Nomenclature
I have long been a critic of those in the non-motorcycle riding public who treat any crash involving a motorcycle as a “motorcycle crash.” OK, so the crash involved a motorcycle and a car. Why do you not call it a car/motorcycle crash? Calling it a motorcycle crash makes it sound like it was just the biker who did something stupid. When in fact, far too often, the stupid person is the person driving the car.
EMTs are not the least bit sentimental about clothing. If you’re wearing it, they’re going to just cut it off of you.
So I was looking through the medical reports related to my recent head-on encounter with a drunk driver and it irked me to see this listing:
Problems
Injury of abdominal wall
Hematoma of subdural space of neuraxis
Laceration of left thumb
Motorcycle accident
Just as an aside, I have no idea what they are referring to as “Injury of abdominal wall.” This was the first I had heard of that. Is that internal? External? Beats me. One place I have not had any pain is in my stomach area. Go figure.
But there it was, fourth item on the list: Motorcycle accident. I can see how a lacerated thumb, bleeding on the brain, and some nebulous injury of the abdominal wall qualifies as a “problem.” It seems a little odd to include motorcycle accident in that particular list. Who knows. Maybe experienced trauma doctors know of a standard set of symptoms that are almost always connected to motorcyclists’ injuries, and this is just shorthand to tip them off.
I mean, when I was taken in for my second or third CT scan I talked with the tech about my thumb, among other things, and she said oh yeah, motorcyclists always seem to end up with injured thumbs and they always say that’s what hurts the most.
Anyway, just as an update, I’m doing much better. That nasty looking thumb I showed the picture of is now almost completely healed, although sometimes when I make some movement I have not been able to identify I get a sharp jolt of real pain shooting up on the outside. And if I try to open a tight jar lid that can hurt, too.
My right knee is now largely pain free but sometimes I do get jolts of pain there, too. And my right side (bruised ribs, I presume) continue to ache.
The other thing that I’m not sure about yet is the subdural hematoma, the brain bleed. They did three CT scans on me while I was in the ER and then said I should have a follow-up done two weeks later. I did, and the following day they called to tell me they wanted another follow-up in another two weeks. And after that they want me to come in and they will show me the scan results and discuss what they’re seeing. I’m not getting all wrought up over it but I do wonder if this means there is some problem that may require further treatment. Worst case scenario: brain surgery. God, I hope not! I’ll know on Thursday.
Biker Quote for Today
Why just drive when you can ride?
Tags: drunk driver crash, motorcycle crash injuries, subdural hematoma
