Face Plant, Back Injury, will I ever ride again?

So long story short, like most 40 year olds I have had some nagging back issues. Had good days and bad. Mostly though the pain was manageable. Until....I face plant on my KDX riding in some sand whoops. I suck at sand riding and was trying to keep up with some more talented riders, my reward:


I basically planted into the side of a whoop at speed and went over the bars face first into the ground like a human dart. Ok not so bad, sore but I manage to ride the rest of the day. After that crash my back issues become worse and worse. Then last September I try to kick start the old KDX and feel snap. My back is out, bad. Bad like I can't feel anything from the waist down. A quick ambulance ride, MRI and emergency surgery, physical therapy, numerous Dr's visits and I am back on my feet. Only issue, I still have no feeling on the left side. This effects evrything, and I mean everything.
So I have been contemplating selling all of my bikes, I don't want to but knowing that I can't get on them and go is driving me crazy. I think it might be easier if they were not in the garage. I'm really not sure what to do at this point. Everyone is telling me to give it time inculding my Doctor (who hates motorcycles). I know that I am dealing with some serious nerve damage.Problem is I do not know anyone who has been or is in the same situation. Anyone ever recover from a serious back injury and resume riding? At this point I would be happy to just be able to ride on the street. I know another ff out there has had to have tackled the same issue, I want to hear your story. PM's are fine or post up.
I have been even contemplating looking at a Burgman just to get back on 2 wheels.

I'd go with what everyone is saying, give it some time. You might think about thinning out the garage or changing up your bikes and riding styles. But I don't think you should throw in the towel yet.

Broke my L4 in 07 during a TAT trip.

For most of us injured, we know there is life after riding or we can elect to ride differently.

I still ride DS but try to ride smarter. Have found street riding again as a fun factor. Just different dangers w/ the same body damage waiting.

Found healing & getting into very strong body shape was my first defence against injury. Then up grade your talent in better riding skills.

Or fuck it all & take up fly fishing.

Dano,
It sounds like from your thread, that you need additional testing done. Everything you are describing sounds like disc damage.
I know, I have had 2 surgeries on the lumbar 4 & 5 discs which were damaged when I was hit by a car at work.
If the disc is damaged or compressed, it will push on nerves.
My suggestion is a detailed MRI of all the lower back to determine if disc surgery is needed.
I have had both a doulble lamenectomy and a disc replacement.
I ride daily and have no trouble with distances. I play Golf. Tennis and serious ping-pong, don't laugh, I kick ass.
I might suggest a sports medicine doctor, they tend to be more aware of the cutting edge technology involved with discs and their repair.
Good luck,
Greg

never give up dude. the human spirit can overcome anything. think of all the times you've heard stories about folks who were told they'd never (insert whatever mundane or normal function here) again, but said *oh YEAH?* and did it anyway.
you sound like you may just need to find yourself again. hang in there.
while there is no guaranteed cure for nerve damage, ask your doc for a referral to a
neuro specialist. maybe you could do some electro type nerve stimulation therapy?
do some serious gym time, and meanwhile, back at the ranch-
learn to live and work smarter.
take care of yourself. if you don't who will?
but never. ever. EVER. give up.

Agree with pfloydgad regarding the MRI. Had similar numbness and pain that grew in magnitude about two months ago...two first two docs I saw diagnosed as an irritated sciatic nerve (one guy looked it up on the hospital version of WebMD) and both recommended P Therapy..pain grew exponentially and I eventually ended up crawling into the ER. Third doc ran me through an MRI which clearly showed ruptured disc in the lower back with a portion pushing on the Sciatic nerve bundle that runs parallel along the spine causing pain and numbness down the left leg to below the knee. Ended up doing an emergency endoscopic discotemy (very non invasive – trimmed away protruding disc material away from the nerves…incision apprx 2 ½” long) and like those tent preachers that place their hands on the blind or crippled and cure their ills, 2 hours after post op I stood up pain free YEEHAH!. Previous docs took x-rays and didn't see any cause (soft tissue doesn’t show on an xray) and I felt like the second one thought I was trying to get pain meds out of him. The doc that performed the procedure (big time water skier who told me the best use for the back brace they gave me to wear was not for rehab, but for slalom skiing as it helps keep your back straight when ripping turns) told me that it was likely if I had gone through with the PT, that it could have caused long damage and certainly more pain. Three weeks later I was on the GS (shhh don’t tell the doc) but would have been SOL if I dropped the bike as I was told not to bend and certainly not to lift anything for 8 weeks. I am on week six and feel great…a little numbness remains and am riding a stationary bike with lots of stair climbing. After that, should be ok to resume normal activity. Good luck and remember, you are the one paying for the medical service...don’t settle for just one opinion especially if it will force you to change your lifestyle

I broke my back twice, the 2nd time something like your crash but with lots more broken bones.
I street ride, and hope to get back in the dirt on a tw200.
Pain? yes, all the time, but sometimes it gets much worse, sometimes I have to cut the riding short, or take more breaks then I would if it was just a sore butt.

My first crash happened at age 49, on an old Triumph in very soft sand.
landed taking the impact in my head and shoulder and could not move anything for 10 minutes.
It was hard to breath also. I broke my spine up high between the shoulder blades.
After 10 minutes i rode home, then went to the hospital.

The 2nd time was last year, on a dr650 which I used to dance on top of the big whoops, but at the time of the crash was being mellow. That time I got drilled into the next whoop with the bike behind me pushing.
Besides the spine, took out the shoulder bones, lots o ribs, spleen, lung.

I figure I can do a tw200, low, light, fat tires for the sand.

I traded the 600 pound Harley for a 300 pound TU250, and that is working out very well.

If I could not ride, I would not be happy at all.
If I had no use of some limb, just set a bike up to not need it.
When I broke an ankle, I shifted with my heel and leg (right side shift Triumph), pull up with the heel of the special boot thing, stomp to downshift.


Duglas Bader flew fighters in combat with no legs, so do not give up if riding is important to you.
If its just something you do for fun, the smart money is to give it up, its always risky.

Have you tried an inversion table before, just fifteen minutes a day works wonders.
no-name inversion tables go for $99 bucks.

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The inversion table seemed like a good idea, but gave me a wicked case of vertigo for a couple of weeks because it shook loose the grains of sand in my ear canals.

Once I recovered from that, I put up a chinning bar and now knock out the daily dozen on that and also pull my knees up to my chest about 10 reps while hanging there. That and swimming laps seems to be the best thing short of surgery, which the VA won't cover.

I'm still riding quite a bit, but I really concentrate on not going too fast (got to stay in control) and picking the smoothest possible line. I also started drinking... really, Mikes hard lemonade or a wine cooler at the end of the day.

Inversion table, man, inversion table. Those things are truly amazing.

I have 3 completely degenerated discs and two bulging disc in my upper spine. Used an ex's inversion table and man what a difference.

I saw that Teeter commercial yesterday morning while eating my breakfast...might buy one of those and put it in my den....

Good luck and don't give up just yet. It took me almost two years to get back to "normal"...

Don't give up yet man. Let some time pass, get the help you need and you might be surprised. Not to far from you, if you need anything, just PM me. Hope you are on the mend soon.
Peace,
Jeremy

Give it time, I had back surgery L5/L6 in March 2011 and I am still riding, The worse thing is the jumps and whoops especially on a PWC, On the track on a sport bike is ok except I have to call it quits after 3 sometimes 4 sessions.
The right side is still numb and if I push it the shooting pain from the hip to the foot comes back. Probaly never going to be 100% again, but its controllable with Aleve and aspirin, and a ocasional Hydracodone!

if possible try it out at a fitness store or gym first.

What you want to look for in an inversion table is super comfortable padded area that grabs your ankles.

The next item to eyeball is how easy or hard it is to reach and operate the latch that clamps down on your ankles.

The actual table top isn't that important because your usually dangling away from it doing twist or bends.

It really is a fun piece of equipment that relieves back pain.
Even people who don't have back problems enjoy hanging on it.

Man, I can relate to that. Not because I'm infirm, but because I'm 65 and still riding. I now have an '88 K75, my first road bike in 20 years, although I and my wife have ridden dual sports for the past couple of years and (having been in Moab), where the trails are TRAILS), we decided that we're not willing to risk the injuries necessary to gain competence. I recently went on a 140 mile ride to Yarnel, AZ, from Phoenix with a friend (who is 67yo), he is skilled and blew by me on the twisty curvies. I guess that what I'm sayin is that I wish you the best and suggest that, when you're ready, go for it! , but perhaps, change your perspective and keep the faith. Best Wishes!

I got fused s1,l4 l5 15 years ago and i still ride alot .I think the only time my back feels good is when Im riding .I must be having so much fun I forget about it.

I'll be the one who argues the opposite opinion.
Unless they have very high sentimental value, sell them. There is no guarantee how long it will take to rehab.
I had my fusion surgery (L4-5) around my 40th birthday, and it wasn't until my 50th that I bought another bike.
Spend the time and effort rebuilding your strength. I'm a big fan of massage therapy, but I'm going to get an inversion table too. Every back injury is different, and everyone gets relief/improvement from different therapy, try them all.

DON"T GIVE UP!!!

My neurosurgeon told me if I couldn't feel it or move it after three months, it was gone for good. I'm glad I didn't believe him, I was walking with a walker, and still couldn't feel my "personal space" yet.:eek1
Now I can walk on flat level surfaces unaided, and have some improvement elsewhere also.

Back and neck issues are huge puzzles. I've been told twice I need surgery on my neck. Twice I've told them to fuck themselves. I've lawndarted into hay bales twice too. It has had zero effect on my life.


Like high dangler said, "I must be having so much fun I forget about it." I'm not saying back and neck pain is mental, but so much of it really is.


Check out "Mind Body Prescription" by John Sarno, M.D. LINK This book changed my life. It really is mind over matter. Every person I know who has read this book, comprehends what he is saying and follows his "plan" has resolved their back or neck pain/problems.

I had fusion at L5-S1 six years ago. Successful, I had constant pain and nerve damage, blowtorch sensation down my right leg, dragging that foot. Today you'd never know I'd had it, run, walk, ride, I can do anything I want. Or could until September 11 2010. Lady pulled out in front of me, a u-turn from the ditch and sent me thru the air, luckily I landed on my head, helmet absorbed a bunch of that, the rest seemed to be absorbed by my 6th cervical vertebrae, broke it in a couple of places, crushed both of the discs etc.. Wednesday next week I'm going in for a two level fusion with hardware. I've tried every thing we could think of and nothings given relief that lasts longer than an hour or two. I'm still able to ride, the weight of a helmet is excruciating but wtf, I'm not quitting on account of a little pain..

Anyway, I wouldn't give up, I won't sell my bikes until someone proves to me I can't ride them. I didn't sell them post surgery the first time, not gonna now..

Get a neck collar - not the full on Leat brace, something like the sixsixone foam collar. That should support the weight of the helmet and make riding a lot less unpleasant.
(Had a 4WD run over my head a year or so back),

Pete

Thanks for all the responses, it helps to know that there are others out there who are as F'd as me. Tokyoklahoma's story is what I am dealing with now. Just got rid of the walker and cane. Who ever new that walking could be so hard. The reference to "personal space" actually made me laugh a little. My neurosurgeon told me to stay away from inversion tables for now, maybe in the future but not until he gives me the ok. I just had a post surgery MRI, just waiting for the results. I think the only thing I have going for me is that I was in the best shape of my life prior to the surgery. After putting in all the work to get in shape, it kills me now to have to sit back and do nothing. If I could get back into the gym it would probably help my overall outlook. Believe it or not I miss banging out reps. Gonna pick up that Doctors book that was recommended over the weekend. My back pain is minimal and I can handle it without the help drugs, it is the numbness and lack of muscle control that is bringing me down. To think that it may be permanent is what is really bothering me. I have to keep thinking that it could be worse.


GO PATS!!