Getting Back On The Ride, After Injury

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I had a crash on King St downtown. SUV pulled out from behind a WB streetcar (making a left). I was EB @ 50kph. He braked and stopped in my lane. I braked and swerved. I caught his drivers side bumper/headlight with my left fork/rad/ankle and went over the bars.

I don't remember letting go of the bike, opened my eyes on my back looking up at the sky to a lady asking if I needed 911 and the driver of the SUV asking if I was OK. Police/Fire/Ambulance arrived (in that order) Fire checked me first and then ambulance. I felt OK so I refused transport to hospital. Did the whole rigmarole with the officer. Other driver charged on site, witness info taken so I was free to go.

Handlebars were bent (didn't realized fork/rad was damaged) bike ran so I rode home. Wife took me to urgent care to make sure I was OK (i was and spent less than 2hrs there). Lots of Advil and a several hot showers/baths I was fine but limping the next day. Took it easy for a while, started riding my wife's bike later that week.

Other than being hit and having to deal with Kahuna (I spit on their service dept) for the repairs, it was a painless experience.
From cops to insurance adjusters to appraisers to DSP who eventually finished fixing my bike it was an experience that couldn't have gone better

 

[MrMeeseeks]

Question for those of your in the multiple crash club:
- If you break the same bone twice, what's the outcome? Can they reset it again? It must hurt like a sonofab**ch if you land on a pile of scar tissue from a previous incident, no?

 

[Ikan]

Many people who have had a huge scare and/or injury during a ride,
do not ride anymore.

I would like to know from those of you, who have sustained a motorcycle injury, regardless of circumstance.

How did you rise above any anxiety, developing confidence to ride again - even though there may be some physical weakness from broken bones etc, and/or influence by the idea of bad luck?

Please submit your experience.

"Please submit your experience!"

Anyone ever notice how the OP never participates themself? Even when they were asked.
Kinda makes one wonder what they are really up to.
Not a very open and forth coming person!?
Probably +100,000 motorcycle accidents a year world wide so why the cloak approach? Just an observation.
Maybe they are not what they present themself as.

 

[JohnnyP636]

Ive crashed many times in my life, but Ive luckily only had 2 injuries that required hospital attention. My first was this summer I bailed in a corner and fractured the radius bone in my right wrist, had to wear a cast for 5 weeks. Took about a week after that to get enough strength and movement back into it to be able to ride. Got right back on the bike when I was able too...Im just now about %90 strength/movement in that wrist...It wasn't that serious so it didn't even make me think about not riding again...

And just recently on my birthday in December I was pulling into my birthday party on my birthday/christmas/new year vacation, was in Jamaica so I was beach bum styling it with sun glasses and a baseball hat. Dude that lives there didn't see me pulling into the driveway and did wheelie, rode his bike into the side of mine at like 70-80 km/h and shattered my skull, also burst my radiator spewing coolant onto my arm burning it badly. Flew home and straight to Sunnybrook in critical condition, had major 13 hour surgery to repair my cracked skull. Was in there for 3 weeks, and have more surgery booked to try and fix my eye in June.

Not riding again crossed my mind because I wasn't able to open my left eye for 7 days. I wasn't even sure it was still there...I'll ride as soon as I can though, might have to up size my helmets to fit my new skull shape but I'll make it work....The only time I consider not riding again is right after my accidents, during the healing process I snap out of the depression and focus on getting better and back to riding.

 

[Dr.Manhattan]

Question for those of your in the multiple crash club:
- If you break the same bone twice, what's the outcome? Can they reset it again? It must hurt like a sonofab**ch if you land on a pile of scar tissue from a previous incident, no?

Yes it is possible. Eventually the bone can callus and the nerves can become next to dead. Just as an example, a lot of Muai Thai kick boxers will break there shins growing up multiple times to increase the strength of the bone and lose the sensation of pain. It's also possible, to break your legs, and become taller from calcium build up in the bones when they heal.

 

[ViperZ]

Yes it is possible. Eventually the bone can callus and the nerves can become next to dead. Just as an example, a lot of Muai Thai kick boxers will break there shins growing up multiple times to increase the strength of the bone and lose the sensation of pain. It's also possible, to break your legs, and become taller from calcium build up in the bones when they heal.

I wonder what happens if someone breaks the same bone again, but the bone has the titanium plate over it. Just sounds like a big mess.

 

[Fiery254]

Minor, minor breaks are easy to deal with. My right hand thumb has been broken twice, dislocated once and I ripped the tendon away from it once as well, all in the last 3 years. I've lost some movement but so what? I can still operate a throttle, hold a ski pole and wank. I do fear breaking my right wrist again though as it does have a plate in. Not sure that'll be easy to shrug off.

As I sit here typing i'm nursing a (untreated as of yet) broken bone in my left hand. I'm off to Jennings this week so theres no point in getting a cast put on. So that'll probably be another operation by the time I get to A & E.

 

[Fiery254]

Was in there for 3 weeks, and have more surgery booked to try and fix my eye in June.

Who is dealing with your eye? I had a Dr Ing do a bit of reconstructive surgery on mine but ended up having a plastic surgeon (Dr Antonyshan) finish the job properly. He stole a bit of bone off my hip and stuck it in there.


Nice pics btw. Make a lovely Halloween mask.

 

[JohnnyP636]

Who is dealing with your eye? I had a Dr Ing do a bit of reconstructive surgery on mine but ended up having a plastic surgeon (Dr Antonyshan) finish the job properly. He stole a bit of bone off my hip and stuck it in there.


Nice pics btw. Make a lovely Halloween mask.

My eye doctor is Dr. Catherine Birt, Dr Antonyshan is also my plastic surgeon that did my surgery on my skull/face..He also took tissue from my hip and used it in my face...Hes a really good guy

 

[-JERICHO-]

How did you rise above any anxiety, developing confidence to ride again - even though there may be some physical weakness from broken bones etc, and/or influence by the idea of bad luck?

Its all in your head. You either want to ride so much that nothing will deter you (not even pain).. or the idea of getting hurt (again), and the pain associated with it keeps you from getting on your bike.. or maybe you have kids, and you are worried about that side of things. I guess you won't know until it actually happens.

I dealt with my fears by going out with friends I trusted only for a while (or alone).. until I built up my confidence in my own abilities in variable situations. I did a lot of slow speed parking lot practice, just to get a feel for my bike. Rolls, slow tight turns, just learned to control the bike as much as I thought I could in slow speeds.

Also crying on GTAM helps.. it helps to have other people that share your (passion, obsession, love.. etc..) give words of encouragement to help get over things. Especially if the person is a more experienced rider.

 

[ABCarr]

I remember reading this thread last winter and thinking....."Wow, these guys have sure been through a lot of ####....I hope it never happens to me. I'm not sure how I would react". Well....I got to find out 4 weeks ago. A regrettable situation found me unable to avoid my friend's unexpectedly-stopped Harley on a downhill section of crappy, narrow country 2-lane. I was probably following too close....clipped his back fender and went down. A broken collarbone, banged up knee and my bike close to being written off.

After 4+ weeks, my arm is out of the sling and the collarbone is finally feeling a bit better; knee is still a bit tender and numbish but improving; bike should be back to as-new condition after a bunch of new parts and $1000 deductable. My uncertainty surrounds my confidence going forward and my motivation to ride. As a newer (second season) older rider with a 10-year-old son and an increasingly concerned wife, there may be reasons why I could justify packing it in. My gut, however, is telling me that I'm hopelessly addicted already and by the time my bike and body are ready, probably by the end of the month, I'll be hopping on again.

 

[Jax]

I didn't crash but ..... i tipped my bike over backing into a parking space in Halls Harbour NS this summer. I went down with it. I was in a major rush to get to the lobster tank to choose my lunch. I bruised my hip big time and my brand new helmet hit the ground pretty good. Glad i had my helmet and padded leathers on. I did learn a couple things though. One: my bike is friggin heavy when fully loaded with 12 days worth of "stuff". Two: I shouldnt be such a piggie in a rush because there's lots of lobster in NS to go around!

 

[toysareforboys]

Not riding again crossed my mind because I wasn't able to open my left eye for 7 days. I wasn't even sure it was still there...

Man, I and I thought I had some cool xrays!! Yikes! I can't believe you made it through that!!

Dr Antonyshan is also my plastic surgeon that did my surgery on my skull/face..He also took tissue from my hip and used it in my face...Hes a really good guy

Same Dr. for me too! Took the skin from my leg/hip and put it on my head as well *warning* http://ecuflashking.com/accident

-Jamie M.

 

[WoBblyCaT]

Ask Recidivist.

/end thread.

 

[Griffin]

I remember reading this thread last winter and thinking....."Wow, these guys have sure been through a lot of ####....I hope it never happens to me. I'm not sure how I would react". Well....I got to find out 4 weeks ago. A regrettable situation found me unable to avoid my friend's unexpectedly-stopped Harley on a downhill section of crappy, narrow country 2-lane. I was probably following too close....clipped his back fender and went down. A broken collarbone, banged up knee and my bike close to being written off.

After 4+ weeks, my arm is out of the sling and the collarbone is finally feeling a bit better; knee is still a bit tender and numbish but improving; bike should be back to as-new condition after a bunch of new parts and $1000 deductable. My uncertainty surrounds my confidence going forward and my motivation to ride. As a newer (second season) older rider with a 10-year-old son and an increasingly concerned wife, there may be reasons why I could justify packing it in. My gut, however, is telling me that I'm hopelessly addicted already and by the time my bike and body are ready, probably by the end of the month, I'll be hopping on again.

Seems like you recognized you erred by following too closely. Learn from that and you're a better rider with less chance of falling down in future. You're your biggest hazard when riding. If you realize that, know your limits and ride within them, you'r fine. But, if you don't feel confident or feel that it may be very difficult to regain your confidence, there's also nothing wrong with deciding that riding is not for you.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

 

[Paul1000RR]

Many people who have had a huge scare and/or injury during a ride,
do not ride anymore.

I would like to know from those of you, who have sustained a motorcycle injury, regardless of circumstance.

How did you rise above any anxiety, developing confidence to ride again - even though there may be some physical weakness from broken bones etc, and/or influence by the idea of bad luck?

Please submit your experience.

In my opinion those people were never passionate about motorcycles to begin with. They purchased bikes cause it was "cool", then got a bit of a scare and said **** it. Just read all the replies here and you'll find the real enthusiasts.

When i messed up my shoulder a couple years ago i still rode a dirt bike, or atleast tried to lol
Soon as i got a bit better went out and picked up a street bike.
Got smoked last year and on the way home was figuring out what parts i needed to get back on. To this day my knee has its days and makes funny clicking noises.
I ain't giving this up, EVER.

 

[BusaBob]

i've had three "off's" so far. Nothing too serious. Looked worse than it actually was. A few broken ribs one time, separated my shoulder another and dislocated my big toe as well (stopped wearing runners after that one).

it's a little unnerving to get back on the bike initially, but the desire to ride again far outweighed any trepidation.

 

[ViperZ]

In my opinion those people were never passionate about motorcycles to begin with. They purchased bikes cause it was "cool", then got a bit of a scare and said **** it. Just read all the replies here and you'll find the real enthusiasts.

When i messed up my shoulder a couple years ago i still rode a dirt bike, or atleast tried to lol
Soon as i got a bit better went out and picked up a street bike.
Got smoked last year and on the way home was figuring out what parts i needed to get back on. To this day my knee has its days and makes funny clicking noises.
I ain't giving this up, EVER.

Never say never. Messed up shoulder is nothing compared to cracked skull or seeing your arm/leg bone sticking through the skin+jeans, etc. etc., plus the rehab process is way more extensive. The feeling when you wake up after the surgery and the painkiller has expired is pure joy. The feeling when the cast comes off after several weeks and you cannot rotate your arm at all (and it takes several weeks to get most of the rotation back) is also nothing but extatic.

 

[DraginMiFeet]

I've told this story a couple of times in other threads so I'll make it short. Happened 2 April 2012.

I was t-boned by a white construction van and I didn't stand a chance of it missing me. Smashed my head on the truck window, drove me into the pavement and smashed other side of my head on the pavement (destroyed my helmet). Soft tissue damange from head to toe. Went to hospital by ambulance released that night. Off work for a week. I could barely walk, couldn't negotiate stairs, wife fed me, dressed me each day. Still in Physio for torn shoulder and lower back.

The Police did not charge the truck driver citing that his view was impaired by a parked car.. I thought.. WTF. So it's okay to almost kill someone because there's a parked car. He was at fault and his insurance paid for my bike, helmet, jacket, gloves. And my physio.

My bike was totalled. After I found out my bike wasn't going to be fixed, my wife said you should really think twice about riding again. I did... for a whole 10 seconds. As soon as I figured I could get my leg over the bike seat I went out and got another. MOved up from a 750 honda to a 1300. And have put over 6,000 kms on it since. Now I have a fear of white constructions vans. LOL.

I found it quite easy to get back on a bike, even though I had a similar accident last october with same type of injuries but the bike was fixable then and once again as soon as I could lift my leg over the seat I was off and riding.

 

[Renboy]

I think this is a great thread, though I can't add to it since I've never been in a motorcycle accident serious enough to warrant a phobia, or even a half decent story for that matter.

After reading the whole thread though, I am left wondering, are there any veterans that haven't been in a serious accident?

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