"Fall from my bike causing hip and femur fractures"

In November I set off on my usual weekend cycle on what seemed at first to be a very pleasant day.

After half an hour or so and without any warning, I hit a patch of ice and found myself in the middle of a quiet road on my side and not in the best place to be, so tried to move to get out of harm's way.

I then experienced the most excruciating pain in my hip and upper leg preventing me from any movement and saw a car approaching.

Fortunately, the driver saw me waving and came to my aid.

The driver was a carer, in fact heading for my own village and she immediately called an ambulance.

While we were waiting, a group formed around me and somehow managed to detach me from my bike which was taken and stored safely and though I don't know how long passed before the ambulance arrived, it did not seem a great amount of time.

The ambulance team carefully scooped me on to a stretcher and I was given gas and which was very welcome to relieve the pain.

After being taken to A&E at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee I was given Morphine and my leg was straightened and supported which was the first time the pain really eased as I felt the bones re-aligning.

After being taken to a single room overnight, I was operated on the following day where a rod was put through the femur, a pin into the hip joint and a screw further down to help hold the bones together and heal.

I cannot thank the operating team enough  for the work they did and, as I had a full anaesthetic, was not able to do so but we are so lucky to have such skilled people available when we need them.

After being returned to a single room, I was moved to Ward 19 where, having already met the Physio and Occupational Therapy teams, I began to work through a zimmer then crutches to get me back on my feet as soon as possible.

One of the hardest things to come to terms with is the knowledge that the metalwork in the leg can support your weight but the process of inserting it requires some healing.

All the staff I met in Ward 19 were excellent, from the wonderful people bringing our food to the nurses who carry a huge responsibility tracking medication and all the other tests aimed at monitoring recovery, and I can't thank them all enough.

I was discharged  and had my first Physio at my local hospital two days later which was very positive and I was given various exercises to do before the next appointment a week later.

This has also been a really helpful experience and having had several appointments I am walking without crutches and this week managed to get back on to my static bike and do more walking outside, both of which I feel are having a  very positive effect on my recovery.

I realise it will still be a while before I can get back on the road on my bike and will I be extra cautious about the weather conditions in the future.

In summing up I could not be more grateful to all the staff I encountered from the Ambulance team to the surgeons and the Ward nurses and support staff.

Spending time in hospital lets you see just how much they do for all the patients in the ward and it takes great patience and dedication for which we are forever in their debt!