Recovering from car accident

[catamountsierra]

Last week Monday I was in a car accident. I was driving a work truck when I got t-boned by an out of control crown vic. Between getting spun around and whacked upside the head by the side curtain airbag, I have had a concussion, whiplash, and pain across my shoulders and all down my left side. Last week I couldn't pick up my jacket without serious pain all down my back. Not fun, I don't recommend it.
Needless to say, I'm worried about my hunting season at this point. Luckily, I have the late November Boise River archery elk tag (Nov 10 - Nov 30) and a controlled rifle deer hunt also in November, so I have a little time to recover. At this point though, I can't carry a pack and I can't draw my bow and with my head still hurting I am leary of the muzzle blast on even my unbraked 7mm-08. The deer hunt is for antlerless, and the biggest we have gotten on that hunt before is 130lb, so the .223 might be an option if I really can't use the 7mm-08, but I was hoping to get a load worked up using the 162gr ELD-X to see what it does.
So that is the situation, what I am looking for is any advice on how to recover quicker, tips to get my pack weight down, etc. Maybe a reminder that I still have more than a month and a half at this point too, as I keep feeling really down when I think about maybe not being able to hunt this year.
Thanks.

 

[Barrelnut]

I would have my doctor refer me to a good physical therapist. They would be your best option for getting to back to normal in a reasonable amount of time. They will also help you discover your current limitations. Then base the weight you can carry and gun you can shoot based on what they say. Hurry up and go! Time's a wastin...It's not gonna be your last hunt... Get well soon.

 

[catamountsierra]

In some ways I am lucky in that it happened while I was working so I get workers comp to pay the immediate bills and it wasn't my rig that got totaled. I am seeing a chiropractor, who is estimating about two months, and an occupational health specialist, who has basically said "we'll wait and see how it goes". Thanks for the words of encouragement.

 

[HARPERC]

I would have my doctor refer me to a good physical therapist. They would be your best option for getting to back to normal in a reasonable amount of time. They will also help you discover your current limitations. Then base the weight you can carry and gun you can shoot based on what they say. Hurry up and go! Time's a wastin...It's not gonna be your last hunt... Get well soon.

I would spend every available day with either a physical therapist or trainer. They can keep you moving forward and reduce the chances of re injuring yourself

Available gets to be complex, with issues like are you working every day, who picks up the bills etc.

Good luck

 

[FEENIX]

I would have my doctor refer me to a good physical therapist. They would be your best option for getting to back to normal in a reasonable amount of time. They will also help you discover your current limitations. Then base the weight you can carry and gun you can shoot based on what they say. Hurry up and go! Time's a wastin...It's not gonna be your last hunt... Get well soon.

+1! A good therapist can make a huge difference in the recovery process. I remember the last time I had a physical therapy for my rotator cuff surgery a few years ago. Had the operation in June, my therapist is also a bow hunter, to make a long story short, I was working out by August and out bow hunting by Sep.

Glad you're OK and good luck on your speedy recovery.

Cheers!

Ed

 

[catamountsierra]

My next appointment is Monday. I will be asking about therapy and such like that. Thanks for the advice; I have no experience with this before and no clue how all of this plays out.

 

[catamountsierra]

I am now scheduled to start physical therapy on Thursday and see a concussion specialist tomorrow. The doc was optimistic that I may be able to hunt in November, so that is something.

 

[turkeyfever]

Praying for you!!! Good luck doing your therapy. Best of luck on your hunt.

 

[catamountsierra]

Well, they finally started some physical therapy. My back is getting better, but we still don't know if I will be up to packing out elk or drawing my bow, but it may be possible. Maybe things are looking up a little. Thanks for the good wishes and advice. Of course the down time has let me think; if I get a settlement out of this, what do I want to do with my rifle?

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

Try to find a box of Hornady's Custom Lite ammo for your 7mm-08. It is 120 gr bullet at 2,675 fps so it still has some power without beating you up. A similar load out of my .30-06 with a brake barely kicks more than my .223.

Try using an exercise bike to keep your cardio and leg fitness up while taking it easy on your body as you recover. You also might look into renting a horse from an outfitter to hunt from or hire to help you pack the meat out.

Depending on how your local laws read, many states allow disabled hunters to use crossbows during archery season. If you got a temporary handicapped tag and could borrow a crossbow it may be an option.

 

[catamountsierra]

Try to find a box of Hornady's Custom Lite ammo for your 7mm-08. It is 120 gr bullet at 2,675 fps so it still has some power without beating you up. A similar load out of my .30-06 with a brake barely kicks more than my .223.

Try using an exercise bike to keep your cardio and leg fitness up while taking it easy on your body as you recover. You also might look into renting a horse from an outfitter to hunt from or hire to help you pack the meat out.

Depending on how your local laws read, many states allow disabled hunters to use crossbows during archery season. If you got a temporary handicapped tag and could borrow a crossbow it may be an option.

I'm not actually so worried about the recoil as I am about the actual muzzle blast. It is now coming up on three weeks since the accident, and I still have a very persistent headache on the side that got hit. Any loud noise or shockwave makes it worse. My back is recovering faster than I expected, and I think I may be able to carry a pack by November, but we will have to see. I may look into using one of my brother's polite rifles if the headache doesn't fade by then.
I am also starting to get back on my bike like you suggested. I don't think I will be able to pay for horses, but I have gotten several offers to pack out meat if I am successful.
The biggest issues for me now are the effects of the concussion and the hassles of dealing with the worker's comp claim and the insurance companies.

 

[HARPERC]

It's a shame you have to deal with the bureaucrats while in pain. I don't know your situation, but lawyers can most times get you more, and my experience is insurance companies respond better to them than an average citizen.

Good luck!

 

[catamountsierra]

It has been five weeks now since the accident. Physically, I want to get out and go hunting, and I think my body is up to it; however, mentally, I'm just not there yet. I still have that headache and all the post concussive issues like poor memory, lack of fine motor coordination, extreme noise sensitivity (which is a real pain when you are trying to be a decent dad for a 4 year old boy and a just now 7 year old girl), lack of concentration, etc. I also still have fuzzy vision in my left eye. I start seeing the specialists with the outpatient brain injury group tomorrow, so maybe they have some fancy tricks to help. Thanks for all the encouragement.

 

[turkeyfever]

Glad to hear you are felling a little better.