crashed my bike - pretty bad

[Semper Gumby]

Hey Rob,

I'll send you my old Krausers if you want 'em.  There crap but they are something.  You can always put a strap on em to make stay on the bike.  Right now they are just taken up space....

Glad you are feeling better.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

[size=12]This time I saw the hand specialist - the same one that performed the surgery shortly after midnight the night of the crash.

He removed the pins. It wll be 4 weeks in 2 days, and he said that is when they come out. But the bones are far from healed. I had 5 pins - 4 criss-crossed through the two bones of the pinkie, and the 5th pin (ring finger) was positioned almost laterally through the tip of the bone. (this makes me feel all hinky typing it...)
I will take some pictures of the x-rays. I forgot to take my camera in with me...
Anyway, it was only the 5th pin that gave me any pain on removal. Amazing.

Toward the end, the dr. looked at me and said "I still think we should have removed it that night."
I guess he is concerned that I will not be able to cope with the lack of mobility in the pinkie joints, due to tendon damage.
I asked him if it could be removed in the future. Well, of course he said yes.


Now the BEST PART OF THE DAY! (if I were a kid it would have been no-limit at Dairy Queen...)

After the doc finished with me, he sent me over to their physical therapy section to get a new splint made - one that will force my two fingers to a new position - slightly...

And that is where I saw her...

Dark-haired angel come to brace me up in my time of need!

So young, and pretty, and everything where I like it in the quantities I like - well, let's just say she did her job well (ladies are  reading, you guys!).
Maybe this will give you an idea of how I felt... ;-)

If I knew I would get her for a therapist, I would make the drive in a heartbeat! (also if I were 20 years younger...)



The Leg (knee)

Much better. It seemed to appreciate me leaving the brace on for long periods (like at work) and has responded by allowing me to take a few tentative steps without it - and without (purposely) locking my knee! I can bend it a little as I take those steps. It feels good.

My wrist is sore, and they took pics of that and my shoulder that I was complaining about, as well. No problems that he could see. Just beat up. [/size]

[MrRiden]

Rob,
Glad to hear things are coming along, sorry they are not as well as you would like. A lifelong biker friend I have had his arm messed up so bad (Cadaver elbow implanted) that he seriously considered just having it removed. (an option the doctors were not against) Pain and limited movement were things he wanted to be rid of. He toughed it out, cowboyed up, had his 'woe is me days' and at times snarled at us but like a John Wayne figure got through it. Oh It's still not 100% but we are building a new engine this weekend and he'll be lifting it into the frame with me.
As for the therapist, well I think she could hurt you in ways you never imagined with her skills. Kinda like dating a dancer perhaps
Heal Well!
rich

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Rob,
As for the therapist, well I think she could hurt you in ways you never imagined with her skills. Kinda like dating a dancer perhaps
Heal Well!
rich

I am willing to take that risk, if only to save my fellow man from the pain!  


 

[not-so-fast-ed]

Way to go, Rob.
Great to hear you're on the mend.
Keep those pleasant thoughts as you go through therapy.   They've gotta help you heal faster!!

 [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Ed

[suecanada]

I agree with Ed, Rob. At this stage, I don't care what it takes but getting a positive attitude is the most impt. thing. If your pinky doesn't behave perfectly...the other fingers will most likely pick up the slack. Brain plasticity is what I've been reading about just in case I really did leave "something" on that Sask. road other than my bike.

[nhmaf]

Keep up your spirits, Rob !

I guess that I consider even a less than fully functional appendage better than none at all - so I think if you are just patient, your little finger will prove its worth, if only for hitting the "Tab" key or Shift key once in a while.

Having a pretty therapist also can do wonders, just don't kill yourself trying to impress her with your recuperative abilities !

[Justin B.]

I squashed and cut to the bone my right pinkie middle joint stacking drill-pipe (oil rig...) years ago and it wouldn't move for a long time.  I just used my other hand and flexed and bent the finger every time I was watching TV and stuff and after a couple of years it worked fine.  For 6 months I could not move it at all so don't get discouraged.  At least it sorta stuck out to the side so it looked like I had class and breeding while I was drinking a mug of brew!  [smiley=beer.gif]

[msbuck]

 At least it sorta stuck out to the side so it looked like I had class and breeding while I was drinking a mug of brew!  [smiley=beer.gif]

[smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif]  You're so funny, Justin!

Rob, great to hear you're on the mend and there's light ahead.  Having something to look forward to at therapy is a plus!  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I had a good weekend.

I don't think I put on the leg brace once (didm't go out shopping, either), and I have begun removing my new hand brace most of the time, as well (it REALLY hurts my wrist).  I wear it when I am driving or sleeping, though.


I finally checked out my Motoport Kevlar mesh pants.  They have been in the bag from the hospital all this time.  I was afraid to see what the EMT's did to them with their scissors!  

As it turns out, they didn't cut them AT ALL!  Apparently with the mega zippers on these, they didn't need to!


Sunday sure was pretty here in central Indiana.  I went out for lunch and ended up taking a drive in the country.
At one point, while on a leaf-filled county road, I saw a motorcycle headlight in the distance.  
As he approached, I put my good hand at 12 o'clock so I could give him the "farmer's wave" as he went by (two fingers raised up off the steering wheel).  After he passed, I looked in my rearview mirror, and he was giving me the most enthusiastic wave I have ever received from another biker!  That made the rest of my day!

[Darwin_R65]

So young, and pretty, and everything where I like it in the quantities I like - well, let's just say she did her job well (ladies are  reading, you guys!).
Maybe this will give you an idea of how I felt... Wink
 
If I knew I would get her for a therapist, I would make the drive in a heartbeat! (also if I were 20 years younger...)
 
 

So she also qualifies as an eye therapist as well.
or at least she's giving your eyes a good workout. 8-)

John

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

So young, and pretty, and everything where I like it in the quantities I like - well, let's just say she did her job well (ladies are  reading, you guys!).
Maybe this will give you an idea of how I felt... Wink
If I knew I would get her for a therapist, I would make the drive in a heartbeat! (also if I were 20 years younger...)
  

So she also qualifies as an eye therapist as well.
or at least she's giving your eyes a good workout. 8-)
John

That she did, mate.  That she did.


I hope I didn't embarrass myself!

[Frank_M]

Hey Rob,

I've been off the board through the summer and early fall, and only now am catching up on some of the posts. So sorry to hear of your accident and resulting injuries. But give it time and keep the faith. I had my bad accident in '87 and lost some tissue in the legs, but they're as good as ever and I have no trouble putting the Beemer on its center stand. And regarding that injured hand and pinkie, a few years back my right hand got seriously struck by one of the hydraulic arms on the tractor, and a plate with 7 or 8 titanium screws was inserted. Plate and screws are still in there, but the hand and two fingers work perfectly. So keep with any physical therapy that's advised, and we'll catch you on down the road.

Frank

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

[size=12]I am now beginning to use my left hand (1st 3 fingers only) to do some typing!
I take the hand brace off unless I am driving or sleeping.  So I am trying to give them some exercise.  I will start therapy next week.


The R65 comes home today! (Sat.)
My nephew has a pick-up truck, so we are going to drive the 75 miles tomorrow and get it.

I will post pictures before the weekend is out, no doubt.[/size]

[not-so-fast-ed]

Rob,  Do you have to squeeze a ball with your left hand to simulate a clutch lever?

Keep up the therapy.  With, and without your distracting therapist..

"You da man!"

 [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Best,
Ed