Motorcycle Racing Forum

Racing Discussion => Racing Discussion => Topic started by: tigerblade on November 22, 2004, 09:22:28 AM

Title: Racing after back surgery
Post by: tigerblade on November 22, 2004, 09:22:28 AM
Has anyone raced after having vertebrae fused?  Interested in comments or experience.  The fused part would surely be stronger than ever, but I wonder if the damage potential is greater above and below the fusion?  Also not thrilled about automatically starting with scrapnel in there...   :-/
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: rickj on November 22, 2004, 10:02:00 AM
Have you already had surgery to fuse vertebrae? If not, I would try to avoid it at all cost. If its bone chips from a compression fracture your worried about-mine don't bother me at all and it healed fine w/out surgery. Yeah it hurts a little occasionally but I made out a lot better than the people I met in phy thpy that had fusion surgery.

Good Luck
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: salex43 on November 22, 2004, 10:47:10 AM
I had the exact same thing with 3 vert. as Rick mentioned above.  I have been racing for 4 years after the fracture with multiple get offs.
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: Dawn on November 22, 2004, 10:56:18 AM
Personally Kris...

If you were my man, after breaking your shoulder blade, and now your back....

There would be no way in hell you would be back on a bike.  Especially if you were wearing a back protector at the time and not just relying on the hump on your leathers.

Dawn  
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: tigerblade on November 22, 2004, 01:16:30 PM
Well my back isn't any weaker than anyone else's, it just was something that happened.  I've crashed harder than this before and not been hurt.  Nakano crashed at 200+ this year and didn't break a bone.  Now I know that I'm not jockey-sized and that likely plays a factor, but I don't think I'm that much more prone to injury than anyone.  Well, not until I've already had an injury I mean.  

I just hate to be forced to give up racing so soon.   >:( :-[
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: rickj on November 22, 2004, 03:48:43 PM
Why are you giving up mc roadracing?
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: K3 Chris Onwiler on November 22, 2004, 03:54:54 PM
Not the same, but I've been racing for 6 season, and I had disk surgery before I started.  I can't get under the bubble, but I make do.
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: am_#65_john_deere on November 22, 2004, 06:27:37 PM
chris,,,,,,

there is a reason you can't get under the bubble............nothing to do with back surgery ,is it. ;D ;D ;D ;D :o :o :o :o :o :o

p.s

i tried to get off work but the boss just wouldn't let me go :o :o :o
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: Bernie on November 22, 2004, 07:35:28 PM
I've got my C6 and C7 vertebre fused.  I have landed on my head hard once or twice since then with no problems.  My doc (who can walk on water as far as I am concerned) told me it was very strong.  He did not even bat an eye when I told him I raced motorcycles and had occasionally jumped out of perfectly good airplanes.  
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: Burt Munro on November 22, 2004, 07:47:37 PM
QuoteWhy are you giving up mc roadracing?

rickj....

You might want to check out the following thread that describes Tigerblades' "attention seeking behavior" from last Sept.

It should answer most of your questions as to the who, what, when and why...

http://www.racemotorcycles.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?board=ccs1;action=display;num=1095708634;start=0
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: Burt Munro on November 22, 2004, 07:53:05 PM
Quote.....  I can't get under the bubble, but I make do.

Anthony....  you beat me to it! ;D  I bet he uses the same excuse for why he can't bend over and pick up a quarter off the ground! :P
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: K3 Chris Onwiler on November 23, 2004, 01:15:55 AM
QuoteAnthony....  you beat me to it! ;D  I bet he uses the same excuse for why he can't bend over and pick up a quarter off the ground! :P
The reason I don't pick up quarters is because I've seen you tossing them down, and I know what you try to do when someone picks one up! :o
And as for you Anto....  After a comment like that, a smart boy would just leave the country! ;D
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: rickj on November 23, 2004, 08:55:32 AM
RacerWannaBe, thanks for the thd link.

Kris Younger, sorry to hear about your injury. I don't race much with ccs so I tend not to check this board very often. Hang in there, it can be a long slow road to full recovery. Took me about a year-I was very lucky with everything: the injury, doctors, family and friend support; it sounds like you are to.

It really is a small world. Aug 2000 I was involved in a skydiving incident down by De Kalb, IL. Ended up in neuro-intensive care in Rockford. If you run into Dr. Marc Soriano tell him I said hi, thanks, & I'm doing great.

If there's anything at all I can do just let me know.

FWIW: I spent 13 weeks in one of those fu*k%ng hard plastic braces and I did race in the 2001 season & have continued since.

Good Luck,
Rick
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: Super_KC124 on November 23, 2004, 04:24:58 PM
Kris, I'm telling your mom. :P
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: Super Dave on November 23, 2004, 05:15:40 PM
I, apparently, have some kind of back issue from a fall that I had when I was five to six years old, I was told.  

No further explainations were given to me, but I know that I've always had a lot of back pain in my life and that I have certain mobility issues with my lower back movement.  

I don't have depth perception either, but I never let that stop me.  

Regardless, Kris, you've got to weigh out the options that are available to you.  Not a light decision.

You're probably not in a position for 2005 to have any kind of a paid ride, so, you have opportunities to wait things out when you feel comfortable, if you feel you want to do that.  

Regardless, have fun.

We're you're friends, and we like having you around.  Racing friends aren't always people that are on the track.  Most of my long term racing relationships are with guys that I work with.
Title: Re: Racing after back surgery
Post by: Jack_Brock on November 23, 2004, 06:53:53 PM
Some people like to quit while at the top of their game(didn't you win a championship this year?), and while they can still walk.  I am surprised you are considering returning to the track, but we all understand the desire.  If you do make the decision to get back on the track, make sure you are fit and as light as possible(I think you don't tumble as hard then).  Glad your back is progressing so well!