If Yow were ordered not to ride by a doctor-Would you?

**Wonko** · 28th June 2004, 11:07

As above it depends on the injury/ailment.

Broken bone, ligiment damage etc I wouldn't ride untill I was healed up.

Medical problem that affects my eyesight, reactions, etc then I'd have to think about it seriously.

As long as I'm able to ride a bike, without endangering myself or other road users I think I will ride.

Maybe a simpler solution would be to not crash again

**Big Dog** · 28th June 2004, 19:58

I get advised to give it up every time I change doctors. Perhaps they get a commision from ACC.
I suffer from Nocturnal seizures (when asleep, not necessarily at night) I figure if I am asleep there are bigger problems than a seizure.

Seriously though I get advised every time more out of ignorance than fear for my safety. Every time I discuss the implications and let them see my side, they re read my file and change their advice, which is a major hassle. I got all 6 of my licenses post condition with full disclosure.

I have NEVER met the criteria to have my license confiscated.

I could not face my life and my condition without something. My condition stopped me from doing the only thing I ever really wanted to do with my life it is not going to stop me from enjoying the life that it has left me.

I don't know what I would do if I could not drive, but it probably would not be pleasant for anyone who cares about me.

I probably would not ride illegally, but then I probably would not ever leave the house again either. I would not be able to handle seeing other people out enjoying a ride / drive without feeling psychopathic levels of depression. Driving has become too much of who I am by being a measure of how I am still normal.

**Milky** · 28th June 2004, 20:13

Originally Posted by curious george

Quite right Milky. A little broken something is worth riding through.
The question is though: what if through your injury and/or ignoring medical advice (or even common sense) you rode and hurt somebody else?
Is that worth it?

I dont think so... it is common sense not to ride when you are physically incapable of doing so safely. just like riding when drunk = stoooopid, riding with a cast or injury that prevents you from fully controlling the bike defies logic. If the injury was a nervous/mental one that was beyond my diagnostic skills or comprehension then I would take the doc's advice. (by this I mean I can use my judgement to say when my twisted ankle is healed, but not when a nervous condition is cured) Maybe rowing, sailing or abseiling would be able to fill the gap left by motorcycling... when one door closes, another will open. Not being able to motorcycle is a big downer, but the rest of the population survives on other pursuits, so why couldn't we??

**Jackrat** · 28th June 2004, 20:42

Well my Doc' hasn't come right out an said don't do it but we both know it's not the best idea.I've had to modifiy the way I do a lot of things over the last few years and riding is just one of them.If he was to say,"That's it stop"
then I guess I would.Damage done and age tend to change your/my views on things like that.

**Draco** · 29th June 2004, 09:13

I have this arguement with my orthopedic specialist and physiotherapist on a regular basis. It's interesting that the specialists in the field of sports medicine are the only ones who don't bother to tell me not to ride because they are realistic about the fact that motorcycling is just another form of sport that people indulge in just like rugby, which seems to be the only socially acceptable sport in this country. The specialists that are realistic about the fact that you still have to have a life, and it's even healthy to still be active despite physical injuries, just tell me to be sensible, take regular breaks, wear good gear, blah, blah, blah.

But when it comes to problems with vision, reaction times, brain function, anything that could endager someone else on the road then anyone with a conscience shouldn't even have to think about it, quit if your told to. After 12 years as a medic scraping up bikers and the victims of other irresponsible road users, if i'm told to quit, it will suck but i know i would find some way to cope.

All the more reason to ride while i can. Can i always afford it? No. Can i always spare the time? No. But life is short, and my body isn't gunna last forever. So ROLL ON SUMMER!

**Dr Bob** · 29th June 2004, 09:19

Originally Posted by Milky

.... Maybe rowing, sailing or abseiling would be able to fill the gap left by motorcycling... when one door closes, another will open. Not being able to motorcycle is a big downer, but the rest of the population survives on other pursuits, so why couldn't we??

I would find it difficult to get to work with any of those modes of transport. I could probably sail, but where would I tie up? (Image of landyacht going down the north western)

**Mongoose** · 29th June 2004, 09:47

Wa saying that the Dr did not think there was sufficient material left to rebiuld a biker if they canned off again. Fair comment from the Dr I would have thought and he did leave the choice up to the owner of the said arm.
One thing that passing birthdays do remind you of though is that all those *Old* injuries sneak back p on you, so better healing now would save a bit of pain and grief later. Dont ask me how I know

**vifferman** · 29th June 2004, 09:49

Originally Posted by Milky

If the injury was a nervous/mental one that was beyond my diagnostic skills or comprehension then I would take the doc's advice. (by this I mean I can use my judgement to say when my twisted ankle is healed, but not when a nervous condition is cured)

Well, my doctor hasn't been able to sort out my mental condition, so I dunno if I could take his advice, as much as I DO respect him.
Incidentally, being mental (and/or taking stuff to help with this) does have an influence on how I ride, as I can feel aggressive or irritable and take risks or do mental things.
As you do.
When you're mental. And sometimes when you're normal (whatever that is).

**Paul in NZ** · 29th June 2004, 11:15

OK.. I'll wade in.... (hope it's not too deep)

It's all about personal responsibility....

You can be as staunch as you like while sitting in front of your PC but when you are out in the boonies someplace with the broken ends of a couple of bones grinding a nerve ending together you will be sqealing like a stuck pig demanding the evac chopper and morphine NOW nurse at the top of your lungs...

If you knowingly get yourself into a situation that is highly likely to exceed your physical (and mental) resources to extract yourself from when a few simple things go wrong (as they will), you are a tosser of the highest order and should be placed bottom of the priority list in the fervent hope that you will expire from your injuries before you can breed thus protecting the rest of the gene pool from the results of any accidental couplings you might enjoy.

I myself have a major medical issue. I am a type one diabetic. I look aftermyself and do my utmost to ensure that I will not become a burden on my companions in the unlikely event of an emergency. My night vision is not as good as it was so I have seriously upgraded the headlight and buy good visors. I have to manage my food intake / insulin so I take supplies and test regularly. If I screw it up I will be relying on my companions to help me and so I OWE it to my friends to do my VERY best to ensure that does not happen. Sometimes that means declining some adventures because they are non compatable.

Do I miss out? hell no. I'll ride to the finish to meet them for a beer (maybe).

So. Would I ride if my doctor said not to??

I would find out everything I could about my condition and the risk it posed to my self and others and try to make an accurate assessment. I would see if there was anything I could do to mitigate the risk.

If at the end of it all. If I thought there was a chance I would endanger the lives of my companions or the emegency staff that would try to save my arse. I would not do it....

But thats just me....

Cheers

**Big Dog** · 30th June 2004, 06:26

Judging from some of the above replies I may not have been specific enough (or I'm so self absorbed its all about me).
If the instruction to stop was based in law or fact I will listen, won't like it but will listen.

But as it is often suggested out of ignorance or bias I will buck it as far as I can.

**Skunk** · 9th July 2004, 22:19

Originally Posted by Dr Bob

I have heard of some people doing this, but I haven't ridden with my leg in a cast, but I had a splint on after an accident because I had quite a few stitches in my knee and some fairly heavy bruising to my leg. The hospital put a splint on my leg and I had to sit on the pillion seat and whack the gear selector with my foot.

What would the police say?

I can't ride as my broken arm doesn't have a cast, just a wire inside the bone. That means the arm has no strength. If I had a cast I might try. It's been over three months now...