High sided on dirt bike landed on a tree root, broke two ribs.
Forum whore
High sided on dirt bike landed on a tree root, broke two ribs.
The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.
The instructions are simple...
Mrs MSTRS (nursey lady) says Brachial is ARM nerves in shoulder/armpit areaOriginally Posted by MSTRS
Do you realise how many holes there could be if people would just take the time to take the dirt out of them?
Forum whore
You live in and around some of the best motorbike country in NZ, have a look at your own back yeard before venturing up north.
Bucket Racer/Crasher
I've had a few. Apart from right wrist, both hips, both knees, both ankles, and some ribs and about a square metre of skin, I've never been injured. I've only ever owned two bikes I haven't crashed plus there's a couple I haven't owned which I have crashed. I'm definitely getting too old for that carry-on now.
Still seem to have some fascination with building fast bikes , , , , weird!
Forum whore
Quite right, however my injury went a step further, nerves c5,c6,c7,c8, and t1 have been pulled out from the spinal cord, hence (I think) the 'avulsion' part. At least I think that is what the doc said its called. Had to go through a 45min MRI session, pure, pure, pure, pure, pure hell. For those of you who haven't had and MRI (http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/mri.htm) it is a rather unpleasant experience. Imagine being slid on your back into a machine, the 'compartment' only just bigger than you. Your head is locked into place so as not to move, then the fun begins. From 45sec bursts to 2 1/2 min mind killing blasts, its sounds as though a jack hammer is going off inside your head. Been 7yrs now, so kind of forget the different noises, but remember the discomfort.Mrs MSTRS (nursey lady) says Brachial is ARM nerves in shoulder/armpit area
Anyway, the MRI showed the damage where the nerves had been ripped out, leaving raw endings on the spinal cord. These little beauties provide me with 24 hr pain, the same pain I had the day of the accident, lucky my pain thresehold has risen considerably. My doc had me on a course of 35 pills a day but now I have stopped taking any meds (well, not quite!!).
Another specialist from Akl gave me the option of an operation to 'burn' the nerve bases away using a laser, 12 hr long op, up to 3-4 months for my body to heal (they have to open up the spine and operate on the cord itself). However there was a 30% chance the op wouldn't work, and roughly 25% it would leave me with a knackered left leg! Hmmmm, the ability to walk, run, jump, skip (when no-ones looking of course), swim, snowboard, drive a std car, and ride my bike, or the chance of being wheelchair bound?? Easy decision, made easier when he told me that once the op was completed there would be no chance of ever regaining use of my arm. I'm resigned to that scenario for the time being anyway, just wish I could get rid of the pain.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining as I'm the first to realise how damn lucky I really am, but the pain wears you down. I've forgotten what life is like pain free, but I can use the pain to my advantage. Being in a job involved with the public, I can't allow the pain to affect my performance, so I use it to build character and both physical and mental strength. Its here, theres nothing I can do about it (yet), so I might as well make it my ally, not my enemy.
Fuck I'm rambling, sorry all...
Honda Racer
That was a good read OAB.
Have you ever posted what you did or how your accident happened? I'm not a gore freak. Just maybe we could learn from your mishap.
Hmmm. Jsprite? You ridden motorbikes at all before? If ya haven't I'll come down and give you a lesson. (Ok I just wanna go riding cos I am addicted
Forum whore
Its not off topic, so yeah ok.
Downhill, slightly negative camber 90 deg right-hander, and as I was braking for my entrance I felt the rear go light and then move underneath me left to right. I kept my composure for the entrance and maintained my braking, as I was coming in quick, not really too quick but enough. I remember looking through the corner at my exit when it was time to tip her in, I came off the anchors at about the same time I felt the rear go to the left, hoping to get a good drive through and out of the corner. (I should explain here I'm no racer, but was fast enough to keep me in the pack)
Unfortunately I had under-estimated the speed I was carrying, or maybe I stayed on the front picks a bit too long, but anyway the back came right around on me, touched down and the bike high-sided me off and over the bars. I destinctly remember being ejected from the bike, flying through the air, and landing on the steel barrier that outlined the corner. I landed on my left shoulder / neck area, head down and feet up in the air. Now I'm sliding (still at about 50-60km/h) along the railing and I see it, fast approaching, a support post for the armco. I impacted it and flipped over to the other side of the barrier. I don't know if I was knocked out or not, but the next thing I know I'm on my back,opening my eyes and feeling my left arm still grabbing the clip-on in front of my chest. With my right arm I start franticly searching for my left arm but I was unable to find it. Shortly after some guy appears on the scene, and seeing me searching for my arm (I didn't want to move my neck, as something didn't quite feel right!) tells me not to worry, it was still attached and probably just broken.
So there I lay, in full black leathers, mostly black helmet, boots and all, in 35 deg direct sunlight. I want to take my helmet off, but the rather large crowd that had assembled quickly stopped me from doing that, instead getting blankets out of their cars to shield the sun off me. After what seems an eternity, an ambulance arrives, I'm stretchered up (after first getting my back caught in between the two halves of the stretcher as the paramedics lifted me off the ground!! Even with the fresh spinal injury, that fucking hurt!!). The ride back into town was excruitiating, they had me on morphine, pethadine, and I think pure oxygen. I remember arriving at Chch hospital, but thats it for the next 3 days.
One of the scariest reports I got was from my mother, who told me that while I was on the gurney {is that what its called, you know, a stretcher on wheels??) that had about 6 people holding me down as I thrashed around, apparently screaming in agony. I have no recognition of this whatsoever, it would seem I have blocked it out, too traumatic?
At first it was suspected that as I crushed an artery to my left arm, as it was cold and lifeless so the decision was made to open me up, inspect the damage and then fly me to Dunedin for repairs. However, as the doctor described to me, when they did open above my chest they saw what resembled a 'frayed ball of wool' of nerves. It was decided best not to move me, I had an arterial transplant in Chch, and spent the next 3 nights under 24hr watch. While in my own private room with tv (public hospital!!) I was on a constant drip of morphine, along with other pain killers. But they made what seemed like no difference, as I was kept awake by the searing pain, often uncontollably screaming in agony. I tell you, nerve pain on the actual spinal cord is like no other pain I've ever experienced, it goes deep, very very deep. I still suffer the same pain today, sometimes better, sometimes worse but as I said, my pain threshold has got higher, although it can't get high enough.
But I'm here, I'm still riding, I'm still living, I love life and all it has to offer, the good and the bad. These events help shape who we are, and they all offer something positive, something beneficial. Whether it be experience, character building, or given you a new angle from which to view life, take it and run with it.
And oh fuck, thats goning to be a long post. Some have said they've got inspiration from my story, and I think thats probably the most you can get from my accident. It was a small fuck up, but it was something that changed my life. For the better.
BTW, excuse any grammar or spelling errors, its 1:21am. And I had my 'meds' tonight.
on the up
Sure I've crashed on the motorway.
Here's the story...
With the benefit of hindsight I'd now say it was my fault though.
And I to my motorcycle parked like the soul of the junkyard. Restored, a bicycle fleshed with power, and tore off. Up Highway 106 continually drunk on the wind in my mouth. Wringing the handlebar for speed, wild to be wreckage forever.
- James Dickey, Cherrylog Road.
e mare libertas
Ah, a fine choice of motorcycle, there.
I hear they wheelie OK, too.
kiwibiker is full of love, an disrespect.
- mikey
Come warm yourself by the fire
Yeh isnt it cool when your body adapts for the pain, then for a minute or so BANG its back again. Sounds like you got it bad too.
You must be a very tollerant person
Some people seriously question me for wanting to walk everywhere (15k everyday to uni and back too) - but if u dont get back in the game, and attack it head on, your not gonna hit your potential
Reactor Online. Sensors Online. Weapons Online. All Systems Nominal.
Hardcore Biker
Yeah i can see your picture, read your post too, hmm so rev it about 10000 and drop the clutch. Got it...Ah, a fine choice of motorcycle, there.
I hear they wheelie OK, too.
Hardcore Biker
OAB that really sucks, but good to hear that you aren't a wasted up vege sitting in some hospital. It's awesome that you still want to live, despite all your pain.
parting of the sensory
That was one very harrowing account, OAB. I have a very low pain threshhold and feel sore just reading what you went through.
You've obviously got a terrific attitude to it though, so all credit to you, Sir.
I sincerely hope that things get better for you, and the pain does decrease with time.
... and that's what I think.
Or summat.
Or maybe not...
Dunno really....
The instructions are simple...
Fuck that is one scary story. Not all of us would have your courage to get back on a bike. You are indeed an inspiration
Do you realise how many holes there could be if people would just take the time to take the dirt out of them?
Hardcore Biker
Came down winding road from farm run off block riding TRX300 farm quad wearing cow cockie safety gear, gumboots overalls. Flat out 80kph failed to take right hander, back wheel clipped 6 inch high dirt road edge, cartwheeled end for end down a bank over me into fence. Snapped concrete post, wrote ATV off.
When I came to walked 1.5km home with compressed and fractured vertibrae top of spin. Took 40 minutes for ambulance to arrive, chest pains started, thought I was gonna die. Said goodbye, love you, dont spend all the Life Ins at once about 3 times.
On lighter side in Ambulance there was wifey, fem trainee st johns and paramedic who I have known for years. She asked me if there was any thing she could do for the pain and I suggested a 3 girl wet T comp.Never happened! She knew I was gonna live after that. ( You gotta try? )
Sure gives you a new view on life. Never saw my life flash before my eyes, wifey reckons cause I aint got one!
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