I'm Back!!!
02-21-15, 09:32 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I'm Back!!!
1 auto accident
3 broken vertebrae (neck)
1 bruised backbone resulting in an arthritic condition
1 severed supraspinatus muscle
Dain Bramage or nerve damage robbing hearing in left ear
15 months recovery time, much of it in some neck brace configuration
40 pounds added
TIME TO RIDE!
3 broken vertebrae (neck)
1 bruised backbone resulting in an arthritic condition
1 severed supraspinatus muscle
Dain Bramage or nerve damage robbing hearing in left ear
15 months recovery time, much of it in some neck brace configuration
40 pounds added
TIME TO RIDE!
02-21-15, 09:45 PM
#2
Senior Member
"Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty..."
W. Churchill.
Keith
W. Churchill.
Keith
02-21-15, 09:46 PM
#3
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
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Welcome back.
02-22-15, 11:08 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Got rear-ended in my Ford Econo-box by a guy in a Chevy S-10. I was going about 40, they estimate him at about 70-75 MPH. The little Ford took a direct square hit, which is good, because that is how they are designed to take an impact. All body panels behind the front doors were crumpled and everything in front was darn near pristine! The impact snapped the metal floor panel parallel with the back bumper with the bread just behind the back seat. The Chevy left me a gift, I found the Chevy emblem off the front grill of the truck on the floor of the car in the front passenger area. I kept it.
After the accident, I was able to get up and walk around. The EMT arrived and turned white as a sheet and got me on a backboard right away. The ER missed the breaks because the simple X-ray they took looked for dislocated fractures and, as luck would have it, everything was lined upright for the X-Ray. Pain In the C-5 to C-7 area prompted my doc to call for a CT a week later and the multiple lamina fractures showed up pretty quick. Thank goodness they were not higher or I'd be playing a harp right now.
Got bounced around pretty hard and the right arm got extended/twisted somehow and the muscle there snapped. I have LOTS of bruising to my skull and there is a ridge of scar tissue across the back of my head that I am told will never go away. The area over my left mastoid was black and blue and I had unending tinnitus. Hearing tests gave me the bad news on the hearing.
Doc said no bike for a year and I had to get cleared before I could start again. That happened recently so I have 3 bikes to get to the shop for tune-ups so I can start back riding. I am re-evaluating safety gear to see if I can find something that affords better neck protection if I fall. Broken necks are no fun and I do NOT want a repeat performance. I am just now getting to the point that cars stopping behind me donm't cause a freak-out inside my head and I hope my mind lets me enjoy biking around all thise cars and trucks again. If not, then I'll have to find another way.
After the accident, I was able to get up and walk around. The EMT arrived and turned white as a sheet and got me on a backboard right away. The ER missed the breaks because the simple X-ray they took looked for dislocated fractures and, as luck would have it, everything was lined upright for the X-Ray. Pain In the C-5 to C-7 area prompted my doc to call for a CT a week later and the multiple lamina fractures showed up pretty quick. Thank goodness they were not higher or I'd be playing a harp right now.
Got bounced around pretty hard and the right arm got extended/twisted somehow and the muscle there snapped. I have LOTS of bruising to my skull and there is a ridge of scar tissue across the back of my head that I am told will never go away. The area over my left mastoid was black and blue and I had unending tinnitus. Hearing tests gave me the bad news on the hearing.
Doc said no bike for a year and I had to get cleared before I could start again. That happened recently so I have 3 bikes to get to the shop for tune-ups so I can start back riding. I am re-evaluating safety gear to see if I can find something that affords better neck protection if I fall. Broken necks are no fun and I do NOT want a repeat performance. I am just now getting to the point that cars stopping behind me donm't cause a freak-out inside my head and I hope my mind lets me enjoy biking around all thise cars and trucks again. If not, then I'll have to find another way.
02-22-15, 01:39 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: N.J.
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Welcome back! That is one heck of a story and a long fight back. I hope you have continued success and progress.
02-22-15, 01:53 PM
#9
VFL For Life
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 51,219
Bikes: Velo Volmobile
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02-22-15, 04:23 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Southeast Michigan
Posts: 290
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Tarmac Apex Mid Compact, 2013 Specialized Sirrus Elite, 2007 Giant Boulder se
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Wow...welcome back. I remember seeing your name on some threads befoe I made an account and was a lurker. You deserve to get riding again
02-22-15, 04:35 PM
#11
Old Fart
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bumpkinsville
Posts: 3,348
Bikes: '97 Klein Quantum '16 Gravity Knockout
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Ouch! Glad you made it, and are somewhat O-K. This is why I drive large beefy vehicles...a few hundred dollars a year in extra gas is cheap insurance.
