April 8th, 2008
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATE
Well today I took a pretty nasty spill on my bike. The fall tore my AC and has left me in a shoulder immobilizer.
But... the JoeyRez.Com community can share in my experience by checking out the pictures below.
As you can see... the bones in my shoulder that should be touching (normally held together by ligaments) are not even close to one another.
It is pretty painful... but I'll survive. I will be going to a specialist in the next day or two and will know more about my expected recovery then.
In the meantime I'll be resting it as much as possible and hoping for a quick recovery.
Be sure to take a look at the picture of the bike. You can see the bent metal... from the front tire bending back into the rest of the bike.
Yikes!
April 12th Update
Well... so the shoulder saga continues. Although I have a doctor's appointment on Monday to get a second opinion....
I have already scheduled my surgery for Wednesday. I am told that they will be reattaching the ligament to the bone (with a screw)
and that it will ultimately take about 4 to 5 months to completely recover.
Although it is possible that the Doctor will tell me something magical on Monday... at this point I am bracing myself for surgery.
April 15th Update
It has been a difficult few days. I have had two world-class doctors giving me two opposing treatment plans.
(one said operate... the other said I didn't 'need' it)
But I needed to decide which was best for me. In the end, I have decided to go with the surgery.
The plan is to go in tomorrow (wednesday).. have the surgery.. and be out of there by some time the next day (thursday).
The recovery will not be easy... but.. neither was losing 100+ lbs, right?
April 17th Update
I will write more soon... but I thought I'd post a quick post-surgery update. Things went well.
In fact... after opening me up the doctor was convinced it was the right choice.
Today... lots of pain... lots of pain meds... and lots of sleep.
It will be a while 'till I'm back in the groove, but, at least the surgery is now behind me.
Check back soon!! They took pictures of the surgery for me. :.)
I would like to take a second to thank everyone who has listened to me and talked about this with me.
Your thoughts, advice and time have been invaluable to me and I greatly appreciate every moment.
April 29th Update
OK... So, yesterday I had my first follow-up appointment with my Doctor. Things went fine.
He told me that I am healing fine and that things look great.
"If your x-rays look like this in 4 weeks... you'll be in great shape."
The only bad news was that I am supposed to 'stay put' for another 4 weeks
(till my next appointment on May 29th when I will lose the sling).
Yikes!
I was really hoping to get back to my life by now... but... like he said
"My biggest risk is failure of the joint..... if I take it easy I have a 98% chance of 100% recovery."
So... I will be following his prescription for minimum activity and staying put.
I will be working from home for the next few weeks though, which should help to relieve the monotony.
Now. for some follow-up media ... which... I know you all have been waiting for:
CLICK HERE FOR SURGERY PICS (Rated PG 13)
Comparison Pic Color Comparison
 
Joey looking sexy at the hospital
Not the good shoulder, please!
May 18th Update
Well... So far so good.
I just can't believe it has been over a month since my surgery ... and how long it has been since the fall!!!
But, life goes on. Work has been awesome about it and has been allowing me to work remotely while I recover.
However, I think they may be getting the better side of the deal as the time I used to spend on the commute, I now...
for the sake of time consistency... just work. But, I also don't know what I would do if I couldn't work.
It is the only thing, I think, that keeps me from going stir crazy from being cooped up all day!
What's next?
I have another doctor's appointment on the 29th. At that point, I expect the sling to be removed (but not the screw).
I will spend the next 4-6 weeks (slingless) doing stretching (range-of-motion) exercises.
Then, the screw will be removed and the real physical therapy begins.
I am anxiously awaiting the re-use of my arm. It has been very frustrating without it!
Oh... I am including a bonus media addition for your enjoyment.
While in the hospital, I recorded the following voice file at 5AM.
My arm was starting to regain feeling and was just starting to pump myself with morphine.
But, as you will hear... was not yet myself.
Click Here To Listen (or, right click to save the target file)
May 30th Update
I am now Sling-Free!! How exciting! Well, at least for me.
I saw the doctor yesterday and everything seems to be progressing nicely.
I will see him again in four weeks and at that point, hopefully get the OK to have the screw removed a few days later.
In the meantime, I have a few stretching exercises to do, and I am allowed to go back to the gym for some basic cardio (whew!).
I will be returning to work on Monday (mixed emotions there) and am looking forward to getting back to the real world.
Oh, and I am back on the road too. I forgot how much I like being behind the wheel!
Below are a few updated pictures for your enjoyment too.
Updated X-ray shots (including a 'never-before-seen' angle)
 
Walking by the scene of the accident the other day I looked down and saw this. My bike's water bottle. :.(
June 12th Update
I have been sling free for two weeks and have really enjoyed getting back to my life.
In two more weeks, I'll follow up with the doctor and hopefully get ready to have
the screw removed from my shoulder.
The stretching exercises have been going well and I feel like I am really getting
a lot of my range of motion back already. Although I still have a long way to go.
On a sadder note:
Yesterday, I also threw away my bike. It was a little depressing.
But, now I get to really look forward to buying a new one.
CLICK HERE to see a page devoted to my old friend (the bike, of course).
June 26th Update
Well, today I saw the doctor for the last time before the screw comes out of my shoulder.
He said everything looks great!
The screw will be removed about 12 days from now. It will be a simple procedure but will be done in the hospital.
The doctor also gave me the okay to get on a bike again (yes!) ... but... told me I am not allowed to fall (humm).
Below.... you can enjoy the latest x-ray ... but... it really hasn't changed.
Oh.. by the way... I think he is going to let me keep the screw. Needless to say... I'm pretty excited about that!
July 3rd Update
Today, I bought a new bike. It feels fantastic to be back in the 'saddle', so to speak.
The bike is a Marin - San Rafael and it a huge step up from my 'old friend'
that was retired not too long ago.
I hope to use it in good health for a long time to come.
CLICK HERE to see a page devoted to my new friend (the bike, of course)
July 8th Update
Exactly three months after my bike fall, the screw that held my shoulder together for 2 1/2 months was removed.
My Dad and I got off to an early start (I picked him up at 4:45 AM). The process was pretty simple.
Go to hospital.
Get I.V. hooked up.
Go to pre-op to meet with all the docs and get started with the anesthesia.
Off to the O.R. ....
Wake up screw-free.
Recovery shouldn't be too bad. A day or two of a little discomfort but, I should be back to 'normal' very soon.
A week from Monday I will get the stitches out and
.... drum roll here .....
finally start Physical Therapy!
CLICK HERE to see a page devoted to the screw removal process.
July 16th Update
Today I added a countdown to the main page of JoeyRez.Com. (countdown removed 8/20/08)
This countdown will let everyone know when 6 weeks has past since the removal of the screw.
(removed cause 6 weeks has inded past)
At that point, the doctor tells me I am allowed to go on a roller coaster.
Of course, I may not get there till that weekend. But, you get the gist.
Needless to say .... I am excited.
If you want to join me on my first post-bike-fall roller coaster ride ... just let me know.
As for my recovery so far... things are going well.
I do my stretching exercises and have already noticed lots of increased mobility.
Next week, after the stitches are removed, I will start P/T.
So, I hope to really see lots more improvement in the near future.
But, I have already been doing a lot..... increased activity at the gym, long bike rides, etc.
Good stuff!!
July 22nd Update
Two exciting updates today...
Yesterday, I had the stitches removed (post-screw removal)
and today, I met my physical therapist and discussed my treatment plan.
The stitch removal was, again, a piece of cake. Not much to report there.
Unfortunately, they did not take any x-rays ... so... I don't have a no-screw-x-ray for you to enjoy.
But, it was exciting to go to Physical Therapy even though we didn't really do much today.
Kat (yes... my P/T's name is Kat) took a bunch of baseline measurements of how far I can reach, stretch, etc.
She reviewed my 'at home' exercises with me and we came up with a schedule for when I'll be going.
She seems very knowledgeable and is very nice ... so... I look forward to seein' what she can do for me.
Oh ... and another little update.
The counter on the main page ... the counter for when I can go on a roller coaster.
Well, apparently, it is more than that. It is a counter for when I can do any 'contact sports'
... like racquetball, basketball, etc.
So, it turns out that countdown is even more important than originally thought.
Can't wait to play some racquetball again!!
July 24th Update
Well, today I had my first REAL physical therapy session.
Kat is great! Besides being nice... she is very knowledgeable.
She started off warming up the joint... then... we did lots of stretching....
started to work the muscles that holds my scapula down... and did some work on the hand-bike-thingy.
There is this very cool and simple pulley device that I used for stretching my arm.
It did a good job. They will sell me one ... but.. I may go to Home Depot or Lowes
and try to just make one myself.
We'll see. Either way... it does a great job ... and I want to do it more often.
July 29th Update
Physical Therapy is going well. But, it is not easy.
I am still having some trouble swinging my arm out to the side and up behind my back.
But, with a little work, I'll get that motion back.
It has also only been a week... so... I shouldn't expect too much.
But, I do notice a lot of improvement in motion and strength otherwise.
So, that keeps me going.
Below are a few pics for you to enjoy.
The first two are at Physical Therapy (Thanks to my P/T Kat for taking them!!)
and the last is a picture of the setup I made for myself at home so that I can stretch my arm easily.
  
September 3rd Update
Well... It has been a while since my last update. Things are progressing well.
I have regained a lot of motion and strength in my shoulder but still have a while to go. I had my FINAL appointment with my doctor last week.... so.... that is nice.
He says I am on the right track and only need to call/see him if I really think I am having trouble.
But, he did tell me to expect 6 months to a year before I am "back to normal" (whatever "normal" is).
Another important note for everyone!!!! Although I was told that I only needed to wait 6 weeks after screw removal to go on a roller coaster,
I am not so sure I agree with that recomendataion.
I went to Great Adventure the other day with my friend Stu (Stu... you rock!!) . We had a blast!! However, I have spent the past few days in a lot of pain.
I am starting to feel a little better today, but, I have a few regrets. As a result of this pain, you may ask if I could do it all over again if I would do anything differently?
Yes! I would not have fallen off the bike!!
Here is a picture to remind me (and all of you) of my day at Great Adventure and to help me remember not to go on roller coasters soon after surgery.
BONUS PIC & ANIMATION
This is where it all happened....
 
So... I was approaching the train tracks... moving pretty fast.
I noticed that there were cars parked in the street ahead of me and I was forced to get onto the sidewalk.
I tried to dog-leg myself onto the sidewalk but couldn't turn fast enough and ended up going beyond the sidewalk
and hitting the train tracks. I managed to get over the first set ... but the second set stopped my bike dead in its tracks...
and I went flying. I landed (on my shoulder) a few feet beyond the second set of tracks.
Ouch!
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