Recovering from Injury

suziwilson

I was in a bicycle accident in late August and am trying to recover. It is hard to get in enough exercise to burn the calories necessary when you are limited in what you can do. I have a new appreciation for people with physical challenges! I lost my excess weight a couple of years ago, but I am putting some back on after this injury.

I broke my collar bone, scapula, two ribs, cracked my pelvis, had an SI joint compression (back and hips), collapsed a lung and had a concussion. I'm still suffering from vertigo, but they are working on that. I have another week or two of physical therapy left, but my arm with the collar bone fracture is still not strong.

I had to switch to the elliptical machine at the gym, rather than spinning, because of my vertigo. I used to have such beautifully defined arms and now they are going to Hell (hope I can say that).

I really don't want to turn into a big complainer. As sometimes these forums turn into a 'take pitty on me' session. If anyone has come back from something like this and has some suggestions I would appreciate it.

Thank you

grassette

I was T-boned when a van hit my Impala 6 years ago. Something happened to my hip, and I had a great difficulty walking more than 2 blocks without feeling intense pain. My doctors told me not to push it, so I didn`t. They figured I had some kind of soft tissue injury that could not be seen.

After becoming obese, I decided that I would push through the pain, and exercise anyway. I got on the treadmill, on the exercycle, and exercised even though it hurt. Then we went to Italy for 2 months---and you can`t go there without walking a lot! I brought some collapsible walking sticks with me (a huge help), and took Tylenol for body pain when things got real bad. Coming home, I take twice weekly classes in aqua-fitness, and tai chi. I swim twice a week, and use the treadmill when I am not doing anything else. I wear a pedometer to measure my activity when I`m not exercising. I broke through the pain, and while I get the dull ache now and then, find that I feel good in spite of that.

So my advice would be to take it slow--there is a lot that has to mend in your body, and do what you can. Instructors are key. For example, I really had to shop around for a tai chi master---the way some taught was so hard on the body---but now I have the perfect instructor. I started my "break through the pain" exercise program some five years after the accident, so whatever was going to heal had the time to do so. You are wanting to get back in there while you are still dealing with vertigo, and other sequels of injury. Give yourself a year.

There are exercise specialists who work in the pool with people who have had accidents. The water supports and injured body, and they are able to teach special exercises at a rythym that works for the injured. You might look for a trainer with those kinds of skills. And if you can`t find one, just get into the pool with a noodle, a flutter board, and a friend, and just move in the water. You might try some acqua fit moves, or modify them, and do them slowly. You are going to have to build yourself up to where you were, but slow and steady wins the race.

Good luck!

suziwilson

Thank you Grassette, You are a real inspiration. I am looking forward to seeing your progress. I plan to keep moving and be patient.