Funny bone - not humerus - bone head

Mid January  So it is back to injury. This is getting old. This entry is long and tedious, but it is my emotional therapy. I need to vent and account for myself.  On the 9th I had ridden for about an hour and a half in the woods on MTB. I went back toward my apartment thru the apartment complex on the perimeter. I was trying to stay in the dirt on outskirts of the parking lots. I came to a right angle corner (at parking lot) where the dirt was uphill. I tried to hop over the corner and did not make it. That was so stupid; I had gotten over confident on my ability. I began to fall into the asphalt and was unable to unclip my shoe. My forward speed was near zero.  I held my left hand out and I landed on my hand then arm. Great pain in the elbow was immediate.  Was unable to bend arm straight or bend it closed normally. Iced the joint awhile and went to bed.  Next three days I went to work. It was a struggle. I wore an elbow pad that was very snug. My lower arm swelled as well as the hand. On Sunday I noticed a large bruise on the inner left bicep.  I swore I would go to the doctor on Monday, but I argued myself out of it. Tried some easy swimming (900 yards) and that was quite bad form; my left arm just would not work right and get straight. Did a 21 minute treadmill run after that. Didn't really get hindered by the elbow there.  Monday night the sharp pain persisted (when even trying to pick up a light item) reinforced my need to go and get pictures and diagnosis. I was dumb to wait the extra day. On Tuesday I went in to dr office about 10 am. My internal medicine people worked me in. Got about a dozen X-rays of wrist, arm and elbow. No obvious fractures were seen by the dr. but they needed the radiologist to do formal review. At about 5:20 pm I got home from a 22 mile road bike ride. A wonderful 58 degree afternoon ride. Riding in the aero position with most of weight on good arm. Just as I came into my apartment, the dr called me and said there was a "radial head fracture, non displaced". Advised to see orthopedic dr asap. Worked Wednesday [today] and plan to work Thursday, but wore homemade sling made from 26 x 2.1 inner tube. Got lots of chiding about that.  At least I was wearing some gloves but should have worn ones with heavily padded palms. And I was wearing a helmet. I was wearing a long sleeve shirt and two long jackets. No skin was scrapped off at all. I was also stupid to try the maneuver at or near the pavement. Falling over in the woods can usually offer a softer landing (if a big rock or root or tree is not there).  I assume that I will recover to where I can ride MTB again. I will need to start wearing elbow pads and knee pads. Heavy pants and ankle padding.  There are no cars or loose dogs to collide with in the woods but there are hazards that I must better prepare for. I have pads and such and may buy more or different types. I am fairly new to MTB so i need to learn about what i can do. I need airbags all over my body! I now have another prescription for pain medicine (Lortab). In July of last year my crushed finger gave first. Accident with dog gave second. I still have many left over from those scripts. Now yet another. BTW I was also prescribed an NSAID called Meloxicam (Mobic) to reduce pain and swelling at joints. There is a lot to be said about these pain pills and now I feel part of that conversation whereas a year ago I was not.  Many at work urge me to stop riding my bikes. Or to get a tricycle. They laugh or make fun at my ongoing wrecks. However I can't see giving any of this up. I must improve my prevention and protection.  I think I will shift back to mostly or much more running. My knees will be treated with care and hopefully they hold up well. 

Happy trails

Early January I've been spending time in the woods near my apartment. There are "nature trails" that I have been riding on with my mountain bike (MTB).  There are short, but very steep hills and there are more gradual hills.  Small to medium rocks and even rock-face are common on the trails. Some 3 to 4 inch diameter trees across the trail I can hop over and leave as challenging obstacles.  I am exploring, opening up and therefore creating alot of trails. I have some pruning shears that I fit into a old Emerald walnut container and it fits in my waterbottle cage. I've had to trim back lots of branches that stick out. Many bigger trees have fallen over and I have been clearing them off the trails. This gives my arms a good workout. Today I took my 21 inch bow saw and cut a 6 foot section out of a 10 to 12 inch diameter pine tree that is across a path I wanted to create.  Took about 20 minutes of hard work.  May need to take a shovel with me soon.  Some of the paths are just too treacherous to navigate on a bike.  I hope to create trails all the way down to the Enoree River. There could be several miles of trails.  Good to ride the MTB this time of year with cold temperatures. You don't get the wind chill in the woods and going slower.