Posts
740
Joined
11/19/2010
Location
Soddy Daisy, TN
US
Edited Date/Time
8/9/2022 7:04am
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.
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.
I think I will just ride within myself not try to
Prove something! Just have Fun ! Plus my wife will be happy 😃
Just hope you recover soon!! 🙏
You are likely close to some of the best trials riding in the country (trials training center) along with some great trail riding as well.
Thing about this crash was I wasn't doing anything extreme, really just going down a hill. It could have happened anywhere. That's what's got me scared.
The Shop
I had a nasty one In 2018. Similar to yours it was a high side on the back of a jump. I made a mistake and paid for it.
Compression fracture t7-t9 along with breaking my pelvis in 5 places. My buddies picked me up on a scrap piece of plywood and I rode to the hospital in the back of a pickup bed sipping on a cold ass Mountain Dew. That was a LONG ride!
Getting back to your question. I took some time off and like you wasn’t sure if I was going to get back on again. I dont want to do that to my family again, that was the worst..
Took about 4 months to heal and another 2 to get back on a bike. Eased back in with a bunch of corner track motos and trail rides.
In the long run gravity is going to get you anyways. Might as well enjoy the ride.
As mentioned above, lots of other kinds of dirt bike riding
Your injury is serious. Mentally and physically. That should nit be diminished. Deal with it and get better. Do the surgery or physical therapy or whatever you need to do. Don't worry about riding or not riding. Once you're better go wash your bike and figure out what not having it will do to you.
Several broken bones, miscellaneous hardware, two weeks before I was set to head off to basic. I was devastated.
Ultimately, I focused on recovery and then my plumbing apprenticeship. Eventually, I started watching the races again and began missing it. It’s a personal decision coming back after an injury. I don’t ride over my head and try to be as safe as possible. I’ve bounced off a few trees here and there but, still keep coming back. I know the day I hang it up is coming. Arthritic knees, neck, ankle and, hands are pretty painful the day after riding.
All I can say is, take your time. Don’t rush any decisions and focus on getting better as previously mentioned.
Pit Row
Give it time and see how you feel, no one can make this decision for you. There’s no shame in hanging it up, we all have our breaking points. That is something I never understood until it happened to me.
Now, my mindset has changed. I've had to learn to create a life where I can be OK with out motorcycles, and am grateful I can still walk and function to the capacity that I am able to, so I can hopefully experience and enjoy a longer time on this planet. I have gotten my 'fix' through racing r/c cars, and watching moto. Sure I still get the desire and have moments where the fk it's come in and I want nothing more than to experience that feeling again no matter the cost, but it's irrational thinking. Perhaps later in life, but right now, it's not an option (brain/balance/eye function) & I choose not to.
If you are questioning it, I would say there's your answer. If you're okay with going out there, re injuring it or being worse off, then get back out there. Sometimes I think life throws us signs we ignore, and then pay for them later. Maybe take 1-2 years off, focus on your body/health and becoming the strongest version of yourself so if/when you do get back out there, your body is much stronger for when/if crashes happen again.
As far as flat or crumbled up, IDK. It knocked the wind out of me and when I got my wind back I couldn't get up.
I broke my fib in 99 riding. My first child was just a 6 months old at the time . I thought I would quit but wanted to ride once more so I could tell my daughter that she saw me ride once.
We went to my local track when nobody was around. I was so nervous back on the bike. It was a horrible day. I got home and decided I didn’t want my last memory on the bike to be that. I went the next week to end on a better note. I have not quit yet. Many crashes and surgeries since but I always wait till I am healed to decide, my feelings change once I am better.
Post a reply to: Fractured T8 and T9. Would you keep riding?