happened... the crash after the crash.
On Thursday morning I was enjoying my mountain bike ride. I was working on my skills, riding single track and having so much fun. I didn't see anyone all morning until I decided to take the long way around to stay off mid-mountain. I was descending down a gravel road (right above the water tower in Park City) and somehow slipped off my grips going 20mph. It felt like it went in slow motion, as I lost control slid over the handle bars and crashed onto the gravel road. I hit my left side, arm first, hip, then legs with the bike twisting around me. I sat up and looked at the blood dripping down everywhere. It's never easy crashing, but this moment felt very scary.
When I was descending back down to Main Street I kept saying "I love to ride, I love to ride, I love to ride" The bloody mess that I was, thankfully a old guy in a truck picked me up on Empire Pass to drive me to Andy's shop. Right away they hosed me down to rinse me off to see what was really underneath all the blood and gravel. Andy decided on my left arm it really needed a clean at the PC clinic. As the nurse cleaned the gravel out of my body I kept looking at Andy saying "I am so happy to feel the pain" the doctor said "you're tough, you sure you don't want any pain medicine" my response, nope! I did get talked into a antibiotic since infection would be possible if I didn't take it. I will be smart and take the medicine. As we left the clinic I felt like a walking mummy with gauze from arm to legs. That evening the pain in my elbow was horrible and Andy talked me into taking Tylenol PM. That being said it was my first time since August 3rd taking any pain medicine. I cannot stand drugs of any kind and believe in nutrition, exercise, love and strength will heal you. It truly does and I know this from experience.
The fact that I can't remember my July 28th cycling accident is scarier now that I have crashed again. I know riding with vision in one eye can be tricky with depth perception and focus, but I focus on the abilities I do have right now.
I had a hearing test done recently and it's improving every time. My TBI will always be a roller coaster, but for the last month things are on a uphill climb. The BPPV however has creeped back for the last week and I will start doing my exercises again. The facial paralysis is improving everyday and slowly can see the smile get bigger. I have to work on my blinking powers but when I manually close my eyelid it stays shut longer for when I go to sleep. The tears haven't returned yet, nor can pucker my lips, raise my eyebrow or crinkly my nose. The moisture in my mouth and chewing on the left side is still non functional. Whelp, that's the latest y'all on me post accident(s). The doctors are pretty happy on my improvements and believe I will have full recovery.
Until next time... wear a helmet! Even when your out commuting around town. Wear a helmet... again wear a helmet.