Afternoon in A & E

Spent the afternoon in A&E after slipping on the steps outside our house. It's going to mean no training for a few days. Just as I was getting back into it as well :(

It had just started to rain and I was on strict instructions from my wife and my mother to get the washing in if it rained. Heard the rain belting down and rushed to the back door. One step onto the slippery painted concrete (will be changing that tomorrow) and I was flat on my back not knowing what had happened. I came down on my left side and took the force of the fall on my elbow. I just lay there not knowing if I could get up. Decided I had to. Was sh!t scared that I had broken something. Thoughts immediately turned to not being able to train. I managed to get up and hobble around and throw in a few 'sh!ts, b@@!!Ocks and fcuks'. Not sure what the neighbors thought.

It was then that I noticed the blood on my elbow. Got inside and cleaned it up. The wound was about 2 inches long and went deep when I bent my elbow. I didn't bend my elbow again after seeing that. I kept it straight and tight against my side with a tea-towel (clean) over the wound.

My next problem was getting to the hospital. I was alone in the house. I couldn't drive so had to just wait for someone to get home. Jo turned up after about 45 mins and then 2 minutes later mum and dad and the kids turned up. I convinced everyone that I was alright and just wanted to get it checked and then Jo took me to A&E.

The doctor's checks found that nothing was broken and all the ligaments were OK but they were worried because I had no feeling in my hand and it was ice cold. Turned out it was because I had had it in the same position tight by my side for the last two hours and it had lost circulation. I had to move it about to get the circulation going but that opened up the wound. I was lucky because I think I must have killed the nerve endings when I landed because even when the doctor opened it up I felt nothing. I didn't look. Jo said it looked like a deep one.

I was given the option of glue or stitches. Opted for the glue. Stung like hell when he put the glue in but I'm sure the stitches would have been worse. Worse thing was the tetanus jab. Don't like needles at the best of times but the nurse that came in to give me the jab explained that she was a trainee nurse and had never given an injection before. Did I object? What could I say? Of course I had to let her do it. No problem. Didn't feel a thing.

The worst pain I have is in the side of my hip. I must have landed on that as well. Got a bit of cushioning from the extra weight I am carrying (haha) but I have a huge lump there now so must have wacked it hard. Doctor examined it but said best to just ice it.

So ... I can't swim because of the glue on the wound, can't put my elbow on the aero bars or bend them sufficiently to ride and I can't run because of my hip. Fantastic! :(

Few days rest me thinks. Lots of comfort food and then my diet/fitness campaign starts (again) on Tuesday.

Going to put some non-slip decking down tomorrow (if I can move)