My injury - Triathlon Week

**daphne** · 02-24-2005, 08:56 PM

As some of you know, a month ago while I was on my bike I was hit by a reckless driver. It was not as bad as it comes across and I was VERY lucky to have come out of it with only a kneecap contusion and some abrasions. The worst part was how scared I was just a few seconds before it happened and how helpless I felt. It was apparent from the first few seconds that I didn't suffer head injury as I found the right cursing words

and I wanted to continue my bike ride. Thankfully I was convinced to go to the Emergency room.

The ER doctor diagnosed a fracture on my kneecap (he did not want to take any risks) and put me on a brace, gave me crutches, and a few doses of vicadin (which I did not use unfortunately). The first days I was in pure denial. I called my coach telling him I can still do Wildflower, it is not a big deal..I need the rest anyways..i will concentrate on swimming..blah..blah. Fortunately, the orthopedic said it was no fracture, but a contusion, which meant much less time to heal. I needed to take out my brace, use my leg and see a physical therapy..and oh..only swimming. It had been 5 days since I had a workout. Do you know how it feels the 2nd week of taper? I felt times 20 worse. My body was craving the exercise and I felt like sinking. I was moody, jealous of my boyfriend when he went out on training rides while I stayed home watching TV. I felt that all this great start of the training has now gone to waste, I won't race Wildflower and I will suck in running even more now. To make is short..life was dark. I went to my PT sessions and kept asking my PT when I will get back and she kept telling me "when you stop being in pain". I wanted to know # of days so I can do a countown. I did as much swimming as I could do..but felt little motivation. I gained 5 lbs and counting while I cut my calorie intake 30-40% and I feel hungry all the time. Life sucked :(

About a week ago I saw an XTERRA race on TV. There was a story of a woman who got hit by a car and she was left paralyzed below the waste. Somehow she regained the use of her legs and 2 years after the accident she raced again!! This was her first race. This put things into perspective for me..of what is really important. I decided to go out and have a nice swim and then do some weights. I felt more positive than I had in weeks and I saw my body not as fat, broken, or plain unfit, but as trying to heal a part of it and i needed to treat it well..keep it in shape (what I could) and keep my spirits up.

This experience taught me patience, courage, and self-worth. I know a number of athletes, many of you in this forum, have suffered way more serious injuries than what I have, requiring months in casts and rehabilitation. Although small in magnitude I know now that when I get back into training it will not be all or nothing, I will have a greater appreciation for what i am capable of doing and acceptance that without it I am still the great person that I am :)

I am getting back slowly into training this weekend. I don't know if I am ready to race Wildflower, but I will take it a day at a time and see when it gets closer. The reason why I wanted to share this with you was to let you all you who have suffered, are suffering, or will deal with an injury, that you are not alone. Listen to you body and your spirit and nurture it so you come back stronger..physically and mentally.

To R.: Honey..I am so sorry for being a complete downer and treating you bad over the past few weeks. Thanks for your support and love throughout this time for me despite my ungrateful attitude.

Cheers!!

PS. Please donate to your local bicycle coalition to help promote driver awareness, more bike lanes, and a more bike friendly environment and culture in your city. Here is a link with some local charters: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Smartt/RST · 02-25-2005, 11:42 AM

Now that's what I call dealing with your s**t. Way to go D!

Spike10 · 02-25-2005, 02:25 PM

Daphne, you beat me to it, I was going to ask you how your injury was comming along. Just about a week before you got hit I was drilled in the knee cap while on my bike too. Your injury was much worse than mine and I'm glad to see you have gotten your spirit back, my injury needed only the 2 I's (ice & ibuprofin) Don't worry about Wildflower, you need to race when your body tells you it's time, and remember you will have more races left in you if you heal properly. I was out for a year with my shoulder injury 2 years ago, just think about how much weight you can pack on in a year (yuck!!!). Keep us posted on your recovery,
Later.
Spike.

ZackJones · 02-25-2005, 03:33 PM

daphne: I saw that Xterra race as well, it was quite motivating, no doubt. Good luck healing up and getting back into your training. So what if you miss Wildflower this year, there's always next year :)

foratc10 · 02-26-2005, 07:18 PM

Well Good for you! I started doing sprints after I broke my elbow. I did spin classes to alleviate boredom, and "swam" laps using a kick board. Threw in some running as soon as i could stand it and I was on my way! I'm sure you can find some worthy goals to accomplish this season.

**daphne** · 02-28-2005, 08:48 AM

thanks all for your replies and your encouragement. I have accepted the fact that I may not race wildflower this season. This weekend I started a more systematic training. I got on my bike for an hour and I swam for 30 min. I am dreading the run, but that will come very soon. I feel very little pain on my kneecap now. Pain will be my signal to stop/reduce intensity or exercise.

Spike-Ouch! Hope you are OK now.

Spike10 · 02-28-2005, 09:22 AM

Thanks Daphne, I'm back in the saddle and pushing hard, I also dread the run because of the pounding that my bad form puts on my knees, however my form is improving by reading and implementing the advice I have read on this site. I hope to be ready for a race in the near future (this summer!!!) but if I'm not ready this season then next season will be just fine.
P.S. The pool is a great place to keep the workouts going when your knees are injured or just plain tired.
Take care and keep on training.
Spike.

aaron1656 · 04-13-2005, 07:56 PM

Daphne,

My doctor just told me from my MRI that I have a contusion on my kneecap. I have been fighting the pain for months now. How is your recovery coming? Did pt help? Any information you could give me would be appreciated.

Thank you

Aaron

**daphne** · 04-14-2005, 09:40 AM

Hi Aaron-- if it wasn't from my PT and taking a break from running I wouldn't be able to race anytime soon. I did not run for 5 weeks. I went for PT 2xweek for 5 weeks. I did swim (no flips), and did some light spinning. The PT was the most important part of my recovery, and of course doing all the exercises she told me. When I started running again, I felt some pain on the hills, so I avoided hilly routes at first. The first mile and the last (in a 4-5 mile run) were the most uncomfortable. I iced my knee a lot (3xday + immediately after running). When I wasn't running, i hurt when I was going down stairs. My PT, taped my knee with a special tape and that helped a lot. Now, over 2 months since my injury occured, I have little to no pain, and the pain that I have is mostly a discomfort than a deep pain.

I highly recommend finding a PT who has experience with athletes, especially runners. They really know the mechanics of the knee and the motion of running.