Burned by Motorcycle, do I need to see a Doctor???

[HyperFerret]

Hi, I'm new here and I tend to post long posts, lol. I guess I'll post this here...

Anyone ever get burned by a motorcycle before?

I got to drive a motorcycle for the first time last Friday! (Been passenger many many times but never actually got to drive one before.) First my friend, Randy took my best friend for a ride and then he took me for a ride. When him and I got back Randy offered for me to drive it, he knew I have never driven one and was, of course, on the back of the bike with me the entire time. He owns a Honda 650 Shadow. I'm highly interested in owning a Honda 750 Shadow. So naturally, I got excited to hear he had a Shadow. Being my first time driving a motorcycle, I did great! Killed it a couple of times trying to leave the stop sign, lol, but other than that all else was pretty smooth.

Well, when we were approaching a busy street, he wanted me to pull over so he could turn the bike around for me. He pointed to a driveway and told me to pull in there. I confirmed which driveway and he said, " Yes, that driveway, but don't pull straight in. Pull in accross the driveway." ( The driveway had a pretty good uphill slant to it. ) I pulled in as he instructed me but, unfortunately, when the bike came to a complete stop, neither of us had planted our left leg to catch the bike. Therefore, the bike, with us still on it, fell into the downward slant. ( Man, gravity is a great thing. )

We did not lay it down hard but fast enough that we couldn't catch ourselves and the bike. The whole time falling, ( you know how it turns into slow motion ), I kept thinking about how everyone talks about getting your leg pined under the bike. So I was worried about my left leg, completely forgetting my right leg. Well, during the fall my right leg hit the muffler pipe. ( I think that's what it's called. ) Right when my leg touched the muffler, I just thought to myself, "Whop, felt that!", and I pulled my leg up away from it as fast as I could. Sure doesn't take long to get burned, does it?!

My burn is located right below the knee and to the left of the shin. Roughly, about 3 inches wide and 4 inches long. Surrounded by deep dark purple and 2 wide white circles inside of the purple. we treated it with ointment and gauze. 24 hours later it began to bleed. Now I'm treating with a product called "2nd Skin". Mom and a few friends think I should go to the doctor. One friend said it is definitely more than a 1st degree burn and another said it was most definitely a 3rd degree burn.

Okay, now... Is it really necessary for me to go to the doctor? Would she really be able to do much more to help? Can I not continue to treat it myself at home? Is there a specific ointment or what not that anyone recommends?

My burn certainly will not keep me off of a bike! ...I've actually even taken pictures of the burn... in case for some reason in the future or whatever... I take photos of everything, lol. I can't wait to get back on a motorcycle and I'm still anxious to own my own bike!

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated! Thank You Much!!

[Jenks]

Sorry to say, its gonna have to come off.



Jokes aside, id always say to go to the doctors if something is bothering you..
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[feef]

if it's started bleeding, then yes, I'd go to the doctor.

Sounds like a second degree, as thrid degree would require charring of the flesh, which doesn't sound like it's happened here. Also, ointments and creams at this early stage in a burn are likely to do more harm than good.


Get yourself to someone who knows.

a
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[Diggs]

I'd ask a doctor if you need to see a doctor....
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[Dot_Comm]

I've been on a few first aid courses, and they've said you should go to the doctor if your burn is either:

a) bigger than a postage stamp
b) bigger than a 50p piece

Obviously these are different sizes, it varies from course to course. I'd definitely get it checked out, especially if it's bleeding. Sounds painful.
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My bike: Suzuki Bandit 600 (33bhp)
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[GodzGift]

Sounds pretty bad, you should definately see a doctor and remember to drink loads of water, this will help with getting better.
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Bike Level: Amateur | CBT Passed

[iooi]

Get to the doc's.....

And at a guess next time wear LONG pants...... So you have no bare skin.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Jeneric]

- First-degree burns are red and painful. They swell a little. They turn white when you press on the skin. The skin over the burn may peel off after 1 or 2 days.
- Thicker burns, called second-degree burns, have blisters and are painful. The skin is very red or splotchy, and it may swell a lot.
- Third-degree burns cause damage to all layers of the skin. The burned skin looks white or charred. These burns may cause little or no pain because the nerves in the skin are damaged.

Do not put butter, oil, ice or ice water on burns. This can cause more damage to the skin.

Soak the burn in cool water for 15 minutes. If the burned area is small, put cool, clean, wet cloths on the burn for a few minutes every day. Then put on an antibiotic cream, or other creams or ointments prescribed by your doctor. Cover the burn with a dry nonstick dressing (for example, Telfa) held in place with gauze or tape. Check with your doctor's office to make sure you are up-to-date on tetanus shots.

Change the dressing every day. First, wash your hands with soap and water. Then gently wash the burn and put antibiotic ointment on it. If the burn area is small, a dressing may not be needed during the day. Check the burn every day for signs of infection, such as increased pain, redness, swelling or pus. If you see any of these signs, see your doctor right away. To prevent infection, avoid breaking any blisters that form.

Burned skin itches as it heals. Keep your fingernails cut short and don't scratch the burned skin. The burned area will be sensitive to sunlight for up to one year.


As above, my advise would be get to a doctor and get it checked out, doesnt sound like a 3rd degree burn so u got lucky but its definately worth consulting somebody just in case.
At the end of the day, a burn is where all moisture has been removed from the skin, the "degree" is basicaly a guide to how many layers of dermis (skin) have been affected.


Hope that helps mate, got most of that from my mum (ex-paramedic) and some webdoctor thingie.

[TorontoBoy]

A 3"x4" burn area represents 1% of your body surface area, not a small burn. You really should go and see a doc to ensure it won't get infected. Do you have pain? If you don't have lots of pain then you probably have a 3d degree burn, with the outsides being 2nd and 1st degree.

As Jeneric advises, wash the wound with soap and water and change the dressing daily. Put on a layer of antibiotic cream. If the dressing sticks to the wound add a little water to the dressing to soften it up, but do not just rip it off as this will reopen the wound.

If in a couple of days you feel the wound is warmer than your regular skin on the opposite leg and pus begins to develop that is yellow/green, then you need antibiotics to control an infection. If you are not sure it is infected take a pen and outline the outer red area of your wound on your skin. Wait until the next day and if the red area is beyond your pen mark you know it's growing more infected. Muffler burns are pretty hot and usually cauterize the wound, sterilizing the area.

I'm a St. John Ambulance first-aid provider from Canada.

A 750 Shadow is a large, heavy bike weighing around 550lbs and 75bhp. Maybe you should learn to ride on something smaller for a year and then try the 750 next year? You will learn faster with a smaller bike and much slower on the 750.