Did something really stupid

[cushman eagle]

The corn we were to chop yesterday was too wet to harvest,so I took the afternoon off to go to the county fair.Peg and I got to the bike parking lot,which is kind of a rough heavy gravel lot.To back it up a slight grade I put it in neutral and had Peg help push back using the bag crash bars.After we got it where I wanted it,I put the sidestand down,and started to get off .It rolled foreward off the sidestand, down on my left leg, bruising my sciatic nerve.The pain was so bad,I broke out in a heavy sweat,to the point of dehydration.After another man helped me right the bike,PUT IT IN 1st GEAR,then set the stand,I made it to a bench where a nurse saw my condition.The Red Cross was called,then the squad, then to ER.So instead of enjoying the fair,I got to have an ambulance ride and a visit to the ER.There they did an XRay of my hip,which was OK, rehydrated me,prescribed pain killers ,and released me.One of my son's friends saw my problem,and called him,who called me.I asked him to come,take the bike home,and have his wife take Peg and I home.Other than very slight scuffing of the crashbars,the bike was not damaged Lesson to me ,ALWAYS PUT IT IN FIRST GEAR before dismounting.Now I get to wait on billing for services and my sciatica to heal,hopefully before the 22nd

[Lucasind]

Sorry to hear of your bad day Loren , Those kind of things happen so quickly that sometimes you can't believe it just happened ! Glad you did not get hurt severely,....................Tony

[trikebldr]

Loren, sorry to hear you did something I might do, too!

Now, let me buy you a beer and let's talk about sidecars!

[ekap1200]

At least you know how you got the bad sciatic nerve damage, I have had that nerve issue since the middle of Jan of this year. I don't know how I pulled or what I pulled to cause such discomfort.
Sorry to hear this , but did the ER tec or doc. say it would eventually heal ? There may be hope for me yet....
At least the bike is no worse for wear....
heal up soon, and hope to see you soon if your going to the chapter ride-in in PA. I can ride but I can't walk.
Gene and Marie

[Mr Jensee]

Sciatica is usually caused by a pinched nerve in the lower spine below L5. This enervates the entire nerve down either the right or left leg. I found that Chiropractic traction does a lot to separate that portion of the spine and relieve the pressure on the nerve. Most pain killers and hot packs don't do much for the pain. I hope you get the treatment soon. I have had back pain before and it is really debilitating.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Loren, I'm too have pinched my sciatica a few different times and know all too well the pain and limitations it instantly imposes on you. Please heal fast and be careful and selective with movements.
Don't beat yourself up over it too, stuff happens.

[hank43]

Oh Man!
I DO feel your pain. My right leg has been numb from the hip to my knee for years. Sometimes the pain is so bad, the only relief is to take a long ride, like to Hurly.

All kidding aside, with me the pain starts in my lower back, right side, usually caused by standing too long in one place. It then spreads down the right leg, and I really need to sit down. Not kidding about the long ride though, it really does seem to help! Wife says that is because I am so busy dodging cars, I can't think about it.

Anyway, Hope you feel better soon......

Hank43

[krasmu]

I hope you are up and around sooner rather than later. Don't beat yourself up. We all have our senior moments with bikes. When you play with things that won't stand on their own. Sooner or later it going to fall over. Mine happened one hot day when I pulled into a store lot and got off the bike. Started removing my chin strap and got hammered to the ground without warning. The bike rolled forward and off the stand into my legs. Had to flag a guy down for help.

[Mr Jensee]

As we age the disks between the joints in the spine begin to thin out. If you don't do something to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord it will eventually begin to affect the muscles of that limb with atrophy. Please see about getting some form of traction either from a Chiropractor or a Physical Therapy. The longer you wait the harder it will be to correct.

[cushman eagle]

Thank you all for the encouragement. The meds the doctor prescribed did not help yesterday, so I stayed home,but made a huge difference today I was able to return to work today,and put in almost a full day.I was afraid I would not be able to make the Midatlantic trip,but with my recovery coming as fast as it is,I think I will be able to go.

[Mr Jensee]

Just know that meds are not going to fix a pinched sciatic nerve. Muscle relaxers can untighten muscles around the spine but are only temporary. Pain medications if strong enough will block your sensation to pain but only traction will have lasting effects on the problem. Don't wait until you have to have surgery to get some help.

[Lance McCaw]

I had a pinched sciatic nerve also. Chiropractic help did it for me I go once a month now. Pain free for 3 years

[cushman eagle]

I results of my stupid move are as follows:
With the doctors prescription of 10 day decreasing dosages of prednisone[spl],and prayer ,I have had no physical symptoms of the stupidity for a month .
I saved $3.00 by not using a motorcycle friendly parking lot.
I got my hospital bill,medicare paid all but $73.00
I got my ambulance bill,medicare paid all but $190.00
So stupid only cost me $260.00,and I still did not get to enjoy the fair
Lesson.try to reduce my stupid actions.

[Mr Jensee]

Well your stupidity wasn't much more expensive than mine. I had problems with my lighting on the Voyager and decided to take apart the high low switch to clean it. Lost the tiny parts in the garage in the process and I had to order a whole new control unit at a cost of $235 and I still have no lights. Now the bike won't even start. Have to investigate the solenoid today. I feel like a putz for doing this as replacing that control unit was no fun and still didn't fix my problem. No medicine for my fix unfortunately. As I said get a few traction treatments, you will be amazed at how much relief you will have. Medicines only mask the symptoms. Take care.

[cushman eagle]

Mr.Jensee,It does not take long to do something that that takes a lot to fix, ,does it ?.About the meds,I have been off them for a month and a half and have no symptoms of the problems at all.

[Mr Jensee]

[hank43]

Well, it wasn't on the bike, but I did have an issue last month. We went to the airport to pick up wife's niece, I noticed that my turn signals on the left side of my Dodge Ram pick up were not working, so on the way home, stopped by the local O'Reilleys auto parts joint to buy a new tail light bulb. Got into the truck, and could not turn the ignition key. Tapped on key with wrench, no good. Fiddled with it for a half hour or so, then called auto club for a tow to local Dodge garage. Told service writer to replace the ignition switch, as this is not the first time this has happened.

4 hours later, got call to come pick up the truck, final bill: $487.79. For an ignition switch. Plus labor to replace.

Told service writer to jack up the radiator cap, and slip a new Dodge under it. Said he could, but would cost about $60,000. Paid the 487.

There went my new chrome rims for the trike.

See you all in June.
With stock cast aluminum Champion rims.
hank43

[ekap1200]

Hank, I know how you feel, and its going to get worse in time. I just read in this months Rider mag that Kawasaki is going to start using Artificial Intelligence in bikes soon. I don't need a machine that thinks for me or controls how I want to ride and interact with me. Adding more miles of wiring than one can ride in a day...Dealers can't stock the parts to repair machines now.