The Cost of a Moment of Carelessness!

[skydoc_17]

This last winter was especially hard for us here in Central Pennsylvania. Piles of snow, sub-zero temps and as I have gotten older, the novelty of that whole snow blower, snow plow thing has worn off to say the least. What was once fun, has turned into a chore. Wednesday, two weeks ago in the evening, I was out on the back patio deck shaking my head in disbelief as I watched my first ride of the new season turn into a dash to put my bike away as the rain popped up out of nowhere. I came in off of the deck soaking wet, and started down the only three steps inside my split level home only to find my feet shooting out from under me and doing the "butt bounce" down all three stairs. I got up, dusted myself off and went to prepare for bedtime. The next morning, I was stiff as a board, and sore in the center of my back just below my shoulder blades. Being the trooper I am, I grudgingly got dressed and went off to work. Around 9 am I was moving through the factory where I work and one minute I am walking, and the next minute I'm crumpled on the ground with NO feeling in my legs. A few people came running over to me, (thinking I had had a heart attack) only to find out I was unable to get up and couldn't feel a thing from my mid back to my toes. A phone call later, I was on my way to the hospital via ambulance. XRAYS and an MRI reveled my L1/L2 vertebra had ruptured, puncturing the sheath around my spinal cord and had shut off any signals to my legs. Sever days went by before a "special" specialist could be brought in from nearby Pittsburgh to do a surgery on me. All went well for the most part, disc removal and sheath repair. I'm home now but will be looking at 12 weeks of PT and rehab "as my legs have forgotten how to be legs" as my doctor put it. I bring all of this information to your attention not for sympathy, but to remind each and every one of us that a moment of carelessness can change your plans radically, and possibly permanently! Be careful out there in all that you do. I found out the hard way that "I don't bounce as well as I used to". It seems I will have some extra time on my hands for the next few weeks. It would be my pleasure to answer any questions about any issues you are having with your motorcycles. I don't normally have this "extra time" to spend with my brothers and sisters here on the forum but as it turns out, I have just got an opening in my schedule!

Thanks for letting me rant,

Earl

[RDawson]

Wow, I hate to hear that. Listen to the doctors and take your time getting going again. While I've had a fairly serious back injury it was nowhere near what you're going through, I've never had pain that rivals a back injury.

:fingers crossed:For a full recovery.

[Jayceesfolly]

Earl:

 

Sorry to hear the news about your back and legs. Unfortunately I am in the same boat. I cannot ride and haven't even got the bike out of its winter storage yet because of a heart condition that I developed over the winter. I am undergoing tests now and hope to be on my bike by the end of June when everything is corrected.

I hope you heal well and quickly. Take care of yourself and do what the Dr. says.

 

Jim

[Venturous Randy]

Hey Earl, I sure hate to hear you got hurt. I suspect you are like me and have "lived" for spring and great weather finally getting here. You are correct in how a second in time can make a big difference in our lives, even when we think we are not doing anything wrong. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted.

Randy

[uncledj]

OUCH !!!

Best wishes for a quick and complete recovery. My thoughts and prayers will be with you. This gettin' old stuff ain't for sissies.

[luvmy40]

Wow!

 

Sorry to hear that Earl.

 

We'll be praying for you and a full recovery.

[slowrollwv]

Sorry to hear of your fall. Take it easy and do what the Doc says. These old bones don't heal as fast as they use to.

[Freebird]

Sorry to hear this news Earl. You said that you weren't asking for sympathy but unfortunately, you are going to get it anyway. We all care about you and hate it when one of our own is going through such things. Stay strong and heal my friend.

[SpencerPJ]

Sorry to hear of your mishap. Follow Doctors advise for quickest and best recovery. (easier said than done). I'll add you to my prayer list

[Marcarl]

Well now!!! No sympathy from me my friend, only because I do as I am told,, sometimes!! well maybe not that often, but there was a time,, at least once I'm sure,, weelll as sure as I can be at my age.

What a bummer, and you are one of those who find it enjoyable to get out to help others and so are normally on the move.

Things change, so here's my wishes that what lies in store for you may somehow come out to be a blessing in the end. I'm glad that you have already decided to be as helpful as you can here. Just don't be getting yourself 'underfoot' understand, you know momma didn't like that.

[BlueSky]

Man, I'm sorry to hear that. It must have been a painful fall.

 

In Jan 2010, my last day of work at a plant northwest of Richmond, when I left the rented house to go to work that morning, the melted snow dripping from the roof had frozen on the front steps and my feet went out from under me with my back slamming against the steps. I got up and went to work. After work, I had to load up all my stuff and drive home. My back was so sore I had difficulty loading the truck. But, I was lucky in that I didn't break anything that I know of and my back healed, well sort of. If there were back replacements available I would be signing up!

[bongobobny]

Holy Crap, Earl!! Sorry to hear this but I also know just how tough of an old bird you are! Best wishes for a speedy recovery and enjoy the time off, I guess...

[Du-Rron]

a phone call later, i was on my way to the hospital via ambulance. Xrays and an mri reveled my l1/l2 vertebra had ruptured...

 

Dayumn!!! BEST WISHES FOR A SPEEDY AND PAINLESS RECOVERY!!!!

[Condor]

Hang in there Earl... Seems like the older we get the more butt bounces we take... at least in my case?? So far I've been lucky and only hit my head so nothing damaged... I think?? :-) You take care and heal back to 100%.

[campfire12]

Earl sorry to here the bad news. Let me know if theres anything i can do Brother. Only 2 hours away. get Well!!!

[Karaboo]

Glad you are home, Earl.

Hoping your PT goes well and gets you a full recovery.

[cowpuc]

WOWZY WOW WOW WOW BROTHER - TERRIBLE THING THAT GOING PARALIZED BUSINESS IS:no-no-no:= SOOOO GLAD TO HEAR YOU ARE ON THE MEND MY FRIEND!! :clap2: thoughts and Prayers Up as you continue your PT and work toward a full recovery!

I had a very similar experience and can tell ya first hand,, that is simply NOT a picnic. Now though, looking at the scars on my back,, I stand (pun intended) in constant amazement and awe at the Neuro Doctors and what they are able to do with pardiciments like you find yourself in.. Not being able to move those lower extremities isn't the end of the world but when you are as active of a person as you have been thru the years it sure can seem like it. You done good getting it taken care of Earl, now focus on that PT - give it time to heal - spend those hours sharing your amazing knowledge and skills with us lop eared bone headed varmints and it wont be long and you'll be right back to normal.. Well,, as normal as,,, never mind,,, I aint pickin on my brother while he's down

[cecdoo]

Sorry to hear about all this Earl, but glad they were able to fix you up. Was just thinking of you the other day and wondering how your wife was doing, now that you are not so crazy busy will give you a call.

 

Take care, Craig

[XV1100SE]

Sorry to hear of your fall. I did something similar but it had to do with going down the stairs in the dark with a cat sleeping on one of the steps.

Hope you recover to normal soon !

[dogman]

Earl, very bad news. I'm sorry to hear of this and can only imagine the pain and fear you must have been feeling when you where taken to the hospital.

I'm glad to hear the surgery went well. As others had said the physio therapist knows exactly what you and your body needs to recover so do everything they say and all the exercises at home as many times a day as they say.

All the best for a full recovery and the pain to be controlled while on the mend.

[rpep1982]

Sorry to hear the news about your injury so here is something to remember: tiggers bounce!

the wonderful thing about tiggers

Is tiggers are wonderful things!

Their tops are made out of rubber

Their bottoms are made out of springs!

They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy

Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!

But the most wonderful thing about tiggers is

I'm the only one

Tiggers are cuddly fellas

Tiggers are awfully sweet

Ev'ryone el-us is jealous

That's why I repeat... and repeat

The wonderful thing about tiggers

Is tiggers are marvelous claps!

They're loaded with vim and vigor

They love to leap in your laps!

They're jumpy, bumpy, clumpy, thumpy

Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!

But the most wonderful thing about tiggers is

I'm the only one

I-I-I'm, the only... oof!

Ouch!

Songwriters: Richard M. Sherman / Robert B. Sherman

The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers lyrics © Warner Chappell Music France, WONDERLAND MUSIC COMPANY INC., WONDERLAND MUSIC COMPANY INC, WONDERLAND MUSIC CO., INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[djh3]

Wow that sucks. I slipped on some stairs coming out of an aircraft when I was in USAF. Fast forward 20 years. Was lifting loading some stuff and a few days later couldnt get out of bed, Ruptured disk L5 S1 area. Surgery fixed it. But I managed to screw that up a few years back somehow. And had similar thing while at work. Couldnt feel left leg, all numb and fuzzy feeling. Not bad enough it collapsed. But walking was a trip.

Hope all goes well for you.

[WRIDR]

Man, we LOVE 'our' Forum!!!

 

Look at the 'Sign Up' dates on most of these posts - '06, '08, and so on.

 

ALL of The Old Crew coming together to help one of Their Own. Beautiful, beautiful, Stuff.

 

As a relative 'Newbie' ('14) we humbly add our Best Wishes too. You have a TON of Friends, Dude.~

 

Warmest Rgds, WRIDR

[Sylvester]

BUMMER! Hate that this happened to you. Heal quickly so summer can be enjoyed.

 

[WIZ]

Sorry to hear about this, prayers for a speedy recovery.

 

Ron