Recent TweetsYou might have heard by now that I had a bad fall while running on the trails with my husband. The leaves had just fallen and covered the trail, my right foot caught under a small root and the next thing I knew I was on the ground with my left arm stretched out over my head. I knew I was hurt pretty bad in my left shoulder, but thought I had just pulled a muscle. I kept saying to my husband, Mike “just give me a minute, I will be fine and can finish the run.”
Well, I begin to feel faint and thought I was going to throw up. At that point I figured that finishing the run was not an option. So my sweet husband took off his shirt and made me a sling for my arm. We were more than a mile from the car so after I lay in the woods for a minute to keep from passing out, we headed to the car. Mike with no shirt on and me in a homemade sling. We were a sight to behold, but I did not really care what we looked like, just knew I needed to head to the ER. After a slow but steady walk back to the car, we headed to the hospital.
I was surprisingly not in any pain, just could not move my arm and did not want anyone to touch it. We were in the ER for about two hours, waiting for X-rays and a diagnosis of the damage. The doctor finally came in and told me that I had fractured my upper arm (near the shoulder joint) in two places; I would have to be put in a shoulder immobilizer for six weeks and possible surgery to repair the displaced bone. Well, naturally I was not expecting that outcome, I did not even get to finish my run, we were only one mile in when it happened, and now no movements for 6 weeks, wow just shoot me. Mike took one look at me and said “we are in trouble” he thought I would be the worst patient ever, but I have fooled him. I have followed doctors’ orders, only exercising on the recumbent bike, elliptical, or walking on the treadmill (ok maybe I threw in some lower body resistance training), just sweating a little helped my mental state.
We came straight home from the ER and called our friend and wonderful orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Bert Tagert. He is a fellow exerciser so he knew this was going to be an interesting journey. He has taken such good care of me, encouraging me all along the way and thankfully after three weeks of X-rays and CT scans, he decided just this week that surgery would not be necessary. For that I am so thankful!
Here is what I learned from my unfortunate experience.
I am so thankful it was my left arm and not my right arm, Mike had to fix my hair for several days (not pretty). I finally cut it off.
I have wonderful friends that cooked for me and sent me words of encouragement.
My running shoes will last twice as long!!!
Never run trails alone or without a cell phone
Only 20 people said “see I told you that running was bad for you.”
My daughters are not used to mom being the one that needs help, they rose to the occasion and helped in any way they could with such sweet spirits.
Cross training a bit has been a refreshing change to my normal routine.
So now you know what I have been doing for the last few weeks, healing. I just can’t wait to see you on the trails.