New Hampshire’s White Mountains

On July 3^dh, 14-weeks into our 2022 adventures, we landed in Woodstock, New Hampshire. A small town in (East) Central part of the state where we had planned to spend 14-days mostly hiking epic hikes in the White Mountains. Several of the hikes were Bucket List hikes.

This is where we reunited with our new friends from Fort Clinch State Park, Amelia Island Florida. Laura and Everett are New Hampshire residents who have been full-time RV living for nearly a year when we met them as they were work-camping at FCSP. We became fast friends with like interests and bonded over cocktails and dominoes by the campfire.

Just by chance, our plans overlapped so that we would be at the same KOA in Woodstock, NH…crazy just thinking about the odds. To make things even more surreal, our sites were directly across from each other. I felt the universe was screaming for us to be friends.

So they greeted us and we got settled in….. this post I’ll jump ahead to the medical emergency and then I’ll circle back to detail out all of the adventures we did do.

Campground

Lincoln / Woodstock KOA Holiday

This versatile KOA with RV and tent sites as well as cabins is nestled in New Hampshire’s White Mountain Region with 800,000 acres known for natural splendor, historical charm, cultural richness and stimulating recreation – and that’s only the beginning.  The campground is located next to the Pemigewasset River.

The Story of how I messed up big time…..

During a get together with Laura and Everett’s friends a fellow trail rider happened to mention the Green Woodland bike trails and how smooth and flowy they were and he just knew we’d love riding them. Mike did some on-line research and was smitten that these trails were be a super fun ride. So on a mild Wednesday morning we drove the 1-hour to the trailhead in Dorchester, NH.

The day was Wednesday, July 13 and it started off like any other off-road ride, I was a little nervous for the unknown. Mike always calms me and builds up my confidence. As we were getting ready a good sized group drove in, which was a senior biking club called the Old Spokes. Mike struck up a conversation and they invited us to ride with them.

They had mapped out basically the same route as Mike, a loop rated as easy, with one different trail that was, in my opinion, a little steeper downhill with some bumps.

Now, I’ve ridden off-road trails for 20+ years and have had my share of falls but nothing like this….and I’m still not sure I know what happened. But,

As I was in the middle of the pack heading downhill on grass, dirt and rock I only remember going over the handlebars, briefly flying through the air and then I heard and felt the snap of my left wrist. I quickly did a scan as I was lying face down, I was fully aware as the other riders came to my aid. I felt a little queasy especially after looking at my wrist, so I lied on the dirt for a few minutes as I gathered my wits. As I got myself together, other riders went ahead to get Mike. Then an exit plan to get me back to the car was developed.

I would walk to a crossroads where Mike could get me in the car. This required me to walk about 2.5-miles in a makeshift sling. With Mike (and his bike) by my side, we walked as the other kind individuals took care to deliver my bike to the crossroad.

It took the better part of an hour to get me secured in the car and get the GPS headed to Dartmouth-Hitchcock, a hospital system in Lebanon, NH where we were told we would receive excellent care.

The ED Visit….

It took the better part of 1-hour to drive to the ED Department and get checked-in. The staff was amazingly sympathetic and in no time I was triaged and had x-rays. It took a little bit, but then I was escorted to a bed in the ED. The PA was timely in greeting me and doing a cursory examination. Now, I did not have one other bruise, scrape or anything on me except for the nasty looking wrist. The Nurses came in, introduced themselves and offered me pain meds which I eagerly accepted (although, at best, they simply took the edge off).

It was quite some time for the Ortho consult team to start coming down. But, when they did things started to move along,

First, there was a cursory visit with some questions.

Then, because it’s a teaching hospital, a team came down to tell me next steps but at this point I still wasn’t aware of how bad a break it was. I was hoping it was a simple fracture, something easy to fix, but my gut told me otherwise. I was told that the next steps would put in a “block” and then to hang my hand to stretch it out to set it. Boy, did that sound like fun ………

Diagnosis

The next thing I knew an entourage entered the room with a White Coat Surgeon in the lead. I happen to know this is a big deal….. my heart skipped a beat as I heard him tell me my worst nightmare…. shattered, bone dust, multiple broken bones…..surgery was required and the sooner the better……looking at plates, screws and other devices. OH BOY!

The ED Treatment

BLOCK. The next team came in and administered the “block“. Oh my goodness, this process was not fun — at all! At some point after the giant needle was inserted it did become numb but it actually felt like my hand was going to explode off my arm. WHEW, we made it through that then on to the next step, the hanging.

HANGING. They put my fingers into these devices and let it hang for about 45 minutes. This was to allow things to stretch to allow for setting the bones back into place, This process was agonizing…. I only thought the needle and blocking was bad, After several tries, they agreed it was the best they could do and put on the temporary cast. Back in for more x-rays and a long wait until the Ortho team blessed the x-rays and setting.

Next Steps

All in all, we were at the ED for 9.5 hours and would arrive home at 11:30 pm and I needed a shower and pain meds.

The next day, a Thursday, the doctor’s office phoned bright and early (as they said the would) and had me scheduled for surgery (the next day) on Friday (as they said they would). This is unbelievable to me…. such prompt and courteous customer service in the medical field.

I was both nervous for the surgery and anxious to get the process moving.

Friday, we arrived early and were promptly told things were moving ahead of schedule and I was escorted back to a room with absolutely lovely nurses seeing to my every need as they thoroughly explained what was going to happen and everything the were doing to prepare me for the surgery.

Then came the anesthesiologist who was to put a “nerve block” under my left collarbone that would make my entire left arm numb, like an epidural but in my arm. As I understood it, this is to aid in recovery and reduce the need for pain medicine (narcotics) at home. As it turns out, this is highly “unnerving” LOL….but seriously it was extremely freaky to have absolutely no control or feeling in a limb you could see and touch but not feel….. really weird!

As I awoke from the surgery, I was told it went better than anticipated with only a pin (that would be removed), a plate, some screws and some bone cement (all internal that would remain permanent).

I was going home in a soft cast (to allow for swelling) but when I returned in 2-weeks I would get a hard cast. Optimally, I will be in the hard cast for 4-weeks and move to a soft cast and Occupational Therapy for 4-weeks.

The next follow-up, at 2-weeks post-op, things went as anticipated. The x-rays looked good and they removed the stitches. The pin would remain in and I was put into a hard cast until the next appointment that would be in 4-weeks.

That didn’t go as planned, I am currently in the hard cast for three additional weeks…..

At my 6-week post op appointment, whether its my age or what, the expert highly recommended I stay in the hard cast for an additional 3-weeks healing/setting times. My jazzy new pink camo cast.

In the middle of September, I will return for cast removal and next steps that will involve therapy. I will update the post as things move along.

How did this affect our travels?

The surgeon told us that it was imperative to stick with him through the completion of the process. That moving around during treatment wasn’t a feasible option until you were released for therapy.

We were so highly impressed with my surgeon and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock hospital system and in total agreement so Mike set about adjusting our travels and adventures..

Campgrounds

With RVing being such a popular pastime and the summer in New England a busy place, how easy or impossible would it be to adjust reservations and find new places to stay? Mike worked hard in developing a plan wanting to move us closer to Lebanon, NH but still be near new things and adventures.

Due to the generous and kind personnel at our current Lincoln / Woodstock KOA Holiday, they were able to work with us to extend our reservations for 10-days so we could continue camping by our friends, Laura and Everett. Their friendship proved invaluable during this trying time as they went on adventures with Mike during the day and kept me company in the evening by the campfires. (During these first few weeks, I was pretty tired and the whole arm was painful so I mostly slept).

Then, when this KOA could no longer accommodate us (understandably), Mike found a lovely KOA in Woodstock Vermont, the Quechee / Pine Valley KOA. The kind and accommodating staff took pity on us and worked their magic to allow us a 15-night stay. This is a really lovely KOA nestled next to Lebanon, NH, only minutes from my doctor and a short drive to Woodstock, VT with plenty of easy hikes in the Green Mountains, car tours to covered bridges, country stores and other tourist attractions to keep me from getting too bored.

This is where, at 2-weeks into the ordeal, I would get my hards cast

and as I continued to improve, I was better able to get out and explore.

Now, we need to move again and I was doing so well and didn’t really need to be so close to the hospital and my doctor, so Mike was able to re-book a site at the Twin Mountain Motor Court and RV Park nestled in the White Mountains. Another lovely and well designed park, we completely enjoyed our quiet stay. Again, the owners went out of their way to accommodate us with evolving plans due to my wrist injury. While here, Mike was able to pick up some planned hikes that we missed due to my injury.

Now, after a 6-week post-op visit we have moved to Maine, picking up on our planned itinerary. We will continue our originally planned path and make minor adjustments for doctor visits and physical/occupational therapy.

Insurance? What do you have?

We retired early so neither of us were able to inherit any health insurance from employers nor are we of an age for Medicare. We did a bit of research in 2019-2020 as we were preparing for this lifestyle/journey and believed the most affordable and feasible option for us was a healthshare plan. The one we chose seemed to have good reviews and the plan we chose had an affordable monthly “contribution” and offered both preventative care and hospitalization coverages. So far, it has worked for us making the preventative care beneficial. Now we will see how they do for the catastrophic coverages. I’ll post updates on how we make out with this aspect of my care.

What you don’t expect….. useless fingers!

I’ve only ever had one other break and that was a simple fracture on my left foot requiring me to be in a boot for several weeks. Nothing of this magnitude. The most perplexing and aggravating side effect is the loss of use of my fingers! They are absolutely useless and they ache and are more bothersome, at least at this point, than the wrist itself.

At first I was a bit panicked about it. At the 2-week post-op appointment they had me meet with their Occupational Therapist who assured me everything was completely normal for my situation. She prescribed some stretching exercises to do multiple times every day. I noticed an improvement right away and was then given some easy exercises to add into the mix. At the 4-week follow up, I was given additional exercises that I’ve added in and which are giving me a run for my money. I’m told these finger exercises put me a little ahead of the game once the cast comes off and I have to work on strengthening the wrist.

Last Thoughts

What I’ve come to believe is that nothing about this journey will be easy to bounce back from, it will take hard work and perseverance (and of course a great medical team), to regain full use of my left wrist and hand.

I ask myself this … why did you wait until 57 to severely break a bone? WHY?????

I have good days and bad….where I get down in the dumps. I’m extremely lucky to have Mike, who graciously adjusts adventures to include me, helps me shower 😦 (think I hate this the most), and does the lion’s share of everything around the house. Without your fingers it’s difficult to do a lot of things.

Have you already been on this broken wrist journey?

Do you have any pearls of wisdom to offer? I’ll gladly welcome any advice or experiences you would like to share as I trudge the path to being whole again.

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