Day 1 of my Solo Oregon Adventure/trip to the emergency room

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My flight to Portland arrived at noon yesterday. I picked up my rental car and headed for the coast. My first stop was Ecola State Park. I took a few photos looking down at Cannon Beach (photo below), which was going to be my next stop. But, as I was walking through the grass, gazing at the beautiful view, I tripped over a large clump of dirt and grass and went flying. I threw my left arm up to brace for the fall, and after falling, I realized my shoulder was seriously injured. As I lay writhing in pain, I noticed a lady about 10 ft away watching me, but she didn’t say a word and just looked the other way. I’ve never felt so alone.

I was crying as I stood up and began walking to my car. I googled the sensations I was having in my shoulder and came up with a rotator cuff tear. I googled nearby hospitals, but they were north and I was headed 2 hours south where my Airbnb was located. I called my Airbnb host and asked her if there was a hospital near her. She told me there was one, so I began driving. I cried half the way, considering having to fly home before the trip really began. It was 20 days long and had been planned for 6 months. I spent 3 hours at the emergency room in Lincoln City, Oregon. The only thing they did was take an x-ray, which I was quite sure wouldn’t show anything, which it didn’t. While waiting in the waiting room after the x-ray, an elderly lady in a wheelchair was rolled in. After about 30 seconds, she asked me if I had COVID, I replied I didn’t and asked her if she did and she said yes. I asked her why she didn’t have a mask on and she replied that the staff didn’t think she needed one. I immediately jumped up and went down the hall. There’s a longer story to it but this is already becoming a book.

The ER doctor agreed that it was most likely a rotator cuff tear, but they don’t do MRIs there for things like that. He said that if it were him he would go ahead and stay on the trip, and instead of doing long moderate hikes, do shorter, easy hikes. They equipped me with a sling and a lidocaine patch and a prescription for a pain killer. When I arrived at my Airbnb, my host had chicken egg drop soup ready and offered whiskey, which I gladly accepted. We talked for about an hour, and it felt like I was talking to an old friend. 😊

I missed out on quite a few stops along the Oregon coast on the way to her place, but at least I’m still on the trip.

14 thoughts on “Day 1 of my Solo Oregon Adventure/trip to the emergency room”

  3. Wow, what is wrong with people?? So sorry that you have had such a disappointing start to your journey, Wishing you a speedy recovery, Sherry, Hopefully the rest of your trip will improve from here!

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  4. Hey Sherry — I am so sorry to hear this. I tore my rotator cuff probably about 10 years ago. It got to the point where I couldn’t even lift the glass to my mouth before I went back to the doctor to see what my options were. They did not do an MRI on me either and he said we have two choices an MRI or give you a steroid shot and if in five minutes the pain stops you have a torn rotator cuff. I opted for the shot and was shocked how quickly the pain was gone and I had full use of my arm. It lasted maybe six months, but it was a miracle shot. I would suggest you go to an orthopedic doctor and ask for a steroid shot. You’ll be able to finish your trip, enjoy yourself and deal with your shoulder down the road. Good luck.

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  5. Oh no! So sorry this happened and that rude person who looked away, agh! You are brave to stay on the trip. I’m not sure I would as I know shoulder pain very well. I’m glad at least that you have pain killer and that your host offered food and whiskey. Made up for the rude person for sure!

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  7. Sherry
    If you are able to drive and you are still in Lincoln City, you are about an hour from Salem, which has a big, well equipped hospital. All of the coast hospitals and the ones in the tiny towns between the coast and the valley (I-5 corridor) are very small with minimal services. There also might be a shuttle from the coast to Salem. Someone there should be able to let you know. I’m in Central Oregon so not sure of transport options over there. So sorry to hear about the start of your trip.
    I’m about 4 hours away, but if you need help, let me know and I can come over there. Just email me and I will send you my cell number.
    Debbie Horen

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