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So guys, I need some input from someone who has suffered a debilitating head injury, or TBI. A mild concussion doesn't count. TBI is essentially a concussion, but far worse. To put things into perspective, I was in a coma for five days after my motorcycle accident (this was on the street). Am I saying that you need to have gone through the same thing? No. However, I would like some input from someone who has suffered a debilitating injury, maybe just an injury of any kind, and had to make the decision about whether to ride the following year.
I'm twenty-one years old, and have raced motocross every summer since I was fourteen. It makes me feel... well, I'm not really sure how to describe it. My life is rather mundane, but when I get on that bike and race, I feel alive and in control for however long I'm riding it. I live in Alaska, by the way, so summer is like five months max.
Point is, the injury will not be the hardest thing I've ever had to go through, if I do indeed decide to stay off the dirt bike this summer. The hardest thing, guaranteed, that I will have gone though, is to have stayed off the bike this summer. It is one of the very few things I truly love in life, and I fervently look forward to it every year. I do nothing in the winter.
Buuuut, and this is a big but, I'm also not an idiot. My brain injury occurred in very late September of last year. If you all think it's more than just wise, but critical, to stay off the bike this year, just like my doctor thinks (but you know doctors... always over-protective of your physical health, like parents), then I will stay off of it this year. Looking up at that bright sun, experiencing the peak of summer greatness, it will undoubtedly be monumentally difficult to put riding into the back of my mind, but I can do it.
What do you think?
Thanks!
I'm twenty-one years old, and have raced motocross every summer since I was fourteen. It makes me feel... well, I'm not really sure how to describe it. My life is rather mundane, but when I get on that bike and race, I feel alive and in control for however long I'm riding it. I live in Alaska, by the way, so summer is like five months max.
Point is, the injury will not be the hardest thing I've ever had to go through, if I do indeed decide to stay off the dirt bike this summer. The hardest thing, guaranteed, that I will have gone though, is to have stayed off the bike this summer. It is one of the very few things I truly love in life, and I fervently look forward to it every year. I do nothing in the winter.
Buuuut, and this is a big but, I'm also not an idiot. My brain injury occurred in very late September of last year. If you all think it's more than just wise, but critical, to stay off the bike this year, just like my doctor thinks (but you know doctors... always over-protective of your physical health, like parents), then I will stay off of it this year. Looking up at that bright sun, experiencing the peak of summer greatness, it will undoubtedly be monumentally difficult to put riding into the back of my mind, but I can do it.
What do you think?
Thanks!
It took about 8 years before I stopped seeing very gradual improvement but I think I'd gotten about 75% back in the first year. Balance was my main issue. I was riding again in August and raced in Sept. BUT, that was 1990 and far less was know about TBI back then and if I'd hit my head again it would have been really bad.
At only 21 you have years ahead of you and while I'm sure it's killing you to not ride, I'd advise being pretty conservative so what you love doesn't actually kill you.
The only time I can't ride (which is right now) is when I'm taking blood thinners so as not to have a stroke from a blood clot. As soon as I'm off blood thinners.....braaaaap
The Shop
They left a hole in my head (or window) to let the swelling go down for 3 months or more before installing a Prosthetic polymer acrylic type material to take the place of the original skull they removed.
I was riding within 2 months of the second surgery. Haven't had any problems so far.
Jason
You're still young and have plenty of riding opportunities to come. Find something else to do this summer.
OP, at 21 you have decades ahead of you to race and enjoy this sport. Take care of yourself now, and use the summer as motivation for getting back on the bike, and something to look forward to, not something to be mad about.
Oh, and stay off those damn street bikes! Those car things will try and kill you!
My only thought would be take the entire year off of any bike, even bicycle, then go through a concussion testing process next spring.
Best wishes for a complete recovery.
Op if I was you, I would stay off a bike until I was 100% ready with no side effects and stay off the street! Be careful and when you start to exert yourself again, be aware of how your feeling.
OP, hope you heal up and return to riding. But I'd probably be taking it easy for a while and following the doctors advice.
Pit Row
I know that motocross is your passion as it is mine but you should really consider the fact that if something happens you can make your situation 10x worse.
Give yourself 1 summer to concentrate on your inner self and you will benefit for the rest of your life
takes 9 months to recover. after 18 weeks you are at 5-600.
a new concussion, the sooner after the first the worse up until those 9 months can be devastating.
Listen to your Doctor. They actually do know what's best for you and aren't just "Over protective like your parents."
We all love to ride, or did so at one point.
I'm 55, that asphalt and that ground is pretty damn hard these days, especially after dropping out of the sky into a middle of a pack a nutjob MX'ers......just like me!
For Goodness sakes Bro,
DO NOT EFF AROUND WITH YOUR BRAIN!!!!
Time is on your side......take it and heal
---your bike
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