I’d gotten up from the pavement assisted by my most kind new friends. Everything checked out as ‘not seriously injured and nothing appears broken’… well, there was some growing discomfort near my left shoulder primarily, but also in my elbow and knee.
I mounted ALI, started her right up, and completed the U-turn I’d attempted just a short time before… I waved goodbye to those wonderful folks who’d helped me, then proceeded on down the road towards Macon, GA, my new destination according to the latest iteration of a very ‘fluid’ plan…
Shortly it was time for gas and a break. No change in discomfort to amount to much, and I was thinking this will pass in a day or two. By then, I’d already forgotten about the elbow and knee. We’ll just work our way on over to Nohead City and hole-up for a few days…
It did seem a bit more difficult to get my leg over the saddle than before the boo-boo. A sharp increase in upper chest pain while doing so was the culprit, not a decrease in range of motion. Not a pleasant realization at all.
I arrived at the motel, and things had changed a bit… actually, more than ‘a bit’. I did make a less than graceful dismount, check-in, then remount to park at the room… Hmmm, sure hope a good night’s sleep will take care of that. My dismount a moment or two later was even less graceful than the last, and I was starting to get a not-so-good feelings about the progress, or lack thereof, with my condition!
I unloaded everything, piled up the pillows on the bed, and assumed the position… then turned on the TV and promptly nodded off. An hour or so later I awoke… and I felt much worse than I had! Oh man, this is getting downright ugly!!! My left shoulder area was hurting no matter which way I moved or didn’t move! Then I had to cough… oh my, that was plum precious!!! Dang! I was not pleased with the direction things appeared to be going! Maybe a hot shower and a good night’s sleep will turn the tide…
It might have, too, if I’d had one… I did do the hot shower thing, and I did make a serious attempt to do the other… That other just didn’t work out, though… I finally re-piled the pillows and slept for an hour or so at a time with my back to the headboard. Much better but getting up and down was… downright masochistic!!! Geeeez, am I looking at a week or more with this? Will I have to ride ALI to a clinic or emergency room? Then ride to a drug store; and, what about food? Gawd, things just aren’t looking promising at all…
During a phone conversation with troutdude, I laid out my condition and events leading up to that point… He offered to come get me, but I thought that might be premature… I wanted to give things a reasonable opportunity to work themselves out, so we decided to keep an eye out, play it by ear, and see what developed… I had a few pain pills left over from some procedure two years ago in my bag, and I always carry ibuprofen and some other over the counter items for emergencies… I began eating those like M&Ms…
The drugs did mask the symptoms to a barely tolerable level, but as they would wear off, the pain would return as before… no perceptible improvement! No sir, this ain’t looking good at all…
After my second night there, things had not improved… if anything, they’d gone downhill a bit. I was feeling pretty low. That afternoon troutdude called and we chatted… then he told me he’d call right back. An hour or so later, he did call… and he informed me he was on his way, and that I needed to text the address to him. Dang! The second time in as many months he’s had to rescue us! Last time it was ALI, this time it was her rider…
Around midnight Dennis tapped lightly on the motel room door. I was up already, so we (Dennis) proceeded to load ALI on his brother-in-law’s trailer, and my gear in his truck. Then we ran the gauntlet back to Atmore, AL. About five hours of wincing, moaning, napping, and… generally not enjoying the ride, but enormously grateful to have a friend like this… we pulled into his sister’s driveway around 5am.
A long day followed, but no improvement. I kept taking the pain pills and getting by, but something would need to give. All this time, an increasing chorus of my friends were telling me I needed to bite the bullet and see a doctor. The second morning in Atmore, Vicki, Dennis’ sister, was scheduled for outpatient surgery at a nearby hospital… that also had an emergency room.
Comfort and reassurance station...
The impatient patient...
I got checked out, x-rayed, CT scanned, poked, prodded, interviewed, and stuck with a needle. I was informed I’d most likely survive in spite of what I was thinking at the time… no actual mention, but it was implied the crying and screaming would also go away in time… I did have some bruised ribs, but nothing was broken! I was given a prescription for some strong stuff and allowed to leave.
That was day before yesterday, and I’ve finally turned the corner! I’m not over this yet, but I’m now seeing improvement… and light at the end of that long, dark tunnel! Yesterday was tough, but since I awoke this morning, I’ve felt much better… not great by any means, but definitely better. I now believe the hospital folks might be right, and I just may survive after all…
I’m so optimistic, in fact, I’m crossing my fingers for a departure day after tomorrow. Tomorrow afternoon I’ll be taking a ‘test ride’ on ALI for grits and bacon, and Dennis will be following… This is his idea, but I have to admit I do like his notions of a proper therapy regimen and evaluation… We’ll see if I can head towards ‘home’ Friday morning… or not…
DDT
