My surgery was performed by Dr. Madson at Conemaugh in Johnstown Pa. I have been out of work for 11 weeks. I have to wear a plastic back brace for another month then rehab begins. Thanx for asking

 

Sorry to hear about that Jactup. It definately makes me think a bit more when doing some steep hill climbs and other stunts when I hear a story like that. I wish you the best and a full recovery.

 

Even hearing about accidents like that scares the hell out of me. Brings back some rather unpleasant memories.

One thing I l learned when I first started riding ATVs were that any skills you might have learned for riding motorcycles and dirt bikes you had better un-learn and fast. I was always trying to put my foot down or doing all of the other things you do on a dirt bike but with an ATV are definite no-nos. I also learned really quickly that you can’t “bail out” of an ATV like you can a motorcycle. You can’t lay it on its side or just bail off the back when things go wrong. For one you simply can’t get off as quickly and the ATV is spine crunching-ly heavy when compared to a cycle. A bike you can simply slide off the back when it starts to flip. When an ATV starts to flip and you are in a normal riding position you are probably going along for the ride and all that weight is coming down on you. I have had a bike drop on me more than a few times but just once on an ATV may very well put you on the shelf long term or permanently.

Like I said before, while stories such as these might scare us (they do me) maybe they will make us think about safety a bit more. Even when riding responsibly accidents can happen and having proper gear can save your life. Never lose the respect for that 500 –700 pound machine you are on and remember where than thing is going to land if something goes wrong. Be careful on hills, don’t ride above your skill level and don’t become complacent. A guy I know had a rather horrifying wreck a couple of years ago that left him in the hospital for several months and walking with a permanent limp. The incredibly dangerous stunt he was doing? He was riding to the mailbox, lost a tire in a rut and flipped into a barbed wire fence.

Hope you get better soon Jactup. Rehab is hell but will do wonders if you dedicate yourself to it 110%. Disconnect your mind from everything else and just concentrate on that rehab. No matter what the pain, no matter how tired you are do what the PTs ask of you and then force yourself to go that little bit extra. That rehab is EVERYTHING while you are in it. Everything else is of very little importance. Get you mind right and prepare to work like you have never worked before and you will do fine. Trust me. I have been through months of it.

 

Thanx Mort I appreciate the good advice. Thats pretty funny what you said about putting your foot down on a quad because of being accustomed to a dirtbike, because I did the same darn thing the first time I rode a 3-wheeler(I had a B and B ankle for days). I don't know if I said it before but I had on no helmet(big rocks that coulda crushed my skull like a canteloupe) and the neurosurgeon said it was the closest bone fragments he has ever seen to the cord with out causing paralysis, so I am DAMN lucky and I thank GOD. But I am gonna tell every other rider I know(not only cause chicks like seeing scars) but to let people know I climbed this small hill 50 times before and I have seen 20 other quads and bikes do it, just always look out for your safety cause most of your buddies that you are trying to impress are not gonna. I dont want to scare people from riding and trying new trails, jumps, and hillclimbs because I cant wait to get back on quad, in fact, im gonna hit that hillclimb I wrecked(just a little slower). I had many people(mostly non-riders) ask me if I was gonna sell the zuk'. But most fellow riders know that you learn from mistakes an try again. Thanx for giving me some fellow rider input on this subject.