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Thread: I can’t play now

  1. #1

    Default I can’t play now

    A month ago I was riding my motorcycle to the market. I had on my armored jacket, gloves, and helmet. A car came across lanes and swatted my bike like it was a fly. I was knocked unconscious, I awakened in the street with two nice cops helping me. My face swollen and black, and eye swollen shut. My left shoulder is broken in three places, my left hand and fingers broken. Let me tell you, at my age a broken shoulder is a painful experience.

    The driver ran off and no witness got a tag number.

    So, I have not been able to practice or even pick up my instrument.


    BTW, if you ride, wear your armor. I would have been a lot worse if not for the armor.
    Loar LM-370

    “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” ― Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

  2. #2

    Default Re: I can’t play now

    ATGATT !

    It could have been a lot worse indeed, have a speedy recovery. If you start riding again think about getting a go pro, it might film the fleeing car and its license plate if you're lucky. https://imgaz2.staticbg.com/thumb/la...ed0fe79cb0.jpg

  3. #3
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    So sorry to hear about your predicament Doc. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scumbags in the world who would speed off from an accident where somebody got hurt - and unfortunately, you happened to get tied up with one of them.

    What is the prognosis for your recovery?

    Keep us updated.

  4. #4
    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Ouch, that's not fun to hear about. Where are you? Most Americans don't ride to the market
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Oh, this sounds bad. Speedy recovery.

  6. #6
    Registered User Kalasinar's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Sorry to hear about your crash DocT. I'm a biker too and the fact that the car driver didn't stop is despicable. I don't know where you are located but here in the UK with all the hot weather there are so many people (especially teens) riding around with no leathers or armour on. I don't get it. I get some comments like "aren't you really hot?" when I wear my armour (which is always), but I'd rather be a little warm than flayed alive with some broken bones. Wish you a speedy recovery and well done for protecting yourself by wearing your gear. Hoping that CCTV somewhere in the area maybe caught the car's license.
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  7. #7
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Hang in there. About six years ago I broke my shoulder in an accident and it took almost a year of physical therapy to get most of the movement back. I had use of my fingers though and playing something might be good therapy for those. I couldn't play mandolin for about 8 months because of the shoulder movement but I could play guitar. It sucks getting hurt when you're older (I am older) but playing music is an incentive to put yourself through the PT. Keep us informed as to how you're doing. There's a whole forum of people rooting for you.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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  9. #8
    Registered User Mando Mort's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Sounds awful. I hope your recovery is full and quick.
    "All of us contain Music & Truth, but most of us can't get it out." - Mark Twain

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    Mandol'Aisne Daniel Nestlerode's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    I lost a friend to a similar accident.
    I'm sorry you've been hit, sorry driver has not take responsibility, and sorry you're laid up. But I'm glad you're still with us.
    Take your time and heal up properly. Then buy a helmet cam.

    Daniel

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    Registered User Al Trujillo's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    I'm so sorry about this. I work in a hospital and spend a lot of time in the ER. Last week we had three drivers in for injuries and in each case not one of them wore protective gear. They'll live but they'll not ever look the same - asphalt does terrible things to human skin. I hope you heal quickly...I know you miss being able to play.

  13. #11
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Sorry to hear this, I hope your recovery is fast. Physical Therapy is your best friend, as soon as possible.

    I rode for 35 years without an accident, driving and watching cars like Grandma. I finally had to quit due to lower back pain issues. Loved the feeling of freedom, hated the leathers and helmet in hot 110F weather, slick or gravely roads and drunk drivers. I wouldn't ride today because of cell phones.

    I'll always love motorcycles, they're what I drove first and there's nothing like the feelling of the air flowing around and through you. But I do really like four wheels, no helmet or leathers, fully supportive cooled/heated leather bucket seats, air conditioning, and twin turbo response. Plus it's hard to carry a mandolin, a banjo, a guitar, a double bass and a PA on a motorcycle.

    Choices...
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    Registered User Randi Gormley's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Sympathies and quick wishes for a speedy recovery.
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  15. #13
    Registered User Louise NM's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    So glad you're alive. There's a special place in hell for people who don't stop after an accident like that.

  16. #14

    Default Re: I can’t play now

    And about three months Will know whether I have to have partial or full shoulder replacement surgery. But the doctor thinks not because he said that I have actually healed faster than he expected and much better. But it will be a long road of recovery with the physical therapy. Right now I just take my pain medication like a good boy and try not to overdo it. It’s amazing how weak it has left me with all the broken bones in the bruises in different things just getting out for even a short while leaves me exhausted and And pain. I’ve always been pretty active and I never would’ve thought something could’ve sidelined me like this.
    Loar LM-370

    “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” ― Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

  17. #15

    Default Re: I can’t play now

    I agree 100%
    Loar LM-370

    “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” ― Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

  18. #16

    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Sorry to hear of this tragedy DocT. I certainly wish you a speedy recovery.

    I know this is not a Motorcycle Forum, but since the issue has been brought up, I'll comment.

    Riding a motorcycle is not for everyone I guess, but it is a great pleasure for some of us. And for some of us, part of that pleasure is reduced by wearing a helmet. Wearing one or not should be the choice of the rider.

    Being seriously injured in a collision while riding is more likely than while driving but both activities involve an element of risk. If reducing that risk factor is the goal, it only makes sense that all automobile operators should have to wear NASCAR approved fire retardant clothing, full face helmets along with 5 point restraints. Try that for a while and see how enjoyable your next Sunday drive is.
    Last edited by FLATROCK HILL; Jul-30-2019 at 10:19am.
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  19. #17
    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Wow, Doc, so sorry to learn of your misfortune. I am glad you are healing well.

    I don't ride a motorcycle, but I do ride a bicycle. The odd driver now and again can be really discourteous, or even much worse. I am glad you were not hurt beyond what you experienced. I hope your bike, too, can recover.

    Thanks for giving us the reminder to use safety gear and an equally urgent reminder of how important it is to share the road when driving our cars!
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  20. #18
    Registered User Drew Egerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Glad it wasn't worse Doc, hang in there. Hope you can play again soon!
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Prayers for a speedy recovery, Doc! Sorry your injuries are as bad as they are, but glad it wasn’t any worse, as others have stated!!
    Chuck

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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Sorry to hear of your misfortune and pain. Be religious about doing the PT. I look forward to hearing your re-entry into mando madness.
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  24. #21
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    I see you're thinking octave mandolin. That's a good thing. Again, my first problem after my surgery was getting my arm far enough up to play the mandolin. I got to the guitar first. I hadn't even thought about an octave back then.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  26. #22
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Not comparable in extent of injury, but nearly six years ago I "shattered" (doc's description) my left radius and ulna (wrist bones) in a car crash on the Mass Pike. Scared to death I was done playing. A very competent ortho surgeon, who was able to re-set the breaks and not require permanent pinning, helped a lot, but the key was the months of rehab. Two office visits a week, working with some very stressful machines, and even more important, a daily home regimen of stretches and weights, mobility and strength exercises, heating and icing, going on for months.

    I have 95% of the wrist and finger mobility I once had, sufficient to keep playing instruments at my former competence level (I was never a virtuoso, but I don't have to worry about chords I can't make, or stretches I can't finger). IMHO the key parts are patience, consistent effort, and motivation. And good health insurance coverage. Even in my 70's, I found my body had the resources to heal and regain function, if I had the motivation to do the needed work.

    As to motorcycles, I've lost people I know to the risks of riding them. And I've lost people to the "joys" of cigarettes and alcohol, as well. What choices we make -- well, we will know the consequences of them, but that information can arrive too late to allow for reconsideration of choices.
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  28. #23
    Registered User Joe Dodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Best wishes for a speedy recovery man. I'm glad you're mending. I've got a Yamaha SR 400 sitting in my garage that i bought last year that I never really took too. Fifty seems a little old to start out as a new rider, and the notion of a split second mistake ending my playing days (or my life) is a too much for my risk-reward calculus. Even still, I hope continue to follow your path safely (and that someone got that SOB driver on their dash cam and turns him in to the cops).

  29. #24
    Registered User Jim Roberts's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    Best of luck on your recovery. I restored and rode classic BMW airheads for many, many years and quit riding once people started texting and driving.

    Hope your PT goes well!

  30. #25
    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can’t play now

    I only ride dirt bikes (there's only dirt roads where we live) but I would not be comfortable riding on tar without proper leathers. And some people's decision to ride motorcycles is not about joy, it can be more a practical choice
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

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