Steve vs. van: Merry Christmas from Travelers Insurance

Well, it only took a year and three months, plus, but we've finally settled with the insurance company of the guy who hit Steve with his candy van.

So I guess this will be the last entry tagged "Steve vs. van"! Thanks to Mike Sweney, esq., and his staff for getting the whole thing done fairly. At least, we think we were taken care of fairly! We've never done this before!

Steve and his shoulder are getting along fine this year, and so are he and his bike. So grateful this didn't turn out to be nearly as bad as it could have been.

Steve vs. van: Done with therapy

Steve got signed off today by the orthopedic surgeon, and earlier last week by his physical therapist. So, it looks like he's all done healing!

He has no pain, except for the occasional ache when he exerts himself... and maybe when the weather changes. The jury's still out on that. And he certainly did not get back all his strength or his full range of motion.

So, after the holidays are over, it'll be in the hands of Travelers insurance and our lawyer.

Steve continues to do the exercises his therapist gave him, and I made a big box of fudge for Carla and all the people at St. John's Sports and Rehab! They've taken excellent care of him for these past... 3 1/2 months! Yikes.

It's safe to say that Steve is very anxious for some good weather and to get back on the bike. And his cycling buddies are already planning next year's big rides!

Steve vs. van: We have a lawyer!

Now that it looks like Steve's shoulder has nearly healed as much as it ever will, we decided to make the call -- thanks to Lisa G. for recommending family friend and personal injury attorney Robert Sweney (yes, only 2 e's) in Clayton.

Steve met with him today, bringing all the paperwork we've accumulated since the accident. One major outlay: We have to pay a $30 co-pay every single time he goes to physical therapy -- two times a week since September. So, we have all the receipts for that, plus the hospital, ambulance, and the accident report from the Ellisville P.D. Mr. Sweney, Esq., thinks we have a good case, and he says Travelers -- the van driver's insurance company, is pretty easy to deal with.

It'll be a while, after the first of the year, before we know more. Steve has a trip to the surgeon on Dec. 21 -- which we're guessing will be his last. We expect the PT to say she's done all she can and that his full range of motion will be lost forever. But the shoulder is stable and strong, and the surgeon will most likely clear Steve for full duty at work -- just in time for Christmas!

Steve vs. van: That first big ride

I'm hoping Steve leaves a big, long comment on here, because I know very little about what I'm talking about, but...

He went on a nice long ride Sunday! "I got a little carried away," he said. Four and a half hours later, Emilyn and I figured that the gentle jaunt around Creve Coeur Lake probably had become something more. Indeed, Daddy went over the bridge into St. Charles County -- and came pretty close to witnessing a plane crash!

He said he was a little sore, and had started to favor the shoulder, but in all he did well. Be sure to ask him about it!

Steve vs. van: A breakthrough!

Steve actually got on his (unbroken) bike today and rode about a mile around the block! Hooray! His report: "I am so out of shape."

Steve vs. van: Shoulder update

Well, so much has been going on with Steve's shoulder... not the least of which was my first -- yet totally successful! -- attempt at mowing the lawn! I know I'm going to have to do that again very soon... It's rained like a foot this month.

Steve completed four weeks of physical therapy, and he made his return visit to the orthopedic surgeon on Monday. Not much more than a drive-by there. Dr. Kaar and a new friend, an Indian guy with a Kentucky accent as thick as Maker's Mark, looked at Steve's new X-rays, had him do a couple of movements, and that was it. Bottom line: Things are looking good. Four more weeks of PT. After that, another visit to Dr. Kaar, when we can expect Steve will be cleared to resume full activity.

How can you tell you're getting better? PT starts kicking your butt! That's what Steve is finding now... I guess the risk of re-injury is gone, so his therapists are really working him now. This is the first time he's complained about pain after PT, and he has to go back tomorrow! Well, he knows it's for all the right reasons.

Steve vs. van: Therapy's working!

Steve has several therapy sessions in the books now, and he's really getting a lot of movement back in his shoulder. But what's this strange rash wrapping around half his midsection? Shingles!?

His doctor says it often comes about due to stress, when the ol' chicken pox virus reawakens and starts tackling those nerves... Sheesh. What else does the poor guy need to deal with?!

I hope he'll post a comment and tell us more about therapy. I know he's doing a lot of exercises at home to strengthen his shoulder. Glad to see him feeling better! We go to the surgeon again for a re-evaluation on Oct. 12.

Steve vs. van: No surgery?

Well, we went to see the surgeon today... Actually two surgeons, and a med student for good measure. Plus a well-meaning but frightening X-ray tech...

When we got there, there was of course the interminable paperwork to fill out... Steve's birth date was wrong on one form, resulting in MORE paperwork... Then, he went off with the X-ray tech. Keep in mind, he has lived in fear, for 10 days, of his shoulder popping out of its socket. And this woman tells him she wants him to extend his arm straight out to 90 degrees!! The terror! He did his best, and she got her picture, but he was very shaken by the experience.

Then, the med student walks in. Nice kid, but not the person we wanted to see right then! She examined Steve, and had him do some movements -- again, the first time he's moved his arm, essentially, since the accident. She studies his X-rays and heads off to find the doctor.

In walks a different doctor, Dr. Otto. He asks, again, how this injury happened... He tells us it's more rare than your usual dislocation, being posterior rather than anterior. Posterior dislocations, in the back of the shoulder, almost always come from traumatic injury... Umm, yeah, like getting hit by a delivery van. He "ranges" Steve's shoulder again... much discomfort and fear, but it didn't pop out.

In comes Dr. Kaar, the man we're here to see. He announces, the first time we've considered this, that Steve won't need surgery. He says the posterior dislocation, coupled with Steve's age, mean it's highly unlikely he'll have a repeat dislocation.

But it might! Dr. Kaar conceded that much. But he prescribed four weeks of physical therapy, two-to-three times a week, and he'll re-evaluate Steve at the end of that month. Meanwhile, Steve is actually feeling a lot more comfortable. Now that he feels like he's not in danger of a re-dislocation, he's testing the shoulder more. Dr. Kaar cleared him to drive and go back to work, but no lifting, pulling, pushing or climbing (basically, Steve's whole job description). So, they're going to have to find a spot for him answering the phone and working on the computer, for the next four weeks at least.

Oh, and the exam table looked like it was straight from Ikea...

He drove home from the hospital and everything! First PT appointment is Thursday afternoon.

Tuesday update: Steve pulled a T-shirt on over his head this morning! Whoo-hoo!

Steve vs. van: The story so far

Well, it's been eight days since the accident... You might as well hear the rest of the story!

It took two orthopedists and a wiry Bosnian RN to get Steve's shoulder back into place last Friday. Dr. Williams then said, "We've got to 'range' it." That means test it out to see how it will move. Well, it failed. It popped right back out, and Dr. Williams said that meant surgery would be needed.

But, once it was back in, again, it was feeling a lot better. And, eight days later, it is not giving Steve much pain at all. What is frustrating, though, is the notion that it is unstable and could dislocate again at any time. And not being able to see the surgeon until Monday... which will be -- count them -- 11 days after the crash.

So, he's not moving it. He's not doing much of anything! Which I think is fine, but he finds horribly annoying. We are so very grateful for all the help and kindness we've received from our friends... Good cycling buddy David came out and mowed the lawn yesterday -- it looks great! But Steve is really not very comfortable feeling so helpless. I told him to relax, be grateful and gracious... and of course dwell always on how lucky he was not to have been seriously hurt.

The other wrinkle... insurance adjusters. And phone calls going unreturned. And being out of work. And lawyers. And police reports. And panicking about being taken advantage of. Should we sign this? Should we pay an ambulance chaser to rake this guy over the coals??! It's just not Steve's style, and he finds the whole idea very unsavory. But we're very worried about having enough money to cover all these expenses... Did you know that we're expected to pay back UPS for Steve's lost time, if we get a settlement from the driver's insurance company?! HUH?!

So, it's a waiting game. Next up: Get to the surgeon. Get well as soon as possible. We'll let you know how that goes on Monday.

Steve vs. van: The gripping, firsthand account

Now that I got this phone call, I kind of realize that I've been waiting for this phone call for a long time.

The friendly voice from Metro West EMS told me that Steve had been hit by a car... he was OK... he was talking... and they were going to St. John's ER.

Steve was riding his bike westbound on Clayton Road, near the new Straub's. The van was coming east. Steve tells it this way:

I saw the van. There was a car that passed behind me going west. The van started his left turn, which would have crossed my path. He started out slowly, and I thought I could pass in front of him. By the time I realized I couldn't pass in front of him, it was too late. I tried to go right to glance off of him, but I guess we were going faster than I thought.

I remember hitting the front right part of the van with my left side. I remember my helmet hitting the ground -- which is weird because there's not a scratch on it. I remember seeing my water bottle rolling away -- and then I was lying on my back under my bike. I tried to scoot backwards to get out of the way of cars turning in to the store.

Somebody showed up and said they were calling 911. I asked him to block traffic from coming into the lot. He said it was taken care of. I have no idea how much time passed, but a cop showed up, and then the ambulance showed up. I can't imagine it being more than about five minutes. Somewhere in there, I heard that the van had driven away.

I knew I couldn't move my left arm, but everything else seemed OK. The EMTs put me in a collar and backboard. Then we headed to the ER; I was focused on keeping my arm steady. Before we left, I told them my wallet and keys were in the bag under my seat. They asked me what year it was, how old I was, what day it was. They asked me what happened -- over and over. The next thing I know, we're in the ambulance. I asked what time it was -- 11:15 -- and I told Tom, the EMT to call Jennie on the cell phone. I remember him telling her that everything was OK... I refused morphine and kept asking for ibuprofen.

The ride seemed very quick. They wheeled me into the room, Room 5, and some nurse named Tommi asked me again those questions... A couple of doctors came in... then Nermin showed up, my trauma nurse. They cut my shirt off pretty quickly... they sliced up my favorite shorts!

Jennie came in and then I went to CT first, then X-ray. After that, they told me I could sit up, and that was great. I also got to pee in a bottle, which would later greatly amuse Allen! (His first words when Jennie brought him in: "That's so cool you got to pee in a bottle!")

Warning! Disturbing image follows!


Stay tuned for Part II... in which three guys and a lot of wrenching gets Steve's shoulder back in place... for a minute or so, anyway.