Let me start off by re-introducing myself, My names chet and i have been on this site about a year now and have been riding sportbikes for a good 4 yrs now (after taking a break for 10 yrs due to back injuries.) With luck on my side i haven't been down yet.
I apologize for the long post in advance. The reason i am making this post is because i am not sure what to do. I have been on heavy pain medication for a good part of my life and unfortunately will have to be on it for the rest of my life so below is what happened and whats going on.
First off i was born with congenital fusions in L-3 & L-4 which is a main bending point in your back. So with that being said i have a history of back problems that started at birth and over the years progressed to the point where I injured my back severely in Sept of 2003 and ended up having to have surgery on my mid back level t-10 and t-11 ( they performed a laminectomy and partial discectomy.) It took about 4 months to fully recover with therapy and all.
In 2006, two months after moving back to NY from California i injured myself again when i twisted the wrong way to throw something in the trash. (< yeah i know it sounds fucking ridicolous but its true.) Anyway i ended up blowing out C-3 thru C-7 in my neck and ended up having to have emergency surgery where they performed a spinal decompression on all levels and it left me with permanent spinal cord damage in levels C-4 & C-5 which left me with limited movement in my neck. It took about 6 months for a full recovery and left me with limited movement, but the pain was controllable with medication and therapy.
So now its 2008 and i finally won my hearing with social security and i am on full work restriction for the rest of my life and no longer able to work so i decide to buy a bike so i can find something to do to clear my head and give me something to focus on that i enjoy doing to keep me from going crazy from not being able to work. I end up injuring myself again and blow out my L-5 & S-1 with sciatic nerve damage. I declined surgery this time as they wanted to to fuse my hip which would leave me pretty much FUCKED!
So to the present. I have been in pain management since 2003 and have been on ever single fucking pain medication there is out there as well as depression and anxiety medication. I have a pretty high tolerance to pain meds so needless to say i ride while taking them which i'm sure i will get flamed for but i refuse to give up the one thing in my life besides my family that keeps me fucking happy and occupied. I swore that the only way i would stop riding is if i can't get on the bike.
Now lately i have been having issues while trying to fix my body position as it seems to be irrittating certain areas of my back. I was wondering if there is anything i can do to maybe strenghten my back to be able to achieve this. I know i could just pop some more pills and not have to deal with this issue but i tried and keep it to a minimum and be as safe as i can when i am on the bike which includes not riding it all fucked up and dopey.
i have tried many things and my main problem is leaning to the left to look thru the corner. It shoots a horrible fucking pain up my spine that has almost caused me to crash on a few occasions cuz i panicked and stood the bike up almost causing me to go off the road.
I don't know if anyone else on here has back problems or has encountered anything i am dealing with but i would appreciate any input anyone could give to maybe help me out. I really don't want to buy a cruiser and i enjoy riding to much to give it up. I fell like i'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I have rode my friends harley and even though the suspension was hard it was very comfortable to ride but just not my style. Am i fucked and just have to switch it up or is there a way for me to get by this issue with leaning the bike over...
Thanks for any input and once again sorry for the long post. Well if anything ya'll know some things i have been through.
Maybe i ate too many pills tonite
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Bike mods & accessories:
hotbodies smooth undertail, LED tailight, integrated signals, graves flush mount signals, blue rk chain, two bro's CF shorty, BMC filter, titanium valves, CF front fender, Dano's smart TRE, PC lll, Frame sliders, Spool sliders, Woodcraft case covers, Barely legal fender eliminator.
Just a catchy title i guess but also has alot to do with riding safely. I am on this stuff for the rest of my life and a pretty high dose of it. I don't want to end up getting myself into trouble with my reactions being slowed because of it. Like i stated i am having problems while trying to lean the bike over with shooting pains up my spinal cord into my neck and maybe it's something i'm doing wrong.
It sounds to me like you might be better to settle for riding a harley. Or maybe a sport-touring. Just don't take corners so fast that you have to lean and look through so drasticly.
But honesty your asking the wrong crowd. Go to a sports medicine doctor or something of the sort and they will be able to tell you what works best for YOU.
People here may tell you their experiences. But that's not you and could be way different. A doctor will tell you more than anyone here sounds like a rough story. Hope you can keep riding
...It shoots a horrible fucking pain up my spine that has almost caused me to crash on a few occasions...
You'll have to ask yourself if it's worth riding a sportbike. What does your doctor(s) say? Surely, riding with your extensive back injury history can't be a great idea?
It sounds to me like you might be better to settle for riding a harley. Or maybe a sport-touring. Just don't take corners so fast that you have to lean and look through so drasticly.
But honesty your asking the wrong crowd. Go to a sports medicine doctor or something of the sort and they will be able to tell you what works best for YOU.
People here may tell you their experiences. But that's not you and could be way different. A doctor will tell you more than anyone here sounds like a rough story. Hope you can keep riding
Thanks for the response, I totally understand what your saying.. Most of the time i ride layed back and not too aggressive but i do get the itch to hit the twisties here n there and thats when i run into problems with leaning it over. I try and keep it to a steady pace and not too aggressive but we all know how that goes
I have talked to my doctor and he supports my decision to ride and said as long as i am comfortable then go for it and enjoy myself.
You made a very good point in what you said regarding my experiences and what other people may have experienced. Everyone is different and has different tolerances and only you will know what works for you.
Yeah the last 9 years of my life have been a real rough ride but i keep holding on hoping for the best. I just try and stay on the positive side of things and try not to let my situation get me down.
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Bike mods & accessories:
hotbodies smooth undertail, LED tailight, integrated signals, graves flush mount signals, blue rk chain, two bro's CF shorty, BMC filter, titanium valves, CF front fender, Dano's smart TRE, PC lll, Frame sliders, Spool sliders, Woodcraft case covers, Barely legal fender eliminator.
You'll have to ask yourself if it's worth riding a sportbike. What does your doctor(s) say? Surely, riding with your extensive back injury history can't be a great idea?
G'luck!
Hell yes it's worth riding a sportbike, It's all i have ever ridden and i live for it. Just the adrenaline rush i get while on it and it also gives me a chance to clear my head.
Like i stated above my doctor is ok with it, Yes your right it's prolly not the greatest decision on my part but it keeps me happy and why live miserable, Needless to say if i ever go down i will prolly be paralyzed for life and believe me that is in the back of my head everytime i get on my bike. I do keep a hefty life insurance policy on my head as well as full coverage on my bike.
thanks for the response, definetly appreciated
__________________
Bike mods & accessories:
hotbodies smooth undertail, LED tailight, integrated signals, graves flush mount signals, blue rk chain, two bro's CF shorty, BMC filter, titanium valves, CF front fender, Dano's smart TRE, PC lll, Frame sliders, Spool sliders, Woodcraft case covers, Barely legal fender eliminator.
Sorry but a sport bike is not the best choice for street duty since it is very focused on just one thing, carrying a fairly good pace. Anything less they are uncomfortable, why not get a bike that can do everything and be comfortable.
I'm not so sure you should even be at the wheel at all while being under the influence of pain killers to begin with. I'm not trying to be the party pooper here, but that is the way I see it.
I'm not so sure you should even be at the wheel at all while being under the influence of pain killers to begin with. I'm not trying to be the party pooper here, but that is the way I see it.
Shit,I'm on en right now&I prolly shouldnt even be behind the keyboard
Sorry but a sport bike is not the best choice for street duty since it is very focused on just one thing, carrying a fairly good pace. Anything less they are uncomfortable, why not get a bike that can do everything and be comfortable.
I get what your saying but honestly i am pretty damn comfortable on my bike believe it or not.. i am just having problems getting it down through the corners at a good pace without running into problems with pain shooting through my left shoulder and spinal cord.. i may be doing something wrong to cause this or maybe my body just can't handle it anymore which is probably the case but im hoping not.
I'm not so sure you should even be at the wheel at all while being under the influence of pain killers to begin with. I'm not trying to be the party pooper here, but that is the way I see it.
Believe me i agree with you and sometimes i don't get on my bike just for the pure fact that sometimes depending on stress and anxiety build up they tend to increase the effects sometimes and im not sure of myself so i will stay off of it.
My tolerance is sooooooo high for pain killers its ridicolous and trust me i keep it to the bare minimum when riding my bike and sometimes i wont even take my morning dose if im going for a ride... If i was to go 6 yrs back in time i would have never got on my bike in the condition i was but im doing much better now.. if you were to see me in person you would never even know i was on pain meds.. i function and act totally normal... i guess you could say im a functioning drug addict
__________________
Bike mods & accessories:
hotbodies smooth undertail, LED tailight, integrated signals, graves flush mount signals, blue rk chain, two bro's CF shorty, BMC filter, titanium valves, CF front fender, Dano's smart TRE, PC lll, Frame sliders, Spool sliders, Woodcraft case covers, Barely legal fender eliminator.
My thought is as long as I am riding it does not matter on what kind of bike it is, except a Harley which I will never own. Gave up my sport bike this year and went supermoto, not missing a sport bike at all.
My thought is as long as I am riding it does not matter on what kind of bike it is, except a Harley which I will never own. Gave up my sport bike this year and went supermoto, not missing a sport bike at all.
Actually i have been thinking about getting a supermoto.. they look like a lot of fun to ride.. If you don't mind me asking which one did you go with?
There's plenty of hardcore bikes that aren't sports bikes. I'd test ride as many different types as possible, you need to find some that you can work a comfortable riding style into.
Came out of retirement to "catch" for a bunch of 20-24 year old men!
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: North Jersey
Motorcycle: 2004 GSXR 600
Posts: 7,844
Re: Methadone ( In need of some help )
Quote:
Originally Posted by chettie
Just a catchy title i guess but also has alot to do with riding safely. I am on this stuff for the rest of my life and a pretty high dose of it. I don't want to end up getting myself into trouble with my reactions being slowed because of it. Like i stated i am having problems while trying to lean the bike over with shooting pains up my spinal cord into my neck and maybe it's something i'm doing wrong.
If you can afford it, look outside the US for stem cell therapy.
heli-bars and aftermarket adjustable rearsets (vortex v2's, gillies, driven). both should keep your back and lower body at ease when riding.
and try to limit your pain med intake before and when riding. its already an very dangerous sport due to "everyone else trying to kill you" out there. if your unable to limit your paind med use, i would deem you unsafe to ride a bike. your life and other peoples lives are more importane that you getting your kicks from a ride while on pain meds.
i uderstand where your comeong from thos man. i had 2 knee surgeries in the past year. both surgeries on the same knee, for the same miniscus tear. now the surgeon cut the nerve that runs below the knee cap and im currently dealing with that. i take 60 750mg vicoden ES's a month (for 13 months now), as well as smoking medical pot (yes i have my MMMP card) to deal wiht the pain.
__________________ 2007 gsxr 600 track only fvck the street
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Re: Methadone ( In need of some help )
, Needless to say if i ever go down i will prolly be paralyzed for life and believe me that is in the back of my head everytime i get on my bike. I do keep a hefty life insurance policy on my head as well as full coverage on my bike.
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