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It has been a couple of weeks since my last post. The reason for my absence
was an unexpected accident, which dramatically changed my plans and activity
level. Two weeks ago, while riding my road bicycle down a hill at 35 mph I
experienced both a front and rear wheel double flat. Needless to say I lost
total control of my bicycle and went over the front end sliding down the road
hoping to avoid hitting either the curb with my head on one side and the cars
traveling on my left.
I was extremely fortunate in many ways. First off I avoided both the curb and
the cars. My head never touched the ground (I was, as always, wearing a helmet)
and although I had some fairly significant injuries I was able to avoid
needing any surgery. All in all I suffered a double fracture to my pelvis,
puncture wounds to my right ankle and lower arm (one gash requiring stitches)
and 3rd degree burns (severe road rash) down the outer side of my entire right
leg and lower arm and hand.
Besides showing great concern, understanding, and well wishes, Jeff has asked
if I would share some of my experiences with you both in terms of the initial
incident, my recovery and medical attention and care. I told Jeff I
would be very comfortable relaying some of my thoughts and lessons learned from
the experience - but most importantly sharing items that I feel could be
useful to everyone - at one time or other.
The item I would like to share in this post is the concept of inflammation
and swelling. Although they are both normal, healthy responses to acute
injury - they limit the repair and healing process. I learned this lesson
from a prominent wound care physician I was fortunate to be referred to for a
prior injury. Dr. Werner, whose patients are primarily the elderly dealing with
open ulcers due to complications from improper care or diabetes, is a firm
proponent in limiting and reversing inflammation and swelling as quick as
possible. He believes that healing won't begin fully until most of the swelling
is gone.
By the time I saw Dr. Werner for these recent injuries my entire right
leg was swollen and my right ankle and foot were fully edematous - swollen to
twice their size and resembling over-stuffed sausages. Aside from cleaning the
open wounds and applying cream and gauze, he sent me home with a compression
sock to reduce the swelling. By the next morning the swelling had subsided by
over 80 percent and the wounds on my lower leg had healed more in the 24-hour
period since my visit than in any other 24-hour period since the initial injury.
Dr. Werner's "magic", and more importantly his wealth of knowledge and years of
care and treatment did the trick and will surely get me back to full strength
much sooner than by more conservative or older therapies. He definitely knows
his area - and much more. A knowledgeable, caring doctor is hard to find and
worth much more than the treatment the give.
I am now a firm proponent of Dr. Werner's inflammation and healing
theory and of the C of the RICE acronym (Rest, Ice, Compression, and
Elevation), all of which are meant to limit swelling and aid in healing. I plan
to share more tools I'm learning, or using, including what I am doing
nutritionally to speed the healing process soon. | 
