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[NTHEWIND]

Eight months ago I went down, ending up with a T11 Compression Fracture and T12 & L1 Burst Fracture.  Surgery consisted of Posterior Thoracolumbar; T10-L2 Fusion and Fixation (i.e. 2 rods and a ton of screws holding my spine together).  

I am fifty years old, and riding has been my PASSION for the last thirty-eight years.  My '04 SEEG, '94 Custom Softtail and '06 CRF450X await me patiently in the garage.  All I want to do is get back, "In the Wind".

My surgeon (who might be great at repairing bodies, but has no understanding of living life) suggests the unthinkable... to give up riding.  I do believe though, that this would be his advice, even if I had not gone down.  Presently I can walk, and even drive an auto for hours at a time, with just minor pain.

I suppose I am looking for someone with experience of the ordeal I have gone through, and with the love that I have for riding, to tell me what I want to hear... go ride!  If anyone could possibly head me off in the direction of a medical specialist who could be straight with me, I would be very much appreciative.
Thank you,
      NTHEWIND

[hd-dude]

The big question is are you able to ride? Can you handle the bike in normal circumstances? If you are physically able to do it without hurting yourself further I would say go for it!

Best of luck to you whatever you decide 8-)

[Hoist!]

Eight months ago I went down, ending up with a T11 Compression Fracture and T12 & L1 Burst Fracture.  Surgery consisted of Posterior Thoracolumbar; T10-L2 Fusion and Fixation (i.e. 2 rods and a ton of screws holding my spine together).  

I am fifty years old, and riding has been my PASSION for the last thirty-eight years.  My '04 SEEG, '94 Custom Softtail and '06 CRF450X await me patiently in the garage.  All I want to do is get back, "In the Wind".

My surgeon (who might be great at repairing bodies, but has no understanding of living life) suggests the unthinkable... to give up riding.  I do believe though, that this would be his advice, even if I had not gone down.  Presently I can walk, and even drive an auto for hours at a time, with just minor pain.

I suppose I am looking for someone with experience of the ordeal I have gone through, and with the love that I have for riding, to tell me what I want to hear... go ride!  If anyone could possibly head me off in the direction of a medical specialist who could be straight with me, I would be very much appreciative.
Thank you,
      NTHEWIND

I'm real sorry to hear that NTHEWIND! Get well soon and back in the saddle is what I say. I went down in '94 and had knee surgery. They always tell you not to ride anymore, They also call them "donorcycles". Screw them all. They don't know us. Only you'll know whether or not you'll be able to continue riding. I draw my inspiration from a guy I saw on my way to Sturgis one year. He had no legs (bike accident). He jury rigged his bike for auto shifting, and 1 hand-2 wheel braking. He also had "training wheels" that came down when he stopped so he didn't tip over. Nothing was stopping him from getting back in the saddle! That was one of the most awsome, inspirational things I've ever seen! The way I see it, One day we all wake up dead. I'm not up to that yet! Until then, I just want to be free to ride my machine...! Just my $.02.

Happy Holidays and get well soon! Hoist!

[Fired00d]

NTHEWIND,
Sorry to hear of your accident, and dilemma. Have you tried getting a second opinion? Maybe even find a back specialist that is a motorcycle enthusiast that knows our passion and can give you a more informed diagnosis. Good luck, and I hope things work out so you can get back in the wind.

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

[Gettinold]

SOUNDS TO ME YOU HAVE ANSWERED YOUR OWN QUESTION. YOU KNOW YOUR GOING TO DO IT, ITS WHEN YOU DO IT, HOW MUCH PAIN IS IT GOING TO GIVE YOU, WHEN YOU DO. GOOD LUCK WHAT EVER YOU DECIDE, HOPE YOU CAN DO IT. [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]
         DAVE

[amigo Jorge]

Eight months ago I went down, ending up with a T11 Compression Fracture and T12 & L1 Burst Fracture.  Surgery consisted of Posterior Thoracolumbar; T10-L2 Fusion and Fixation (i.e. 2 rods and a ton of screws holding my spine together).  

I am fifty years old, and riding has been my PASSION for the last thirty-eight years.  My '04 SEEG, '94 Custom Softtail and '06 CRF450X await me patiently in the garage.  All I want to do is get back, "In the Wind".

My surgeon (who might be great at repairing bodies, but has no understanding of living life) suggests the unthinkable... to give up riding.  I do believe though, that this would be his advice, even if I had not gone down.  Presently I can walk, and even drive an auto for hours at a time, with just minor pain.

I suppose I am looking for someone with experience of the ordeal I have gone through, and with the love that I have for riding, to tell me what I want to hear... go ride!  If anyone could possibly head me off in the direction of a medical specialist who could be straight with me, I would be very much appreciative.
Thank you,
      NTHEWIND

I am sorry mi amigo.....I pray for you and hopefully you find a  [smiley=1112.gif] who can understand your reason of living.......

Merry Christmas [smiley=santa3.gif],

Jorge

[CVOMOE!!]

Very sorry to hear about your accident and dilemma.  I would be riding as soon as I was able to as long as I felt I was safe and wasn't going to cause any permanent damage to my body.  It would be hard to give it up at your age so I say if you can do it then do it.  You are the only who can really tell if you are able to handle the big bike.  If you are on meds for pain I may give it a second thought.

Get well soon and ride safe, CVOMOE [smiley=banana.gif]

[ccr]

Eight months ago I went down...  All I want to do is get back, "In the Wind"....
I suppose I am looking for someone with experience of the ordeal I have gone through, and with the love that I have for riding, to tell me what I want to hear... go ride! ...      NTHEWIND

First, I am sorry to hear that you are even in this dilemma.  Sure hope you heal better than you are now.  Living in pain is no fun at all.  If I could reccomend a little read, from this site and a long standing member of our site who was in an accident, hurt very, very bad, decided to quit riding, then changed his mind, lived though all the mending and repairs and is back in the wind himself.  Better hearing from someone who has lived it then one who never wants to see it.  

[altugo]

Sorry to hear what your going thru.In case you wont be able ride a motorcycle maybe you will be confort able riding a trike?It may not be exactly the same thing but close.And i guess its maybe easier to handle without giving too much pressure on your back?I never ridden a trike  so i really cant say how it feels like but my bike sure hurts my back even i have no problems yet.I just wanted to point a different alternative just incase.I hope you will be able to ride soon. [smiley=drink.gif]

[lucky1]

If you can have a good grip of the front brake and work the rest of the controls ok, then go for a short ride and see how it goes. I had a bad car wreck ('23Tbucket) years ago-torn aeorta,etc. Sold the bikes due to Dr. advice. Got a 05FLSTFSE last year. Hurt my spine at work, on 9/25/06 had C6-7 fusion. I have only been able to put 8600 miles on the bike, but- the pain is alot easer to take in the saddle than on the couch. By the way I am up to 400 miles at a time now.

[Twolanerider]

Minor advice to be taken or not at your own discretion.  It comes from someone with some degree of issue that will require (maybe) surgical intervention someday.  The question I asked and statement I've made to my doc were as follows:

Advise me on whether or not riding will cause further damage above and beyond aggrevating pain management.  Pain is a personal thing I'll decide on bearability myself on.  The Doctor can't know how I feel.  Doctors just tell me if it's doing more physical damage.  I'll decide if I can stand it or not.

[SPIDERMAN]

Don't know if any of my life's experiences compare to what you're dealing with, but for what it's worth, here goes.

I have really bad osteoarthritis. I currently have an artificial hip on my right side and an artificial knee on the left. I was not supposed to do a lot of things for a long time after each of those operations, but I rode to Daytona and back 4 months after the hip operation and went on a 6,100 mile oddessy 11 weeks after the knee. I had a heart attack in 2004 and rode 500 miles each way to Tombstone AZ and back 4 weeks later. I crashed at 70 mph in June of 2005 and was riding again in 3 weeks. I do not know what I'd do if I could not ride. I have often talked to my wife about the next phase, when the arthritis and implants get to the point where I cannot continue on 2 wheels. I will then move on to 3, but I imagine I am 20 years from that point. No one can or should tell you how to live your life. Only you know what you think and feel and only you know what riding truly means to you. For me, it is everything and I will ride till I die or die riding, whichever comes first.

Big B

[erniezap]

Sorry to hear about this and what you're going through.  I've had 2 back surgeries (L4-L5, L5-S1) and I am supposed to avoid any impact activities like skiing, hockey, running, etc.  That being said, I still play golf and ride, and occassionally go skiing.  I stopped palying hockey after the first surgery since that would be asking for trouble.  I am just a bit more careful than I used to be when doing these activities.  I'm not on any medications for it, and while riding I always use the back rest.  I don't have any issues, but I always have the though regarding what will happen if I go down in the back of my mind.  Ultimately you have to decide whether the risk is worth it and if you can ride safely.  I hope that this helps.

Ernie

[Gettinold]

Sorry to hear about this and what you're going through.  I've had 2 back surgeries (L4-L5, L5-S1) and I am supposed to avoid any impact activities like skiing, hockey, running, etc.  That being said, I still play golf and ride, and occassionally go skiing.  I stopped palying hockey after the first surgery since that would be asking for trouble.  I am just a bit more careful than I used to be when doing these activities.  I'm not on any medications for it, and while riding I always use the back rest.  I don't have any issues, but I always have the though regarding what will happen if I go down in the back of my mind.  Ultimately you have to decide whether the risk is worth it and if you can ride safely.  IU hope that this helps.

Ernie

WOW ERNIE, DONT HEAR OF MANY OLE BOYS OUR AGE STILL OUT ON THE ICE WITH THE STICKS, HOPE THE PUCK YOU DONT DONT GET HURT. TAKE IT EASY. [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[erniezap]

WOW ERNIE, DONT HEAR OF MANY OLE BOYS OUR AGE STILL OUT ON THE ICE WITH THE STICKS, HOPE THE PUCK YOU DONT DONT GET HURT. TAKE IT EASY. [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

I miss it big time, but the old body can't take the punishment anymore.  Sucks getting old, but sure beats the alternative!