First Concussion

[firecracker22]

Well I cracked my noggin (which is, of all my body parts, probably the safest to land on) pretty good today. Dirty~D and I set out to conquer Beverly Dunes and instead it conquered me.

The weather was BEAUTIFUL and I rode pretty good most of the first part of the day. I found a few milder dunes to jump and was practicing turning in the sand and jumping up the dunes. I came up the face of one I’d already jumped a few times and next thing I knew I was spitting sand. I was in 5th gear and somehow the bike and I separated midair. Don’t know how that happened. Probably because I wasn’t hanging onto the bike well enough with my knees. I don’t really know how I landed, I remember landing on my back and then the back of my head cracking against the ground. Sand is NOT always soft.

I was surprised that I could breathe, since I landed pretty square on my back and I’ve always had the breath knocked out of me before when I land that way. Thank God for chest protectors and camelbaks, I guess. I couldn’t stand right away—too dizzy (watch it, I know what you’re all thinking) and finally managed to go over and turn off the gas on my bike and start digging sand out of my eyes, ears, nose and mouth. D came riding up a few minutes later and saw me sitting there and I told her she missed all the action.

I was a little shaken up and didn’t feel so hot so we went back to the truck. I took a few more turns around near the parking lot but ended up calling it quits fairly early; I was starting to feel sick to my stomach. Not bad, just a little queasy.

As I was packing up my gear, I took the liner out of my helmet to shake the sand out of it and lo and behold, the foam inside was all compacted in three different places (don’t know how THAT happened since I’ve never hit my head at all in that helmet!). So now I need a new helmet too. :think:

To make matters worse, I called my mom when I got home to ask if it was ok to take any kind of pills. I’ve never had a concussion before so I wasn’t sure if it was ok to take any kind of painkiller or if some were dangerous. The FIRST THING she said wasn’t "Are you okay," it was "I think you should sell that damn bike . . . blah blah blah . . . " Gee, nothing like family support! :(

 

[john1216]

Sorry to hear about your long day FC. The only thing i can offer at this point is a soundbite or two... "it will feel a lot better when it stops hurting", and "well behaved riders rarely have fun"

Hope you wake feeling chipper tomorrow.

 

[Jeff Gilbert]

Glad you're okay. You know what they say, "Any crash you can walk away from is a good one." I bet you'll be sore tomorrow.

 

 

[dirty~d~]

Oh YEAH!!!  Today ROCKED!!   WE SO KICK BUTT.  :)  FC's crash must have been pretty spectacular... wish I hadn't been doing doughnuts on the other side of the dunes at the time.  Dagnabbit.   :think:   I'd have liked to have seen the air you had shortly before suffering from the laws of physics.  If I didn't know any better I'd say you were practicing your FMX skills behind my back.  ;)  I'd managed to get some air off a few of those dunes as well.  I can see myself becoming addicted to jumping.  I won't be attempting the kiss of death like my counter part here, but a tail whip or two wouldn't hurt.   As far as taking something for that headache... don't.  Just let it go away on it's own.  Concusions are not something you can take anything for.  Time is the only way to recover.  Just take it easy the next day or two and you'll be fine.

This whole weekend was incredibly awesome.  Thank you for introducing me to some of the BBR guys.  I hope that article and the pictures turn out for you.  :thumb:  Riding Tahuya on Saturday was great... up until it got dark.  Let's just say that you might not want to have your first night riding experience take place because you took too long out on the trails and had no other choice.  The mental exhaustion was far worse than the physical... at least for me.  There was a stump that will never be able to forget my KDX.  It will forever dwell in the horror.  I was lucky I didn't break my wrist on that crash.  As I layed there heeped in the middle of the trail I looked up and noticed my bike wedged between the stump and a rock.  Standing perfectly upright... staring down at me as to say "What the he** are you doing?  We don't have time for this!"  The two guys FC and I met up there were total sweethearts.  They'd never ridden with women and were very patient with us.  They both stated they'd had a great time.  I still owe them dinner.  I get a smile on my face every time I bump one of my MANY bruises. 

I'm sooooooo glad you came over this weekend.  Even as spur of the moment as our plans were I know you and I are always going to have a great time. 

Dirt sisters to the end.  :thumb:

 

[Pegasus]

Sounds like you we're lucky with your helmet wamped like that...Sure am glad you're ok ! Sounds like you were rippin it prety good !

When my dauthter at 9 broke elbow... FIRST THING I said was.. I told you not to ride that nasty pony bareback with a halter !! I was so scared.. it came out mad.. Kinda of a Mom thing...She later became a very good jumper rider...
My parents just quit watching me by age 12..I thought they didnt care but was later told it just flat scared them...:-)

 

[SpeedyManiac]

See a doctor!!! Concussions can do PERMANENT damage sometimes.

 

[dirty~d~]

She's not in 'need' of a doctor. After spending a few years in Sports Medicine I've learned how to watch people who've suffered head injuries. She'll be ok with rest. Besides, what would a doctor do? He'd say "You have a concussion. Get some rest."

 

[firecracker22]

Originally posted by dirty~d~
Dirt sisters to the end. :thumb:

Hell YEAH. :)

Belfair was good. I felt like such a hero out there--I never EVER get into 4th gear on the trails and rarely into 3rd anywhere else. Sometimes riding like that--even though the better riders among us turn down their noses at it for being too easy--is good for the soul. It wasn't as sloppy as I expected either! The last time I was there it was slimy and full of 3 foot puddles.

I was NOT practicing FMX. :confused: I don't even know what happened. I had jumped that particular dune a few times just moments before, so it wasn't new or unknown. Just a blonde moment (like the one on the freeway . . . I can't believe you didn't say anything!) that put me on my head. It's all good though, I can brag about it later. I just wish I didn't have to buy a new helmet. That one was fairly new and really comfortable.

I just wish the first thing out of my mother's mouth hadn't been a lecture on riding, and then that led into a lecture on my financial affairs and my mismanagement of my money . . . Grrrr. It's MY life dammit and I turned 18 and moved out quite a while ago! Just be supportive of the things you can't change, mom!

So anyway, I'm fine, it wasn't THAT bad of a hit--I wasn't knocked out and no memory loss or anything.  I just had some dizziness, I couldn't stand up right away, and a couple of weird spots in the corner of my eyes on the ride home.  No biggie.  Thanks for y'all's concern!

 

[Tahuya Rat]

Firecracker, very happy to hear you're ok, you're certainley not writing like one who's knocked their noggin too bad.
Am I hearing you and the domestic diva right....y'all been scarring stumps in tahuya yesterday and I missed it?????
Started the day on Green Mountain, but finished it in Tahuya, sorry I missed you.
Again, glad you're OK.

rat

 

[dirty~d~]

Originally posted by firecracker22
 

Just a blonde moment (like the one on the freeway . . . I can't believe you didn't say anything!)

I didn't think I would need to.  ;)  I just chuckled the entire time.  :)  When we were heading West I was tempted to pull up next to you and give you a thumb backwards. :confused:    It can be our inside joke. 

 

[firecracker22]

Originally posted by Tahuya Rat
Firecracker, very happy to hear you're ok, you're certainley not writing like one who's knocked their noggin too bad. 

 

Nah it takes more than a little bump like THAT to damage this skull!  Just rattled my brain cells and made them knock together a little . . . :confused:

Am I hearing you and the domestic diva right....y'all been scarring stumps in tahuya yesterday and I missed it????? 

:( I am sorry . . . I operate on a last-minute basis, and did not solidify my riding plans until . . . oh, 9 am on Saturday.  NEXT TIME I cross the mountains we will have a group ride for sure . . . Splatt, HondaXRGuy, MXP1MP, whomever else wants to watch me fall down for a day.  Might not be for a while though.  After Christmas?  You guys will have to keep me informed on the weather and let me know when a good time would be and I will see if it coordinates with a payday. 

 

[KTMster]

FC:

Glad you are okay but maybe you should still have a doc' check you out just to be on the safe side???

 

[JuliusPleaser]

Promise that you'll go to a doc if you experience any dizziness, severe headaches, cloudy vision, etc.

Concussions are a lot like a tequila hangover. The bad ones are REALLY bad.

Seriously, don't take any chances. Firecrackers don't make make tasty vegetables. I'd hate to have to move to WA just so I could feed you pudding for the rest of your life.

 

[bbbom]

Sorry to hear about the crash FC!!!

Tequila hangovers? Hmmmmm never had one of them before have ya? ;)

 

[Camstyn]

They aren't kidding.. A catscan would be a good idea, with any head injury no matter how severe or mild. If everything inside is not capiche, another bump could definitely turn you into a drooler. :ugg:

On the bright side, there's no better way to get a concussion.. It sure beats slamming your head into the garage door or something stupid like that! :)

 

[firecracker22]

I feel MUCH better today.  No headache or anything.  Probably not much of a concussion if one at all.  If anything weird happens (well like with my head I mean) I promise I will go in.

JP, you can feed me pudding anyway.  ;)

Tequila hangovers?  Why did we have to bring THAT up?  :think:

The bad news is the damage to my bike.  Looks like my bars might be bent.  It's hard to tell yet but they just don't look right.  :(

 

 

[CJ Rider]

Hmmm. New bars. Hmmm. What else might ya pick up while you're in the store? Hmmm. You could just claim that ya just don't remember how that spiffy new pipe got into the shopping bag along with the new bars. It must have been an "after effect" of the concusion. YEAH; THAT'S IT! (hehehe... 'Glad yer feeling better!)

 

[firecracker22]

Originally posted by CJ Rider
Hmmm. New bars. Hmmm. What else might ya pick up while you're in the store? Hmmm. You could just claim that ya just don't remember how that spiffy new pipe got into the shopping bag along with the new bars. It must have been an "after effect" of the concusion. YEAH; THAT'S IT! (hehehe... 'Glad yer feeling better!)

I wish . . . sadly, the $$ just isn't there.  Otherwise, I'd come home with a helmet, bars, offset t-clamps, braided steel clutch and brake lines, new plastic and graphics, new rear tire . . . oh wait a minute back to earth. 

 

 

[Jeff Gilbert]

Originally posted by firecracker22
  braided steel clutch and brake lines,  

I just heard the other day that the braided steel lines are not the way to go. I was going to buy a brake line but my dealer said not to waste my money. They kink real easy apparently, he said he sells more brake lines at the races to replace the steel braided ones because one crash and they kink up not allowing the brakes to work smoothly.

 

[splatt]

Originally posted by firecracker22
NEXT TIME I cross the mountains we will have a group ride for sure . . . Splatt, HondaXRGuy, MXP1MP, whomever else wants to watch me fall down for a day./B]

I was taking up the rear most of that last ride so none of you saw some of the bonehead moves I pulled.

Steve

 

[firecracker22]

Originally posted by splatt


I was taking up the rear most of that last ride so none of you saw some of the bonehead moves I pulled.

Steve

I doubt it!  Even so, everybody makes bonehead moves.  That's half the fun of riding.  I had great fun riding with you. 

In fact, when we pulled up to the parking lot Saturday, there was a guy there with a truck like yours and a bike like yours and when I said "Steve!" he turned around and said "What?"  But obviously it wasn't you.  It was weird though, he had a white WR that looked like your YZ and a Chevy pickup about the same year and color as yours. 

 

[GETMETOCA]

Glad you're feeling better, FC22! We can't have you all loopy when you show up at Reno, just wouldn't be right! OMG, you and dirty~d in Reno at the same time - the Biggest Little City in the World will never be the same......

 

[firecracker22]

All of us dirt chicks will have fun!  :aj:   You and me and D and Denise and Aimee and Firelily and gosh, I can't remember who all is coming.  Party on, Wayne.

Besides--I'm loopy anyway.  :confused:

 

[MikeT]

Step aside, Step aside. I am a PROFESSIONAL crasher and have had a few concussions (I think, can't really remember) and I can help you assess your crash. Oh, wait, you're doing better. Good, glad to be of assistance.

I am glad you're feeling better FC. Really, the first 24 hours are the ones you need to watch out for. Making sure you don't pass out or get dizzy or really bad pains in your head. Looks like your helmet did it's job. My MOTO7 did it's job a few months back. Hang in there you'll be better.

Any memory loss right after the crash?

 

[FireLily]

I feel MUCH better today. No headache or anything. Probably not much of a concussion if one at all. If anything weird happens (well like with my head I mean) I promise I will go in.

FC22, I'm relieved to know that you are feeling better now.
Take care!

Mini