my impending retirement from dirt biking

2

2smoke

Member

Sep 21, 2001

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• Apr 2, 2003

• #26

Second opinion...second opinion.....everyone above is correct. My Brother the football hero (40 year old fart now) had his doctor tell him knee was gone total reconstruction. Got wind of another guy in Sydney who told him his doctors didn't know squat and had misdiagnosed the injury. Just like mechanics some guys are better than others and doctors are just mechanics for the body.

 

M

Milkdud

Member

Aug 26, 2002

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• Apr 3, 2003

• #27

I sort of know where you are coming from, I shattered my ankle in March of 98. What makes it worse it was a uncommon break, the joint bone(can't remember the name atm) and a Catscan showed it in 13 pieces. I still remember the day in the doctors office after the emergency room, he said "your ankle is powder". He was honest enough to tell me he could do nothing for me and sent me to a specialist 246 miles away. From there they did reconstructive surgery and took bone from my hip to aid in reconstruction. It hurt for the next couple of years, then I had another small surgery to remove some hardware. That lasted a year or so with the pain gradually getting worse, until they had to fuse it in Feb of 2001...now I have my good days and bad, they are good for the most part. I also can not run anymore, I had to give up softball, but other than that I can do all that I did before.

I had to get rid of my 97 KX when I did it because I just didnt have the money from being out of work for 6 months. I threw all my riding tapes away and the magazine subscriptions that arrived went from the mailbox to the trash. Finally last November I got a 01 CR 250 and my kids a 03 RM 60 and a RM 65. I am having a great time with my kids, I am still getting used to riding again and I go very slow FOR NOW. but we are having the time of our lives.

Anyway this turned out longer than expected. I wish you the best and hope you can overcome any long term effects. Keep up the great attitude and things will just fall into place.

 

C

calamari racer

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Mar 7, 2001

119

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• Apr 3, 2003

• #28

Maybe you can find out about some of the docs the pros use. If you go to a supercross, go to some of the the team trailers and talk to some of the riders. Or maybe email some of the pros. I'm sure Travis Pastrana could provide you with a long list of doctors. There is a Dr. Ting that has been mentioned whenever a pro has an injury and needs an operation. I believe he is in Ca. Maybe you can locate him and set something up. I think it was Churchill that said "never give up, never, ever give up". Good luck. :thumb:

 

Ol'89r

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Jan 27, 2000

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• Apr 3, 2003

• #29

Originally posted by calamari racer
There is a Dr. Ting that has been mentioned whenever a pro has an injury and needs an operation. I believe he is in Ca. Maybe you can locate him and set something up.

Click to expand...

Jay.

This is a good suggestion. Dr. Ting has put many of my flattracking friends back together after other Doctors said, "they would never race again."

I will get you his phone number if you want it.

Never say never. :thumb:

Ol'89r

 

C

Chili

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Apr 9, 2002

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• Apr 3, 2003

• #30

I wish you all the best Jay. Like many others have said keep looking until you find a Doc with as positive an outlook as your own and get at the therapy!

 

RM_guy

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• Apr 3, 2003

• #31

Chili beat me to it (as well as everyone else :eek:) 2nd opinion for sure. Good luck man.

 

M

motometal

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• Apr 5, 2003

• #32

We have a promoter for harescrambles that only has one leg, and he's no doubt one of the faster guys in his class!

maybe you could find a doctor that rides motorcycles, then you would know he wasn't anti...

 

WaltCMoto

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Jan 1, 2001

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• Apr 5, 2003

• #33

Jay, do you remember watching Chris Brown ride? Throw a stiff ancle brace on that foot , put on a boot and get out there.

 

T

Tahuya Rat

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Apr 11, 2002

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• Apr 6, 2003

• #34

mx547, do a google search on "Photonic Stimulator". It's FDA approved and not a toy. Won't heal a bone, but can have dramatic effects to everything around it. I've been treated by it, only reason I was able to get back on two wheels a couple years ago, and been following the research on it for 3 years. At the least, should make a considerable difference on your pain level. If it looks interesting to you, pm me and I'll give you the # of a guy who's the head of clinical research for it.

Good Luck

 

T

TMax

Member

Nov 4, 2002

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• Apr 7, 2003

• #35

Second opinions never hurt, even a third if you get a different answer than your first. I would also recommed going to a sports doctor. It made a huge difference in my son's rehab of breaking the heal of his right foot.

Sports doctors understand sports and rehabilitation to get you back to your sport... If you should. Best of luck! Like everyone has said, don't give up!

 

D

Danman

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Nov 7, 2000

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• Apr 7, 2003

• #36

Sorry, to hear it. I will echo everyone else. Get a second opinion and work hard and I bet you will eventually get back on a bit even if its not MX.

 

CR Swade

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Jan 18, 2001

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• Apr 7, 2003

• #37

Jay, I've spent the last 15+ years working in the spa industry. Hot water does wonders for combatting the effects of arthritis and post injury range problems. The water combined w/ air (jet) action increases circulation around the joint group thus removing the acids that build up causing pain and stiffness.

Spas are not a luxury anymore. Literally they are a godsend for rumatoid arthiritis patients and injury sufferers.

 

4

490Dave

Member

Mar 18, 2003

316

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• Apr 8, 2003

• #38

LEW is right, a lot of Doctors are going to try and usher you in to the next phase of healing "the acceptance" part. Seek the advice of a Sports therapist or Physician, those guys (and Gals) are used to putting people back together to one day compete again!

Get Well Soon,
Dave....

 

MikeT

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Jan 17, 2001

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• Apr 9, 2003

• #39

Originally posted by jmics19067
I have seen a racer with one arm at Englishtown N.J.

Click to expand...

Man, I remember that guy! Is he still riding? He is REALLY fast. Simply amazing to watch.

 

MikeT

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Jan 17, 2001

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• Apr 9, 2003

• #40

Don’t lose hope. In 1998 I shattered my talus bone, basically the part of my ankle that allows my foot to pivot. I had two titanium screws put in it and had about that same 15 or so degrees of motion that you have. I thought it was the screws interfering and had them removed but still had the same pain and lack of movement. I also couldn’t run at all. As in your case, the Dr. offered the option of fusing my ankle. This is butchery in my opinion and would never allow part of my body to be permanently destroyed that is in fact what fusing would do. I did not lose hope.

Here’s what I did. I took every chance I had to get up and stretch/bend my foot until the pain was unbearable. I would bend it at work, at home, in the store, everywhere. I kept on pushing it and attempting to jog. I ended up jogging with a limp, which was unacceptable to me. I continued to push it until I was able one day to run on the grass during my lunch break at work. I still could not run on a hard surface because of the pain. Since I’m sort of a hard head I went out and bought a pair of running shoes which helped TREMENDOUSLY. I then started pushing myself to run on the pavement and then around the block. If my ankle is hurting, I simply take two Naproxen sodium (Alleve) tablets and the pain all but vanishes. You can actually take more (Dr. told me that) if the pain is bad usually after a run. Since that first run back, I have run in TWO 5K races and run a couple of hundred miles training during my regular work outs.

Since you DO have some movement, your only limitation should be how hard you push yourself. Remember your only limitation is how much you push or don’t push yourself.

MikeT

 

High Lord Gomer

Poked with Sticks

Sep 26, 1999

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• Apr 9, 2003

• #41

Note to self: Kick MikeT in the ankle on starting line Saturday! :p

 

W

wsmc831

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Apr 30, 2002

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• Apr 9, 2003

• #42

you might look at the rev-lok rear brake lever setup and efm auto clutch. I'm perfectly healthy and really, really like this setup. I don't have to use my foot to brake..or really anything anymore. A friend bought the autoclutch after basically destroying his left wrist last year, now has limited movement and not much strength to pull in...with the efm you don't need to worry about it..

don't need any feel on the rear brake either..if you apply too much pressure and it locks up..so what, engine keeps running.
I've had two rides on it so far and will be doing my first enduro on it this weekend...

Hell, when I was racing roadbikes, there was a racer that didn't have use of his legs, used outriggers...worked just fine, and he had a blast.

don't give up yet!

 

mx547

Ortho doc's wet dream

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• Apr 9, 2003

• Thread starter
• #43

thanks everyone for the support and advice. i will certainly keep your suggestions in mind.

milkdud, i'm honored (i think) to be the subject of your first post. :eek:

 

P

Pantera

Member

Nov 25, 2001

117

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• Apr 10, 2003

• #44

Originally posted by MikeT
Man, I remember that guy! Is he still riding? He is REALLY fast. Simply amazing to watch.

Click to expand...

First, Jay- don't you dare think of quitting.
Next that guy you speak of is my friend Harold Glissen. He is truly a amazing human.He rides with a altered set of handlebars so he doesnt have to bend so far to reach the clutch. He had stared racing in 78. He turned expert in D6 and held a pro number and has tried to qualify for a few Nationals. He makes his living by running his own landscaping business.Not pushing paperwork either. He rides a kick butt road bike also.His exsistance inspires me

 

MikeT

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Jan 17, 2001

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• Apr 10, 2003

• #45

Originally posted by Pantera
Next that guy you speak of is my friend Harold Glissen.

Click to expand...

WOW, you know that guy? Somebody should write an article on him like Transworld or something. I'd buy a mag just to read his story. I do remember seeing his modified handlebars. I guess he just has everything on one side...... brake, clutch, throttle. I forgot, does he have anything (arm wise) on the one side or is he just hanging on with one arm only? You don't have any pictures do you?

After seeing him ride back in 1986 or so, people just have to see him ride to believe it. I'd love to see a pic of him and his setup.

 

Last edited: Apr 10, 2003

MikeT

~SPONSOR~

Jan 17, 2001

4,095

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• Apr 10, 2003

• #46

Originally posted by High Lord Gomer
Note to self: Kick MikeT in the ankle on starting line Saturday! :p

Click to expand...

Note to self: Hit Gomers kill switch on the starting line... :p

 

P

Pantera

Member

Nov 25, 2001

117

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• Apr 10, 2003

• #47

Mike T send me your email rudee64@yahoo.com Im sure I can dig up a pic somewhere

 

RM_guy

Moderator

Damn Yankees

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• Apr 12, 2003

• #48

Originally posted by Pantera

...
Next that guy you speak of is my friend Harold Glissen. He is truly a amazing human.He rides with a altered set of handlebars so he doesnt have to bend so far to reach the clutch. He had stared racing in 78. He turned expert in D6 and held a pro number and has tried to qualify for a few Nationals. He makes his living by running his own landscaping business.Not pushing paperwork either. He rides a kick butt road bike also.His exsistance inspires me

Click to expand...

I remember that guy too. We used to wait for him to come around the track again just to see if our eyes were deceiving us :eek: Very, very impressive testament to the power of determination

 

CaptainObvious

Formally known as RV6Junkie

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• Apr 18, 2003

• #49

I agree with Mike T's post 100%. I too broke my ankle last August after falling off my bike in a creek. My break wasn't anywhere as bad as yours but I started therapy the day I got my cast off. In fact, after two weeks in the cast I rode a stationary bike and used a stairmaster for therapy. My Doc said I was nuts; I told him I was going nuts.

I have to agree with Mike, don't give up the little motion you have by having the joint fused. When the swelling goes down, and it will, you WILL regain your range of motion. You have to stretch the joint every 10 or 15 minutes, regardless of the pain. The pain goes away. Keep it raised and keep popping the anti-inflammatory pills.

 

slo' mo

slower than slow...

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• Apr 18, 2003

• #50

Jay, the human mind is the strongest part of the body. It can make people believe they can do things everyone else tells them are not possible. Having said that, I believe you will know what is best for you. Will you still enter the race at DW just so I won't be the only one who DNFs again? ;)

 

Last edited: Apr 18, 2003