I tore my rotator cuff on February 12th, I had the day off for Lincoln's birthday, Illinois Civil Service worker thing. I went on a ride to a little town on the Spoon River, had breakfast, jumped on the river just long enough to say I had, rode some hilly hay pastures, zipped down snow covered back roads, great riding for this area. Probably covered 100 miles in all.
I get 1/4 mile from home, cutting down the edge of a corn field I hit a drift that turned out to be ice and dirt from the driveway across the road. I was surprised that it was solid being 3 to 4 feet into the field. Sled shot maybe 30 feet, 9.2" in the front and 13.5" of travel in the back gave it the opportunity to fair much better than I. I on the other hand used my left forearm for landing gear, thought for sure I broke it since plowed fields lack the ability to slide. Thank god the sled was casually waiting for me, still running (no tether) to continue on home. Rode it home making one more jump to get out of the field, not fun.
Got home, finally got my gear off and went upstairs to access my situation, arm hurt like _ _ _ _, bicep and shoulder followed suit. Couldn't really find cause for broken bones as I could rotate and bend albeit painful. The initial pain subsided and I thought all would be well in a couple days, not so.
Friday afternoon I go to the Emergency Room for X Rays, nothing broke but ER doctor said I probably had soft tissue damage was directed to call a Orthopedist Monday. Yeah, I waited until the weekend to get checked out! Went to see bone and joint doctor, set up therapy, started that, feeling better every day. Now it depends on how well it heals and how much movement I regain or it's the knife for me.
Crazy thing is I had been hitting deep snow, 1 to 3 foot drifts in that field and others all winter and had not hit frozen piles anywhere, it snowed, got cold and stayed cold. No freeze thaw up to that point made for great riding into and out of fields, roads, everywhere.
I have made several trips by the launching spot in my truck and now that we have had several inches of rain and the snows a melting I can see my error in judgement of what I perceived as a fun drift with snow blowing over me to meeting the local medical staff.
Take care out there and be safe.
I get 1/4 mile from home, cutting down the edge of a corn field I hit a drift that turned out to be ice and dirt from the driveway across the road. I was surprised that it was solid being 3 to 4 feet into the field. Sled shot maybe 30 feet, 9.2" in the front and 13.5" of travel in the back gave it the opportunity to fair much better than I. I on the other hand used my left forearm for landing gear, thought for sure I broke it since plowed fields lack the ability to slide. Thank god the sled was casually waiting for me, still running (no tether) to continue on home. Rode it home making one more jump to get out of the field, not fun.
Got home, finally got my gear off and went upstairs to access my situation, arm hurt like _ _ _ _, bicep and shoulder followed suit. Couldn't really find cause for broken bones as I could rotate and bend albeit painful. The initial pain subsided and I thought all would be well in a couple days, not so.
Friday afternoon I go to the Emergency Room for X Rays, nothing broke but ER doctor said I probably had soft tissue damage was directed to call a Orthopedist Monday. Yeah, I waited until the weekend to get checked out! Went to see bone and joint doctor, set up therapy, started that, feeling better every day. Now it depends on how well it heals and how much movement I regain or it's the knife for me.
Crazy thing is I had been hitting deep snow, 1 to 3 foot drifts in that field and others all winter and had not hit frozen piles anywhere, it snowed, got cold and stayed cold. No freeze thaw up to that point made for great riding into and out of fields, roads, everywhere.
I have made several trips by the launching spot in my truck and now that we have had several inches of rain and the snows a melting I can see my error in judgement of what I perceived as a fun drift with snow blowing over me to meeting the local medical staff.
Take care out there and be safe.