The perils of sledding

[beviking]

No, not snowmobiling, snow boarding or even skiing, I'm talking about going down a hill on an inflated tube (snow tube/inner tube). It's all fun and games until someone flips over on their head or back and breaks something. Just an ordinary day at the hill with the family and I decided to hit a little jump the kids had made. Really, it was all of two feet high +/-. The hill is 60-70 feet, not particularly steep. So I go over it, must have leaned back (or something), next thing I know, I'm staring at the sky between my thighs and I land on my back with my knees touching my ears and an excruciating pain in my spine. I sprawled out on my back unable to breath, only short gasps. Couldn't talk for a few minutes all the while thinking I was not going to be able to walk again. Not able to play with my kids again. I was able to finally move, roll over and get up (with quite a bit of pain). After an x-ray and CTscan, the only damage was a fractured vertebrae seen here... http://community.webshots.com/photo/291176375/291176375YmnYQk ...it's blurry but you're looking down on it, the round white part is the "body" of the vertebrae. You can make out a dark line (fracture) running from the top to bottom (roughly) and another line at the 10 o'clock position. There is another line that you can't see in the photo.
Not looking for sympathy, just hoping to share the story so hopefully it doesn't happen to someone else. I said "only damage" because had I landed a little differently, I may not have been able to write this.
Be careful people. Keep in mind, your fish need someone to take care of them! :D

[Harlock]

I must be pure evil. I am laughing. Sorry you got hurt, but man, I could just see your ehad between your legs... Oh man... can't breathe... Too bad the laugh smiley er, sprouted and had to be removed.

Get Well Soon!

[happychem]

I've always stuck to the toboggan myself, although if one of my friends had a GT I never objected, but really the steering isn't much better.

Sorry to hear about your accident, I gotta admit to laughing too, until I realized that you were serious. Hope you're better soon.

[tomm10]

I've been there, Bevi. Not quite to that degree but it was still painful.

I decided to ski down a back road that had not yet been plowed while on a ski weekend with friends in NH. I took a running start with the inflatable tube and dove, flopping down on the tube. Unfortunately I landed too far forward on the tube and the road didn't have enough snow on it. The tube caught some dirt, stopped immediately and threw me forward. According to several eyewitnesses, I skidded a good five feet on my face while my body remained vertical. I had some wicked road rash on my face for w while after that one.

Get well soon!

[OrionGirl]

Several tubing hills in Colorado have been closed for this exact problem--people get hurt. The BLM land being used isn't supervised, and there isn't any medical care on site, and the BLM has been sued several times.

Bummer--hope everything heals up quickly. Spinal injuries are not fun.

[flyingfish]

Ouch, glad you listened to your body and got it checked. I hope wifey gave you a good hug for the pain. ;) What are the doctors gonna do about it? Therapy?

[happychem]

the BLM has been sued several times.
:mad2 :mad2
This bothers me, law suits just end up ruining the fun for everyone.

[beviking]

Can't blame those for laughing, I did it myself once I realized I could walk! Just got back from the Spine Specialist and the good news is that it's a "stable fracture" which means I don't need a brace and it should heal on it's own...provided I don't do anything stupid! So, no therapy, just a re-check to make sure it is healing properly and not collapsing.
I think picturing tomm10 (or anyone else) skidding on his face for 5 feet is a funnier picture than the WWE bodyslam I got!
flyingfish, my wife is grateful I'm not paralyzed and yes, she is taking care of things. The only thing she's complaining about is taking down the trash.
I can't stand the lawsuit stuff either. A few years back I severed a tendon in my wrist while helping my father tear down his deck (pry bar slipped and opened my wrist pretty good). The insurance co. was all over me trying to pin the blame on something so they could go after the homeowners insurance to pay for the bills. Yeah, if it's something the owners are negligent for, great, sue them, but b/c I or someone else messed up, don't penalize the land owner for it!
Thanks for your well wishes!!!

[Tuolumne]

I realize that by sledding or doing other "activities" increases your likelihood of sustaining an injury, but you'd be amazed how many serious injuries occur just from people walking on slippery sidewalks and parking lots. I was a workers' compensation claims adjuster for about 2 years before I gave it up for being too stressful. Fractured vertebrae, knee and ankle fractures requiring multiple surgeries with plates and screws, herniated discs resulting in discectomies or spinal fusions....just from walking! Yes, that's right. All of those injuries occurred when someone was just walking and slipped and fell down. (That's not counting other injuries such as meniscal tears in the knee or concussions, or simple fractures...)

Heck, if you're not safe just walking when it's slippery, you might as well go have some fun. At least snow is soft usually. You just gotta learn to watch those landings after going airborne! :p

[tomm10]

I realize that by sledding or doing other "activities" increases your likelihood of sustaining an injury, but you'd be amazed how many serious injuries occur just from people walking on slippery sidewalks and parking lots.

My wife's a nurse and was tending to a quadraplegic patient a while back. It turns out the woman was paralized when her feet got caught up in the sheets as she was changing the bed causing her to fall awkwardly.

Needless to say, I no longer make the bed ;)

[Harlock]

My wife's a nurse and was tending to a quadraplegic patient a while back. It turns out the woman was paralized when her feet got caught up in the sheets as she was changing the bed causing her to fall awkwardly.

Needless to say, I no longer make the bed ;)
Also needless to say, hospital corners on all the sheets.

[beviking]

You definitely have a point there Tuolumne!!! I called into work and the guys were busting my chops saying if I was any kind of man, I would have driven into work and had an "accident" there! You probably never saw that did you? I told them I certainly could have, I drove myself to the Drs. office after dropping the wife and kids off (had to use the van vs. the truck since it's lower to the ground) but I don't play that way!


tomm10! Are you serious? That's just not right! You not helping the wife make the bed! :)

[nancie2k]

No, not snowmobiling, snow boarding or even skiing, I'm talking about going down a hill on an inflated tube (snow tube/inner tube). It's all fun and games until someone flips over on their head or back and breaks something. Just an ordinary day at the hill with the family and I decided to hit a little jump the kids had made. Really, it was all of two feet high +/-. The hill is 60-70 feet, not particularly steep. So I go over it, must have leaned back (or something), next thing I know, I'm staring at the sky between my thighs and I land on my back with my knees touching my ears and an excruciating pain in my spine. I sprawled out on my back unable to breath, only short gasps. Couldn't talk for a few minutes all the while thinking I was not going to be able to walk again. Not able to play with my kids again. I was able to finally move, roll over and get up (with quite a bit of pain). After an x-ray and CTscan, the only damage was a fractured vertebrae seen here... http://community.webshots.com/photo/291176375/291176375YmnYQk ...it's blurry but you're looking down on it, the round white part is the "body" of the vertebrae. You can make out a dark line (fracture) running from the top to bottom (roughly) and another line at the 10 o'clock position. There is another line that you can't see in the photo.
Not looking for sympathy, just hoping to share the story so hopefully it doesn't happen to someone else. I said "only damage" because had I landed a little differently, I may not have been able to write this.
Be careful people. Keep in mind, your fish need someone to take care of them! :D

glad you are okay!!
a 19 year old died in a tubing accident around pico ski area in vermont last month
those things are dangerous, you have no control over it

[nursie]

I worked for several years in a neuro ICU unit...you are really lucky that fx isn't displaced!!! :eek: :eek: Be careful until it's healed. Are you in a brace or anything?

[beviking]

No brace. It's a "stable fracture" (sounds good) and should heal on it's own. Here it is only 5 days later and I'm moving really well. I'm actually back to work (on light duty) and taking it easy. Won't be able to do any serious work (or playing with the kids) for 7 1/2 more weeks :( :mad: :sad !