Fractured T8 and T9. Would you keep riding?

Goofball1205 3/7/2021 3:17pm
3/7/2021 3:17pm
I compression fractured my T8 when I was 25 I think. I was 6'1" and now I'm 6'. As mentioned before I wouldn't make any decisions now. Took me quite a while to recover and feel semi normal again. Staying active and working out is the only way to keep me pain free now. I suppose that's a positive and a negative but it keeps me healthy in the long run. Let it heal and see how things go. Rowing really helps strengthen the muscles around the t8 for me and keeps things inline also keeping good posture helps. If you do decide to get back on a bike it might be worth looking in to some high level riding classes. It's amazing what proper body position and technique can do for keeping you in control and significantly reducing the effects of mistakes.
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Falcon
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Falcon 3/8/2021 4:06pm
3/8/2021 4:06pm
Only you can make this decision. If you want to ride, do so carefully.
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mxjeff575
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mxjeff575 3/8/2021 5:44pm
3/8/2021 5:44pm
Going through all of that is bad enough, wondering/worrying about if you will ride again makes the whole experience even worse. In October, after 40 years of riding, I had my first "bad" injury. I ride both mx and woods, I was enjoying a great woods ride with friends, had a moderate crash that just had really bad consequences. Multiple broken ribs (flail chest), punctured lung, concussion, brain bleed, laid in the woods for over 2 hours on my back before help got to me (just due to the logistics), helicopter flight, etc. It impacted my family, and I had some post concussion issues for a few months that really scared me and had me mentally trying to make a decision if i'd ride again (even though that question does not have to be answered at that point) and considering what life would look like going forward. My ribs are still healing, but the important thing is my concussion symptoms resolved. So, I plan to "ride" again this summer. It's frustrating that it wasn't really that bad of a crash, but I guess sometimes our number just gets called. There is no right or wrong answer, for now just focus on recovery, and make that decision in the future. Wishing you the best recovery possible.
wwoberg
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wwoberg 3/8/2021 6:36pm
3/8/2021 6:36pm
Thanks everyone for the advice and input. I will definitely wait till I'm fully recovered before I make any decisions.

As some of you experienced, my crash was relatively minor. A simple high side which could happen riding a bicycle. I've had much worse looking ones.

It is difficult to think about. My garage is full of motorcycle stuff and motorcycles. I've got different piles of gear and stuff throughout the house. Heck, if I look out the front door I see my turn track, all rutted up ready to rip. And here I am, still looking on Vital.
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RCMXracing
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RCMXracing 3/8/2021 7:36pm
3/8/2021 7:36pm
You’ll be fine. No reason to stop doing what you love. My advice is to shit can that horse collar. Ditched mine after an OTB crash compression fracturing T-5,6,7 and a little of T4. Lost a total of 12mm of height. Way too many negatives to those things. I came to my own conclusions before Ryno and others piled on. My crash was 2010.
Chance1216
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Chance1216 3/8/2021 7:39pm
3/8/2021 7:39pm
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MotoMan12345
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MotoMan12345 3/9/2021 7:00am
3/9/2021 7:00am
Are you financially stable? Do you do blue collar work where if you get hurt again you’re out for a long period of time? Sports rough but hard to walk away from but at the end of the day gotta do what’s best for the family and if taking a step back from riding is what you have to do then gotta do it.
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Millerrr973
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Millerrr973 3/9/2021 7:44am
3/9/2021 7:44am
wwoberg wrote:
4 weeks ago, during morning practice, I did a little high side coming off the back side of a jump. It threw me over the bars...
4 weeks ago, during morning practice, I did a little high side coming off the back side of a jump. It threw me over the bars and I landed on my back........helicopter ride, MRI, X-rays, and multiple Dr appts 4 weeks later I'm doing OK (no paralysis) and slowly recovering with a brace.

I'm 53 yrs old and have been riding/racing for 40 yrs. MX is a huge part of my life.

But I don't think I'm gonna be able to ride again. Not only the pain that I've been through, but the heavy impact it has had on my family. My bike is still sitting in the garage, dirty.

Not sure what I'm gonna do. Anyone gone through same? I sure hope I can swing a golf club when I fully recover.
Glad to hear you are doing okay. My personal experience, I’ve broken T-4, had a compression fracture in C6, broken both femurs, all the good stuff. I’m only 23, and I still feel like a million bucks. I could die tomorrow walking down a flight of steps or driving to class. No matter what a doctor says, I’m still gonna send it until I physically can’t. Maybe you’ve hit that point, maybe not. That’s your call. If you do go back to riding, only advice I would give you is, don’t hesitate. Make that call and don’t look back.
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wwoberg
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wwoberg 8/6/2022 6:14pm
8/6/2022 6:14pm
Thought I'd give an update. Couldn't take it anymore. Of course, I lost most of my reaction time and endurance, but at my 18 month anniversary from my injury, I needed it. It felt awesome.
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biondo
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biondo 8/6/2022 7:01pm
8/6/2022 7:01pm
wwoberg wrote:
Thought I'd give an update. Couldn't take it anymore. Of course, I lost most of my reaction time and endurance, but at my 18 month anniversary...
Thought I'd give an update. Couldn't take it anymore. Of course, I lost most of my reaction time and endurance, but at my 18 month anniversary from my injury, I needed it. It felt awesome.
Congratulations on your recovery!! Good luck 👍
geeZ177
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geeZ177 8/6/2022 7:03pm
8/6/2022 7:03pm Edited Date/Time 8/6/2022 7:07pm
wwoberg wrote:
4 weeks ago, during morning practice, I did a little high side coming off the back side of a jump. It threw me over the bars...
4 weeks ago, during morning practice, I did a little high side coming off the back side of a jump. It threw me over the bars and I landed on my back........helicopter ride, MRI, X-rays, and multiple Dr appts 4 weeks later I'm doing OK (no paralysis) and slowly recovering with a brace.

I'm 53 yrs old and have been riding/racing for 40 yrs. MX is a huge part of my life.

But I don't think I'm gonna be able to ride again. Not only the pain that I've been through, but the heavy impact it has had on my family. My bike is still sitting in the garage, dirty.

Not sure what I'm gonna do. Anyone gone through same? I sure hope I can swing a golf club when I fully recover.
When I was 18 I broke my back racing MX. T12, L1, and L2. Now I am fused from T12 to L1. Last summer I got back into MX. Would have done it sooner but as they say, life happens. Along the way I have done similar hobbies. Snowmobiling, raced TT on Quads for a few seasons. So I have put my back through the wringer. All that on top of a blue collar job (industrial mechanic/electrician). I know you don't have youth on your side, (no offense). But take it one day at a time. Get healthy first, then make life decisions after you have the green light from the doctor, listen to your body as well. You will know. Good luck with your recovery!
geeZ177
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geeZ177 8/6/2022 7:06pm
8/6/2022 7:06pm
Wish I would have read the whole thread! Lol. Glad to see you are back at it!
Wolfey
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Wolfey 8/7/2022 11:02am
8/7/2022 11:02am
Congratulations on your recovery and decision to keep doing what you love. I had back surgery 2 years ago at the age of 52 and decided to keep riding.My buddy and I made a promise to ourselves that if we just don’t feel comfortable at the track , we load up…
Since my injury I’ve paid a few times to ride and loaded up after 1 or 2 motos. Keep on riding man and swallow your pride if it doesn’t feel right on that day. Go home healthy and come back the next time .
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loftyair
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loftyair 8/7/2022 11:31am
8/7/2022 11:31am
I fractured and compressed t4, 5, and 6 at Perris when I was 15, in 1985. I lost all feeling and function down from swelling. A week later I was learning how to walk again as swelling was subsiding and getting feeling back. 6 months later I was back to racing.
We are all individuals, treat yourself as good as possible, try to make the right decisions, try to be happy!
You are the only one that can make the right decision. Sometimes we are mistaken, other times it's a good thing. I hope you make good decisions, good luck!
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cz2crf2wc
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cz2crf2wc 8/7/2022 12:48pm
8/7/2022 12:48pm
i got paralyzed 15 years ago and I still want to ride, If I could find a bike that's been adapted.
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hod928
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hod928 8/8/2022 2:59pm
8/8/2022 2:59pm
Shattered my T12 last September. Got me some fancy titanium rods and screws now. Always wanted titanium but on the bike. Been working hard with doctors and trainers to get me into the best shape I can be and have been riding successfully since may of this year.

Human body is a crazy thing. Just stick with it and ease back into it.
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lumpy790
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lumpy790 8/8/2022 4:44pm
8/8/2022 4:44pm
40 years ago At my first A class race I cased a jump and endowed landing on my butt crushing T4 and T5.

When they X-rayed me they found where I had done it before in the past. Healing I wore a back brace day and night for 6 months. It did take a long time to relearn how to get in the bent over back attack position but my back has never bothered me since then.
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Radical
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Radical 8/8/2022 7:33pm
8/8/2022 7:33pm
Everyone has the day that they hang up the boots.
Mine hasn't come yet.
I will say that when it does, Mountain biking is an awesome sport too!
Not as good as MX, but a very good adrenaline fix.
DB505
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DB505 8/9/2022 7:04am
8/9/2022 7:04am
At 60, I’ve had the injuries to neck, back, shoulder
, currently none are bothering me, but giving it up is in the back of my mind as I too won’t to avoid anything that’ll ruin mine or my family’s life, but I’m just not ready, so my plan is weight training, for the add muscle and bone density and wear as much protective gear as I comfortably can,
I will probably have a dirtbike for years to come if I’m not racing I can still trail ride,
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