Am I crazy, 3 broke vertabre. Still Itchin to get back on my 06 450 le

[jgerdi]

Last Thursday I crashed at the end of my first moto . Instead of taking a break and adjusting my suspension from my last ride which was set for trails,I decided to ride at an even pace and try to build up my endurance. After about 30 laps ,just as I was ready to go in, my buddy jumps in behind me so "game on". 1/2 lap later I'm on my side spitting dirt and trying to figure out how to straiten out my legs. I finally got to my feet and with some help made it to my truck .

That night the E R x-rays said nothing was broke . So i sucked it up got my prescription and went to work the next day. I took off Saturday. Checked in to the hospital Sunday night. C T scan found 3 of the side parts of the L2 L3 L4 ARE broke. I went home Monday and back to work Tuesday.

Wife mentioned selling the bikes twice. And gave up.

All I want to do is ride. God I cant wait to get back on my bike. Am I crazy?

[biznet1]

Last Thursday I crashed at the end of my first moto . Instead of taking a break and adjusting my suspension from my last ride which was set for trails,I decided to ride at an even pace and try to build up my endurance. After about 30 laps ,just as I was ready to go in, my buddy jumps in behind me so "game on". 1/2 lap later I'm on my side spitting dirt and trying to figure out how to straiten out my legs. I finally got to my feet and with some help made it to my truck .

That night the E R x-rays said nothing was broke . So i sucked it up got my prescription and went to work the next day. I took off Saturday. Checked in to the hospital Sunday night. C T scan found 3 of the side parts of the L2 L3 L4 ARE broke. I went home Monday and back to work Tuesday.

Wife mentioned selling the bikes twice. And gave up.

All I want to do is ride. God I cant wait to get back on my bike. Am I crazy?

You should post this here https://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=48 and see what Dr. Mark has to say. I would think that you could allow them to heal, do some physical therapy to strenghthen your core and you should be fine.

[808 AIR]

You sound purfectly normal to me! After several broken bones and torn ligaments... people are telling me to stop riding.. i think they are the crazy ones! ?

[but head]

? wifes problems are just the begging because most of us are not making a fat living off motocross racing at least I am not wifes are not found of MX remember security is the most important thing to most wifes if you should get hurt and cant move or work you are no good to your family motorcycles are selfish I been around that block with my wife many times riding a dirt bike is something we can live without right? their is where the problem starts us men we get out their and we developer a love affair with riding and now the wifes think we love are bikes more then we love them it is a love hate relationship with the bikes sure most of us guys love our gals but it get tricky as a rutted track and we find ourself with many tug of wars and some times it gets down right sh-tty. I do not know many guys that not have some kind of problem from time to time about riding dirt bikes , MX racing ect. I seen some guys give it up because some wifes are just bitches and they have to sell the bike or get a divorce some guys choose an attorney . Riding is a lot of fun but it is dangerous theirs that love hate thing again it not like golf or fishing which most guys try or do because it is a lot less risky. I have borke around 8 bones riding in 25 yrs of riding and went back I guess I too stubborn or have too much pride I been told selfish ect ect. but when I ride its the funnest thing I know how to do for now but my time is winding down soon and I will give it up for good because being 46 yrs old hmmmm you know well my Friend it wont get any easier the wife thing and the tug of war with riding love hate , love hate just like marriage ? love hate

[PK]

I broke my back, T-7 actually, and I didn't know it. I went to work for 3 days before it got too much. I thought I had hurt my ribs and that was the source of the pain. Figured you can't do much for broken ribs but then I thought I better get em xray'd just in case. Doc says, "Ribs are great but you broke your back". I took 4 months off riding then started working out lightly, then riding again after 5 months. I know exactly how you feel, your not crazy, your passionate.

It will be hard for your wife to understand since she doesn't ride. My wife rides and there was a slight hesitation on my part when they told me I broke it but after a while I knew I wanted to ride again and the wife understood. I will say that I have dropped it back a notch. In the previous 2 years I had broke both my wrists when I landed on a bike that was left on the track, seperated a shoulder and broke 3 ribs so I was burned out on being beat up all the time. I watched my wife ride and she doesn't haul butt everywhere or jump everything but she has a blast, so I adopted her mentality now. If I don't feel comfortable on a jump, I don't jump it. If I don't feel like I'm on my A game, I drop it back a notch for the day. I wear a neck brace, chest protector, knee braces and everything else because I learned to dress for the crash. I know the equipment has helped in other crashes where I just pop up and take off again. Give it some time, your wife will realize how much you enjoy the sport, the only reason she is freakin' out is because she cares about you so take that in to consideration when you talk with her.

[grayracer513]

Two years ago, I compressed the front side of L2, which caused a permanent alignment issue in my upper lower back (?). If I read your post right, you broke the lateral processes (the bony extensions the spinal muscles connect to) (I don't even play a doctor, so don't start). Your long term prospects, I would guess should be better than with the type of injury I had because it doesn't directly involve a disk/joint. But do yourself a big favor, in a big picture kind of way; help it heal. ?

[Drfletcherdc]

I would give it about 8 weeks to heal and the less strain you put on it, the quicker it will heal. There is really nothing you can do except make sure you are getting enough nutrients in your body. Until then, give it a "break" with the wife. Women (no offense) usually say whatever is on their minds without thinking at that moment. It will blow over.

P.S. Chics dig scars.

[bosshogg]

OK, so first let me tell you...you are bummed.

Did you break the transverse processes? I assume that's what you mean when you say the side of the vertebrae. I cracked the right transverse process on my L-5 vertebrae playing football in high school. It was horrible. Not super traumatic pain, although it had it's highlights, but the thing took about 20+ months before it felt almost normal again. Completely ended me playing football and baseball forever. To this day, 15 years later, it still causes me issues occasionally. My lower back just doesn't feel 100%. You cracked a few of them, a little higher than I did, so maybe it won't be so bad for you. Can't really tell you for sure. Depends on how bad you cracked them.

The worst part for me was the slow healing, the dull aching pain, and the fact that I couldn't do much about it. I guess the shooting pain down my legs and numbness wasn't very fun either. I investigated surgery and decided against it. Too many worse things can happen when you open up your spinal column.

Best thing I found was strengthening the lower back muscles. But you won't be able to do that for months. Hyperextensions work well, your physical therapist should be able to provide some good exercises.

PM me if you want more info. Sorry to hear about your injury. That sucks. ?

[JetPilotAlabama]

I can relate. I broke 5 ribs in October on my new 05 450 and I just had the suspension worked to fit me like I should have in the first place and am back ridding happy as a clam. If someone dosent ride the just cannot see how we feel when we do ride. I ride street and dirt and love having two wheels between my legs and the freedom it gives us. All though my son got hurt last weekend on his new KX65 he still wants to ride. My wife is finally realizing that you can get hurt any where and until he wants to stop I will make sure he can ride with me. If and when I stop ridding MX I will always have a street bike in the stable. At 45 it really takes a little longer to mend than it did when I was racing 20 years ago so I am not sure how much longer I will be ridding dirt.

[biznet1]

You sound purfectly normal to me! After several broken bones and torn ligaments... people are telling me to stop riding.. i think they are the crazy ones! ?

Broken bones are one thing, but vertebrae are something entirely different. You don't Fock around with vertebrae, so it's not a good idea to give that kind of advice. ?

[KillerHiller]

Consider yourself lucky. You'll get better. Look at what happened to Fonseca! He may not walk.

Chances are, you'll be fine down the road. Getting big air is what can get you. As much as I love MX, I ride mostly singletrack now at 46. I'm very comfortable in the air still, but I know it's only a matter of time.

Trail riding can obviously get you too, but if you ride smart and stay away from the high speed stuff, you minimize the risk.

The MX track can become a schlong swinging contest, especially when you are dicing with a buddy. Being tired adds to the mix.

Get well soon! Do some cross training on your mountain or road bicycle when you get clearance, along with your therapy, and don't rush off to the track.

[kid on a 426]

I love being young ??

The worst crash I had was a year and a half ago I high sided over a little roller going like 30mph and had a concussion and ripped all the skin off my left side took a month and a half to heal

[Beejay]

No I don't think you're crazy for wanting to ride asap but make sure you are healed properly before you do.