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Seasons Over

2K views 20 replies 10 participants last post by  kccats 
#1 ·
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.
 
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#2 ·
Your story is a good reminder as to what can happen when you least expect it! I had an almost exact story a year ago, I was in a field I had been a hundred times before, but I was riding in a heavily overcast day. I hit a berm that was pushed up by a plow that hadn't been there a day earlier. Where my story differs is that I got lucky to stay on the sled, but the landing REALLY hurt! Was airborne at least 40+ feet from the takeoff point...
 
#3 ·
It happens, I've ran this through my head a hundred times.

It was bright out that day, sun was to my back mid afternoon and fresh snow cover so everything was bright white and I had a clear visor. I don't know if I had a tinted shied or a high visibility yellow or orange visor that I would have picked up on the drift sooner or not. I've been looking at a few helmets that have a built in pull down lens, Bell Revolver has it and maybe HJC.

I didn't see it until I was right on it hurts a bit at times!
 
#4 ·
Damn, man, sorry to hear that. We had our first proper crash last weekend but nothing near as serious as yours. (Of course, we're old and not looking for all that stunt-riding stuff; been there, done that, got the scars to show for it!) We've just been working out some bruises and neck soreness this week. Hope you heal well and are back on the horse next winter.
 
#5 ·
I'm no spring chicken, only 48 states in the ole USA when I joined this world. You would think I would bounce better now with the additional padding I carry but I guess it doesn't work that way.

Doc gave me a little lecture about the short comings of being a human projectile!

You laugh or you cry in this world and I'm not one to go around with my lip out!


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#6 ·
I'll bet that Doc never ever sat on a sled though so would not understand why you do it.
Still, being a human projectile is fun until the landing. It's those sudden stops that hurt the most.
 
#9 ·
Sorry to hear you're busted up man... here's to a speedy recovery with no knife. I've had rotator surgury on my right arm, and they never cone back. I lost almost 60% of the strength and motion in mine
 
#11 ·
Thanks for the thoughts and words.

Martj14, wish you well.

Between the above freezing temps and rain a few days ago, all our snow is pretty much gone. That helps some, at least I don't have to look at it.

I'm definitely going to look into hi-vis options.

Who knows when we'll get a winter like this again around here so chances are I'll be back in the drive many miles and sled a few club.

Have a good remainder of the season, be safe.
 
#16 ·
Just an FYI on my progress, I've been doing therapy the last few weeks and I'm getting movement back, feeling better everyday. Not sure if I actually have a tear but an Impingement, compression of shoulder from landing on my forearm / elbow area. I see the doc next week, see how it goes from there.
 
#17 ·
Well ire's been six plus months since I used my elbow for a one point landing so I'll give you an update on my condition. Doc is a sports medicine surgeon, never could get a direct answer from him other than if it doesn't heal that we will open it up and see if there was an actual tear rather than an impingement.

I guess thats why the call it practicing medicine!

From what I've read, it is a six to eight month heal time and I'm looking forward to that eighth month.

Went back to work at the end of April, lucky to have a job where I could ease back into it, basically occupational therapy being a facilities carpenter at local university. Feeling pretty good and there are times that I forget all about it and then there are times that I catch myself rubbing my shoulder.

Not sure what the winter will bring as far as snowmobiling goes, mid October will be eight months.

Be careful out there this year.
 
#20 ·
Just got back in here and thought I'd update my progress. It is coming up on a year since I unwillingly exited my sled, getting stronger every day, doesn't keep me awake at night or have much pain. I'm not sure if wrestling a sled around would be much fun so I'm not real upset on snow conditions here in Illinois. Another year of building up my shoulder couldn't hurt and I know I need to make a living more than I need that rush blasting down a country road but I do miss it. If I could just lose that race to the next corner mentality I'd be better off, but that too is a lot of fun, damn!

Enjoy the rest of the season and be careful out there.
 
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