Prior to my Injury I was working with an amazing Physical Therapist at Positive Energy Physical Therapy named Sean Ryan. Together we worked on my run, in attempt to turn this little fish out of water into a fierce chetah on land. Well, at least that was the goal. But of course, whenever things start working out it never seems to last very long. Cue hitting a bump in the road, literally! 

One day, riding my bike, I was riding in a group ride and going fast. Out of nowhere, I hit a bump, and I hit it hard. [Read the full comically tragic incident on my previous blog post.] Nonetheless, the many steps forward I had made with my running form, glute activation, and strength work, turned into even more steps backwards after my crash.

To sum the worst of the damage: a chunk of muscle/tissue disappeared from my knee and painted over the asphalt on which I skidd down at about 30 MPH.  As a result, I couldn't bend my knee. I couldn't even walk. Every simple movement became a struggle. No longer would I take things like sitting down and standing up, for granted. 

Fortunately, not long after the crash, Sean from PEPT arrived at my house [neighbors] and aided in carrying my torn fragile body up my house stairs. His expertise helped decide which room I could most easily get around in, with a couch, bathroom, and the kitchen nearby. My placement in this room allowed me to be more self sufficient throughout my healing process and move about safely. 

My left leg, fully braced, needed to remain hyper extended or would otherwise cause excruciating pain. I began "walking" backwards, then sideways, then after a few weeks could peg legged forward. This was a huge feat at the time.


Once I was able to function, somewhat normally, Sean insisted that I work with him every other day. Thanks to his persistence and expertise, my atrophied leg slowly began to gain strength. But due to the scar tissue in my knee/leg I couldn't bend it more than 90 degrees. 

Stem, ice, quad activation, and forced bends were the first remedies to getting healthy. Everyday, little improvements we noted little improvements. For instance, one day I could walk up stairs, and a week later I could walk downstairs (although it wasn't graceful). 

This injury forced me to sit still for a long time, something I wasn't used to at all. But lucky for me, my fantastic family and friends came to entertain me daily. They escorted my crippled booty around town, out to get fun, or for long gimpy hobbles on the beach, which kept me entertained and happy. I truly believe this was crucial to my speedy recovery.

Sean remained persistent, he worked with me on a regular basis for hours. As my knee bend increased, we moved forward with strength and stability work. His patience, diligence, and positivity was reassuring when I felt impatient, discouraged, and down. 

Day by day I noted more and more improvements. Single leg swimming wall touches tiptoed to double leg push-offs. Not long after, I began vigorously chasing TV screens on the elliptical. Then, a few weeks later, I was able to bend my knee enough to hop on a bike! Yikes!

But don't worry, the bike was stationary, and I was under the supervision of Sean at Positive Energy Physical Therapy. Of course a bit of PTSD from the accident kicked in briefly, but passed. After all, I was safe from falling on the indoor bike. Each pedal stroke seemed to loosen my leg and after a while, it felt pretty good. And then I after a few months, I could run again. I was back at it! Well I was "tri"ing at least. 

The healing process continues, and my body still isn't quite back to normal. But it will get there, and I will embrace my tough-looking scars. However, I must attribute my speedy recovery to Sean Ryan at Positive Energy Physical Therapy, as well as my amazing family and friends who also kept my energy positive. Without all of you, I would not have gotten up so quickly after hitting  that not-so-little bump in the road. Go #TeamSpeedySpivey

Learning how to use my leg again, after walking backwards for 2 weeks.
The right image shows the max I could bend it 2 weeks post accident.

At this point, could force/stretch leg to a 90 degree bend at most.
After a month, I was able to elliptical. Finally!

Thanks to Grandma Spives for letting me borrow her walker.
Attempting to walk normal without the peg leg effect.
[Don't worry, I gave it back. Isn't she the cutest?!]

Almost 2 months after, I was able to bend my knee enough to bike.
Due to PTSD from the crash, stuck to a stationary for a month.

Mini milestones via Snapchat.

Everything was going super duper!
 
Summer was busy but managable. I finally seemed to find a good balance of working, playing and training. I was working hard (30 + hour/week). I was training hard  (20+ hour/week). I was finally running like a runner (40+ miles/week).  I was doing injury preventative pre-hab (Thanks to Sean Ryan and Positive Energy Physical Therapy's running gait analysis test. I was kicking butt on 5am routine beastly old man rides with my dad. I was ready to dominate the local 2 mile swim Peir 2 Peir race [Aug 3] as well as USLA Lifeguard Nationals on the East coast the following Week (defending multiple championships in both competitions). I was finally ready to kill and prove myself in some late season ITU triathlons... but fate had another plan for me.

On this overcast summer morning, I had planned to go on an easy Saturday morning birthday ride with the Spiveyiest of Spiveys, my dad. We intended to climb to the tip top of Palos Verdes, just the two of us, in honor of his 56th birthday. Stopping for a celebratory brunch along the coast on the way back down. At the restaurant, we were going to satiate our grumbling tummies with a delightful birthday brunch and scenic view. Afterwards (letting those few extra post-belly-filling pounds work in our favor),  we would roll back down the rest of the hill, all the way home... oh and live happily ever after. 

The End.

But, heck, we were starting at the same time as our weekly Saturday morning Donut Ride; we might as well join the group. After all, the two of us felt speedier than our usual speedy Spivey selves. So, why not? Plus, it's always fun to chick/oldman some studly dudes up the hill. 

Boy oh boy did I slam into the pavement, hard.

I stared at the hole. Inside, no blood yet, just gravel, lots of fresh gravel, the white of my tendon and the edge of my kneecap.  I shrieked "Ouch", over and over again, although pain hadn't set in just yet.

The sight of my wounds were daunting. Not because I was in pain, but because of what it all meant. All I could think about was my hard work, gone to waste. Staring at my knee, I began to tear up.

I grew nauseous from the sight of my knee (or lack there of). In shock, I frantically looked around. My only sense of relief/clarity at this moment was that no one else had gone down. 

A crowd began to grow as riders stopped and turned around. My bike lay cracked somewhere behind me, atop the rocky embankment* that traced the cliffside.  My front wheel, somewhere a little further up the road. ** 

The hospital was empty and I was rushed inside in a weary state. Finally, authorized an IV tap and pain medication. Once sedated, the nurses took x-rays of my wounds (knee, elbow, hand, and shoulder) as I felt blood pooling and dripping from the crater in my knee. Luckily the drugs had already kicked in and I was super loopy. I quickly fell in and out of consciousness, while simultaneously trying to hold friendly conversation with the nurses.

After an hour or so, it was time to clean me up and cinch my wounds. My body, completely powdered in fresh black gravel and speckled with blood. Lacking mobility on my left side, the nurses were forced to cut off my (new) cycling kit, grazed with fresh grit. My minor rashes were scrubbed clean and my broken (ring) finger and hand were splinted. But, the worst part was yet to come, numbing time. 

The needle that numbed my raw flesh made me cringe. The doctor injected an anesthetic into each of my open wounds to clean them and suture them shut. Once numbed, cleaning was tolerable. The doctor sprayed high pressure saline on each of the wounds, and proceeded to pick and prod at the thick black gravel until most was gone. Then he stitched. Nine stitches in my elbow, three in my split webbing, and five deep into my knee (miraculously). He somehow managed to get them all shut. 

After the nurses wrapped my wounds and braced my knee, I squeezed my crippled body into a dress. Finally,  some 6+ hours later, I was released. Two male nurses awkwardly lifted me and my leg into the car. It hurt, but at least I was safe, and on my way home.

T O T A L   D A M A G E:

• 9 stitches in left elbow
  
• 5 stiches in left k nee
  
• 3 stitches in split webbing on left hand
  
• fractured ring finger knuckle on left hand
  
• fractured bone between left thumb and index finger
  
• road rash: hands, left wrist, left shoulder, left hip, left bum, right elbow
  
• bruised: left quad, right upper back/armpit area
  
• gravel scratches on neck.
  

This is my happy face.

Smiles for days when painkillers kick in.

Graphic images of my wounds/healing progression.

When my house turned into a pharmacy.

painkillers + immobility = ridiculous snapchats about my stuggles

I conjured up this little recipe because I sought an easy to make, lactose free yogurt alternative. After all, lactose doesn't seem to sit well in a lot of our tummies anyways. Plus, what better way to incorporate some of the best super foods around into our regular diet with ease!  Nonetheless, this short recipe is easy, healthy, and absolutely delicious. Happy eating!  :)

[ 1 ] pour can of coconut milk into medium sized bowl

[ 2 ] slowly sprinkle the 1/4 cup of chia seeds into coconut milk while stirring incrementally (to avoid the seeds from sticking together in a cluster)

[ 3 ] mix slowly with a spoon until seeds are evenly distributed throughout 

[ 4 ] add 1 tbs of agave nectar to sweeten ever so slightly and mix evenly 

[ 6 ] enjoy (alone or atop your favorite fruit or cereal)

Use as a Milk or Yogurt replacement and add to a bowl of oatmeal (with a pinch of salt) or granola, and top with cut up fruit!

Use as an Ice Cream replacement aside your favorite Chocolate Cake or Apple Pie!

or...

Add some Cocao powder and a bit more agave and enjoy as a healthy Chocolate pudding alternative! Cocao is a great source of antioxidants, magnesium, and iron (aka a great excuse to indulge in dessert)!