Cleared for Take Off!

[justalonewolf007]

Cleared for Take Off! (X-rays added)

After 1 weeks of no riding, 2 weeks of riding one handed, and 3 months of no jumping/crashing/riding out of 2nd gear, the doctor has cleared me to race competitively again!

In about an hour, my big black behemoth (my CR125 is much bigger than I am...) and I will be taking some short practice flights in preperation for the upcoming races!

(Insert some sort of awesome victory dance here...oh...wait...that's right. I can't dance! :rotfl: ).

My collar bone is pretty solid feeling, and I have a neck roll to prevent another break of that sort (if I'm lucky). I also did pretty good at not breaking doctors orders too badly. (apparantly NOT supposed to do pushups or lift heavy objects). I didn't believe that it would actually join, but the human body is pretty amazing. My doctor also admitted that he knew I thought he was full of crap. He also said he wanted a picture from my first race to hang on his office wall. That's pretty cool.

There are two races left this season (both this weekend, and both at the very track I crashed on), and I plan on having a great time!

X-rays will be posted as soon as they arrive.

 

[Papakeith]

break a leg!

no Wait! Don't do that either :)

Have fun!

 

[OKKX'er]

I wish you the very best of luck! Your posts are very entertaining and your attitude makes me smile. Why doesn't everyone ride?

 

[rossim22]

I'm waiting to see these x-rays. My buddy who rides a gsxr600 underestimated my "little" 250 2 stroke. Within about six seconds... not exaggerating... he accidentally put the wheel up, tried gettin it down, bounced off and broke his left collar bone in 4 places!

Docs from the other side of the hospital came to our room when they saw the x-rays, to ask what happened. Said they're never seen that **** before. One piece was broken outward, almost penetrating the skin.. the other half is actually under the first piece.. AND there's 2 fragments of bone about a half inch in length sitting in between.

Somehow.. he doesn't need surgery... yet.

 

[justalonewolf007]

Houston...

went to the local gravel pits in order to help get a little seat time in before the race...

I had called my fellow racer friend, and she took off to meet me there. So, While I waited, I took an easy lap around the area to check things out.

On my way back, I took a wide and very hardpacked smooth dirt road to ket things open up and grab a few gears.

My front wheel suddenly tarted swapping from side to side, and I had to slow down in order to make it stop. Something felt very wrong, so I very carefully rode back to the car. My front axle nut was so loose that I could spin it with my fingers.

I took care of that, and did a quick sparkplug change whie I had the tools handy (the plug was entirely black and covered with fuel)

My friend showed up and we put in a good riding session. we wrapped things up shortly after it started to rain, so I started loading up.

Then I had an idea that I should load the behemoth by myself. In fact, I decided that I would just do it myself and ride it up the ramps.

That was mistake number 1.

The ride up was very uneventful, until I got on the trailer. The plywood deck was covered in oil and was soaked with water.

mistake numbr 2 happened when I grabbed the front brakes too hard and fast.

The front end washed out, and I couldn't reach to put a foot don, so both the behemoth and I fell over.

I managed to jump far enough to clear the trailer, and the bike that was just about so squish me like a bug. In doing so, I fell on the ground, hard, taking the ful blow on my left shoulder.

There was a sickening smap.

I couldn't believe it, but knew exactly what had happened. My collar bone was broken again. This time, there was no concussion to help block out the pain. and it seemed to hurt a lot more than the first time.


The two halves of the bone are all but completely overlaped.

 

[nikki]

You gotta be kidding!! What are the chances of that? Man, tough break.... again. :|

 

[Chili]

Always been tempted to ride the bike up the ramp but have seen it end badly for others so I always pass.

Sorry to hear about the injury, lots of time to heal up now so make sure it's a complete recovery for next year!

 

[justalonewolf007]

I thought I'd be okay, as I use a low riding trailer...but...not so much I guess!

I did make it to classtoday with some help, but wearing the butterfly brace with a sling is not so easy to manuver...

 

[rmc_olderthandirt]

I can't believe it!

Hmmm, yes I can. Been there, done that.

In his Junior year in high school our son tore his knee up in football. As soon as the season was over we went to a orthopedic sports doctor and he had surgery. About a month after he was cleared to do sports again he dislocated his shoulder while wakeboarding. We were back in the same doctors office, waiting in an exam room. The doctor was walking by, glances in and did a classic double take: "What are you doing here?"

And no, they don't give bulk discounts.

Keep the faith and hang in there!
Good luck and best wishes.

Rod

 

[Chili]

I can't believe it!

Hmmm, yes I can. Been there, done that.

In his Junior year in high school our son tore his knee up in football. As soon as the season was over we went to a orthopedic sports doctor and he had surgery. About a month after he was cleared to do sports again he dislocated his shoulder while wakeboarding. We were back in the same doctors office, waiting in an exam room. The doctor was walking by, glances in and did a classic double take: "What are you doing here?"

And no, they don't give bulk discounts.

Keep the faith and hang in there!
Good luck and best wishes.

Rod

My kid get's a Christmas card from his orthopedic surgeon's car dealer. :|

 

[IndyMX]

Like they say, "Stupid Hurts". :yikes:

 

[rossim22]

I can't believe it!

Hmmm, yes I can. Been there, done that.

In his Junior year in high school our son tore his knee up in football. As soon as the season was over we went to a orthopedic sports doctor and he had surgery. About a month after he was cleared to do sports again he dislocated his shoulder while wakeboarding. We were back in the same doctors office, waiting in an exam room. The doctor was walking by, glances in and did a classic double take: "What are you doing here?"

And no, they don't give bulk discounts.

Keep the faith and hang in there!
Good luck and best wishes.

Rod

Feel ya there! I hyperextended my knee in football and messed it up good. was in physical therapy for a few months. about a week after the therapy.. i was riding my bike (bicycle) on the sidewalk and a guy ran a stop sign, right into my left knee again. took another few months to start walking normally.

 

[justalonewolf007]

Indeed stupid does hurt...

My doctor was visibly horrified at the re-injury. Especially since he had just cleared me. Things were really looking good for a whille there, but now his recomendation is surgery at this point :(

He's going to contact some surgeons, show them the new x-rays, and let us know by monday what the general consensus is.

 

[jackflack44]

My kid get's a Christmas card from his orthopedic surgeon's car dealer. :|

Thats messed up

 

[medwaste]

No,No,No tell me it isn't true. I feel so sorry for you yet I'm laughing...I'm sorry. You're too good of a storyteller! Plus I'm sitting here ace wrapped and iced, tore my bicep yesterday. Get to see my ortho doc Monday. I guess misery loves company. Keep us posted and good luck.

 

[fatcat216]

I suppose we'll have to wait til she actually has the surgery for the hysterical percocet laced essay.

Now... what did your doctor say in your last post?

"You're young, but this is going to take a full year to heal."

I guess I was with Rod on the need for a plate, but that had something to do with my friend Gary's extremely hideous looking collar bone (from a doctor who told him he didn't need a plate. Not sure if that was before or after the broken hip/femur.)

Tolle, rest up and let us know how the surgery comes out. Next season will be all yours! You got a lifetime of riding ahead. Just dumb bad luck this time.

 

[GETMETOCA]

Quite a story there Tolle. I hope you heal up fast, this sucks!

 

[justalonewolf007]

It sucks majorly!

I showed up as support at the last races of the season, driving only a little crookedly with one arm, I was even wearing the jersey that I crashed in, as it is the only thing I could still get on (yes...I was wearing pants...).

The jokes (and pity) started even before I got out of my car.

The trophy lady gave me a hug right away, which was very nice, and I repeated my tale to all who asked about it.

News spread really quickly, and by the time I made it to the registration trailer(to buy my banquet tickets), they had already heard three different versions.

"OH BETHANY!!! We have stickers for you!!!"

I was promptly covered (okay...well not covered...they just put a couple on my sling, butterfly brace, and hoodie) with "stupid hurts" stickers...that looked like bandaids.

"oh geeze"

Things were a little chilly, and I never realized how easily I got cold and shivered until then. Shivering hurts a bunch, and with every quiver, I could feel the two halves of the bones shifting around (not so pleasant).

Once we set up a tent (I wasn't much help) and got out of the rain, things went a little better, and I stopped shivering. I also took a full vicoden, and promptly went into state of "happy and very happy even though I'm a bunch broken and my new pants are muddy...a bunch"

On top of it all, I kept finding 4-leaf clovers. 7 of them to be exact.

 

[fatcat216]

Clovers, eh? I'm all for signs so long as they are good ones!

So when is the surgery?

 

[justalonewolf007]

I was sick from the vicoden yesterday - when the dr. called me - so this is a little outdated.

At the last visit, he said that he would consult a couple of surgeons. So monday, after playing a bunch of phone tag, he got the message across.

"After speaking to two other doctors, who I showed your x-rays to, they came to the conclusion that you could do just fine without surgery. This may or may not be good news to you, depending on what you wanted to do. Please call me back."

I called him back. He sounded actually very skeptical abot the no surgery idea.

"Ah yes, you got my message?"

"Yup. You wanted me to call you back."

"Well, <insert: pity blah blah I'm so sorry blah pity blah technobabble blah pity blah-dy blah>...At this point, I really want to get a CAT scan to see what exactly is going on in there. I really should've done this last time to see just how thick the callus was before I let you go. This will also let us see where the ends of the break are, and whether or not they are lined up."

"Okay."

"I'd just like to know how are you feeling today too Bethany."

At this point, I was sick to the point of barely standing on my own. Lots of nausea and headache.

"Not so good. Your drugs are making me sick. Today I feel very...bad. I can take tylenol instead of this stuff right?"

"Okay, let's set you up for a CAT scan. My nurse will call you soon. Bye!"

*click*

I had to stare stupidly at my phone to figure out just what was going on.

"oh..I guess we're done talking."

After that, I stumbled into my criminology and delinquency class ten minutes late.

My professor stopped midsentence and stared at me for a good 15 seconds (that felt like 15 minutes).

"OMG Are you okay!?"

I blinked stupidly at him, and plopped into the closest chair. "Rough night at the bar. Should'a seen the other guy..."

The entire class burst out laughing, and the professor started lecturing again. My brain went on standby for the next two hours, and I managed not to puke. It was like having the worst case of flu and tremors.

Somehow...the silly idea persisted. "If 1 vike maeked me feeeel bedder...4 wud maek all dis yucky feeling go 'way. Smartist idea evaar!"

Luckily, I didn't feel like bending over to reach into my backpack. Prettysure I would've passed out all over the floor.

After class, I went home, and went to bed, and slept for 16 hours (and didn't take any more narcotics). Four hours into the 16 hour nap, I got up and had some applesause (outdated from the back of my fridge), and chicken noodle soup (almost outdated).

I feel better today, and have been taking tylenol instead. There is a lot more pain, but I would rather hurt twice as bad right now than feel as terrible as I did yesterday.

CATscan is on thursday.

 

[fatcat216]

hmm. Had a day just like that- brain on standby. I guarantee as an old woman people don't find that quite as charming as they do when you are young, little and cute.
At least I didn't crash my carpool off the top of a 600 foot bluff, as I deeply feared, it was so hard to focus at times. No road carnage? All in all, a good day. Right? :whoa:

Tolle, you guys need to recruit greedier doctors in Bemidji. You'd have no trouble whatsoever finding a dozen surgeons to put you back together down here.

 

[fatcat216]

I think La Crosse boasts two clinics with the highest health care costs in the nation.
Nothing is too good for us I tell you....

 

[justalonewolf007]

Tolle, you guys need to recruit greedier doctors in Bemidji. You'd have no trouble whatsoever finding a dozen surgeons to put you back together down here.

All in a good day...

Actually, I am traveling west an entire half hour into ND to go to my doctor. Bemidji is about an hour and a half away. (or maybe an hour)...

Either way...I'll find out a little more tomorrow.

Tomorrow: Went in for my appointment. Went into the cat scan room...and could not hold back the giggles from the automated "Breathe!" and "Hold your breath!"

The voice was very exuberant despite coming from a computer, and it was just one of those odd things that strikes you as very funny.

They had to try twice, as my laughter blurred the first set of images.

Long story short, the doctor, and all of the surgeons at the hospital I've been going to, think that I'll heal again.

In all seriousness, they *all* know my name and exactly what my collarbone looks like :whoa: I was walking down the hall with my Dr. and some dude (in a surgeon's coat and everything) asks "that must be your Motocrosser with the re-fractured clavicle?"

The catscan showed that everything is prettymuch in the same place as it was from the first time I crashed, except the area/gap between the bones has already been filled in with the "callus"

"In one way, Tolle, you're back at square one again. But, since things have already filled in, you're several leaps ahead in the healing process."

So...the consensus is that we will wait to see what happens over the course of 6 weeks (does this sound familiar?!?) He is playing things a lot more cautiously, since he's concerned about the fact that it actually re-broke in a "simple fall." And I have been offered a referral to a specialist that isn't in the same hospital jurisdiction (private office in the same town, but they haven't seen, or heard of me yet. Unlike the surgeons at the main hospital).

So...this all sounds way to familiar me...except here's where things got a little more interesting (by interesting, I mean terribly horrible for me :( )

"No riding for 6 months, we need to be absolutely sure this is going to heal."

"How about snowboarding?!?"

"That is a definite hazard to be avoided until at least febuary."

"Tae Kwon Do and Kumdo (swords)!?!?!" (Please please please tell me I can do SOMETHING during all these months!)

"Yes, the lower body work should be good for you, no sparring, punching, or pushups for a minimum of 6 weeks though. We want to be sure that everything heals up nicely before you put any pressure on it."


Looks like I'm in for a pretty long boring winter :whoa:

 

[justalonewolf007]

Sorry to bump this back up to the top again...but I added pictures :)

September 8th!! All solid and happy!!!

And...3 days later...

DOH!

 

[nikki]

Hmm can't see the second pic? How's the healing coming along?