injuries!

[thisisfurious]

I had a bike accident last night and I've ended up bruised and scraped, but unbroken. Toronto has streetcars, and I was biking up the street, slipped into the tracks and went down pretty hard. Anyhow, this is all fine except I mostly broke my fall with my face, and now it's swollen and remarkably gargoylish. I have to leave on Tuesday to join

Comments

[count_01]

Oooh, ouch! Street car tracks were my bane in St Louis; I almost never rode across them without a) at least almost getting creamed by an oncoming car (was only hit once, thankfully) or b) eating it on my own account due either to the slippery tracks sliding out from under my tires or the ruts the tracks are in grabbing my tires.

As to healing quickly, there is no particular trick to it. Vitamin E ointment is recommended by some people (I've never seen any benefit) and regular cleansing with a mild antiseptic, then reapplication of a dry bandage and antibiotic ointment or cream will probably give you the best benefit-to-time ratio. Ice for the bruising is nice, as is hibiscus and cinnamon tea (which not only tastes nice, but thins the blood a bit, thus promoting capillary perfusion.)

[count_01]

We've got street-car tracks in Philly, too. I remember it was my first couple of weeks in the city and I was riding to school after a drizzle. Tried to cut across the tracks, slipped out and slid into the back of a van.

Rode away unscathed, luckily. But I imagine it was a very funny scene to witness.

[fasterpussycat]

There's specific stuff sold near the neosporin that's for scar prevention and healing. I'd use that. But don't cover with band-aid - let it breathe. Don't touch it and don't pick.

[laughing_wild]

I've had really good luck using lavender essential oil on cuts, although you have to be sure you have a certain grade of oil before you go throwing it on open wounds. Lavendula augustifolia is what I always use but I understand that Lavendula spica and Lavendula stoechas are just as good.

You also need to practice not falling on your face, I think. You could wear a full-face motorcycle helmet while riding your bike!

[haltergratis]

aw, i second the lavender oil.

[melissadowell]

Vitamin E oil - you can generally get the gel caps and then cut them open. If the wounds are still open, mix it with a bit of tea tree oil for disinfection.

Easiest thing to do is just apply a compress with a sea salt & water solution. Some folks recommend soaking a tea bag in the saline and then using it on the site.

This is all piercing healing solutions, but if it can heal a puncture, I'm sure it'll help take care of your wounds. I've had swelling go down in two days with this treatment.

[lookforthewoman]

This.

You can get vitamin e oil in bottles at shoppers it's super pure and sticky and thick like syrup and it's like $20.

Or you can get it at health food stores for cheaper and less thick and sticky. Tea tree oil is excellent too, and also available at any health food store.

There's one on the - 1 level of the Eaton Centre north of Sears, they have a huge selection of Vitamin E oils.

[count_01]

Oh yes! I too recommend black tea and sea salt, during the scabbing phase. And did I not say some recommend vitamin E? My ex swears by the stuff.

[thisisfurious]

i am intrigued by the tea bag idea, i'll try it!

Rare and mysterious product!

[spinolio]

Hm, usually mercurochrome is good for healing cuts because it is an antiseptic and washes off on its own. You'll be hard pressed to find any of it though, as it is awfully hard come by these days. I reckon you'll be fine in a few days so long as you change your bandages, keep it clean and nothing gets infected. If it still hasn't healed up by your tour date, you can always use your gargoyleness to scare people TO your table. Think about it.

oh, and don't eat any bananas.

Re: Rare and mysterious product!

[scarfboys]

you will never catch emily eating a banana.

Re: Rare and mysterious product!

[koliaphis]

d-do they make her go fast?