Originally Posted by HAMMER MAN

I have a profound severe hearing loss in both ears and even though i do wear hearng aids in most cases it doesn't help. when it comes to rding i don't worry a lot about what can or could happen by not being able to hear. i just enjoy my rides, the solitude, and tranquility. Some days are jsut tempo rides, easy spinning other days I hammer.. i also received a leg injury @ the same time and i have foot drop and do not have a knee reflex, pretty much of a bad limp and slap the foot..lol..

Originally Posted by green427

Deafness is not such a big deal until you need employment.

Originally Posted by Peter_C

Chris516 - yup, I would think you do.

I would wager that most of us, while knowing there are always people worse off then ourselves, wish at one point or another that our *issues* were different.

Not meaning to come across tacky, or the like, I tend to think someone missing most of a leg wishes (at times) that they were more like me, and vice-versa. Never having lost a limb (or it's use completely) I can only guess what someone that has goes through - but at times, I sometimes think it is worse to have *some* use of a limb. My knees almost 'taunt' me. At various points in time, they will almost work well, and then the weather will change, or God will sneeze, and boom, the pain goes crazy high, and they refuse to work - whereas if I didn't have them (my thinking goes), in time I would get used to the way my life is - because at least the issue is somewhat stable, but as they are, every day is different.

This post is *not* meant as whiny, just trying to put a 'voice' to what bounces around in my head at times. As I get older, my ability to deal with constant pain is getting worse, and frankly I can not see dealing with it for another 30-odd years.

Originally Posted by Peter_C

I wonder, if someone loses say, a leg above the knee, after 20-30 years, do they become if not pain-free, do they come close to it, or *stable*, or is "phantom pain" pretty much a for sure thing that never goes away? I assume 'phantom pain' is bout as bad as most other chronic pains?

Originally Posted by Peter_C

I know for sure that chronic back pain must be horrible! With the leg (example) many times you can sorta mentally cut it off and remove it from the rest of you - in other words, turning my head doesn't make my knee or hip hurt more, but with spinal issues, most any movement creates pain...

Originally Posted by Peter_C

Living with my mother in-law who has been legally-blind for some 20 odd years, has created a awareness of what a lack of vision can mean, and how much people (as a group) take it for granted.

Originally Posted by green427

I've put up with the snickers/laughing/mocking for the last 42 years.

Originally Posted by crackerjab

I saw this sub forum and wanted to share. Anyway... I was in a catastrophic accident on July 12th, 2011. Amongst other injuries, the ones that affected my cycling were a broken tibia in my right leg (3 breaks, all compound) and I broke every bone from my forearm to my fingertips in my left arm, which required a partial amputation of my hand (pinky and ring finger up to the wrist so, half a hand) and a hefty amount of metal on all the breaks. I'm still going through a substantial amount of therapy and maybe have 10% use of my left hand. It hasn't stopped me and my love for 2 wheels. I've been out of a wheelchair for a month and against the advice of every friend, family member, aquaintance, etcetera hopped on 3 weeks ago just to see if I could do it. Just to make sure another passion isn't being taken away. Just to see if I could feel some degree of normalcy again. I got on and rode a block. I cried. I hurt. But I rode another block. And another. And another. I cried more but they were tears of relief. Tears of happiness. Tears of joy. All despite the pain, I was pedaling again. Feeling the wind on my face. My ears. My legs. My soul. And what's left of my hands. That happy hand that has helped me brake, shift, and control those 2 wheels for years. That's gone for the moment but it's not gonna stop me. It makes me want to ride more. It makes me want to ride harder. And it makes me realize how much it means to me and my sanity. *I've, in the past three weeks, rode about fifty miles. That used to be a normal weekday road bike ride and now it's taken 3 weeks. But I still rode them, despite the circumstances. And in all of this I've realized that I don't have a disability. I have a setback where I can't stop or ride as fast. For now. The expectations are bright for a full recovery, sans some digits. I don't know if I have the ability to inspire but I hope that everyone doesn't take those 2 wheels for granted. You never know when life will throw a curveball. I've been fortunate enough to continue to bat.*

Originally Posted by FunkyStickman

Amazing. Your accident happened on the exact same day mine did... July 12th... and I was/am in much the same boat as you, except I only had my left leg reconstructed. I started riding on a trainer, and when I first got on, I couldn't even bend my knee enough to do a complete rotation of the pedals. I just sat there and moved my legs backwards and forwards a little every day until I could get it all the way around. Three months later, and I can now walk and climb stairs without crutches, I can ride the trainer for more than an hour, but I still haven't ridden the bike on the street. Part of my hesitation is that I promised my wife and kids I would wait until I was cleared for physical activity by the doctor, hopefully in early December. I don't know if I will ever get 100% of my leg strength back, but I'm getting better every day. I'm sure you will do the same! It's just a matter of time, healing, and keeping at it.

My wife looked at me today and said "There's no way you're going to make it to December without riding, is there?" She's a smart woman...

Originally Posted by Sgt Mac

When I sustained my injuries I was in traction and had a halo screwed into my head, basically flat on my back for six months. My question is did you guys have to go on the table where they slowly raise your head until just before you pass out, & each day they raise you a little more until your almost in a standing position. I hated that almost as much as the surgeries, I never knew that your heart could atrophy so much in six months.

Originally Posted by Sgt Mac

When I sustained my injuries I was in traction and had a halo screwed into my head, basically flat on my back for six months. My question is did you guys have to go on the table where they slowly raise your head until just before you pass out, & each day they raise you a little more until your almost in a standing position. I hated that almost as much as the surgeries, I never knew that your heart could atrophy so much in six months.

Originally Posted by FunkyStickman

It was extremely frustrating. It can be very discouraging when in a few short weeks and months, you can lose years of hard work and fitness.

Originally Posted by Chris516

All my surgeries were related to a congenital issue, not some type accident. So I don't think I have ever had a halo.

Originally Posted by green427

I've put up with the snickers/laughing/mocking for the last 42 years. It is easy to dismiss strangers behaving like that, but it is infuriating when employers, co-workers, and family members do it. I had the implants put in in order to improve my hearing....all because I am doing everything I can to hear as much as I can.

Originally Posted by Sgt Mac

Let me tell ya, your'e not missing anything, it is a circular piece of either aluminum or stainless steal and they actually have screws all the way around it that are tightened enough into your skull to mobilize your head & neck, your field of vision is very limited . It gets extremely frustrating staring at the ceiling all freakin day and not being able to see wtf is going on around or to you. Sounds funny but if you never get a halo you are truly blessed. Sorry about your issues just keep up the fight, I do every day all day & night, I can't sleep from the pain or flashbacks, it's been so long now it's the new normal I just came to terms with it this year & I'm 50ish.

Originally Posted by Chris516

All my surgeries were related to a congenital issue, not some type accident. So I don't think I have ever had a halo.

Originally Posted by Tom Stormcrowe

Trust me, if had ever had a halo, you'd remember it vividly. It's essentiallly a device to immobilize and apply traction to the neck to prevent spinal cord injury.

Originally Posted by Sgt Mac

Yea I forgot about the hole they drilled into my tibia and put a bolt through it with about 80lbs hanging off the end of the bed on a pulley.

Originally Posted by Neil_B

Folks, where are the ride reports? Where are the stories of our adventures? I can sit and moan with the best of them, but, really, do we want this forum as "all cripples, all the time?" I gave up posting to the National Scoliosis Foundation boards partly because so many people wore pain and disfigurement and victimhood as a badge of honor. Let's not live up to the stereotype able-bodied people give us.

Originally Posted by Sgt Mac

It's not like that at all brother, I just bought an awesome mtn bike check it out https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-of-my-Xtrance I'm going riding asap, mention of my injuries are in no way a pitty party, simply stating the facts. I do believe it helps people to read what others went through to either say wow mine wasn't that bad or just to know your not alone in your pain. that's why some of us have weekly meetings at the VA, it helps to talk to people that have been through what you have. Look at yourself, like I said after looking at your photos did me some good to know yours is unfortunately genetic so you never got to experience being a literal super man like I was, but I got cut down to size and quite violently. Your still an inspiration to me.

Originally Posted by FunkyStickman

Trust me, as soon as I can ride again, I will be posting up reports...

Originally Posted by Neil_B

Folks, where are the ride reports? Where are the stories of our adventures? I can sit and moan with the best of them, but, really, do we want this forum as "all cripples, all the time?" I gave up posting to the National Scoliosis Foundation boards partly because so many people wore pain and disfigurement and victimhood as a badge of honor. Let's not live up to the stereotype able-bodied people give us.