I am no longer 20 years old. (longish)

[jorian]

Originally Posted by look 171

heal quick my friend. Someone inexperience bone head crossed my front wheel in the rain on my road bike and I hit the deck. after 8 weeks, I am back to normal from a broken collarbone and three busted ribs. Don't let em' make you laugh. you will be sitting or sleeping motionless for the first two weeks. After that, you will start to feel better. Getting up from bed is the worst. My poor wife had to pull me up for the first two days. After that, I made sure to do it myself with a tremendous amount of pain. Hang in there, it get better each day.

Getting up was brutal for the first few days. Thought you were a roadie (look 171) look was a ride I lusted after when I was younger.

[jorian]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

Was this a previously ridden section of trail? Get well soon and post a pic of crash site. I'm having a hard time figuring how it all went pear shaped.

Don't have any pics of the site.

Here is a pic of me getting a ride out on the back of my buds bike. About 2 clicks out to the road - felt every bump and rock on the damn trail.

[wdfifteen]

Good for you! Getting busted all to hell doing something you love is a mark of a man who knows his priorities in life. Life is not about avoiding pain and adversity, it is about facing them and coming out a better man. When you get older facing them is more of a challenge and promises more of a reward on the other side. Kudos!

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by jorian

Good call. I will go back and nuke the stump.

I'm in Vancouver. In winter I ride on V Island. Qualicum Beach has a great trail network. Started by two guys and locally known as the KTM trail or Whiskey Creek, the network was just recognized as a designated off road recreation area by the BC Government. One of only two in BC. Awesome stuff in there. Very similar to the stuff in Cle Elum.

Squamish is a great spot too. About an hour north of me. We typically don't get a winter here so the trails are accessible year round.

Bad Snowmobile year here............Gonna come Ride UR trails......Heal quickly...

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by look 171

Don't let em' make you laugh. you will be sitting or sleeping motionless for the first two weeks. After that, you will start to feel better. Getting up from bed is the worst. My poor wife had to pull me up for the first two days. After that, I made sure to do it myself with a tremendous amount of pain. Hang in there, it get better each day.

I slept in a recliner for quite a while, as it was too painful to try to lay down. Sit down (wait- I had been sitting there all day already!), and let the chair slowly recline, and just sleep in that semi-laying down position.

Trying to get in/out of bed was excruciating.

[creaturecat]

Jeez, Jorian, sorry to hear this.
Take care.

My friend Greg(from N Van) - his brother was doing trail maintenance in the Kootenays.
He did not come home that night.
His trail buddies commenced a search in the morning.
3 or 4 hours later, they found him.
He was dead, his side still impaled on a small pointed stump, his hands were still on the bars, more or less.

[jorian]

The recliner bed in the hospital was terrific. Inclined back and knees slightly up. With a shot of morphine I could sit for hours and not move. Did I mention how good morphine is? Now I know how an addict feels. That chit is amazing.

[jorian]

Oh man CC that is awful. Not a quick death either. That is one of the reasons I'll never ride alone. I was lucky my buddies rallied me out of there quickly. Not sure I could have gotten out by myself.

[creaturecat]

Buddy Greg is still devastated. Happened in 2013.

[DanielDudley]

Broken ribs hurt no matter how old you are. It takes time for that to go away, hence the term, ''It only hurts when I laugh.''. Coughing is probably the worst though.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by jorian

Oh man CC that is awful. Not a quick death either. That is one of the reasons I'll never ride alone. I was lucky my buddies rallied me out of there quickly. Not sure I could have gotten out by myself.

You would have. Use the buddy system anyway.

[Holger]

Originally Posted by jorian

For those who don’t want to/can’t read to the end; I’m injured but bike is A-OK.

Sorry to hear, hope you feel better soon!

Originally Posted by jorian

There is however, a narrow 2 inch strip underneath my armpit that extends to my waist that is unprotected. Murphy’s law was in full effect as that exposed part of my side landed on the only stump sticking out of the ground for 50 feet in either direction.

Yeah! Murphy is my friend too!
I play inlinehockey in an oldieteam (I am 42), and the ball and the puck always seem to find its way to hit me in that 5cm gap between protector-trouser and chest-protector! Nowhere else! This is always a joy when positioned in front of the goalie to irritate him and one of the cracks fires a slap shot. (My grid helmet has saved me from several higher hits.)

[Scuba Steve]

WOW that sucks... I agree with going back and having the last laugh against the stump.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Well done, the activity and fun, not the broken stuff. I broke my right scapula and left collar bone mountain biking 10+ years ago when I was 40. ER doc looked at me and said, huh, not seen that combination before. Heel quickly (for your age) and get back out there. Starting to look for a dirt bike to join some local friends who ride.

[Rikao4]

consider yourself very lucky..
this could have gone south real fast..
might want to read a good field emergency book..
and carry a kit..

Rika

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

if you are breaking ribs at 50 crashing dirt bikes, you are doing everything right. What would hurt more, some broken ribs or sitting on the couch wasting your life away? I say job well done! Heal up soon.

+1

Good for you

I've only been off my FI450 Honda for a little over a year and the itch is getting unbearable.

Nice bike...ride on!

[matt f]

jorian,

Coughing, sneezing and/or straining at the bowel increases intrathecal pressure and indeed will exacerbate your symptoms, and has the potential to aggravate and/or worsen the injury.

When you feel a cough or sneeze coming on, if standing, lift one of your knees to waist level and support your ribs with your arms.
Same maneuver works sitting or lying down.
This will decrease intrathecal pressure and provide some lessening of pain.

I hope you feel better daily.
Opiates rock!

Matt

[jorian]

Originally Posted by matt f

jorian,

Coughing, sneezing and/or straining at the bowel increases intrathecal pressure and indeed will exacerbate your symptoms, and has the potential to aggravate and/or worsen the injury.

When you feel a cough or sneeze coming on, if standing, lift one of your knees to waist level and support your ribs with your arms.
Same maneuver works sitting or lying down.
This will decrease intrathecal pressure and provide some lessening of pain.

I hope you feel better daily.
Opiates rock!

Matt

Tried this and whaddya know. It works. Thanks!

[matt f]

I'll be here all week.
Please tip your bartenders.

On a serious note, coughing/sneezing/straining at the bowel increases intrathecal/intrathoracic/intraoccular pressure.
Even without an injury, or in your case, once healed, continue to do this.

Happy I could help.

Matt