OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: Viper666 on November 13, 2009, 12:04:55 pm
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Straight from the start I'll tell you I'm having a whinge, a big one.
Just got the results of my shoulder MRI and it aint good. It was an innocuous fall at slow speed just hit the wrong way. (Is there a right way?)
So much damage that the surgeon is not sure he can fix it. If he can there is a likelyhood, even if I look after it (No riding), it will go again.
If he can't then it's a new shoulder but he says it wont last either but I should get 10-20 years out of it. Good thing with the new shoulder is that I can ride again but by the time I heal I may not be capable.
I am pissed off!
Viper666 (Not for much longer)
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Doctors hate us for riding dirtbikes and will tell you anything to stop you riding. Get it fixed and start working on some strength as soon as you can, then see how you go. Too early to retire just cos the doc says so. There's many a man out there going strong after being told "never to ride again". If you were a footballer or golfer, he'd probably be reassuring you that you'd be back on the course in no time.
Cheers,
K
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I'm with BigK. Try and stay positive and work on it as soon as possible.
I was told I'd never work again, let alone ride a bike again. That was 1987.............. ;D
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looks like i've done the same thing slow fall, waiting for ultra sounds to confirm , rotator cup tear. Won't stop me riding though. The other one's held together with teflon.
Don't give up Viper666, just wait and see and yeah strength exercises.
Barry
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I know it cost more,but I'm a true believer in getting a second opinion...saved us shit load of medical expenses and pain in the end.. :P
cheers
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Neale at blue rock at the start of this year I did 1 race didnt fall off when I came back to the pits
I could hardly move my arm.On the monday went to the hospital because of the pain they did an ultrasound
and said I had a rota cuff tear and would have to have an operation.Spoke to a freind who had this op and they said
to try somthing else as their shoulder was still shit after 9 months and they were told that its as good as it gets.
I went to see a sports massue and after 6 sessions my shoulder is better than my friends after the first session I could
move my arm 5 times as good as when I went in and could lift it over my head.I not saying he can fix yours but I would try
somthing else before having an operation. Mind you the sports guy charged $90 for 1/2 an hour but whow cares he fixed it up
and I am now riding again with no pain in my arm or shoulder.
Andy
Viper #70
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There's a couple of US mx'ers who have used shoulder braces sucessfully. I think Guy Cooper (where's he these days) used one.
Thing aboutreplacements is that they may give you an extended life after which it's very bleak but implants WILL improve dramatically in the next 20 years.
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Hi Neale,
Get a second opinion before you hang up the helmut.
Or maybe just kepping getting opinions until you find a DR that will tell you what you want to hear.
Seriously through a second opinion is well worth it.
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2 options here
start weight lifting 8 oz cans of piss to build the shoulder up
give up
me i wouldnt give up mate we all need to live and if dirt biking makes you live makes your heart go fast makes you feel good you wont give up
ive just gone through number 5 dose of skin cancer but im not going to give up even if i dont win i have fun doing it and it keeps me living
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I wholeheartedly agree with the second opinion option. Wife went through 9 months of being jerked around by the GP over her shoulder - cortisone, physio, drugs etc etc etc - we said enough is enough - went to our specialist - seriously in 5 minutes he said this is the problem - went into hospital inside 2 weeks and she is better now not long after surgery during recovery than she was months before.
Hope all goes well V666!
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What exactly did you do Neale?
There seems to be a commmon thread here: minor accident = shoulder injury! I've got a permanent grade 3 separation now after a spill last year. Looks weird as hell, but I've got full use of the limb. It still aches from time to time, but no big deal.
I wear an EVS brace on it when I ride now.
I could've had surgery but decided not to for a number of reasons.
My chiropractor didn't say to quit riding, I just had to stay off dirt bikes for a while until it healed. I kept riding my road bike though, even to the appointments, which he found amusing!
It sounds like your injury is much more serious than mine though. Like VMX247 says, maybe a second opinion is required before you make a major change to your life.
Good luck!
Tex
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A mate of mine in Perth told me about a guy called Gonzalez or something, that does weird witch-doctor type stuff. ??? He thought it was crap but gave him a go for a knee injury that had him laid up for weeks. This guy fixed him in a few minutes and he was back playing soccer that weekend.
Ever heard of this guy VMX247?
Regardless, the point of the story is that maybe you could look further afield than Western medicine.
Just a thought............... ;D
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So much damage that the surgeon is not sure he can fix it.
Viper666 (Not for much longer)
Love MRI's worth every cent.Can be used/shown universally 8)
The above statement shows to me that he/she doesn't seem to have much faith in themselves or its a too hard basket job. :(
I'd still be going down the road ;D
Best wish's V666
ps Tony T,I'm only familiar with an old medical mate called Catwiesel. 8)
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I wish some doctor would tell me I can't work again....... :-\
Yeah I'd get a second opinion Neale. If I wasn't happy with that then a third, fourth, fifth until I found one that said "Fug it mate. Keep on keeping on."
I was told last year that my shoulder was cactus and that only surgery would fix it. I just kept on riding (and doing as little work as possible) and now it's fine!
Come on mate. Year of the Yamaha next year and all........ ;)
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Fell on the point of my shoulder and the surgeon doesn't know I ride. Original injurey was a tear of the tendon and was waiting for surgery but by that time I was managing with drugs. I had full movement it would just "catch" sometimes. Just learned to live with it as I hate surgery. Now I cannot lift it above shoulder height. Funny thing is it doesn't hurt much to ride but after what he told me today I'm shit scared to throw the leg over. (Bike that is, not the missus)
But a recent unrelated injury that was treated with quarter zone had in fact weakened the existing injury to the point I now have a 4cm tear and separation.
Being the sook I am I have looked at worse case scenario.
Just when I talked my mate into starting I may be finishing. I'll still be there as my son wants to continue.
I know no matter what, the urge will eventually overcome common sense. May just have to pick and choose my races and tracks.
I will try some physio in the meantime, fingers crossed.
Thanks for the support, I will excercise it vigurously tonight. Wont change hands all night. (Stubbies boys, get ya minds out of the gutter)
Viper666 (They'd have to retire my number, wouldn't they?)
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sell the number to pay fo the opp :D
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Come on Neal keep riding am sure all these guy's will pay your Medical bill's for the next 2 years fork ME
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What did Steve McQueen say?......Oh yeah:
Racing is living. Everything else is waiting. (to die I think he meant to put on the end...)
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hi
i had a rotor cuff tear about 12mm long.i could not lift up my left arm at all.went to specialist and he told me i could be back on a bike only if i followed his instrucions to the hilt.7 keyhole cuts in the op.12months of rehab,couldnt drive a car for 3 months.NEVER lift weight above sholder.any way that was 2 1/2 years ago.raced bike now but always dirt track.1 bad fall on shoulder got up and kept on riding.now the bad thing weeding the garden 2 weeks ago strained left shoulder,not real flash at the moment but it is slowly getting better.
follow what the doc says and strenght will come back,also dont weed the garden!!!!!
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Thanks jimg1au,
The doc said the average tear is 1.5-2.0cm, mines 4.0cm (40mm). There in lies the problem. he can stretch back up and reattach but it will be like a guitar string, just waiting to snap.
Viper666
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i know your pain viper66 i need to get my shoulder re broken from a previou improperly heald injury :-[ was spossed to get it operated on over chrissy but i think i can strech it out a few months
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Come on Neal they want you to keep riding but :-*meaning fork your health >:( Am sure ross will come over and rub your shoulder and give you a sponge bath :-*
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After surviving 20 +years of Rugby and even longer on dirt bikes my body is pretty rooted. I tried to extend my riding "career" for as long as I could against doctors orders but in the end my dicky ankle, knee and shoulder cried enough. The pain for a week after a meeting wasn't worth the short term jollies. Today, even if I do manage to get fit enough, the arthritis in my hands will prevent anything more than a few dirt track laps. At first I sulked a lot and really missed the buzz of competition but bit by bit I got over it and became more interested in other facets of the sport. Now I get my joy from building and maintaining the bikes and having the occasional 'wee skid' at Classic Dirt or a low key dirt track day. I also enjoy preparing the bikes for the occasional "hired gun" to ride in Championship situations.
The moral of my tale is that I rode for too long with long term injuries. When you're young it's easy to shrug it off and fight the pain barrier but in the end it'll come back to haunt you. There is a life after racing even though you probably don't realise that right now.
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What surgeon you see perko? I just had my shoulder fixed mid september and the surgeon seemed to be really good.
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Gator's just a big girly girl don't listen to him. First sign he's gunna do a "skid" and he's selling up..... :-X
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Mr Andrew Byrne, he's good. Travels to the USA to do sports people over there. He did an upper tibial ostomy on my right knee after 5 artherscopes.
Its pretty good now.
Viper666
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Neale
I destroyed my right shoulder & arm 32 years ago on Speedway which virtually ended my racing days there & then. I've been left with about 25% movement in the shoulder and 50% in the elbow, it has been this way for so long now that apart from the arthritis and the odd bout of depression it actually feels normal.
I can sympathise totally with your situation and want to encourage you to not stress to much yet, get several opinions, work on the strength and as several others have said don't discount Dirt Track as a competitive option. As strange as it may sound I'm planning to have a few rides next year to test the water so we may bump into each other (literally) on the track.
Best of luck
Steve
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Hi Neal I had a major tear five years ago, surgeon said he would do more damage going in, high risk of major lasting damaged just from the operation, I passed out from pain the night after the fall which was a high speed onto end of my shoulder, I had 6 months of rehab, using a big rubber band, no riding at all in than time, came back stronger than before, 2007-8 NZ pre 81 125 champ, 2008-9 pre-75 250 3rd (on an XL350), 2009 NZ master games 3rd lites 45 plus. Neal don't give up & don't take no for answer.
Best of luck Tony
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The moral of my tale is that I rode for too long with long term injuries. When you're young it's easy to shrug it off and fight the pain barrier but in the end it'll come back to haunt you. There is a life after racing even though you probably don't realise that right now.
Trust bloody Firko to come up with a decent arguement and be the voice of reason.................. :-\
I still reckon you should try some voodoo guy.............. but then I have had "some" beer this arvo.............. ;)
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What surgeon you see perko? I just had my shoulder fixed mid september and the surgeon seemed to be really good.
I had mine done by the same surgeon that fixed St.Kilda's Nick Riewaldt in feb 05 .It was a long rehab but the shoulder is better than the other one now.
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Neale,
ANZAC day 2001 and i was practicing at the Rosebud MC track. Stuffed up the entry to the table top and chopped the throttle on the up ramp and landed on the top of the table top rather than the down ramp. Unfortunately my practice buddy hit the table top at full noise and was set to clear it accept that I was occupying the space on the down ramp where he wanted to land. Needless to say my left shoulder and head was his new landing point. Knocked out and unconscious for a period, a dislocated shoulder, fractured collar bone, grade 3 separation of the clavicle and a torn rotator (& 18 months later diagnosed with an inward prolapsed disc at the C3) I elected the set and forget method without surgery as most of the bits were where they were meant to be thanks to an off duty MICA paramedic that just happened to be at the track who put the shoulder back in whilst I was coming to. Spent 6 months in a weird sling and another 6 months doing nothing with the arm. Was told to give away the bikes and anything that would jeopardise a re-occurrence of the injury as a second go at it would not be good.
We have ridden together over the last few years and whilst I can't match your pace I am still riding. The key to it all for me was hours and hours on the phone, internet and medical journals making sure that i had the best options available, including a good doctor. The moral of it, be 100% sure that you have researched the shit out of everything leaving no stone un-turned to ensure that you have the most up to date treatments available. Just because they are a doctor does not automatically mean that they spend hours a week researching the most up to date treatments.
Bahnsy
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Mr Andrew Byrne, he's good. Travels to the USA to do sports people over there. He did an upper tibial ostomy on my right knee after 5 artherscopes.
Its pretty good now.
Viper666
Sounds like your in good hands mate.. Do you lift your tinnies up with that arm ???
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Neale,
I did my anterior cruciate at Oz Champs in 1994 and thought that was the end of my riding. Through circumstances, I missed my scheduled operation and then couldn't get in for 3 months. By the time that came around, I had a second opinion. I took up 4 wheels until 2000 when I got back onto a bike. Still no operation, and I am able to enjoy my riding, a bit of tennis and skiing. Keeping an eye on the tightness of the knee, but so far so good.
Maybe a bit of time out and let the body repair itself; then back to riding with even more passion ::)
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I'm ambidextrous when it comes to beer MXManiac.
We had a 2 day clubby at the weekend and common sense went out the door. I thought the bloody thing's stuffed anyway, how much more damage could I do.
Rode both days. One race on the old YZ250F then the rest on my son's 06 YZ125. So easy to ride and forgiving. I rode very gingerly and the shoulder hurt a bit, but more today.
Going for physio Thursday. See what he says.
Viper666
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Hows the shoulder going one year on and what did the Doc end up doing to Viper666 bones ? :)
cheers A
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In the late 70,s I fell off a Rm 400 and hit a tree with my shoulder.
Went to doctor and made the mistake of telling him I,d fallen off a M/ bike. Woops never do that.
After 10 mins of lecture about the evils of M/bikes he said I,d sprained it and to physio it and come back in a week.
After a week of sleepless nights I went back and then he sent me for an xray.
Remember we all trusted doctors then. :o
The xray showed a broken scaptula. :o Right down the middle.
He wanted to send me to hospital to get it rebroken and fixed. Ha
I raced 125,s for 3 years with that shoulder with no probs.
Looks a bit funny but hey what,s important body or bikes?
Since then have cut my right quads in an industrial , done the ligaments in the same knee in a road bike accident.
Still riding. :)
Hurts a bit on cold days. :) You,ll ride again no worries. :)
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yep get a second opinion giving up would suck-i have a solid left wrist fused and can hardly feel my right hand after cutting in half,ride a little less and enjoy the speed i can get round at-- never give up
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Just remembered that guy in the late 70,s early 80,s who rode an auto in enduros
Did pretty well too from what I can remember.
Only had one arm. :)
Johnson became Aust champ road racin with 1+1/2 arm.
Mate bikeriders can do anything. :)
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I have regained some movement and strength but still not too good. Waiting for an op but dont know when. At this stage I hope to ride at Ravenswood (Note to self, put entry in)
I must admit though I have sort of gotten used to not riding. Someone come and belt me one to wake me up. I'm sure it will all kick in if I ride. I appologise in advance to all that I slow up or cut off. I will try and stay clear. I'll pull over for a rest maybe.
Viper666
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Best things is to let us all come round and ride your bikes for you, you pay the entry and gas and ship them to the track, we'll turn up and ride.
In about a week of that you will be so pissed off, that you will be back riding flat out in no time.
Just ask POPEYE, he was so pissed at not riding Double the Dirt he's already talking about his come back :D :D
Or you can get a sidecar-any dumb bugger can drive one of those!!!
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having an injury has nothing to do with pulling over for a rest - I want to do that anyway!
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Stop shooting down my excuses. I've been working on them for ages.
Crook shoulder, bung knee, heart muscle gone, blah blah blah!
Viper333 (Only half the man I used to be)
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;D - excellent - luv the reply!
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I used to think I had a lot of problems and injuries and then i met Rossco. nothing wrong with me, but oh Rossco, the only guy I know who has the St johns follow him around!! and that's just in the pits!!
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Stop shooting down my excuses. I've been working on them for ages.
Crook shoulder, bung knee, heart muscle gone, blah blah blah!
Viper333 (Only half the man I used to be)
Beauty you sound like you,re on the way back. :)
Take it slow for the first lap then give her the berries. :)
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hey Viper 666 never give up to you cant get your leg over any more
Yes i mean the bike!!!!