Lucky to be alive - updated

[repiV]

I had a horrible accident on sunday, taking a corner at 60 when the rear slid out on me. i tumbled through the air and hit a tree, lucky to escape with "only" a broken leg. if i wasnt wearing my leathers/boots we would have been looking at amputation and i nearly lost my foot due to lack of circulation. really made me realise just how much respect motorbikes require and how one mistake can mean death. ive never felt pain like that in my life, it was like living one of those reconstructions from 999. i had surgery yesterday, theyre going to start teaching me to walk on crutches tomorrow and fotunately i should make a full recovery in 6-9 months altho i wil have arthritis. i type this from the hospital bed which is why im not as eloquent as usual, will probably ride again but with a much greater appreciation of the risks involved

[Burnside]

glad you're in one piece and still breathing

[Louise]

Nasty - GWS

[killa]

FOK!

Thanks, this reminds me how lucky i was to

GWS mate
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[wilbur]

All the best for a speedy recovery

[LeeR]

Yup, glad you're still alive and kicking (well maybe not kicking) but I'm pleased you're okay. My recovery should take about 3 months there's been a lot of this sort of thing lately.
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My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...

[shaba2000]

sorry you had an off mate.. Im glad you will recover with no major problems.

Wish you all the best.. stay positive and Im sure all will be well.
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kawasaki Ninja-zx6r 1997 (f3)

[shaba2000]

sorry you had an off mate.. Im glad you will recover with no major problems.

Wish you all the best.. stay positive and Im sure all will be well.
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kawasaki Ninja-zx6r 1997 (f3)

[repiV]

thanks guys, its really a bastard - riding a bike involves a very fine line between life and death. its horrible to think that my hobby and way of life very nearly caused me to die suddenly at 21. stay safe out there

[tokarev]

Good to see you are still alive. Get well soon!

I got away with a mistake myself the other day. Took a corner way too quick (it was deceptive...was much tighter than what it looked) and ended up in the oncoming lane. Luckily there was nothing coming otherwise I would have been either brown bread or in hospital.

[deanoet]

GWS!
Could have been much worse like you said.

Where abouts are u from?
Was there something on the road or just too fast for the conditions?
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[repiV]

[repiV]

[Ariel Badger]

[kitty kat]

Glad you are relatively ok, a lesson for all of us on 2 wheels.
Hope you make a speedy recovery
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
Life is too short to fall out with people

[deanoet]

[Elz]

GWS matey
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"Burn rubber not your soul"

[D O G]

[repiV]

Hey,

I thought it was about time I posted an update. The reason my earlier posts were short and lazy was because I was using one of those hospital bedside terminal things with the touchscreen keyboard. Not much fun on time or wrist.
I spent 9 days in hospital in total, although they let me out before I was really ready - noone seems to give a toss that my entire family is disabled and I have to do pretty much everything for myself. I fell over (collapsed on the broken leg) the night I came home, which hurt like hell. I'm managing now though, I keep things where I need to use them and just get people to carry drinks, food etc. for me. The family is suffering for the fact I can't help out much anymore though.
What actually happened is that the lower part of the shin bone shattered into little fragments, on the X-ray it looks like broken glass. Totally unrecognisable as a bone. Quite an incredible force of impact, surely. It took them a couple of days to decide what to do with me, then they decided on putting one of those enormous cages around my leg and keeping me in traction (so bedridden) for a month.
But when I woke up from surgery, they'd actually done a completely different operation - I have an external fixation holding it all in place. Which is good as I don't have to be bedridden.
This will probably stay in for another 6-10 weeks, and then they may replace it with a plate inside the leg, depending on how it looks at the time. I can expect to be partial weight bearing in 3-4 months and full weight bearing in 6-8 months, but it could be double that time before I'm as physically able as I was before the accident.

The worst thing is the isolation, I'm practically housebound and it's a very lonely existence. I can't work either and I have no idea how I would actually get to work. I live in London and I don't drive. Financial disaster from hell.
I really would like to get back to riding as soon as possible, partly because I miss it but mainly because I really want to be able to get around. I imagine riding with a broken leg and in winter wouldn't be a whole lot of fun anyway. I'd like to find out the practicalities and risks involved in riding with a broken leg, once the external fixation is removed of course. That it's the left leg is unfortunate, but I do have enough movement in the ankle to operate the gears.

To answer some earlier questions, no air ambulance - I got two ambulances though, plus the fire brigade to lift me onto the spinal board. Quite a turnout.

The bike looks completely bollocksed - it's smashed in and twisted at the back, the tank area is twisted to the left and the front fairing is smashed up. Numberplate, rear indicators and one mirror are missing, exhaust looks like a crushed coke can. But my friend who used to own the same bike spent about half an hour examining it and reckons I could fix it for about £1000, or sell the parts for a similar amount ('02 Fazer 600, fantastic condition pre-accident).

I think the "angel" comment medic was a female, but hey who cares - she did a good job.

It's not been all bad though, when something like this happens you soon find out who your real friends are and women seem to flock to a guy with a motorbike injury.
If I take anything away from this, it's that I'm determined to never have a similar incident again - I just don't know how to accomplish that and still have fun on country roads. Oh, and I'll be getting some income insurance too...

[deanoet]

Sounds nasty.
Hope you have a speedy recovery.

They sometimes change their mind once they start the operation as even x-rays and other scans arent as good as seeing the real thing. Maybe it wasnt as splintered / as bad as they first thought from the x-rays.


As to riding again soon, i would ask the doctors.
The only danger would be re-breaking your weakened leg, which could cause more permanent problems in the long run.
The body will mend itself, but it is never a perfect fix, and the damage can be cumulative. Regular breaks can lead to reduced movement and / or artheritis.
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[repiV]

[Stu_666]

Had an accident Thurs and broke my collar bone and like you say its so bloody boring being stuck around the house. Looked up some good stuff on internet though for recovery times and how bone heals itself so thats always worth a google on.

Anyway, hope u get well soon. Myself I'd prob keep off the bike until its fully recovered just in case u damage it again.

[repiV]

[Stu_666]

Looking on internet and it said 4 full recovery about 12 weeks. Still can move around okayish, just hurts even more trying to get up plus left hand is swollen (Hein gerike gloves did a good job though) and left toe has blue bruise under the nail which is a git to put pressure on. Also trying to keep fairly still for nxt few days to allow the bone to fuse properly.
Just so glad that i didn't need surgery like u. 1st of all the doc in A&E was saying that as the break was near the end they may need a wire put in it Fortunately (and prob more cheaper 4 them) i've just got a sling now.

[repiV]