ProVisions 6 - Injuries Justified

Nov 8, 2013
by Ryan Leech  
Injuries suck…but they’re part of our sport, and whatever the injury, riders still crave getting back on the bike. Can injuries be justified, or rather, can they make us better people? I think so. Just look at our mountain bike community, full of awesome people! Dealing with injuries makes us grow-up, and this article explores that growth, from the physical, to the mental, to the spiritual.

bigquotesHaving to temporarily give up what I loved most forced me to grow in ways I never otherwise would have - both outside sport and even with riding. - Kris Holm

photo

Well used crutches.


The Physical:
Humans tend to navigate in life by avoiding pain and seeking pleasure. Not in mountain biking. The two live closely together. This may be part of the attraction, knowing pain could be just around the next corner. We’re animals. We still have that primal animalistic energy within us, so at a physical level the closer we can flirt with pain while avoiding it the more pleasure we’ll experience. If someone says “you’re killin-it”; they’re no longer referring to the hunt of killing an animal, it’s now you overcoming the challenge of a trail with style and feasting instead on glory. Mountain biking wakes us up, makes us feel alive, that is, until we get taken out, and pain seeks its due respect through injury. How we deal with an injury is crucial, it’s an opportunity.

bigquotesI love it when someone says I'm 'riding like a beast' or that I'm 'attacking the trail like an animal'. The truth is they are on the mark more than they ever could know...I'm always tapping into the ancient system of 'fight or flight'. - Stacy Kohut

twock.

Stacy Kohut fighting hard for his flight


The Mental:
An injury prevents us from releasing our physical energy which is a HUGE challenge for athletes. What do we do with that energy? It needs to be taken control of and directed, otherwise it will direct you; and if your mind fights the reality of your physical affliction, you’ll suffer. Thich Nhat Hanh often says: “Pain is mandatory, suffering is optional”. Embracing and fully accepting the injury will expose mental health and growth opportunities.

bigquotesI was trying to get ready to race Crankworx and I wanted to heal faster than my body would let me. - Sarah Leishman

Early in my career I tore my ACL, it made my world small. No more trials shows or filming videos, I was trapped in a body that couldn’t ride, it was my bike skills that gave me comfort in the world, riding was how I communicated. While injured I tried to keep my mind occupied by doing weird things like plucking hair off my legs with tweezers, but eventually I did learn to face the injury and thus began the initial roots of a relationship with my mind.

bigquotesThe unknown: As a racer, my life has been structured around racing and training, I always have a set training schedule and goals to accomplish. Without being able to plan, schedule or set goals for myself I've felt lost. - Catherine Vipond

That’s the mixed blessing of physical injury, there is no other way to deal with it than to go through it. Many challenges in life can be avoided or bypassed, but not your physical health. No matter how desperate your mind is to ride, your injury calls just as loud, and the only healthy way forward is to further integrate your body and mind.

bigquotesYou learn about yourself and get time to work more with your head. - Mislav Mironovic

When I was in my mid twenties I began dealing with a recurring bulged disc, I knew something had to change in my riding style if I wanted to keep progressing as an athlete. I had to face the truth that my mind often used my body for egoic gain, so I quit big drops to flat and refined my technique to be smoother–mind and body working together for goals beyond just reputation. A big breakthrough for yoga practitioners is when they develop a conscious relationship with the muscles they’re stretching, rather than fighting and forcing a tight muscle to loosen; this conscious relationship allows the muscle to relax and thus lengthen, it takes practice, and recovering from injuries provides rich opportunity for this deeper body mind awareness to grow.

Bryn Atkinson back to it after a not so good time at VDS where he broke a small part of his back. Bryn is back where he was before and good to go for the weekend.

bigquotesSo at that point I just surrendered to it and it has been one of the easiest recoveries I've ever had actually. - Bryn Atkinson

The Spiritual:
At the moment of injury I’ve had the thought: “Oh my God I’m not invincible” or “I’m such an idiot”. Injuries show us that we’re mortal, and if you go deeper, that our bodies are slowly breaking down toward an eventual death. Wrestling with our own fragility and mortality can give us a strength that is much more potent than any ballsy physical expression; embracing not only injury but our impermanence seems to make one feel more alive. Those I know who have had long term effects from an injury seem quite wise, they’ve had to deal with harsh physical constraints, and are forced to contemplate the deeper meaning of their existence.

bigquotesStruggling with life changes it could / would bring, knowing career path would likely have to change immediately...It made me who I am today. Adversity builds character & strength. - Darren Butler

As I transition away from being a full time pro, I am left with lingering neck and back issues, along with knees that are great candidates for arthritis. It forces me to consider what is of ultimate concern, or in other words my spiritual intelligence (SQ). Cindy Wigglesworth teaches about SQ and describes it as: “…the ability to behave with wisdom and compassion while maintaining inner and outer peace regardless of the situation.” Though my ability to live by these words far from common, I do credit the SQ I do have to the ups and downs of my 20 year riding career. Living through injury, wrestling with mind, contemplating existence, and actively working to integrate all three is liberating, and I find doing so loops back to an expanded capacity to enjoy each ride.

What injuries have you or are you dealing with? How do they require you to grow? Please share in the comments!

To further explore your own growth through injury, I'll recommend these books because they influenced me in a good way:

For the Physical I recommend:
Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman

For the Mental I recommend:
Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

For the Spiritual I recommend:
The LIfe We Are Given by Michael Murphy and George Leonard

Ryan Leech is sponsored by Norco Bicycles, Ryders Eyewear, Kenda, and RockShox. He performs trials shows at select special events and schools. Intimate with the benefits of yoga for a thriving pro career, he got certified to teach and just released a new Yoga for Cyclists Video and offers yoga and mountain bike workshops around the country. As a Professional Integral Coach™, he works privately with people, such as pro athletes, during transition to help them discover what’s next more quickly and with less suffering.

Subscribe to the new ProVisions Podcast

The ProVisions Article Series:

ProVisions #1: Are you Crazy?
ProVisions #2: On a Crash Course?
ProVisions #3: Free Your Freeriding
ProVisions #4: I Am the Trail
ProVisions #5: Strava Unbound

Author Info:
RyanLeech avatar

Member since Oct 9, 2007
25 articles

113 Comments
  • 156 0
 Broke my back 6 months ago, now a T7 complete paraplegic.

How do they require me to grow? Well. I want my spinal cord to grow, so I can ride again, haha!

But as shit as it is, you have to learn to grow up pretty quick and start taking control of your life after a spinal injury.
Yeah im cut as all that I cant ride, but you have to learn to enjoy other things, hanging out with mates at the skatepark, races, and being around riding mates etc. You gotta just keep punching through, still keeping my passion for the sport alive in me, just fulfilling it in different ways.
  • 15 0
 Yes Michael, stay strong dude! I would have gone insane by now if i was out for so long and your doing great. Hows that 4 wheeled bike i saw coming along? Are you able to use it yet?
  • 4 0
 just me ,but the human is built to come back,if you find the will to pull it,i me took some time,but i'm still here,its the will to live.i broke my wrist{bmx at17}came back at 21 blow out both knee's shoulder too,but at 32 year's of turn pro mt. biker can't say it was easy didn't make money at it,but i wasn't doing it for $$$,i was there for will of life,so what ever it is in life that bring you to aaaaa in your body &mind,do it 5 g pinned till the wheels fall off,cause in the end its just u in u.just don't throw a life away with out trying,i ride for the one's that didn't make it and the 1's that can't.
  • 25 0
 Forgot to mention the most important bit haha! I did it riding dh.
  • 5 0
 Stay strong brother, scientists are coming up with the most promising results yet! Had this surgeon come to my college who works with Dr. Wise Young telling us how lithium is being used to make people who were told they would never walk again have the chance to do just that.
  • 12 0
 Yeah man I follow that fella quite a bit. He is the one that's gonna fix us. Awesome dude, he's got a forum and he posts up whatever he's doing to let the whole spinal community know.
I'm pretty confident of riding again at some stage in the future, just gotta have a good time waiting Smile
  • 20 0
 Blythy, I'm sitting here in a brace with fractured t8,9 and 10 vertebrae, and I've never felt luckier since reading your post. I broke my back riding DH too, just two weeks ago and somehow avoided spinal cord damage despite landing on my head hard enough to crush three vertebrae and chip a bunch of teeth. (Mad props to the crew at Highland MTB park right here. They were awesome getting me off the mountain on a backboard despite my protests that I was going to be ok, even though i could barely breathe without crying hah).

Knowing now that although it'll be a few months before I can even think about riding again seems like a blessing. I'm truly sorry for your injury, and I do believe you'll walk again. The body is an amazing thing Smile
  • 14 0
 Blythy and em-j we should start a club here. A little over a year ago I broke my t6,7, and 8 with spinal cord damage as well. I remember when it first happened I told my mom before I got home from the hospital I wanted my bike gone and to never see it again, boy am I glad she didn't listen to me. With continuous therapy to this day (had PT just this morning) I have had the privilege to ride my bike again and its a beautiful thing. But you do not have to be on the bike to make an impact on this beautiful community we have. em-j I wish you a speedy recovery and Blythy the body works in mysterious ways I will keep you in my prayers. I hope it does not deter you away from our mountain biking community we are all here to support you.
  • 6 38
flag TheMastodon (Nov 8, 2013 at 10:53) (Below Threshold)
 I got a paper cut once haha. Thanks for sharing your stories, there pretty inspirational.
  • 2 0
 Aw man I'm so glad to hear! Take your blessing and deserve the shit outta it, haha!

Glad to know you are on the mend Smile
  • 4 1
 Yeah I'm keen for a club, haha! So you had spinal cord damage? Aaah man this just inspires me more!
Man I was the same when It first happened. Wanted to stay clear of bikes for a long time. Then a couple of days later I was asked if I was gonna sell my bike. Heeeelll no! Haha!
I just can't bring myself to do it, love the steed too much. Sometimes I say I'm keeping it as motivation Wink

But yeah dude I'm stoked to hear you are back riding. Best thing I have heard in ages! What Asia rating were you btw?
  • 3 0
 Hey thanks man Smile
Yeah I'm working towards it man, they are just pricey buggers haha! Il get there though, fingers crossed.
  • 5 0
 These stories are amazing to read. You guys keep your heads up and stay strong. It (life) is so worth it, whether you're on your bike or not. Too much out there to live for and live positively for. Truly, these comments have been so perfectly placed here for this article, and they are very inspirational to read. Blythy, em-j and DudeAwsome, you guys rock and are still shreddin' this thing called life! Keep at it brothers!
  • 4 0
 Blythy I was a Grade A when it happened but thankfully it was mainly due to swelling and through surgery and list of rehab it has gone down to a Grade D. There is hope I know it is a scary thing, I was in the hospital 2 days ago because I actually broke my nose and was having crazy flashbacks of the incidents. It is ok to let the injury define who you are but don't let it define what you can do. All of my friends call me broke back mountain biking and I laugh about it. But the believe me you can get past it.
  • 2 0
 @Blythy and DudeAwesome Stay strong guys! I can't imagine your despair right now with that injury. I fractured T9 and T10 back in June narrrowly missing damage to my spinal cord and and put things in perspective for me on my limits and what it would've been like if I did end up parapalegic. The main thing that kept me motivated to heal fully was being able to ride again so full repsect points for you keeping your heads up and looking in the right direction and I'm crossing my finger that some medical break through allows you guys to ride again.
  • 1 0
 Cracked an L3 and was lucky to just spend a summer in a brace. My wife's dad broke his back riding a sled downhill.
You are brave, man. Hold tight until med tech catches up.
Check out this thing to help with the physio therapy. It moves fluid through you legs and keeps certain muscles from disapeering: gizmodo.com/5894489/segway+style-device-for-paraplegics-puts-wheelchairs-to-shame
  • 1 0
 Also good for getting around.
  • 3 0
 Blythy, when I used to live in Melbs, I knew a guy by the name of Josh 'Woody' Wood. You should look him up if you don't know of him already. He's Melbourne based and a pretty inspirational guy. He injured himself in a snowboarding accident years ago and was admitted to hospital for four months as a quad, with no hope of ever walking again. He walked out of the hospital and has been doing pt pretty much ever since. He got all kinds of famous since I saw him last - had a segment on 60 minutes or some such and even wrote a book, but he's a super nice guy and would probably enjoy hearing from you. You can find him here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Woody-Ditch-the-Stick/188475757868689?fref=ts
  • 3 0
 Blythy, keep that Attitude going, it is the best tool you have right now for yourself in recovery. I hope for the best for you!
  • 2 11
flag corywilliam (Nov 10, 2013 at 11:11) (Below Threshold)
 i dont like boo boo's. you guys all wrote to much.
  • 25 0
 Bikes have been a part of my life for 60 years ..... Give or take. Have spilled a little blood, here and there. Football and rugby claimed parts of knees and shoulders. Worked hard to get back to what I loved to do. Gave up those sports in my mid thirties, worked, built a home, raised a family and recovered from those physical abuses with yoga. Yoga and years changed perspectives, but not the desire to raise the pulse rate, break a sweat and challenge physical limitations. Then someone started riding down Mount Tam, stuck 3 chain rings on two wheels and I was a kid again. That was a few years back and I've never looked back. Been forced off the bike a few times since .... Nearly 2 years of chemo and radiation and the bikes waited then became recovery/escape vehicles. Time finally caught up to arthritic knees and a total knee replacement put me back on the couch. Again the bikes waited and again they worked their magic. Feel like a bit of a junkie, looking for that elevated heart rate, feeling the rush, spinning and breathing faster, deeper.
Bikes are an elegant expression of man's ingenuity and a great tool to explore inner and outer landscapes, scrape away the hubris and expose our character. Any cyclist, any discipline gets my attention. Hang in.
  • 16 0
 Thank you, Ryan, for this post. I had to retire from professional
sport in my mid-twenties having already successfully destroying one of my knees. I have had plenty of other pretty terrible injuries, one last year that put me out of work and in a wheelchair for half the year. But... after years of battling with not only the physical, chronic pain, but almost more significant, the mental and emotional tribulations associated with biophysical symptoms of withdrawal from physical activity as well as feeling a loss of identity, I have learned to look at things differently. One thing that really helped me was the practice of mindfulness. I signed up for a Stress Reduction Mindfulness Meditation class a few years back as a last resort effort to address my chronic pain and it really helped me shift my perception on things. I would highly recommend it to others who are dealing with any kind of injury, recovery, or stress. Thank you for your book recommendations. I am going to check them out. And thanks again for the article. I always enjoy your posts. Smile
  • 7 0
 I've struggled with being off the bike sine August- when I discovered the pain in my leg was actually a 1cm tear in my Adductor. I'm taking the time now to heal that I should have earlier in the season. I (we) base so much of our identity on being a mountain biker that when its taken away were left feeling somewhat empty. Like with any significant loss comes working through the staged of grief. For a mountain biker it could look something like this:

1. Shock- "WTF was that!!
2. Denial- "its not that bad", "I can ride this out"
3. Anger- "f#@k you and the horse you rode in on!"
4. Bargaining- "if I only didn't ride that day","I can ride tomorrow- I'll just rest for the next few days"
5. Depression- "bike magazine- I can't even look at you right now", "I have zero energy to do anything"
6. Acceptance- "everything happens for a reason"

Its important to know that these stages are organic and we can bounce back and forth between them. What we learn while working through them will make us stronger, more insightful, and appreciative of life's ups ans downs.

Great and timely article Ryan- Thanks
  • 4 0
 I think an additional part of the "Acceptance" stage is "Letting go"... Accepting means letting go of the mindset and reality you had before and learning to live to the fullest in the present. I have had a really hard time with the acceptance part, but as I get older and my priorities/perceptions change, I become more aware of the importance of not looking back and longing, but moving forward with the many other talents and realities we each are capable of. Smile
  • 6 0
 I am not sure if everything happens for a reason. I know a guy having big trouble with himself, alcoholism, being a total arse. He got cancer and everyone was saying: If he survives that will change him! That will make him straight" No it didn't, not an inch. I have my own experiences with things happening for a reason. I can honestly tell you from my perspective and my experience with "higher being" that nothing happens for a reason - Its what you make of it. So it is not about letting go... its about using it as a trigger to do something you would not do if it didn't happen. But you don't have to do anything, many people don't do anything because they wait for change to happen - they take it for granted, so it never comes
  • 1 0
 ^WAKIdesigns I don't believe in predestiny or things happening for a reason or divine intervention or etc... A person's life is theirs to create for themselves with hard work or no work or whatever they choose... But each person's story is different, and you never know what another person's story or struggles have been. So you can say its not about "letting go" and more of having a motivated response, but those can be one and the same... And anyway there is no singular recipie for how to deal with things like injury or loss. It's a process.
  • 2 0
 Aapliver - I am sorry, I can't believe I wrote it with so much authority. You are right we all have some own way of dealing with stuff. I should have only written that for me is what you make of it. There is a thing like deliberate waiting, deliberate rest, and I think in order to be able do it, one has to let go, accept his situation
  • 1 0
 WAKIdesigns- no worries, and I agree with you completely when you put it that way. Thanks for the note Smile
  • 7 0
 Excellent topic for conversation....

We Mt Biker's face the risk of injuries every time we get on our bikes and need to be at peace with the potential of a crash/injury. And I think we can do a better job trying to protect ourselves while riding. There is a fine line between protection/armor and feeling free on our bikes. This is a personal decision that we should all reconsider how much we want to try to mitigate potential injuries. But nothing is 100%.

I am also a freeride skier, but most of my injuries are from biking. Currently rehab'n from ACL surgery. Popped it at Whistler going up an easy jump transition I hit a thousand times before. The prior spring I fractured scapula and prior fall broke my tibula. Now I'm out for ski season, but will be good for the start of next bike season.

Mentally...the rehab is the toughest thing. I try to focus on small rehab goals, but most importantly I still stay connected to the sport. If it is shuttling buddies, rebuilding my whips or daydreaming about pinkbike videos. It creates mental strength and keeps me moving forward and not looking back...

Here's to all of my Brothers & Sisters out there...Stay strong and find new levels to your passions!
  • 5 0
 Thanks Ryan. I suffered 10 years of chronic shoulder dislocations - about 30 of them in that time - then shoulder surgery, a broken arm that forced me to pull out of university (can't write worth a damn with my left hand), then an issue with my back that kept me off the bike for a year and finally a destroyed ankle that required surgery... All these injuries and the recovery that followed, combined with the riding attitude of always pushing your limits is what helped me persevere when I started my bike shop (just celebrated 10 years in business in the spring!). I hadn't given the injuries the credit they deserved for building character. Those injuries did help me grow - although into a bit of a hobbling, lob-sided freak now. On the bike they have helped too - I left Whistler a day earlier than planned on a recent trip because I knew I was getting over-confident and cocky so I enjoyed a hard day of pedalling in Squamish instead of potential injury.
  • 4 0
 Thank you for an excellent piece! I believe that for most of us mountain biking goes far beyond the physical aspects and this touches upon that other dimension of this amazing sport.
  • 3 0
 Excellent article.
I think the biggest thing for people around my age (late teens, I'm 17) is that we feel so invincible. Most of us are too young to have dealt with massive injuries and with all the "extreme" activities that some of us tale part in not being injured is something we just take for granted.

Eventually it catches up with you. One simple mistake van have disastrous consequences. Personally, I felt exactly like the invincibility I discussed above. I Longboard, mountain bike, wrestle, wakeboard, and do just about anything I can that I see as fun or exciting.
It caught up with me eventually and I dislocated my right shoulder.
The worst part of the invincibility is that painful injury just doesn't humiliate you, a month of pain and then you're back at it. That's the way I saw it.
6 months later it turns out that I have a Hill–Sachs lesion, an injury resulting from shoulder dislocation that basically damages the bone and cartilage around the shoulder socket. Now I spend multiple weeks or months away from all the activities I love.

Despite all this, the pain I went through and of leaving the things I love behind, will I continue to do everything that I love? Yes. Once you get hooked you can't let go.
  • 3 0
 Thank you for this article. I have been down and out for the last two weeks. I fractured my pelvis in 5 places doing a downhill run. Thankfully i was able to start walking the day after it happened and didn't end up on bed rest. This injury though has definitely taught me alot, as what used to be simple every day tasks are now a challenge. Everything I do now takes twice as long. Mentally i have been ok with the injury as i knew it came with the sport and if i was afraid of getting injured i wouldn't being doing it. Also one of the things that has helped is I have set goals for where i would like to be by certain periods. The first goal was i wanted to be walking on crutches within a week of getting hurt, i smashed that one, as i was walking on crutches two days after my crash, now my goal is to be walking hopefully on a cane by November 20 something and i hope to be riding a bike inside on a trainer by December 20 something. By having these goals it gives me something to strive for and to push for. The other large bummer from this whole crash is i was just about ready to go see about buying a new bike but i had to put that on hold because i know i have med bills that will be rolling in soon.
  • 3 0
 I've dislocated both hips and broken my femur all in the past 3 years, overall I have spent about a year recovering, 4 operations, a metal plate,6 screws and 2 pins! it has made me wiser and a more careful and controlled rider! The recovery is the hardest part, sitting on pinkbike for 6 months watching videos that make you want to go out and ride! It's horrible! I now take my riding for granted and I feel that I enjoy and savour it more than before!
  • 3 0
 Three months ago I go a concussion. I was off the bike for over a month, and was only riding road until a couple weeks ago. I really sucked being laid up for so long, but it really changed my perspective. Every good day is an accomplishment. My first ride on my bike after a month felt like when I learned to ride without training wheels when I was four. It was absolutely stoked!! It has made me realize that I can't take biking for granted, and makes every ride truly spectacular. It's made me love the ride.
  • 1 0
 JevinHoll. CONCUSSIONS: please do as much research on concussions as you can. They are accumulative! Please rest up, recover FULLY (NO symptoms) and avoid other head injuries (obviously). I really hate to say it but they do catch up with you - the more you have; the worse it gets. Protect your brain!
  • 1 0
 Hey man, that's what I thought, and I was afraid that I'd never DH again. But I went to Children's Hospital's concussion clinic, and they said that concussions are accumulative in adults, but not kids. Thanks though.
  • 3 0
 Good article, and some strong encouraging comments guys...
Like most mountain bikers I've suffered many a broken bones and scares in thirty or so years I've been riding bikes, But by far though suffering two broken necks in my time riding would possibly make some people think twice about carrying on, given the fact I'm not a pro rider, I just love riding off road.
Even I was brought to tears the first time it happened, whilst lying in hospital with my head strapped down to a hard bed board so that two shattered neck vertebrae didn't puncher my spinal cord if I moved??? I realised then how lucky I was, though I had to wait five days like that morphed right up!!! until the best spinal surgeon the NHS have in the UK could come back from his hols to operate and reconstruct my bones with my part of my hip bone and titanium plate and screws!!!!!
He is a SAINT in my book, and thank god for the NHS. But he was also very surprised to see me seven years later when I fractured another neck vertebrae and ended up in hospital again!!!!
But as I told him I just can't stop biking its in my blood!!!!.
So much so I still continue to ride, build/create lines in my local forest for myself and others to ride down at Triscombe dh trails Somerset, UK.
So guys and girls if you are injured and can come back from it, do so, but take your time and heal strong. For those who can't just keep strong, the human body and mind is stronger than many of us give it credit for most of the time.
  • 6 0
 Broke my femur years ago. Its more accurate at detecting rain than dopplar radar.
  • 2 0
 Same with my wrist that got a bone graft.
  • 3 0
 I messed up my shoulder after dislocating it last year and racing 3 days later anyways. Now I can hit a large gap and lose the shoulder on landing, or pretty much any crash means dislocation.

I tried fighting that on my own, refusing to stop biking, I first gave it some 4 months through last winter, just to find out it doesn't hold in place when the spring invited me to ride the Shore. A few dislocations later, I realised I'll not fix it by riding, so I started working out the rotator muscles and generally strenghten the shoulder, but when I finally got my confidence back, got back to respectable speed, I had a small-ish but high speed crash and when I felt the shoulder dislocating once again, I lost a huge part of my motivation and hope, and nearly broke down crying. Not because of the physical pain, but I finally realised it's never gonna be like before, and I might never ride with the same confidence as last summer.

Now with the winter coming, I am breaking through my resistance to doctors (partly for the reason I'm not canadian, and have no idea how does the insurance stuff work), and I'm working on getting my lazy arse over to the hospital to do anything possible to stabilize the shoulder, which I suppose might be tricky after 11 dislocations (in total, all in last 14 months).

Compared to some, it might be a minor injury, but even though I was pretty much a beginner last year, I could pull off respectable time down a trail in the park, or hit nearly any jump or steep Cypress style trail, while now, during the few days I rode between my dislocations I have struggled to stay on the bike, and the mind and ego just don't know how to deal with that.

Just had to cry out anyway, hopefully I'll get fixed and back to ripping this place in the spring! I just have no idea, how will I convince my mind to deal with not riding until then :-(
  • 1 0
 God that's long, I'm a damn crybaby. Don't judge me! Insomnia's fault anyways..
  • 1 0
 Recurring injuries like this can be a real pain. My wrist keeps, for lack of a better word subluxating (partial dislocation) when i bend it on a certain compound angle. Rode and worked all year on it and put off goin to the doctor till the end of oct, and when it pops it makes turning left extremely painful (feels like someones put a needle inside my arm) and makes day to day activities hell because it is my dominant hand. Been to the doctor, and due to the complexity of the wrist i need a MRI, which is scheduled next june unfortunatly. You should look into any type of support you can get for your shoulder (maybe they make something similar to a wrist splint?), my wrist would only pop when i didnt add extra support with a tensor, and has not popped in a month and a half since ive been real diligent wrapping it up before rides and before i go to sleep.
  • 2 0
 @ MrDuck Hey bro, I too dislocated my shoulder in the spring of this year, but I also did a major fracture of the whole humerus as well.

I have been using this, which adds some comfort and protection:
www.btosports.com/p/EVSSB04

BUT, and I know this is not what you want to hear, you NEED surgery on that shoulder - you have some major instability. Every time you displocate, and with the whole instability you have now, you are doing murder to the glenoid cartilage. Cartilage damage is permanent, so surgery won't cure that, but it will get your shoulder stable and stop ongoing tearing.

What happens if you don't? 5, 10, or 15 years down the road you are looking at some major osteoarthritis, guaranteed. If you think unstable shoulder is not fun, try living with osteoarthritis of the whole freaking shoulder. The chronic pain will seriously degrade your quality of life. Do what the doctors say! You will thank them later.

The surgery will most likely be arthroscopic, where they go in and try to reattach the torn labrum, or tighten anything else that might be lose in there. Meanwhile: STOP FREAKING DISLOCATING IT!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 ^^ Just a heads up though make sure you are entirely confident with the surgeon, because if he messes it up and cuts the wrong thing you may be left with a useless shoulder. I was givin the option of arthroscopy to determine the problem, but after talking to the doctor for roughly 30 minutes i decided that was to big of a risk. Remember its your body and you're the one who has to live with it if something gets botched. There is no Malpractice in canada so your up shit creek if this happens
  • 1 0
 Thanks for the input guys!
Just been to the surgeon last week after a bunch of X-Rays(got a really good service at Northlands clinic in Whistler, getting me to the surgeon in a week's time).

However, after being looked at by the orthopedist (Dr. Douglas at Sea to Sky ortho), apparently my labrum isn't torn at all. He offered me to have a look into the shoulder but he gave me enough confidence saying that's not what I need, and after doing some tests with my shoulder(it is actually quite surprisingly strong and mobile), he ordered an MRI for me to confirm his hypothesis and instructed me to seek a physiotherapist with a list of instructions.

Also followed that by the "STOP DISLOCATING" advice, however, he perfectly explained the problem to me and what's going on in my shoulder, so I'll see the physio this week and see where it goes now.
  • 1 0
 No labrum tear? Super lucky if that is the case. Just curious, how did your doctor confirm that without an MRI? Almost all dislocations are associated with labrum tears. It is just the way the humerous ball slips out of the glenoid, and hit the rim, it tears apart the labrum in the process.

In any case, glad to hear you are seeking the proper care. Best of luck with the recovery. Maybe you don't need any surgery after all. That would be ideal, of course.

In my own case, I haven't had a dislocation recurrence yet, and my surgeon said I don't to have a surgery just yet, but she said that if I ever dislocate it again, I have bought myself a surgery. My MRI is coming up this month, and keeping fingers crossed that I am lucky and the labrum tear is not major. The inject a die in my shoulder before the MRI to better see the cartilage.

By the way, do you have a shoulder "DISLOCATION" or a "SEPARATION"? Just wondering, because they are two different beasts.
  • 1 0
 Thanks! Yes, it is actually a dislocation. Gives one a funny look, when it happens in a pool (yes, now I know it was a stupid idea to go swimming 3 days after a dislocation, thinking it's a good and safe exercise).

However, the doctor took my arm, and pushed it in various positions, with my body in various positions either. The shoulder felt completely stable and confident, and no pain at all from within the joint, where the labrum is usually torn (I don't know if it should hurt, however, in such extreme positions it would apparently usually dislocate with the labrum torn). The mobility is really close to the other shoulder as well, I'd say the same as before, disregarding the mental block I developed.

Also, in my case the first problem was a subluxation of the shoulder, with the first complete dislocation happenning a month later with nearly no efforts, which supposedly isn't the way it usually goes. On that first actual dislocation I had to go to a clinic for a reduction, and though they did X-Ray me before the reduction, they apparently only saved the X-Ray once it was reduced, which could hint a bit more about the state of the shoulder.

The other thing pointing at the labrum being intact(or not torn at least) is, all my body joints are quite loose, so I'm susceptible to dislocations.

I'll have to wait for the MRI, they said it'll likely take about 4 months Frown However, I'll see a physiotherapist on monday (already slacked for a week, need to put my sh*t together, dammit!), and hope they can help me teach the shoulder to stabilize.
  • 2 0
 In times of healing, I feel like I learn more about myself. As negative as an injury could be, like keeping you from riding. I feel that theres a lot of personal growth to be had while in the healing process, like rehabilitation and occupying yourself with other activities that you wouldn't be doing if on the bike.
  • 2 0
 Great article! I recently herniated 3 lumbar disks and had surgery on l5-s1 after losing use of my right foot.
Too much trail building, not enough rest and recovery.
The nerve pain was something I had never felt before, while the mental and emotional growth has been incredible. 1 month after surgery and my foot is responding againSmile Rehab is slow, but I'm out of pain, sleeping, walking and starting to get strong again. I will return to biking a stronger person mind and body.
Of all the injuries I've been through, this has been by far the most challenging and in turn, the most rewarding.
Healing energy to all. Stay positive.
  • 3 0
 Tore both ACLs. Three surgeries in the past year and a half have made getting back on my game pretty difficult. Focus on the positive and the things to come. Appreciate those who help you while you're recovering.
  • 2 0
 I was in a coma in January after crashing into a tree head first, I was on life support for 2 weeks after having a brain hemorrhage, and in hospital for 4 months, sure was the most scary thing ever, and hardest but hasn't stopped we riding, in fact whT dosnt kill makes you strong
  • 2 0
 Rider error, component failures, racing incidents...sometimes its just fate dancing around with lady luck. I kinda look at it as paying dues to mother nature, i prefer those small payments please. One of my good ones was when my fork stanchions broke, face plant, plastic surgery, and my mom asking the plastic surgeon how many stitches it took , and the Dr replying, " I stopped counting at 200"!, and during recovery, and P/T all i wanted to do was go ride, even to this day, EVERYDAY, so i do, daily, so should you. Even if its just 15 minutes, It makes a difference! Good luck, heal up, ride on!
  • 2 0
 What doesn't kill you doesn't necessarily make you stronger, and getting back on the horse isn't as good an idea as the cliche would suggest. No matter how good a helmet you have. Smashing your head will fuck you up. Smashing your head a lot will fuck you up a lot. Sometimes you have to quit extreme sports. Sometimes it's too late and you might as well keep smashing your brain because riding is all you know in life. And maybe the concussion related depression won't kill you. Maybe it will. Fact is. These sports aren't safe. And brains don't heal like bones.
  • 2 0
 This article meant a lot. I've had my fair share of injuries from both being on a bike and from other accidents happening. Healing isn't fun but it's the way of life and if you put your time in, you'll be rewarded afterwards by being stronger and more focused!
  • 2 1
 Pain is not fun and cottoncandy is sweet. Wear aedequate protection and do it like the profs: Walk the trail if in doubt and see if you can handle it. 5 Mins of contemplating beats 3 months of pain and 20k bill. Now thats what I did when I was 15 - not really...
  • 1 0
 had my left collar bone broken twice and right collar bone broken one time ......also i broke my left arm and 2 rips.......this year i sufferd a broken wrist and because i couldnt recover as i should and needed to work 1 week after surgery .....i got a desease called "morbus sudeck" which I have to go through now.....it was an big impact in my mental strenghts knowing this will be a problem for some time.....but my doctors says i am on a good way for full recover but it takes a lot of time and therapy's.....i really hope to get back on the bike for next season but i need to change my riding style aswell.....being over motivated and too ambitiouse isnt allways a good thing and i need to slow myself down for the future...
  • 1 0
 I can defiantly relate to this post, I punctured and burst a lung a couple if months back and have only just started to ride again and the urge to start riding again before fully recovering was overwhelming but my body wouldn't let me
  • 1 0
 Snapped ACL on first lap in Whistler this year, managed to strap it up and ride for another week but called it and went home to get it sorted, thought it would be a quick fix to get back on my bike, well not quite, one of the longer injuries to heal. Surgery now done and now doing physio etc.. to get better but wont be until next year I am back on my bike!! all part of the fun !!! ha ha
  • 1 0
 6 months post op you can ride xc but have to wait a full 9 months before I could ride dh. I didn't follow physio properly (i'd never really had any serious injuries before and staying fit and healthy just kinda happened normally) and I ended up tearing muscles around my knee about a year after the operation and had to go back into physio for 3 months. Don't make this mistake! Do all the physio, put the effort in because nothing sucks as much as thinking you're healed and then having to take another 3 months off.
  • 1 0
 Thanks for the info bud, I was quite lucky, insurance covered my op so went private and got sorted by a top surgeon who normally deals with pro athletes, about 1 month post op now and walking about almost like normal, still painful but doing my exercises etc.. no rush to get back on a bike until I am ready but I am happy with my progress so far.
  • 1 0
 Torn ligaments in my hamstring about 3 months ago and basically missed the whole summer riding. It is strange because I didn't even know I did it.....it was purely from over exertion, doing too much whilst I was still getting into shape.

I thought several times that it had healed well enough to ride again but I just ended up putting myself back even further. It's been massively frustrating because I generally feel in rude health but I just know I can't risk riding anything aggressive or I will risk long term damage. I want to race DH and/or Enduro next year so I need to use the winter to get fully back in action.

It weird I can go running, sprint fine, light XC riding is ok as well. As soon as I do any kind of pumping with my legs......manuals, popping stuff, aggressive DH stuff, my leg just feels super weak and I can't ride without considerable pain.

Just been doing lots of physio, Nordic Hamstring Curls, exercise ball stuff and some light weights.

Hopefully i'll be back by spring time.
  • 1 0
 In 15 and have broken my left ankle twice and my right ankle once with a tib fib growth plate and spiral fracture around the tib up to my kneecap. I was immobilized for the whole summer with a hip cast for that one to heal Also have broken my nose 3 times.
  • 1 0
 And you came out and volunteered for our summer camp everyday with your cast on!
  • 1 0
 Spectacular article, and it's alsoo good to share this dark side of mountainbiking with you all, it's a good pain relief. Still waiting to get back on my bike from 12 march 2012, bad bad tibia and fibula injury, many complications after that crash. If everything is ok I will be riding again (no more DH for sure) next summer. And I work in a Bike Company which is killing me even more! I can say that this is pretty challenging, but the passion is hard to stop. I have been crying but after all the problems I think that my inner glory will come when I will be on a trail again. I wish you all a good recovery and just concentrate on the future, hang on guys!
  • 1 0
 Great Article! I Broke my cruciate ligament in my right knee and had 6 months of recovering I had surgery and it was very hard for me not ridding at all at the point that I started riding after one month of the injury but very gently and did a lot of cross country until I was completely healed and after 1 or 2 months of getting out of the injury I ran into barn wire with a motorcycle and cut all around my neck and I was pretty close to death the main cut was on my left side of my neck millimeters from my carotid vain that if it had got cut open I wouldn't be here right now I had 60 stitches on my neck and 2 on my arm and the doctor that performed surgery on my neck told me that he was afraid of cleaning the wound on my neck because he could even see the carotid and this took me out for another 3 months with no biking which was the hardest part of being injured and so fast.
  • 1 0
 I was in a coma in January, and spent 4 months in hospital! The first thing on my mind was 'got to ride!' Sure was the hardest and most scary thing to happen to me, but after going through it I know I can do anything if I put my mind to it!
  • 1 0
 these story's are inspirational, stay strong all of you,
my ex had a family friend who was in a comma for months, broken back, neck, other broken bones, other issues on life support from a downhill accident, unfortunately never got the chance to meet the man after his recovery due to my gf of the time becoming my ex but still. what happened to him was a real eye opener. people who this Armour is "not cool" really need to sit and read these inspiration storys and realize the risks we take for this awesome sport
  • 1 0
 Great article. I'm currently sitting on my couch recovering from a very badly broken leg. I smashed my Fibula into 50 pieces while riding DH at Copper Harbor. To be honest I feel like riding with clipless pedals may have caused the result of a severely broken leg. I'm not sure I will ever be able to get on my DH bike again unless I'm on flats. Looking at 6-8 months of recovery. My foot/ankle specialist said it was the worst break he has ever seen. Using 2 plates, 10 screws, 15 pins, and a cadaver bone he was able to put my leg back together. Its amazing how God has created our bodies to heal!
  • 1 0
 Left Side: Broken femur, broken elbow, broken toes, broken ribs, torn ACL, dislocated ankle, dislocated knee (multiple times), buggered all my cartilage etc. so the knee is pretty ruined
Right side: Concussion, dislocated shoulder.

Biggest thing I found was to get the head in a good place first. After I dislocated my ankle/broke my femur I didn't ride a mountain bike in 11 months. Once I recovered physically I worked my way up to riding hard again, needed to make sure I was not only physically fit to ride again but that I was ready for whatever could happen off road, most specifically getting hurt again. This all coming from someone who is in no way a particularly good rider
  • 1 0
 I broke my back in 2008 when I was 16. I shattered a couple vertebrae and re-fractured an old fracture I didn't know I had. I got very lucky and recovered without any serious negative effects. I have two rods and six screws holding my spine together. I learned a lot from that crash. I don't ski like I used to, and I definitely don't ride like I used to. I stopped racing motocross after I snapped a neck brace six months after breaking my back. I had to pull the plug after that. It is amazing that I am not paralyzed. I have been very, very, very lucky in my life, but I will say that injuries completely change the way I approached the sports I love. I am 21 now, and I have slowed down while skiing and riding. I used to ski without fear, but these days I take it easy and only flip or set a big spin when I know I can land it. All things considered, I probably shouldn't even be doing that.
  • 1 0
 Great article. Relates to all of us. While we're on the topic - young fellas: protect your brains! If you hit your head, even if you don't have any symptoms, do NOT get back on and continue to ride! Walk, or cruise it out, rest, FULLY recover (NO symptoms), then return to the bike - or don't! Brain injuries are accumulative! They add up quickly and everyone has a different threshold. Cross that line and there's a real dark place that you'll want to avoid. Some never return. Just ask retired NFL and NHL players. Protect your brains PLEASE!!!
  • 1 0
 I have been mtn biking since I was a bout 10 years old, raced XC all thru high school, got into downhill after college and now have gotten into Enduro racing. I am a former Ski patroler and EMT Trail Crewer and I recently just had my first broken bone from Mtn biking after 20 years. I was lucky to walk away with a smashed right Clavical (plate and 12 screws holding it together now), couple of broken ribs and a tweaked back. The ski patroler in me decided to look back into the accident after I was recovering from surgery. So I was out running training laps with a buddy(who is a faster DH racer) at Steamboat bike park and I was trying to pass a guy right before a table top and catch up with my buddy. I found a couple of things. 1. Had I not been trying to be such a "Bad Ass" and waited to pass the "Tourist" in a safer spot it would have not occured, I.E. rider error on my part. 2. Had I not been wearing a Leatt device I would probably be writing a much sadder story. My Ortho (who is the US Freestyle ski team Doc) and I are convinced, yes the Leatt did destroy my collar bone, but most likely avoided a spinal injury.
As for recovery , if you are strong you will recover faster and I had been training for Big Mountain Enduro all summer. I was back on the bike 6 weeks out of surgery. A good physical therapist is priceless.
My Advice
1. Get the proper protection for your riding level, if in doubt, buy it and wear it.
2. Remember to check your ego every once in awhile, before you do it the hard way with broken bones.
  • 1 0
 Wow, this article couldn't have come at a better time in my life. 2 weeks ago I found out that if you get squieley and put a foot down you can snap your ACL in half which can cause your bones to clack together, fracturing the tibial plateau. The catch is that I'm just coming off an arm injury from January where I dislocated and fractured my elbow, shattered and displaced my wrist. I made it 26 years in mountain biking so in the spirit of going big or going home, I get to have 2 surgeries in one year. Might even get double cadaver parts making me a double zombie-kat.
That being said I really do feel lucky because:
1. It's winter
2. My back, neck, & head are good
3. My community is amazing and will keep me entertained
4. By spring I'll be riding dirt and jumping by summer
5. I finally have an excuse to learn to play the drums
6. I'm getting pretty good at crutch coaching!
Thanks for the inspiration everyone!
  • 1 0
 Just re injured my right wrist the first time riding in a week after taking some skin off on the trail. I've learnt a lot about how to treat an injury since I first injured it and have been actively re habing it for the last 4 years. Now back to square one. Last time I lost my job, ruined family relationships and through poor medical advice lost a lot of movement and strength. I can't rehab properly cause I have to support my family with a manual labour job. 3 days ago I was unsure If I'd ride again or still remain employed. The last two days have been better and I'm sure I'll ride again. I'm more motivated than ever to recover my lost range of motion and strength. I'll never do a full xup or an inverted table with these wrists, just like I'll never go on those all day epic rides since blowing my knees. One day I'll be ninety and my body beaten and broken will still manage to ride a electric assist recumbant to the shops and I'll cut across someones grass and do a skid. It'll be just as fun as it was on my banana seat mx when I was five.
  • 4 3
 As usual, excellent article! I haven't suffered any serious injury, ever. I also have no life experience with being stuck in some situation for weeks and having nothing to do. I strive for any single moment of loneliness, to put my thoughts together and quiet that raging mind. I remember liking getting really sick in winter, when there was nothing else of my interest to do outdoors anyway, it was taking me away from nerves wrecking job. God how I like being stuck in traffic when alone in my car! Those situation when you have perfect justification to do absolutely nothing. It's just that it's hard to do nothing when thoughts run wild, it takes time to quiet the noise. Getting unemployed was one of best things that ever happened to me, really. I got my job back but this dedicated, excellence seeking animal was dead. But now with kids at home, a small head ache can become a serious trouble making me consider working 12h a day a walk in the park. Occasional over-hours alone in the office suddenly bring solitude. Am I a bastard? No I don't think so, not by any means. I just know I need time off, I need it like water and bread. Judging by numbers of books on stress management and depression, and their content, most people need time off, just on their own - it's just that not many realize it.
  • 1 0
 No pain-no gain. Luckily I had no serious injuries, but I had some really painful crashes. I screamed like hell suffering from the pain. That is what seperates those, who ride to live from those, who just ride for joy. If you fight your pain, clench you teeth, grab your bike and ride harder-your spirit wins, it's in your blood and you live with it. if not-you're just a casual weekend rider. I wish all of you to be lucky to avoid injuries, be careful, don't jump over your head, but ride as hard as you can.
  • 1 0
 long story short. 2 years ago i crashed in a downhill run and had a tibial plateau fracture, 7 screws with a metal plate 4 surgeries,100 days on the bed and a nerve that still doesnt work.started ridding since then much wiser and protecting my self as much as i can Smile
i love ridding my bike and cant think my self without it!
  • 1 0
 Dislodged T2 in my back about 2 months back; being seeing a chiropractor twice a week since then who's trying to get my posture back. Days now mostly revolve around short walks and lots of ice packs in between to reduce inflammation.

This crash happened about a fortnight before a new bike build; which is now sitting complete and untouched in my workshop Frown However it keeps things positive mentally every time I look at it.

Might be riding again as normal by spring, but I hope for something sooner.
  • 1 0
 One of the best PB articles I've read. Absolutely agree. Injuries teach us to take nothing for granted, and that makes those sweet moments on the bike (and in life) that much sweeter.
  • 1 0
 Broke my right clavicle then my right ankle 3 months apart. Start riding 2 months after last injury. Less aggressive now but still riding hard. Pain is part of the deal in this sport, never stop riding...keep going man!
  • 1 0
 Another great write-up. Injuries are a great time for reading, I read yoga bitch and Lean on Pete during my last fix-up. Going on long walks is not recommended, strangely caused other injuries.
  • 1 0
 Going on week #7 on crutches and cast #2. You can't dwell on something that has happened and you can't change, keep moving forward both mentally and physically. You will come back stronger and faster.
  • 1 0
 There are always videos about making yourself physically tough. But being mentally tough is more important. When shit goes wrong, mental stubbornness is what's gonna pull you through.
  • 1 0
 injuries suck!!!! i broke a few bones in my foot last weekend, i know its winter and all but it still sucks that i cant just go out and ride whenever the mood takesFrown
  • 3 0
 Tough times don't last forever, tough people do!
  • 2 0
 7 years in pain, having to deal with it every day can ruin your humor ,I wish i could ride my bike again,
  • 2 0
 Staying positive, avoiding worrying, and working hard will get you out of almost anything
  • 2 0
 reading this with a broken collar bone makes it feel a lot better
  • 1 0
 You'll heal up quick hopefully. Broke my clavical three months ago and was back on the bike at week five.
  • 1 0
 small exercises every day - you can recover from some crazy stuff if you put in the time and effort.
  • 2 0
 I'm glad i don't live in the US, my bills would have been so high...
  • 2 3
 Pfff, don't be ridiculous, I live in Sweden, I've been on akutmottagning (emergency): you have to pretend to be dying, you better break some bones yourself in addition to one you broke to get any care in time shorter than 5 hours. And when you finaly get there, they tell you it's nothing, it will heal up, stop riding bike in such dangerous manner. I've been waiting with discplaced finger for 5 hours, screw me, but there was a guy with badly broken arm, and he sat there for 3 hours. At least he got a pain killer. Still, in Poland, to some a third world country, you get fixed faster. The only people getting excellent health care in Sweden, and that is probably best in the world, is small kids and their mothers.
  • 1 0
 This article is one of the most interesting to read for me. Well good read. Thanks PB
  • 1 0
 I got a telephone pole dropped on my hand while building a boner-log jump. I guess you could say it was a bike injury.
  • 1 0
 what happened to you is better than having a boner pole dropped into your hand while you are talking on the telephone. yikes.lol.
  • 1 0
 Work trashes my body. I break body parts riding..........I could stay in bed. Id rather deal with the pain and feel alive!
  • 2 0
 Busted Achilles on a nasty drop, the good news I landed it!!!
  • 1 0
 Any advice to someone who has never had an injury?
  • 4 0
 stretch
  • 3 0
 Prepare for it and accept that, unless you're a very timid rider, it will happen. Very few play this gravity game for long without a few scars.

You can prepare by doing everything to avoid it as well as things that will help you recover whenever your time comes. Things like working on skills will help prevent a crash. Working on strength (things like upper body and shoulder stabilization muscles) can help you narrowly avoid the crash. (i.e. having the strength to react quickly, recover from a botch), avoid more serious injury, or recover from injury faster. Wearing pads and protection can help, but they can't prevent everything. And learn to make wise decisions about what to hit, and what to ride around based on your mindset, experience and the conditions.

It will happen at some point, but the more you can do to prevent a crash, prevent a crash from being worse than it could be, and to reduce your healing time will all help.

My current list includes: Avulsion fracture (R ankle), broken humorous (R arm), tendon ligament tear (R elbow), torn fascia (L forearm), Chipped elbow (L arm), and numerous flesh wounds.
  • 1 0
 From downhill crashes?
  • 2 0
 Latest was the humorous. That was from the Big Mtn Enduro Moab this year.
  • 1 0
 Wtf is "Big Mtn Enduro"?
  • 1 0
 A five race enduro series in CO, UT, & NM. I got busted in the series finale in Moab. www.bigmountainenduro.com
  • 1 0
 Does a full body protection suit exist ?
  • 2 0
 its called a pressure suit
  • 1 0
 Good article Smile
  • 1 0
 Nice article
  • 1 4
 Ryan's gonna break your brain... Ryan's gonna break your brain...
  • 1 0
 My injuries-Broken femer and humerous(Same day) ,3 dislocatoions left side Shoulder,bruised my Kidney,Broke my hand,killed the nerves in my front teeth,Kicked rock so hard it hurt for 9 months,herniated my disc ,multiple concussions, 07 floating fracture on c7 neck,got disability check and bought new Demo before i was healed, or had any clearence to ride..So was in neck brace all year watching my friends have fun.They took bone out of my hip put it in my vertibrae,blus put carbon fibre in the front of my neck.so double surgeries for that nightmare.
Tore my meniscous lechion,and Bursitous in my knee ,had arthroscope on right knee. now have torn acl on right side knee,and left knee gives out cause overuse from limping.
8 months ago i dislocated right Shoulder So bad that lots of health pros have never seen this Damage,I Stripped every ligiment and tendon off the humerous,my friend tried 2x to set it in the trail -He said bite on this stick,i passed out both times.Had one surgery,now another one scheduled for Full fusion to bone.So now i can not lift my arm in front of my body ,And after all this is fixed inc the acl i think in both legs i do not know if i want to ride anymore ? Too much Pain,but I will be able to maybe if i want in 2015 . Oh i forgot i got 6 Gravity bikes/1 ht . Have not sold nothing.The only riding ive done is Concrete skate bowl 1time on the bmx. . My medical file is looking like a phone book from a small town .But im an old guy now so maybe its time to retire.But I will still Dig Trail Or ride soon Big shout out to All those Soldiers who are nursing injuries.
  • 1 0
 ... seen this in a couple of posts above, then in this one. The upper bone in the arm is called the humerus... sounds like the word that makes us want to call it the 'funny' bone, but is spelt differently.

Ryan, as always I appreciate your insight and wisdom. Off the bike for much of last summer/fall with an eye/vision issue. Been using your yoga series for several months now, and am noticing both a better awareness of my mind/body connection, and better balance as I get back on the bike. Trials last Friday night was quite successful, balance lines worked phenomenally. Cool stuff.
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.039558
Mobile Version of Website