Crash

I crashed my bike today.

I was riding my bike from a light rail station to work (All of about a mile at the most), with the intention to ride my bike on the American River Bike Trail after work. I was riding down 12th Street, and got to 12th and G Streets, and the light was changing, so I was going to turn onto G street, which would get me closer to work. I started to brake, and another cyclist on G Street suddenly was in my path. I hit the brakes hard, and crashed. My right knee hit, then my face, and finally my left knee and shoulder.

My first thought was that I had crashed into the other cyclist. So I asked him if he was alright. I never even touched him! Good. Then he asked me if I was ok. I told him I wasn't sure yet, while my face was still on the ground. I turned over, and took a quick inventory. A little blood on my face, one of my teeth felt funny (but it was still there, and intact), and I felt my legs. Hurting, but intact. I looked at my right knee, which already had started bruising up. I sat for a minute, and politely waved off a lady who had gotten out of her car to help. I got up, and quickly checked my bike. It was ok.

I got on my bike, and crossed the street. I asked the other cyclist again if he was ok. He was. I pedaled to work and locked up my bike in the bike room. Wiped my face with my hand and realized it was mildly bloody. Got in the elevator and got some 4x4s, antibiotic ointment, and an ice pack from a first aid kit at work. A few minutes later, my face looked reasonably normal again after cleaning it and applying some of the antibiotic ointment. Just a small cut under my nose, and abrasions on my nose.

I then focused on my now very sore knee. I took a nice look at it. Bruising and red, with abrasions. NIIIICE. Ice pack went on it. My shoulder was beginning to ache as well. I had things to do at work, so I got to them to get my mind off my injuries. Attended a conference call, and emailed my boss telling her about the accident and that I may leave to work at home. Finished the call, packed up my work laptop, and headed home.

Tried to find someone to meet me at Watt and I-80 and get me home. No go. But I expected that, for the time of day it was. I was hoping, though... So I got on a bus that got me closer to home. But, I had to either walk or ride from where the bus left me off. I realized on my way home that cycling was mildly less painful than walking. So, I biked almost all the way home. One hill was just a bit too much today, though. Walked that. Made it home, and my roommate was waiting for me. "So, how bad is it?", he asked me. I showed him. "Ouch", was his only response at the moment. The swelling on my knee was getting worse, regardless.And my shoulder was hurting more.

My business partner, friend and fellow EMT, got back to me, and I let him know what happened, along with a nice picture of my knee. His response, "Ouch!!!!, so when are you gonna get seen?" He was right, I need to get it checked out. I wasn't planning on it, since I had good mobility, but it was numb right at the top of the tibia (the larger bone in the lower leg). In me, that can be a sign of a fracture. So, I called up Kaiser advise, let them know what I did, and what was hurting. After conferring with their doc that is in the advise center, the decision was that I needed to go to the ER, and not a clinic appointment. Bleh...

So, I went to the ER to rule out a fracture. Since I had no major injuries, and I walked in, I was sent through the "fast track" portion of the ER. Sat on the gurney and chatted with the nurse for a few minutes. A few minutes after she left, I was seeing the doctor. She checked my knee, my face, and did a cursory check of my shoulder. She didn't think I fractured anything, but authorized a knee series to rule it out. Got x-rayed, and back to the bed. After a little bit, the doctor came in and let me know there was no fracture. That was my goal, anyway. She gave me a prescription for pain meds, and discharged me. Less than an hour total time! Wow! Truly fast-track!

So, whats it look like now? Its not pretty...

Oh, I am banned from riding my bike for a week. Ugh... but I need to let this get better.