Music Eases Bicycle Accident Pain
Mike Sharp
I was a competitive bicyclist while a freshman in college and had just been asked to join a racing team in August of 1981. One week later, after I tied the Kansas state champion in a team time trial, on September 15th 1981, I was hit by a car at 55mph by a 91-year-old man. On impact the back wheel of my bike shattered and punctured my left calf muscle, from the whiplash my chin slammed my into my sternum, severely bruising it and also the force broke my four front teeth. My left thumb was crushed and hand ligaments were torn. I was thrown through the air, over two lanes of traffic, nearly missing the driver and witness behind the elderly driver. I landed on the median on my right shoulder and head. The impact split my scalp open. I also suffered a severe concussion, severe whiplash and burns to my right shoulder, and both elbows and knees.
After eight days in the hospital and six weeks in bed at home, I recovered fairly quickly. I continued to have severe headaches from the head injury for several months but everything else seemed fine. I did have a minor surgery to remove sand from one elbow six months or so after the accident. My eyesight had changed from 20/100 to worse than 20/800. I could no longer see the "E" on the eye chart from damage to my occipital lobe. I came back and ran track in college for two years for Phiddipidies/Nike racing team. Two and a half years after the accident, I had chronic shoulder subluxation and chronic knee pain. I could no longer run without knee or shoulder pain.
In 1988 I had knee surgery to remove scar tissue and to clean up the joint because of arthritis. In 1990 I began to have episodes of vertigo when I moved my head, which was diagnosed as cervical vertigo. In 1992 I had shoulder surgery to try and repair the chronic subluxation. It was not a success. In 1995 I had my left hand reconstructed and my volar plate reattached using tendon from my arm because of traumatic arthritis. In 1999 I had another shoulder surgery to try and repair the subluxation and again it failed. I also had the scar removed from my scalp because of precancerous cells.
In 2002 I went to Kansas University Medical School and met a wonderful Dr. Carolyn Jachna who was finally able to help me with the cervical vertigo. She also made me aware of a dizziness and balance disorders support group lead by another wonderful doctor, Dr. Denise Gobert. I also went to Dr. Timothy Hain in Chicago who is the expert in the US on dizziness & balance disorders. Together they came up with a treatment plan that finally helped me with the dizziness and headaches. Before I saw Dr. Jachna, I had seen 21 doctors for my neck injury alone. I would not be here today if not for their exceptional care and compassion. I was diagnosed with severe cervical subluxation from the neck injury I received in the accident. I had an anterior cervical fusion where I had three levels of my neck fused in 2003 by Dr. Glenn Amunson. He took three inches of bone from my hip, removed the discs at those levels and replaced the disks with my hip bone. The cervical vertigo went away after the surgery but recovering from the fusion took two years. I constantly irritated my facet joints in my neck.
In March 2007, I had shoulder reconstruction by Dr. Dan Gurley where he removed the end of my collarbone, shaved the remaining surface down and sewed up the complete tear of my rotator cuff. The surgery was a success. In May 2007, I rode in a bike ride (Ride of Silence) to honor those bicyclists injured or killed by impaired or inattentive drivers. I aggravated my neck so much that I had another anterior cervical fusion in June 2007 and that fusion failed. I had a posterior cervical fusion in December 2007 and another anterior cervical fusion in Dec. 2008 because of complications from the Dec 2007 surgery.
I am now disabled. I also have Thoracic outlet syndrome in both arms because of impingement of the brachial artery and/or bracial nerves between my neck and shoulders, which makes both of my arms go numb. There is no cure currently for TOS. Doctors told me that my long term prognois is "Fair." I will always be a chronic pain patient and have problems with my neck, hand and shoulders because of so much previous trauma and so many surgeries. The December 2008 surgeries were my 13th and 14th surgeries as a result of the accident.
Ten years ago I started clarinet lessons to cope with my medical problems. I have since added the flute, trumpet, sax, and plan to take up the guitar as well. Music has been a lifesaver. If not for this outlet, I don't think I would still be here. There is a great article at www.jazetimes.com and search for "Melody Gardot" she is a huge inspiration. She was also hit by a car at age 19. She recorded her first CD while in her hospital bed. She has since released two more CD's. Also look at Melodygardot.com to hear hear music. I can only play for a few moments each day and sometimes I go weeks without playing because I am in so much pain. The few moments that I do play boost my spirits so much. If I can sound good to me, it makes me happy.
