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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> Life after the wreck /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1278007043 Message started by jarrod on 07/01/10 at 10:57:22 |
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Title: Life after the wreck Post by jarrod on 07/01/10 at 10:57:22 Well, I am about to start week 7 after my wreck and I am now allowed to walk, somewhat, again. They gave me an aircast boot that is really uncomfortable. I am trying to decide whether I am going to continue riding or sell the bike. Just thinking about riding makes me kinda sick to my stomach, but I also waited almost 5 years to buy this bike. For those of you that have been laid up after a wreck, did you continue to ride and what did you use to help you get over the fear of the other crazy people driving around you? |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/01/10 at 11:06:28 Ive hit 3 cars w/ bicycles & totalled 3 motorcycles. Suffered for years, in excess of 30,In fact, I still have some pain in my neck, but it used to just be constant, for over 20 years, from the 1st total, hospitalized for 4 days after the 2nd, walked away from all of them. Never broke a bone, well, not true, exactly, MRI after the 3rd revealed 3 healed breaks in neck vertebrae from the 1st, when I was 23. But, I didnt know it. Do your healing, understand exactly why you crashed & if you believe you cant be more able to sufficiently control or afford the risk that comes with riding, then sell it. Whatever you choose, I hope you never second guess your decision & have peace in your heart. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by Serowbot on 07/01/10 at 11:12:20 Nothing to it, but to do it... For me,... I was flinchy and nervous, even in a car for about 6 months... but, it fades with time... and the illusion of invulnerability comes back... took about a year... You have to face the facts... 1. it is more dangerous than a car... 2. you can slip and die in the shower... 3. fear can be crippling... 4. you only live once... ... given those facts,... you can basically go either way... :-?... I'd regret it forever, if I were crippled by a motorcycle accident... But, I'd hate to let fear dictate my life... and I'd really hate to be crippled in a shower accident, after denying myself the pleasure of riding because I might get hurt... I apologize for being no help whatsoever.... :-/... Keep healing... |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by jarrod on 07/01/10 at 11:29:51 I have never really thought of it that way. Thanks for the insight. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by Phelonius on 07/01/10 at 11:50:10 In this my latest episode, I have a broken fibula and have been riding with an air cast since about one week after the incident. I will define my cast as ridgid with bladders to inflate to fit. Last year after the catastrophic injuries that temporarily killed me, * broken ribs, crushed chest, broken clavicle, broken shoulder, numerous stitches and massive contusions, I left my hospital bed two weeks later for a three hour visit home. I fired up the Webley Vickers and rode around the block to see if I could. It hurt a lot but was sucessfull. Two weeks later after discharge from the hospital, I was again mobile for rides into town. It was another month and a half before I could go further. A few years ago after knee surgery, I tied a small rope to the shift lever so I could shift with my hand. It all depends on how much you want to ride. Phelonius |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by Stimpy on 07/01/10 at 11:54:07 I apologize for being no help whatsoever.... Keep healing... ;D ;D ;D Hey buddy! GLAD to hear from you again, I actually remember you every now and then when I go through a certain curve where a very similar thing almost happened to me on the same weekend as your incident. What can I say, after a good wreck (and I've had a few)... 1) did you continue to ride? Yes, of course, just more carefully, for a while, then you get cocky again ::) 2) and what did you use to help you get over the fear of the other crazy people driving around you? As the great prophet Carlin said: “Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize that at least half of them are even stupider than that!” Just take it easy, give it time and understand that there are a lot of "sunday-drivers" that have no clue what they are doing, have no reflexes, don't know the roads and cannot control their machines, so just BE AWARE and drive defensibly. You may also want to ride for a while on low-transit days away from peak hours on familiar roads, but I don't know what eases you. You might wanna re-read (the book or audiobook, not the movie, it's just not the same) "fight club" and/or "survivor" from Chuck Palahniuk, that might seriously help, well, maybe ::) P.S. If you want some company or the audiobook file or some movies or something I'm 30 minutes away and me and wifey could come for a visit whenever you wish, but I'm afraid we might make you laugh and thats gonna hurt, so it's ur call, send me a message if interested, L8r, Richard. http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/995/2433goddammit.jpg |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/01/10 at 12:00:34 thats gonna leave a mark, |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by Phelonius on 07/01/10 at 12:26:27 That guy probably was startled by someone in the bathroom with a camera. Phelonius |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/01/10 at 12:33:47 Ive heard for years that the simple act of observing something changes its position. This could well be the confirmation Ive been looking for. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by jarrod on 07/01/10 at 12:54:56 Well, I guess the unanimous answer so far is it takes time. I just hope that if I can get back on it, I can catch some good weather. We only get about 3 months for good riding. Stimpy, we need to meet up for lunch sometime and swap stories. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by kimchris1 on 07/01/10 at 13:47:15 Jarrod, I am still in recovery mode myself from my accident in March. In fact Tuesday I should be relieved of my 3 pins and cast. I am looking forward to being back on my bike a.s.a.p. It is in my blood and a part of me that I can't let go of. I will admit that the first few times going back thru the intersection in the cage scared the nuts out of me. I refuse to quit riding and I realize that each time I ride it could be my last. I refuse to live in fear and not enjoy my life due to the what if's. I belive the best way to get over fear is to face it head on. I suggest you sit on your bike and ride short distances for awhile. Get the feel of yourself on your bike and gain your confidence back. Start slow and go from there. Remember most of us walked before we ran or rode.. And possibly take another MSF course again as that may help as well. Big Hugs and nice to hear your healing and still interested in riding again. :) Kim |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by Ed L. on 07/01/10 at 16:47:02 Can't say I've been in any real bad crash but I busted 4 ribs once doing a high side off of my '02. I rode the bike home and thought about it the month and a half it took me to heal. When I got back on the bike I drove like a little old lady. Must of took me 6 months to get my confidence back and I still drive as defensive as I can. I alway looked at it as what would I think of myself if I didn't get back on the bike. Hell man life is too long to carry around a doubt like that. I have too many "what if's" in my life already from things outside of my control. Getting back on the bike was something I had to do to make up for some of the stuff that didn't happen. The old "I am master of my own fate" line. Heal and then give it a small taste to see if it still as sweet. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by Serowbot on 07/01/10 at 17:42:23 74556E7D1F310 wrote:
:-?... I'm gonna' give you the merit badge for that one... :-?... |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/02/10 at 01:49:46 I am afraid of a high side. What initiated yours Ed? |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by photojoe on 07/02/10 at 04:04:15 Had an incident in September last year resulting in a massive rotator cuff tear requiring surgery that put me in a sling for 12 weeks, then physical therapy. We're in July and the shoulder still bothers me, but I'm back riding. I can go an hour riding until I need to pull over for a bit and give the shoulder a rest. When the ambulance brought me to the Emergency Room, I was next to a woman with an ice pack on her head. She got it while surfing when her board hit her in the head. Interestingly, one thing I remember her saying is "I can't wait to get out of here so I can get back to surfing." See, surfing is in her blood. Since being back up I've avoided countless collisions from people cutting me off, making the quick left turn in front of me, tailgating at 65 mph etc. You know, stuff we all go through when riding. Life is full of risks and I'm not going to stop riding, or doing things I enjoy that are dangerous. I was reading a piece about accidental/negligent discharge of a firearm. The author said "It's only a matter of time, but it will happen." So what, I'm going to stop shooting too because I'm afraid? No, sorry, I refuse to live like that. We live once. We can either live, and take risks and enjoy the rewards they offer, or simply exist. Heal up, and use this time to search inside of yourself. In time you will have found the answer. If riding is in your blood, you'll be back up again. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by Ed L. on 07/02/10 at 18:18:48 I hit a small patch of gravel with my front tire while stopping at a stop sign on a turn. The tire locked up, slid through the gravel and hit the asphalt. It all went pretty fast after that, best I can remember the front tire pulled the bike sideways and high sided me about 15-20 feet into the dirt curb head first. Real glad I had a FF helmet and a heavy leather on. I landed on the right side of my head and my right arm which was pushed into my rib cage and busted four of my middle ribs. I was wearing a thick sweater under the leather and had a bruse in the same pattern as the weave of the sweater on my arm. The helmet was destroyed on the right side from the impact. Should of gone to the hospital but took my wife out to dinner instead. ;). It was a rookie mistake, too much front brakes and not enought rear along with not paying attention to where the tires were going. Guess I was lucky because I was riding in the winter with a lot of extra clothing on which acted as padding in the crash. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/03/10 at 05:06:51 Thanks for thr the low down on the fall down. Ill work to be aware. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by jarrod on 07/03/10 at 15:00:21 Thats a pretty intense stop. You never really think to look for things like that, but its the small stuff that catches you in the ass at the wrong time. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by Charon on 07/03/10 at 16:59:35 Just think - an ABS equipped bike would have probably have saved you from the fall. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by Ed L. on 07/04/10 at 18:47:06 Nothing would have protected me from my own stupidity but ABS would of helped. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by JohnBoy on 07/04/10 at 20:59:24 I can't remember how many times I have wrecked. I am the proud owner of lots of plastic and metal parts. I can't see well enough to be safe, and I can't turn my neck enough to watch traffic...but I still ride. I still get scared and the pucker factor is much greater when I hear brakes lock up, but I just love to ride. When you are ready you will ride again. Don't let anyone try to rush you. And, if you never ride again that's fine too! Just Get well. The rest will take care of itself. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by Jimmer on 07/05/10 at 07:59:52 I HAD A WRECK BACK IN 1981, BIKE VERSES SEMI,GUESS WHO WON. BROKE SHOULDER AND BACK. IT TOOK ME 10 MONTH TO HEAL, BUT I STARTED RIDING THE BIKE,IN MY MIND, A FEW DAYS AFTER SURGERY. I CAN'T HONESTLY SAY THAT I WAS EVER AFRAID TO RIDE. i JUST KNOW THAT I AM MORE CAUTIOUS. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/05/10 at 08:17:26 Bike vs semi & live & actually recover well enough to ride = WIN IMO. |
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Title: Re: Life after the wreck Post by Serowbot on 07/05/10 at 08:21:02 5E7D79797166140 wrote:
Yup,... that'll teach'em!... ;D... |
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