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Kenny, chill out a little. I get it, you don't have to be rude about it. It's just that I've had bad experiences with doctors in the past in that regard. I once waited out a broken arm way longer than necessary. However, you obviously raise a very good point. Anyway...
I'm garnering that the collective consensus here is that I should just wait until next year. So be it, you guys are right, that is a much better idea. I'm now painfully aware of the complexity and sensitivity of the brain. For truly no conceivable reason, I am just... well, anxious about everything now. My appearance, the placement of things... it's weird. Normally when you're anxious about yourself and your appearance, people associate it with confidence issues, but it's much more complicated than that. I have no confidence issues, it has nothing to do with that. You guys are right, the brain is very enigmatic in nature. I have felt like a different person for as long as I can remember after the accident. I don't actually remember coming out of the coma. They said I was extremely delirious (as is common after a brain injury) for another week after I awoke from the coma. My memory doesn't actually begin until two weeks into my stay there, after all the surgeries were done, I was out of the ICU, and I was transferred to the rehabilitation ward.
I didn't suffer only the TBI, but I mentioned it exclusively because it is the only part that is relevant to the question. I also suffered numerous broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a cleanly snapped clavicle bone (from which I now have a huge scar and a big metal plate over it), and finally, the absolute worst part of it all... the onset of Central Diabetes Insipidus, a condition for which I must now take pills every day for the rest of my life. I won't go in to detail, but basically, I hit my head so hard that a part of my brain controlling the retention of water no longer functions. So I would pee myself to death in a week without synthetic hormone pills. Thank God for modern medicine, am I right?
As for whether he should ride or play any sports again, well, I think you should weigh, or rather he should weigh, the importance of these things to his life against the possibility of becoming a vegetable, or dying. In fact, I'll be completely honest: the doctor said that if I ever sustain a brain injury as bad as this one again, I will likely end up a brain-dead vegetable. He considered the fact that my injury was on the concrete, and that I've never had a bad injury on the dirt racing motocross, which is what led him to advise never riding a street bike again, but only taking a summer off of motocross, because of its importance to me. That's not to say I couldn't end up a vegetable from racing motocross now though, too.
Basically, would his life be worth living without sports and dangerous activities? If the answer is yes, he should follow the doctor's advice.
But hey, we gotta look on the bright side every once in a while. After my experience, I can confidently say that it is very important to find the good in every situation. Otherwise, we'd drive ourselves crazy with regret... at least, I would. I'm intensely more philosophical than I ever was before, for some strange reason, and I view life in a different way. I'm no longer as anxious (different from the injury-induced anxiety issues I have) about social situations and lots of other intimidating things that I used to be anxious about. I tell myself that nothing I, or anyone else, will ever do will matter in the collective sum of the entirety of everything in the universe. However, as Ghandi said, "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it." For our own sake.
I know that summer in Alaska is the best thing ever and the thought of spinning laps at Kincaid is ever-inviting, but you MUST consider your future health and balance that against present desires. Hook a lip off the Mach and take a digger? You'll never ride (or maybe walk) again. Trust me when I say it's not worth it.
Hit the Kenai, do some fishing, or do whatever it is that you enjoy doing outside during the summer. Lord knows the limited time we get is precious. The important thing is that you get yourself healthy before you consider riding again. I'll never race again as I will take blood thinners for the rest of my life to prevent another stroke and trust me, you don't want to be in that position. Consider hitting the MTB flow trails at Kindcaid, they're world-class. Be careful, obviously. Find the other things in life that you enjoy and explore those more thoroughly before throwing your leg over the bike.
PM me if you want to talk
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At the time, the doctors said no riding for 2 years but then went on to say well maybe some light riding after one year may be OK (not fully understanding the realities of motocross I guess). Unbeknownst to me, he was riding at a friends place after about a year and had a fairly mild crash but hit his head and immediately had memory issues. Luckily this scared him and he stayed off the bikes until this year.
He just bought a bike now and he is riding for fun. I think he has been away from the racing for long enough to know it is not about shaving another second off your lap time come hell or high water. I do need to remind him that it is just for fun and things seem to be going fine. He is 24 now so he makes his own decisions but these kids that lived and breathed moto from an early age have such a hard time with not having it in their lives. His outlook on life is so much better now that he is riding again and he is so much happier. Is it the stupidest thing he could do or the best thing....who knows....some say you need to protect your health at all costs....some say you never know how long you have so live life to the fullest. Only you can choose.
Take the time off and listen to your doctor. You're still really young and have plenty of good riding years ahead of you. Go bust your butt in some hard core fitness stuff , get in shape....get your mind and body working well again. Then....come back to moto. It's not worth the risk , if you have any doubt what so ever in your mind. The sport is already brutal enough , even if you are 100% ready.
I'm not a professional on psychiatry by any means but I am someone that has gone through something similar to what you are going through right now
If you ever want to talk please just email me at thaney1026@gmail.com and we can exchange easier contact info there
Just remember that with hard work and a good attitude you will learn so much about life in general from this tough time. I always figured if I can get through this I can do anything I set my mind to and guess what, I was right. I'm not boasting here but my life has done a complete 180
I got though my tough time and so can you
P.S
Something about us Alaskans we can take the biggest ass beatings and come out just fine, i don't live in AK currently but It's always in my blood
- Tyler
I had a Grade 3 concussion that pretty much ended my racing career in Sept. 2004. I was out for 5-6 hours, got a helicopter ride that I don't remember until I was told later, my parents were approached by a chaplin / priest while I was in the ER, and did some work to my memory. Short term memory isn't the greatest and noticed lil odd things over time. This concussion was my 5th one in I'd say past 4-5 years and each one got worse after the other.
Since then, I have rode probably 4-5 times in the past dozen or so years. I haven't done a gate drop since July 2004. When I ride a practice day, I call it doing my "5 laps of glory" by having fun by railing (in what feels like to me) corners, and calling it a day. I only ride for 1 of 2 reasons. 1) If a friend or my brother offers me to spin a few laps and I feel prepared for what and where I'm riding or 2) I get that bug to ride so bad I bother either friend or brother to ride. Just for fun and nothing serious. Once I get my own bike, I like to start doing GNCC type events after I shed off this belly I've had from not riding like I used to.
Key thing is to keep it fun but ride within your control. Doctors told me if I take another hit I got the last time again, I'll basically be a vegetable till the end. So that's always in the back of my mind. If I get the feeling of hitting a corner really, really good, that's good enough for me these days.
I will say it has sure put a damper on my riding. I haven't rode since his crash. Best wishes AK.
Also, I am in the minority here but we are not racing for a living, its really just a passion. You can ride even at an old age without racing and still have rhe passion.
Its about doing what you love, riding a dirt bike. whether its off road, mx practice or trials and desert. Shit you can be a wheelie boy!
Really glad that didn't kill me. That fall in the hospital left me unconscious for another couple days, though, weeks after I'd awoken from my original five day coma.
Honest questions. Did you ever regain consciousness at all after the impact, that you know of? Do you know if you were under sedation in those five days?
Pit Row
It was not even a hard hit, but hard enough. Over the next three days his head doubled in size. We were relieved when he did not survive.
Im sure your choice to not ride is difficult, but you are smart for doing so.
To our original poster...a year, or even 2, is nothing when compared to the rest of your life. Volunteer at the track, help others. Theres all kinds of ways you can still be involved and not risk your brain.
I had to not ride for about 2 yrs. It was horrible, but I took every penny I saved by not riding and built up my yz 250.
Big bore kit, 09 swingarm, new style plastic, etc.
I love motocross/supercross but it is hardly worth ruining your life. Play video games. Get some RC trucks (Traxxas X-Maxx is nice) You'll get some of the same satisfaction of riding without the risk.
After years of mx and football, I accumulated multiple concussions. No, I have no idea how many. Then I had a "bad" one while racing mx, the kind you wake up from three weeks later in a hospital and get to learn how to walk and talk all over again from. I am now in my late 40s. Sometimes I can remember my kid's names, sometimes I can't. Sometimes I can remember my way home from work, sometimes not. Sometimes I get raging headaches that last for a week, sometimes not. The girl that I remember taking to senior prom, well, she isn't the girl I actually took.
My advice? I can assure you, first hand, that your brain is way more important than riding. Listen to your freak'n doctor.
Like gtrider80 posted, I've had my share of concussions both off the track (football in HS) and on the track...and the last couple took me a few days to totally get back to feeling like "me" again. I've been very blessed that I've never had the "bad one" that altered my motor functions or anything else really serious. But, I'd be lying if I said that the reason I don't race anymore at my age (58) is that that I'm not concerned about this kind of damage. It's serious, and I just hope that young riders (and their parents/sponsors) listen to their physicians. No amount of glory that comes from racing is worth could ultimately happen.
Also, Pro-Line release their body the same day I received a new body that I just ordered...I was super bummed haha. I'll be checking out their tires for sure. I was tempted to pickup some of those losi xl tires or whatever they are called...look like actual monster truck tires.
The good thing about it is the money you save on bikes you can now spend on Louella's. Although maybe it costs more to get them across the Aleutian Islands? Nah, can't be more then these fuel injected programable air sprung 4 bangers can they?
To answer your first question though, no. I do know that. I never regained consciousness for five days after the impact.
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