Kimber1911_06238
Member
Get well soon!!!
My Ordeal - A firsthand lesson in treestand safety.
- Thread starter rantingredneck
- Start date
- Status
uk roe hunter
Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2006
- Messages
- 350
I hope you get well soon.
steve from the uk
steve from the uk
pfrnkln
Member
Glad to hear your doing better, and if only 1 person is helped by reading this story you done a great service by your sharing -
Have faith, believe it or not one CAN recover from a back injury.
I was a firefighter/paramedic and wound up with a compression fracture after extricating a really "large" lady. More words of wisdon BE CAREFUL LIFTING!
Anywhoo - I burst a few disc and fractured a couple vertibrea, got some pins and hardware and they welded me up with my own bone - a few grafts they took from my hip and the pieces they had to find from the fracture.
It was hell - took around a year to get close to normal. But from experience I can tell you - if you are strict with the PT - especially AFTER you stop go to "the guy" you'll be back to a good living. After 10 years I still hurt - no way 'round that but I'm in the woods huntin' - ride the harley and work on my house. Not a medic anymore - doing a job a wee bit easier on the old busted bod but all in all not bad.
To those reading this - yepper - treestand saftey is an aboslute, also watch how you lift - that aint no joke.
And remember - the EMS and fire folks do their best for you under some really bad conditions, often without pay (volunteers but still pro's!)
Have faith, believe it or not one CAN recover from a back injury.
I was a firefighter/paramedic and wound up with a compression fracture after extricating a really "large" lady. More words of wisdon BE CAREFUL LIFTING!
Anywhoo - I burst a few disc and fractured a couple vertibrea, got some pins and hardware and they welded me up with my own bone - a few grafts they took from my hip and the pieces they had to find from the fracture.
It was hell - took around a year to get close to normal. But from experience I can tell you - if you are strict with the PT - especially AFTER you stop go to "the guy" you'll be back to a good living. After 10 years I still hurt - no way 'round that but I'm in the woods huntin' - ride the harley and work on my house. Not a medic anymore - doing a job a wee bit easier on the old busted bod but all in all not bad.
To those reading this - yepper - treestand saftey is an aboslute, also watch how you lift - that aint no joke.
And remember - the EMS and fire folks do their best for you under some really bad conditions, often without pay (volunteers but still pro's!)
FLORIDA KEVIN
Member
I am glad you are alive and wish you a speedy recovery ! now you have me thinking about one of those Hunter Safety systems!
rantingredneck
Member
Thanks to all for the kind words of encouragement. I'm up and about more the last couple of days. I went to the Spine Center at UNC today to get the stitches out and all is well so far. The incision is healing well with no signs of infection. I go back in a month for another set of Xrays and at that time they'll make the call on whether I'm healed up enough to go back to work and to shed the brace. I'm a desk jockey so work should be a go at that point. I may still be in the turtleshell though. Damn thing is hot is my only complaint. But hey at least I'm alive to complain right?
rantingredneck
Member
I'm a truly sick man
I got tired of just carrying my little .32NAA whilst out and about the last couple days. I'm more used to a the comforting weight of a .45 on my hip. The trouble is the turtleshell brace I have to wear comes down past my hips and makes belt carry of a weapon impossible.
I went to Gander mtn. last night and purchased an uncle mikes belt slide nylon holster and adapted it to fit the velcro straps that hold my turtleshell back brace in place. I am now back to normal in terms of my daily armament.
My wife was perplexed as to why I was doing this. I reminded her that now more than ever I would be unable to fend off an attack without a defensive firearm. I also reminded her that criminals tend to prey on the weak. The walker I've been using the last week makes me feel like a gigantic target.
I got tired of just carrying my little .32NAA whilst out and about the last couple days. I'm more used to a the comforting weight of a .45 on my hip. The trouble is the turtleshell brace I have to wear comes down past my hips and makes belt carry of a weapon impossible.
I went to Gander mtn. last night and purchased an uncle mikes belt slide nylon holster and adapted it to fit the velcro straps that hold my turtleshell back brace in place. I am now back to normal in terms of my daily armament
. My wife was perplexed as to why I was doing this. I reminded her that now more than ever I would be unable to fend off an attack without a defensive firearm. I also reminded her that criminals tend to prey on the weak. The walker I've been using the last week makes me feel like a gigantic target.
MrTwigg
Member
thoughts and prayers
I hope you get better soon. I would not wish what you went through on anyone. Archery season opens next week out by me. There is no cell service where I hunt.
This is a good reminder to always use a harness when climbing.
I hope you get better soon. I would not wish what you went through on anyone. Archery season opens next week out by me. There is no cell service where I hunt.
This is a good reminder to always use a harness when climbing.
rantingredneck
Member
An emotional revisit
I've been getting around and getting out and about more and more the last few days.
On Sunday my father in law wanted to go out to check his bait stations (yes hunting over corn piles is legal in NC and we do it). Especially this year with the drought, there's just not much food around for the deer. He had put out corn with some of that c'mere deer stuff on it a week prior. There was a hole dug in the ground already where the deer were after that stuff. I had a timed feeder near the stand I fell from and I wanted to yank the batteries on it so the motor wouldn't burn up while not throwing any corn (I knew it had to be empty by now). We went out to the area. Had a nice chat with the landowner who was very happy to see me up and around. He's a real good fellow.
After we checked my father in law's stations and I went to pull the batteries on my feeder for now I walked over to the stand I fell from and just looked at it. Standing there looking up at that height and where and how I landed I almost started bawling. I started thinking about my wife and kids and what it would be like if I had left them that day, and never got to see my daughter and son grow up or missed out on the joys of growing old together with my wife. It was very emotional. I feel like a very lucky and BLESSED man. I got a second chance at life. It could have been over for me that day, or it could have been very seriously altered (think wheelchair or quadrapalegic, both were possibilities). It really makes you think.......
I've been getting around and getting out and about more and more the last few days.
On Sunday my father in law wanted to go out to check his bait stations (yes hunting over corn piles is legal in NC and we do it). Especially this year with the drought, there's just not much food around for the deer. He had put out corn with some of that c'mere deer stuff on it a week prior. There was a hole dug in the ground already where the deer were after that stuff. I had a timed feeder near the stand I fell from and I wanted to yank the batteries on it so the motor wouldn't burn up while not throwing any corn (I knew it had to be empty by now). We went out to the area. Had a nice chat with the landowner who was very happy to see me up and around. He's a real good fellow.
After we checked my father in law's stations and I went to pull the batteries on my feeder for now I walked over to the stand I fell from and just looked at it. Standing there looking up at that height and where and how I landed I almost started bawling. I started thinking about my wife and kids and what it would be like if I had left them that day, and never got to see my daughter and son grow up or missed out on the joys of growing old together with my wife. It was very emotional. I feel like a very lucky and BLESSED man. I got a second chance at life. It could have been over for me that day, or it could have been very seriously altered (think wheelchair or quadrapalegic, both were possibilities). It really makes you think.......
rantingredneck
Member
On another note the EOB statements from my insurance company started rolling in today. So far the total cost of putting me back together again has hit just over $111,000.00 (that's not factoring the EMS charges or helicopter ride, those statements haven't arrived yet). Luckily I've got good insurance and benefits through work and my out of pocket max each year is 3k. I'll be hitting that shortly. Haven't quite got there yet.
rantingredneck
Member
Just a general update as to how things are progressing.......
Last week I had been feeling pretty good and then over the weekend took a pretty good downturn. Spent most of Sat and almost all of Sun in bed or on the couch asleep and well drugged.
Parts of my back that have been numb since the surgery have started "waking up" and they are not waking up on the right side of the bed. My pain kinda came back with a vengeance. Monday was a little better but still rough. Yesterday was OK. Today I'm feeling pretty good. Hopefully it's all forward progress from here. I have completely abandoned use of the walker at this point. I'm not even using the old fart carts in walmart anymore.
I've still got some shallow tissue numbness in my lower back and right leg which feels kinda strange, but doesn't affect any movement or function. I can live with it if it stays that way. If that's all the numbness I'm left with after falling that far I call that pretty damn lucky.
I'm going to start doing some work from home tomorrow. Got some financial reports for the company that I can do here. The company Pres doesn't trust anyone else to do them right other than me or herself and she's up to her ears at the moment. It at least gives me something to do and will let me save some of my dwindling leave time. I probably will head back to work part time the first week in Nov. and then back full time after my appointment on the 16th.
Last week I had been feeling pretty good and then over the weekend took a pretty good downturn. Spent most of Sat and almost all of Sun in bed or on the couch asleep and well drugged.
Parts of my back that have been numb since the surgery have started "waking up" and they are not waking up on the right side of the bed. My pain kinda came back with a vengeance. Monday was a little better but still rough. Yesterday was OK. Today I'm feeling pretty good. Hopefully it's all forward progress from here. I have completely abandoned use of the walker at this point. I'm not even using the old fart carts in walmart anymore.
I've still got some shallow tissue numbness in my lower back and right leg which feels kinda strange, but doesn't affect any movement or function. I can live with it if it stays that way. If that's all the numbness I'm left with after falling that far I call that pretty damn lucky.
I'm going to start doing some work from home tomorrow. Got some financial reports for the company that I can do here. The company Pres doesn't trust anyone else to do them right other than me or herself and she's up to her ears at the moment. It at least gives me something to do and will let me save some of my dwindling leave time. I probably will head back to work part time the first week in Nov. and then back full time after my appointment on the 16th.
Charles S
Member
Sorry about the set back. I am glad you are progressing. Remember take it slow.
I am also happy to see you are able to do some work...I know the financial ramifications have to be awful.
When you are ready I highly recommend a physical therapist to show you exercises that will strengthen your core and protect your back...
Again good luck.
I am also happy to see you are able to do some work...I know the financial ramifications have to be awful.
When you are ready I highly recommend a physical therapist to show you exercises that will strengthen your core and protect your back...
Again good luck.
CSA 357
Member
God bless you bro, i hope your doing better every day, if there is any thing i can do please let me know, csa
Best wishes for a complete recovery. As bad as it is, it could easily have been worse--as in wheelchair for life. Thank goodness.
It's the familiar, routine things we do that often lead to complacency, like grabbing that branch automatically. That kind of thing happens to us all, like when I'm driving a familiar route and realize I don't remember paying attention to my driving the past couple minutes.
K
It's the familiar, routine things we do that often lead to complacency, like grabbing that branch automatically. That kind of thing happens to us all, like when I'm driving a familiar route and realize I don't remember paying attention to my driving the past couple minutes.
K
one-shot-one
Member
keep you outlook up!
continually congratulate yourself on being alive!
best wish's.
steve.
continually congratulate yourself on being alive!
best wish's.
steve.
rantingredneck
Member
I intend to do just that. Interestingly enough the neurosurgeon mentioned that the amount of muscle mass in my back is likely what protected me from more serious injury that day. All those years of martial arts training and sparring I guess paid off.....
rantingredneck
Member
I've been doing that daily. Talk about your second chances.....
Thanks for the encouragement guys. I'm feeling pretty good today.
GSPKurt
Member
May God bless you and help you recover fully. What a story- it gives me chills.
rantingredneck
Member
Woooooohooooooo!!!!!!
Went to the Neurosurgeon this morning and to get Xrayed.
I got clearance to go back to work full-time, shoot (whatever I feel up to shooting) and hunt. Basically said that my hardware is pretty solid by this point and it would take a pretty major catastrophe to undo it.
Went to the range this afternoon and shot .243 Win benched (turned in a sub-1" 5 shot 100 yd. group using Win ballistic silvertips), shot 12 ga slugs benched and standing/free hand, 12 ga 00 buck freehand, .45ACP and .380.
No problems or pain at all. I feel semi-back to normal now.
Well as normal as I started anyways.
Thanks again to everyone's encouragement, thoughts and prayers through this. Remember too my fellow hunters: be safe out there.
(I'll be in a ground blind tomorrow)
Went to the Neurosurgeon this morning and to get Xrayed.
I got clearance to go back to work full-time, shoot (whatever I feel up to shooting) and hunt. Basically said that my hardware is pretty solid by this point and it would take a pretty major catastrophe to undo it.
Went to the range this afternoon and shot .243 Win benched (turned in a sub-1" 5 shot 100 yd. group using Win ballistic silvertips
), shot 12 ga slugs benched and standing/free hand, 12 ga 00 buck freehand, .45ACP and .380. No problems or pain at all. I feel semi-back to normal now.
Well as normal as I started anyways.
Thanks again to everyone's encouragement, thoughts and prayers through this. Remember too my fellow hunters: be safe out there.
(I'll be in a ground blind tomorrow
)littlegator
Member
Congratulations on the recovery and thanks for sharing. Keep on getting better and I hope and pray all will continue to go well.
Charles S
Member
I am glad you have been cleared. Good luck. I hope you never have to deal with an ordeal of that magnitude again. I hope that your finances did not suffer too badly from the accident.
Keep hunting.
Keep hunting.
rantingredneck
Member
Final Chapter.........
I'm going to update this thread one last time for 2 things:
First of all, last weekend one of my nephews finally got around to taking his hunter's safety course. During the section on treestand safety, guess who they talked about.......... . Yep, they told the story of the guy who broke his back falling out of a tree in Orange Co.... Of course, my nephew spoke up and said proudly, "Hey that's my uncle." Then the Wildlife Officer asked about my condition, to which my nephew replied, "Oh he's back to normal, well as normal as he started anyway" .
Second, and more importantly, I went for my three month checkup yesterday. Though it was really four months post accident. The holidays threw off the scheduling some. My Xrays were great. Everything is healing nicely. My neurosurgeon said my recovery thus far has been remarkable and he no longer needs to see me. Usually they follow fusion patients for a year, but he's satisfied with my progress and is releasing me. When I asked about any restrictions to my activities or precautions, he said "Live your life like you never hurt your back".
That all being said, I'm still wearing a harness. Be safe folks.....
I'm going to update this thread one last time for 2 things:
First of all, last weekend one of my nephews finally got around to taking his hunter's safety course. During the section on treestand safety, guess who they talked about..........
. Yep, they told the story of the guy who broke his back falling out of a tree in Orange Co.... Of course, my nephew spoke up and said proudly, "Hey that's my uncle." Then the Wildlife Officer asked about my condition, to which my nephew replied, "Oh he's back to normal, well as normal as he started anyway" . Second, and more importantly, I went for my three month checkup yesterday. Though it was really four months post accident. The holidays threw off the scheduling some. My Xrays were great. Everything is healing nicely. My neurosurgeon said my recovery thus far has been remarkable and he no longer needs to see me. Usually they follow fusion patients for a year, but he's satisfied with my progress and is releasing me. When I asked about any restrictions to my activities or precautions, he said "Live your life like you never hurt your back".
That all being said, I'm still wearing a harness
. Be safe folks.....- Status
