Parkinson’s, a Bike Crash, and a Hospitalization — Oh My!

As a Parkinson’s disease patient, dismay and anxiety are all too common in my life. One day, though, these negative feelings threatened to overwhelm me. 

The bike crash

My late husband always said there are two types of bikers: those who have crashed and those who will crash. 

I got dressed to go biking for a quick 30-minute ride. (Due to my Parkinson’s symptom of bradykinesia, it takes me almost as long to get ready as I actually spend in the saddle.) While on the road, I slowed down to a stop because a car approached from the opposite direction. My left foot froze, preventing me from unclipping from the pedal. I went down hard on my left side and heard my elbow crack as I hit the pavement. I screamed so loudly that the community security guards heard from over a block away. Aid arrived quickly and off to the hospital I went.

In the ambulance, I was upset at the EMS professional who had to cut off my biking jersey and jacket — one-of-a-kind items custom-designed for my late husband’s triathlon team. I suppose my brain needed to obsess about something superficial to avoid focusing on the severity of my situation.

The hospital

I never really gave too much thought to what hospitalizations must be like for a patient with Parkinson’s. Ironically, I had sent away for a free Patient Safety Kit for people with Parkinson’s, but I hadn’t reviewed it. (The information in this kit is invaluable. I highly recommend it for people with Parkinson’s, their caregivers, and their emergency contacts.)

After a brief ambulance ride to the hospital and some digital imaging, I was rolled into an emergency surgery that lasted over four hours. My left elbow had a compound open fracture. I learned very quickly during this hospitalization that neither my doctors nor nurses were well-versed in Parkinson’s medications.

Most people with Parkinson’s struggle trying to find their ideal medication cocktail, and in my experience, the time of day one takes medications can make a difference. Following are the medication challenges I faced during my hospital stay; keep them in mind so you can prepare for the potential of a hospitalization.

Contraindications

This article nicely summarizes which hospital medications should not be administered to a patient with Parkinson’s. Luckily, my emergency contact (my cousin) was aware of these contraindicated drugs. My neurologist made us aware of them during a past visit, and my cousin took good notes!

Generic vs. brand

In my experience, hospitals prefer to supply generic medication alternatives rather than brand names. This could be a problem if you are dependent on a specific brand name for relief. My hospital also dispensed a generic from a different manufacturer than I was used to taking.

Timing of medications

My medication schedule did not line up with the hospital’s schedule for providing meds.

Medication stock

The hospital did not have selegiline or Neupro. Thankfully, my cousin was able to pick up my medications from my house.

Lessons learned

My Parkinson’s symptoms now seem only slightly worsened. That may be the result of a disruption to my normal medication intake, or it might be due to trauma and surgery. Maybe both.

As with any adverse experience, I try to look back and see what I can learn from the situation. 

1. I have accepted that I am not the cyclist I once was.
2. I am thankful for what I can still do.
3. I have great gratitude for my friends and cousin who are supporting me through my recovery.
4. It is important to have a strong core. This has helped me physically get out of bed and also has given me better balance so I don’t fall and re-injure myself.
5. I must remind myself that I have made great progress toward recovery. The first day after surgery, I had to use a bedpan. By the time I was discharged from the hospital two days later, I could walk unaided to use the bathroom.
6. My fierce streak of independence needs some tempering. I am learning to accept help when offered.
7. You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone. 

Where do I go from here?

Will I get back on the bike again? Maybe. In the meantime, there is no doubt in my mind that I will return to Rock Steady Boxing. My left jab may never pack the power it once did, but I look forward to helping my Parkinson’s symptoms and possibly slowing disease progression.

I’ll be back for round two!

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Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.