Topic: Just when I thought fate was done fu**in with me for a while,

[Dusthawk]

My doctor tell me that I am very high risk for a clot embolism, I will need a clot "filter"inserted into a vein in my leg through my neck. Then he goes on to tell me that the amount of lost bone is more than he thought at first and that it is in the most difficult to get to spot in the ankle. He will have to drill up into the lobe of the tibia then cut that lobe off. Once he has access to the bone that needs fixing, he will open up the hip to get a bone graft with lots of bone marrow and place it in the gaping cavity of the ankle bone, hoping it will knit together and heal. Then he tells me that after doing all that, he bolts the lobe of tibia back on, closes everything back up, and ships me to recovery.

The best part is what happens next. First, a couple of days of initial recover for the incisions to heal up. Then, the ambulancs takes me to a rehabilitation hospital where I will be bedridden for a week or two and started on yet another round of Antico-agulant therapy, waiting to see if a clot travels. After a week, the filter is removed, again through my neck. Another week or so in the rehab, then I finally get to go home, casted from my toes up to my hip. I am looking at a year, or more likely two, to recover.

I will probably have a limp the rest of my life, probably never be able to run again, or lift more than 20 or so pounds. Ain't life grand?

[mrbreeze]

Real sorry to hear all of this bad news about your condition Jeff but damn dude............you gotta make the best of it.You're a good dude and have way more to offer than being a biker (for now!!!!) I once rode with a guy out in Wyoming that had a prosthetic leg.........he was ridin a full blown HD dresser and  I didn't realize he had it until our first pit stop some 50 miles down the road from where we started. Just keep on doing what you're doing and let the doctors do their thing. It's all in your attitude man!!!!! Keep in touch.

[ieism]

Dusthawk,

I've read some of your recent posts, you seem able to bounce back from all kinds of stuff. You're a strong guy, so I have no doubt you will heal much better than the doctors make you believe.
Look those guys who race motorcycles...They crash, break every bone in their leg, and 3 weeks later they're back on the bike. It's all about good medical care and willpower, you've got plenty of that.
On the medical care part... it may cost a lot off money, but you have the best doctors in the world in the US. Think of what would happen if you lived in a 3rd world country and had a clot embolism.
You won't limp, you'll recover.

[bill440cars]

           Jeff, I can't say much more than has already been said. You just hang in there.You've got the determination and you are DEFINITELY in my prayers Buddy!


                                Later on, Bill          

[DarkRider]

Hang in there Jeff...You have shown us in the past you got the determination and will to recover from worse then this...

[tbone]

I will probably never be able to lift more than 20 or so pounds. Ain't life grand?

How on earth does the doctor expect you to pee if you can only lift 20 lbs. max? 

Jeff, they ain't God. Just make'em look stupid and heal up better than they've predicted!

Don't forget Bro, we're all with ya!

Rest well, get strong. 

[Dusthawk]

I will probably never be able to lift more than 20 or so pounds. Ain't life grand?

How on earth does the doctor expect you to pee if you can only lift 20 lbs. max? 

tbone, the doc said I'll have to drag around a floor jack!!!!!

[seaweb11]

Here but through the grace of God go I.........good luck with all this.

[putnaja1]

There are so MANY stories of "the doctor told me I'd never walk again", that end with the person who was told that running a marathon..  It's all in the mind man..  Prove those @#%$^ doctors wrong!!!

[tbone]

I will probably never be able to lift more than 20 or so pounds. Ain't life grand?

How on earth does the doctor expect you to pee if you can only lift 20 lbs. max? 

tbone, the doc said I'll have to drag around a floor jack!!!!!

Careful Dust, I ran the "twins" over with the front rollers doin' that once! (Just once.) 


Remember, doctors are still just practicing so they don't know everything!

[Dusthawk]

I will probably never be able to lift more than 20 or so pounds. Ain't life grand?

How on earth does the doctor expect you to pee if you can only lift 20 lbs. max? 

tbone, the doc said I'll have to drag around a floor jack!!!!!

Careful Dust, I ran the "twins" over with the front rollers doin' that once! (Just once.) 

You are supposed to wrap them twice around the waist and throw them over your shoulder to keep them from draggin!!!

[droopy]

I will probably have a limp the rest of my life, probably never be able to run again, or lift more than 20 or so pounds. Ain't life grand?

[/quote]

I was told I would have to have both my knee's replaced by age 30
I'm 36 know and have no knee problems doc's can't tell me why. I'm not suppost to be able to walk up stairs  or lift 10 pounds due to shatering both my shins vertically splitting and fraying them like a fiberglass rod. (bicycles can be dangrous) two weeks ago I lifted a transmision up into a s10 pickup and bolted it into place.
I now take the stairs all the time  only 3 years to get close to normal. don't ever give in to the you can't do that most doctors have know idea

PS:I might be traveling near your area before december looks like I'm moving to alaska during the road trip Im going to visit a few places that I've never seen I'll let you know as time gets closer to the move if it happens. would like meet you in person.   

[Dusthawk]

PS:I might be traveling near your area before december looks like I'm moving to alaska during the road trip Im going to visit a few places that I've never seen I'll let you know as time gets closer to the move if it happens. would like meet you in person.   

I look forward to it!!!

[my78k]

Since we are sharing feel good stories and proof that alot of Doc's sure as hell can't predict the future...here's mine...well it's my mom's but I am going to use it...

Back in 88 my mom took a tumble down 13 concrete steps and fractured her skull bad. Spent 3 weeks in a coma and they asked my dad several times if they wanted him to "pull the plug" not to mention organ donor etc. He was told repeatedly that she wouldn't make it...then she woke up...then they said she would never talk again....then she did! Then they said she would never walk again...then she did! Admittedly she is not exactly the same person she was before the accident and does have that limp (lord knows I would trade a limp for alot of things that could happen to a person!) and memory issues at times etc but fact is she is alive and well and there for her grandkids etc etc etc...by the way I know this happened almost 20 years ago but don't assume that it took that long for the recovery. Infact, the vast majority of her recovery was complete in the first 16 months or so....

Point is, it is all in your outlook and support structure. The mind is an extremely useful tool in healing, far better in fact than any of the medicines or anything else they will give you during the recovery process. Outlook has everything to do with it so you better have a good one or else you are doomed to fail!

Keep your chin up!

Dennis

P.S. as for the support structure I would say you have a pretty good start right here! We're pullin for ya...

[martini]

Tough news but hang in there man - you'll pull through all this, just roll with the punches.

[Dusthawk]

Back when this all first happened, I had the same thoughts. I thought first I would just need to stay off my ankle for a few weeks and then back to work. Then, after the Xrays were examined and an MRI was ordered, I saw just how much damage had been done and we scheduled surgery. I thought Cool, no prob, back to work in a few short months, December 1 was my target date to return to work. Then, a week after surgery, I got readmitted to the hospital with an extremely dangerous traveling blood clot behind the knee. Had it broken loose, a stroke, coma or death were the most likely outcomes. This all delayed my healing and I was expecting an April return to work. If February, in the shower, my ankle gave out. Then, every time I showered or didn't have the brace on and had to stand for any reason, my ankle was completely unable to support me. More Xrays and another MRI was finally taken a few weeks ago, and the damage is far more severe than we thought, so here we go again, planning for more surgery.

I have always been a very rapid healer, but I think I taxed even my amazing recuperative powers this time.

[Sam Green Racing]

Good luck Jeff, we're all routing for you.

Sam.

[jtb]

Hang in there, Jeff.  We're all pulling for you, and this club is a pretty powerfull group.

John