10/10. I can't say I've had cause to contemplate awarding such a pain score. I've lived a sheltered life. The good news is that you're an endurance athlete and you will endure.

Jeff made this face when he read 10/10

You'll get your strength back soon, once you're out of the hospital and finally off the meds.  But for now, I think your job is to just relax and let your body do it's thing.  It's always tough going back to being like everyone else for a while (can you believe most people don't ride over 100 miles on the weekends?).  

Hey @Vlad I thought you might enjoy this - the helmet from my crash 2009... 

But are you master of your domain?

Damn, Vlad -- I always knew you were one of the toughest dudes on the road, but this just proves it. Heal up soon!

Almost like magic, the excruciating pain suddenly went away at about 24 hours after the surgery. The pain that's left is much more manageable. I was able to get some sleep. I'm feeling a lot better today and am nowhere near as medicated. Things are looking up. I'm psyched to start building this elbow back up. Yeah buddy!

I can't tell if those are Sram or Shimano parts.

That is a crapload of hardware man. Yaks will approved; I bet it's ALL TITANIUM baby...

What amazes me is how crude it is. Look at that 10 penny nail lying horizontal in the third picture!

I had the same thought about the 10 penny nail. Then i started to wonder how they got that in there. The hardware is chromium by the way.

Adamantium would be way nerdier. But you're still cool in my book. Thanks for the pics!

Bruce van-Schalkwyk said:

I can't tell if those are Sram or Shimano parts.

Sloppy internals.  That's the mark of Shimano.  

Chromium? No way dude - that shit is Badassium with a layer of Hardmanium bonded to the outside.

Oh man...in three years that hardware will be as dated as a CAAD 8 frame...

mugwump said:

But are you master of your domain?

That's pretty tough when you wake up and discover a catheter coming out of your shvantz. Also, its quite an interesting process/sensation when it's removed. And finally, peeing air is something that I'll never forget.  

PEEING AIR?!?

whoaVlad,

images of elbow repairs are fantasticlyAWesome!...frankly cant decide which is prettier you in the surf ALL postFBF Series podium calander type, nurses @JohnsHopkins or elbow sprockets!!!!

...forget sweetJoeM U R the KCC prettyBOY now!
-h;-)

Most hardware in KCC? Unofficially 11 screws and a plate.

vlad said:

Most hardware in KCC? Unofficially 11 screws and a plate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HofoK_QQxGc

Still in the hospital! Looks like im getting out tomorrow morning. Home care here I come! Ive got a vacuum attached to my arm! I got in touch with the photographer at the race and here's a hi-res photo of what put me in the hospital. I can't wait to get into the PT and back on the bike.

That guy sure is leanin' funny.

That was a awful move on his part, this is not a roller derby contest for f%#^ sake. Glad you're doing OK Vlad.

vlad -- bmc announced a new bike today.  i took the liberty of envisioning you on said beauty.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/05/gallery/bmc-unveils-new-slr01-accelerated-composites-evolution-software_289025

p.s. malcomson -- if you ever need some photoshop tips, just let me know OK. 

Note on neck pain. I suffered through 18 months of neck pain before discovering this simple cure.  i had done PT, stayed off the bike for a year, even went for various xrays and scans.   Works for me, might for others.

take a tennis ball, and stand with your back to the wall.
place the ball just under the bottom of the shoulder blade, and lean against it.
take the hand of the arm connected to that shoulder blade, and reach across to the opposite hip. this opens the shoulder blade to expose the tendons to the tennis ball.
lean hard onto the ball, and slowly work the ball all the way along the edge of the shoulder blade, untill it comes up to the top, and then work it over along the traps.
go back and work on knots.  you should feel immediate relief of the next pain/tension when you really work it along the bottom of the shoulderblade though. its amazing that those tendons go directly to the neck.

Vlad, I took the liberty of making you win the Giro. And no I did not airbrush your package to make you look like a hermaphrodite.

P.S.