Titanium Connecting Rods, Oh My! (update 12/01/12)

Well, I've been lurking for the past long while, some of you might have noticed my extended absence, (at least I HOPE some of you have).......   :blush:

So I figure now is the best time to let loose, and sorry to Miguel in advance for having crashed the server (in anticipation of the hits this thread may generate).

Thing is, I've been plotting how to segue into my latest mod for the past three weeks......   :rolleyes:

The summit meet was a great way to put faces to names, ride some fantastic scenery, get stuck behind many a car, etc.

A lot of you guys who travel with Ipods have something to keep your mind interested on long highway trips.

For me, I don't, and I have long periods of time on an 11 day stateside trip to concoct things to do in the future.

Heading West is a great way to invigorate the mind and stimulate new and fabulous ideas. Getting near the mountains and appreciating the beauty of nature stirs the soul.

Finally, on the way home, by the time I got to Sylvan Lake, it hit me!

I think Sebastian planted the seed a few months ago when he jokingly (and maybe seriously) suggested that I should get a set of Titanium conecting rods (in preparation for a Torocharger kit).

Well, after telling him that such a job would leave me totally broke, my wiser inner half told me that he was only pulling my foot.


So the only logical thing to do was to go for it, and have a custom set of Titanium connecting rods made up!!!   :ph34r:

Now I know everyone by now must be clamoring to get a gander at these little babies, but after what I paid, they are not for the faint of heart, so I think I'll have to direct your attention to this offsite link. There are other pics in that album if you want to stroll through them, so feel free to.

Offsite link to custom connecting rods, click me!


And for those of you who have my cell phone number (from the summit meet), and want to know how they can get a set for themselves, let me just say PLEASE DO NOT PHONE asking for a set for you as they are extremely limited production and I'm not going through the necessary hoops to have another set made.

Besides that, my wife has the cell phone as it lives in our Mini-van so I wouldn't answer it anyhow.......

Sorry about what happened.   :rolleyes:

NOOOOOOO!!!! :rolleyes:

DAM! I feel bad about how happy I am getting my cast off and being pretty much healed. Let me know if you need anything. By the way I like the hidden code nice job.

Oh my indeed. I definitely didn't see that coming. I guess we'll hear the whole story soon enough.

Get well soon Rob.

Oh no, that completely sucks Rob. Glad it wasn't worse, hope the foot heals up quick.

The bike looks pretty tweaked, sorry, you had so much heart & soul invested in it. Hope it can be put back together.

Get well soon. And very clever mister.

Arrrgh - nice unobtanium there, Veefer - heal up fast and well, at least you'll have some cool desk tchotchkes for show and tell :rolleyes:

Don't worry all, this isn't the end, just the beginning of part II.


Cruising canadatrader.com as we speak, there are 19 5th gen examples for sale, going to buy back my wreck and go from there........


I may be away from the board for awhile until I get back to work, which should be in a week or so. I can still operate the Gas Plant from the control room, all I have to do is be able to run a chair with roller wheels, a pen and a mouse.  http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif


So don't sweat it if the updates are not timely, I will be back in 'da house in a week or so with all the 411 for you detail hounds.

For now, you can all revel in the slim fact that it was not my fault.

Gotta run and take my meds now...........   Wheeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


And I repeat, please no phonecalls, keep it to this thread and PM's, but don't freak if I don't reply right away, could take me days, but I'm still here, just living life in the slow lane for awhile.

(the missus is understandably upset IYKWIM)

Damn that looks painful, hope the doc gave you good happy pills, get well soon Rob!

We'll be expecting regular updates! Get well soon.   :beer:

Mr. Rob, not you!  OMG.  Well, you'll have to keep us posted on performance improvements.  Any weight savings?  Better Gas (mileage)?
Won't ask too many questions, other than when you're all healed, are you going to mount the rods to the bike?

Take care my friend.

I'm not sure I'm up to all the internal work and extended downtime this mod would require.  But thanks for the offer.













Get well.

I see titanium rods and immediatley I hit Ron Aryers for an RC45 titanium rod price quote for you... whoa $461 x 4 but as I click your link to compare prices me jaw drops... mercy Rob wheres the rest of the story???

Welcome to the club.




Sorry to see what has happened but you sound fine now.

Glad to see you�re ok.

Heal up well. Then another Bionic Build to take place.

Bren

DANG!!! Hopefully the Ti rods are only a short term mod, as I'm sure the performance was much better w/o them installed. Perhaps lighter isn't always better, especially when they are externally mounted!!! Hope you get better quickly, andafgter reading the boldface words, I'm glad that's all that happened, as I have seen and heard worse!!!

To me this mod looks a bit too Frankenvifferish. Heal up quick, both you and the bike.

Quite impressive...  your sense of humor will help in your healing...  Good luck

Muff

Oh man that smarts!!

FOllow Doctor's orders and try to enjoy the rebuild... both yours and the bikes...  Pity we live so far away from each other... I may very well be parting out an entire 5th gen in perfect working order in the very near future...

Aww man - that just sucks.  Hope you heal up soon, and that things work out for ya.

Damn good sense of humour on ya!

I can't imagine what your wife is thinking.  You mention this crash/event wasn't your fault - I'm (as everyone is) waiting to hear what happened.

Hang in there.

ewe broke-a-da-foot? Damn - so we almost got away with no accidents at the summit meet! was it some damn american talking on a cell phone texting away as they ran over your sidi's?

Oh no Rob, you did it wrong!! Not that kind!!

I wish you well brother, heal fast & soon - enjoy the meds but don't let them get the best of ya.

Who wants to start a pool to get the man a naughty nurse?? :beer:

Damn Rob, that really SUX!!!!!!   :beer:

Fib/ Tib snapped?  Looks just like my bros left foot after his crash.

Where did this happen, did you make it home from the Summit?   :laugh:

Heal quickly my friend!

BR

OWE :beer:


Here I am thinking like Mr RC45 and where's the RC30 con rods, but I would gladly pay for them as compared.
Heal quik, but you got all winter to redo the GL800RR again. And I hope at someone else's expense.

Larry
VFRRider

Ouch..  Sorry to hear about the bad landing.  Heal fast.

It might been cheaper in the long run to just buy the Ti Rods and Torro for the 46.

Take care.

Ouch!!! Heal up and take care Rob. Nice humor added as well in your post   :laugh:

Let me know if you need me to check out any bikes for you in Edmonton and area   :laugh:

Sorry to hear about your crash. Best wishes for a speedy recovery... and keep up with the good spirit eh!

Titanium Connecting rods, huh, you had me worried for a minute that your bike was going to be faster than mine. What a relief to know you were only talking about thingies for your foot. Now, seriously what the hell happened?

Ok, my suggestion, lay back on the couch and watch Madagascar again. You've almost got every line memorized already, time to nail it.


I agree with the above comments that your great sense of humor will help you heal quickly. Take care, you were a blast to travel with, looking forward to next year.

Do you want me to look for a 5th Gen in Seattle Area, just say the word.

Now for some reason when you talk about running the gas plant control room, I'm seeing Homer Simpson in the nuclear power plant control room eating donuts, I don't know why   :laugh: . . . .

Hey Rob, that sucks!!!!! was that on your way home after leaving my place, I kept looking for you to post up that you'd made it home safe etc. and didn't see it, I thought you just hadn't posted up as there was no other thread about a crash or anything, and that looks painful!!! If there's anything I can do just let me know.

Paul.

Well that sucks, Rob! Sorry to hear your bad news. http://www.vfrdiscus...tyle_emoticons/default/sad.gif
Don't worry about the bike - that sh!t will buff right out.  http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif

Well, Rob - you're keep up your record of informative and entertaining modification posts... and yes I did notice your absence - sorry to hear of the incident, best wishes with the leg and recovery in general.

My brother went through the same thing so I understand the difficulties involved (despite your glossing over of the technicalities involved).

[image: View Post]choco, on Sep 12 2009, 03:05 PM, said:

Titanium Connecting rods, huh, you had me worried for a minute that your bike was going to be faster than mine. What a relief to know you were only talking about thingies for your foot. Now, seriously what the hell happened?

Ok, my suggestion, lay back on the couch and watch Madagascar again. You've almost got every line memorized already, time to nail it.


I agree with the above comments that your great sense of humor will help you heal quickly. Take care, you were a blast to travel with, looking forward to next year.

Do you want me to look for a 5th Gen in Seattle Area, just say the word.

Now for some reason when you talk about running the gas plant control room, I'm seeing Homer Simpson in the nuclear power plant control room eating donuts, I don't know why   :goofy: . . . .

almost made it to the Geographical center of the USA there Lee, I was going to take a photo of it just for you.

It's near Belle Fourche, but about 8 miles off the road on gravel. No thanks.

so here's a picture that i didn't take:

[image: Posted Image]

[image: View Post]Tyke, on Sep 13 2009, 12:54 PM, said:

Hey Rob, that sucks!!!!! was that on your way home after leaving my place, I kept looking for you to post up that you'd made it home safe etc. and didn't see it, I thought you just hadn't posted up as there was no other thread about a crash or anything, and that looks painful!!! If there's anything I can do just let me know.

Paul.
yeah, it was.   :+1:


stopped in red deer for a burger, looked around at the honda shop at bikes, was heading home on no fixed route, stopped at a roadside turnout to read my map and look for a road that I haven't taken before

(this is within 3 hours of my home, and I know the area well on the major routes, I was looking for a backroad)

after finding a backroad, I said the road # to myself, shoulder checked, pulled out into a gap in traffic, accelerated to the speed limit, glanced in my mirrors for 1 sec, looked forward and CAR


brake, swerve, too little, too late, not enough real estate to avoid the collision.


Car violated my right of way, claims she saw me, but thought I was turning (I wasn't). Even IF someone IS turning, you DON'T enter the intersection until they have completed their turn.   :angry:

S.T.O.P.   It's quite simple really..........   :dry:


25 years and over 100,000km of safe riding down the tubes. I've ducked, weaved and dodged everything the mean streets have thrown at me, including flying sheets of 3/4" plywood, but I simply failed to duck this one.



Sorry, no pics of the x-rays, but I've got about 6 or 7 screws holding my talus bone together, and a buttress plate on my tibia (I think) as there was a small piece missing off the end.

[image: Posted Image]



First thing will be seeing if I can ever walk properly again, if I can get back to work (where all I do is walk all day long) and everything else after that will be a bonus.





Pray for me guys, It's not just a broken ankle. It's pretty much destroyed into mush.



OH, and I majorly ruptured the AC joint in my left shoulder, apparently there isn't a good fix for that (shoulder separation).

I think it's somewhere around grade 4-5 that mine is. It feels awfully foreign. Like somebody else's shoulder, not mine.   :ohmy:

http://www.sportsinj...der/acjoint.htm


So the future looks like this:   :goofy: :beer: :mellow: :fing02:

Oh yeah, and I forgot to add,


my friggen foot hurts and I don't know where to put it!

up, down, sideways, frick, nothing is good.   :goofy:



and I'm sick of discovery channel.   :beer:

Man, I am sorry to hear about this.  Hopefully, you'll be parting out that hardware soon.

Thoughts and prayers are with you.

The mechanno set is long gone, I don't miss it a bit.

Now I have a lovely Ski Boot:

[image: Posted Image]

But I'm not allowed to walk in it, even though it's a "walking boot".


Zero weight bearing for three months, then we'll see.




Every time I take the boot off to elevate and rest the foot, I have to try to bring my "toes to my nose".


Yeah right, easier said than done. Getting the foot to assume a 90' angle is going to be a really, really big ask!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Rob, of course we're praying and hoping for all the best for you - don't doubt that for a second! If you can forgive the "backseat driving", I'd just like to remind you that you could be in much worse shape!

Ouch Rob, that really sucks. Take care, do the excersises they give you and don't cheat with the weight bearing stuff, it'll only bite you down the road. Good luck man and I'm thinking about you, and seriously if there's anything I can do from down here, you just have to ask.   :beer:

Hey Rob,

I know the pain of sitting around not being able to walk for months... It will get better but U dont need to walk smoothly to ride http://www.vfrdiscus...tyle_emoticons/default/smile.gif. JK

I know a place in DENVER u can get a good deal on a nice pretty 6th GEN.. And im sure Radar will ride down and get it for ya.

DC

that sucks Rob!  heal up fast!  
you did have me going as well , i thought what! hes doing another mod? I know you put so much into that bike was one of a kind
Hope to see ya next year back on 2 wheels
Cheers Jeff

Hope ya heal quick,  I dodged this bullet when I got plastered head on by a bmw k1200gt last year (flat land squids showing off),  But if the docs let you keep the hardware,  I'll pay the shipping for the Ti to use in a machine project :rolleyes:

my vstrom has some brackets made out of stuff that came out of my aunt when she crashed her Blast :blush:

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on Sep 14 2009, 06:54 PM, said:

First thing will be seeing if I can ever walk properly again, if I can get back to work (where all I do is walk all day long) and everything else after that will be a bonus.
Any chance a Segway would help at work ? They make some cool "offroad" models.

What's your lawyer/insurance company saying about all of this ?

Charges are being pressed against the cage driver, insurance is working on the rest, a settlement in my favour is highly likely, but first I have to heal up to whatever level I am able to progress to, then have any possible "impairment or disability" level assesed, then go from there.

So I'll probably get some cash for the broken bike fairly soon, but broken body cash may be some time in the future after my long convalescence.


I figure I had $7600 into mods on the bike, itemized everything and sent it off to the other party's insurance co. Plus $1400 in riding gear that was trashed.

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on Sep 15 2009, 05:01 PM, said:

Charges are being pressed against the cage driver, insurance is working on the rest, a settlement in my favour is highly likely, but first I have to heal up to whatever level I am able to progress to, then have any possible "impairment or disability" level assesed, then go from there.

So I'll probably get some cash for the broken bike fairly soon, but broken body cash may be some time in the future after my long convalescence.


I figure I had $7600 into mods on the bike, itemized everything and sent it off to the other party's insurance co. Plus $1400 in riding gear that was trashed.
Your bike sounded great. Loved it when we all got on the gas, yours modified highly, Quennell's four pipes, several Remus, me, Satintune, Jeff, only Craig with this stock St 1300 was out of tune a little in our V-4 chorus. Sorry Craig, had to bug you.

By the way Craig, how's your VFR coming along from your crash?

I was thrown off by the topic, cleverly disguised as talk about titanium rods, thinking that it was, in fact, of the engine variety. You threw me there, Rob! I had to do a double-take on this thread. I'm sorry to hear about your unfortunate accident. You will heal soon enough, and won't have to be captive to Discovery Channel re-runs for too long. Hang in there!

Thanks guys.

I get my staples taken out tomorrow.  OUCH!

Still working on wiggling the toes and working the foot upwards towards my nose.

http://www.vfrdiscus...tyle_emoticons/default/sad.gif  Speedy recovery!!!!!!

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on Sep 17 2009, 03:10 PM, said:

Thanks guys.

I get my staples taken out tomorrow.  OUCH!

Still working on wiggling the toes and working the foot upwards towards my nose.



I have a fine set of those connecting rod's pins, screws, plates.


Staples dont hurt one bit coming out. Last time half of mine just came out. I removed the rest, no pain at all.

Rob,

I've been away from VFRD for weeks and just read the thread. I'm terribly sorry to read all this and hope Discovery Channel gets better programming soon!

Best wishes for a 90%+ recovery for both the shoulder and foot. Oh, and thanks for taking one for the team! :+1:    :fing02:

[image: View Post]soichiro, on Sep 17 2009, 02:45 PM, said:

Staples dont hurt one bit coming out. Last time half of mine just came out. I removed the rest, no pain at all.
thanks but you lie!   :fing02:

every one of mine hurt.

but they're gone now, one more milestone passed!


going to pick up the hulk that was my bike next Saturday with truck, trailer and volunteer Wes.

He's the dude in the orange shirt in the hospital pics in the gallery link in my 1st post.

Heal up quick!

Thanks guys, feeling a little better every day, gaining a few scant millimeters of travel in the ankle day by day, mostly gotten off the percocet, except for two at night to help me sleep.

Back to see the bone doc in the first week of Oct, and he should greenlight me to go back to work on light duty.

Good thing because I'm going stir crazy. The limiting factor in going back to work is how long I can manage to stay in a seated position without elevating the foot. Right now, it's about an hour, but getting better.

2 weeks ago, it was only like 5 min, then it would commence to throbbing mightily.


I should have 'mo bettah pics of the motorcycle next week when I go to retrieve it from my sister's garage in Red Deer.

Discovery Channel?


No Spice Platinum on the cable?   :491: :cool:

There is a repair method for ac sep , its a rockwell screw method. I would be addressing that as quickly as possible. Surely there are some decent Orthopedic surgeons in canada.

[image: View Post]spud786, on Sep 20 2009, 02:08 PM, said:

There is a repair method for ac sep , its a rockwell screw method. I would be addressing that as quickly as possible. Surely there are some decent Orthopedic surgeons in canada.

I will be talking to a shoulder guy at the hospital, the guy that did my foot is a highly qualified orthopedic surgeon, but one who specializes in feet and ankles. He said that he would refer me to the shoulder surgon for a consult.

He said that there ARE plenty of methods for fixing a separated AC joint, but none that really work well 100% of the time.

Mostly, the screw pulls out, or the repair fails at some point in time.

My GP here at home has the exact same AC joint separation as me, I even felt his shoulder and it feels tented exactly like mine does. He's been wheeling around for decades like that and has not had any real problems. I guess joining the circus and doing the flying trapeze act is not in the cards, but beyond that, a failed AC joint is not the end of the world.

The other problem is that if I got it done RIGHT NOW, I'd be completely helpless, unable to move around with crutches.

I'm actually quite mobile with my crutches, and although the shoulder feels "not right", it isn't the real crux of my difficulties at the moment.

Thanks for your suggestion and I'll ask the shoulder guy abut the rockwell screw method.  http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif

UPDATE:

It was snowing outside a few days ago, and when I came inside, there was snow on the bottom of my crutches and they slid out when I hit the warm linoleum in the kitchen.

I went down like a sack of bricks on the kitchen floor, landing heavily on the bottom of my foot, which was, thankfully, encased in Das Boot (see avatar). Crap!   :mellow:



Went to the bone doc, had some more Xrays taken, and thankfully I didn't damage anything he fixed, nor anything new, but it sure smarted the next day. Phew!   :fing02:


I think they save the bad news for later though, as he's now stating that in about 2 years or so, he'll probably want to do a complete ankle fusion. So, I'll likely be wearing a convex shoe from then on.   :blush:


This is NOT my foot below, but it's the type of hardware I will probably wind up with in a couple of years:

[image: Posted Image]

[image: Posted Image]


I asked him if some folks prove him wrong and continue to motor about with little problems, and he said that some do, but his opinion was that I'll probably need the fusion in the semi-near future.

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on Oct 11 2009, 11:58 AM, said:

UPDATE:
I think they save the bad news for later though, as he's now stating that in about 2 years or so, he'll probably want to do a complete ankle fusion. So, I'll likely be wearing a convex shoe from then on.   :mellow:
Fusion as in no movement? Or limited ankle movement?

Wow Rob, sure glad you didn't brake or re brake anything with that fall!

Heal quickly my friend!!!   :mellow:

[image: View Post]vfrcapn, on Oct 11 2009, 01:02 PM, said:

Fusion as in no movement? Or limited ankle movement?
Fusion as in NO movement. Hence the need for a shoe with a convex bottom.   :mellow:


Maybe the 2010 VFR1200 with auto transmission is in my future???

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Oct 11 2009, 01:05 PM, said:

Wow Rob, sure glad you didn't brake or re brake anything with that fall!

Heal quickly my friend!!!   :mellow:

That makes two of us there, roomie!   :fing02:


The reason that he didn't do total fusion right off the hop is because the talus bone was shattered into about 4 pieces, so there was really nothing solid to fix the tibia to, in order to immobilize the joint.


Once the talus bone is 100% healed, then he can proceed with the fusion, as he has to grind the end of the tibia completely flat, grind the top of the talus completely flat, and the Titanium nail comes with a nifty insertion tool that compresses everything together, as the bones heal/fuse together much better when they are under compression.

The hardware stays in after they remove the insertion/compression tool, and becomes permanent.

[image: Posted Image]

Ah geez. Well, I certainly hope you can prove them wrong. Take care and keep us updated!

Oh Crap, I know lot about that ankle injury.

If you ever want that ankle to move again, only you can bear down and get it moving.

Sorry, but Ive been there
My talus, tibia and calcaneous were just a jigsaw puzzle when I got hit in the service.

Fortunately there was so much shrapnel in the area that they could not fuse the joint immediately. In fact they ended up having to do a bone graft on the talus which further pushed their prediction that I would fused back.
As soon as the sutures healed, I was in the pool. Walking with a harness first, then just a pole to ensure balance, then nothing.
I swam everyday as well, which kept the leg and foot muscles moving.
By the time I was back in the surgeons office to discuss fusing the talus and tib, there was no good reason for him to do it.

I'm still missing that inner ledge on the tibia, so I have to watch that I don't allow it to snap inward and cause a severe sprain.
And a few people notice that foot does track straight, but that is it.

I think too many surgeons are ready to fuse joints these days. I'd make sure that there is no other possibility, before I'd let a Doctor fuse the joint.

Thanks John, I'm not rushing for the surgery. I'll have to see how much mobility I gain, and how walking is (when I get around to it).  Zero weight bearing until Dec 4th.

Apparently some of my cartilage is destroyed, so we'll have to see what problems that causes.


Really, if I can get by without more carving up like a thanksgiving turkey, I'm not volunteering.


But if every single step is agony for the rest of my life, then I'll have to take their recommendations seriously.

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on Oct 12 2009, 02:56 AM, said:

Thanks John, I'm not rushing for the surgery. I'll have to see how much mobility I gain, and how walking is (when I get around to it).  Zero weight bearing until Dec 4th.
Apparently some of my cartilage is destroyed, so we'll have to see what problems that causes.
Really, if I can get by without more carving up like a thanksgiving turkey, I'm not volunteering.
But if every single step is agony for the rest of my life, then I'll have to take their recommendations seriously.
I hear everything you are saying.
I have a significant amount of cartilage damage in my ankle as well (shrapnel doesn't really care what it tears through).

And I'm not totally pain free either.
But for me its not agony (although therapy was) in every single step.

I guess what I was just trying to say, is just to make sure that you exhaust all possibilities and don't let them rush you into having the fusing done because its a burn the bridge sort of event.

You have a good attitude and know that it's not going to be a stroll in the park, but an uphill fight.
Keep your spirits up.


And stay away from that automatic VFR.
If you need to shift without that foot, I'll come up and rig the solenoids, buttons and rods for you.

What an unfortunate story, Rob. I missed this in the original post.
Glad to hear you are making progress. I had a get off in 2004 where I broke my knee cap and dislocated my shoulder, much like your accident. I had a great orthopaedic doctor and he suggested to wait as long as possible for the surgery - with years of exercise and rehab I'm running and fully functional. Hopefully with time things will sort themselves out. Good luck with your recovery.

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on Sep 14 2009, 01:14 PM, said:

The mechanno set is long gone, I don't miss it a bit.

Now I have a lovely Ski Boot:

[image: Posted Image]

But I'm not allowed to walk in it, even though it's a "walking boot".


Zero weight bearing for three months, then we'll see.




Every time I take the boot off to elevate and rest the foot, I have to try to bring my "toes to my nose".


Yeah right, easier said than done. Getting the foot to assume a 90' angle is going to be a really, really big ask!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I know your pain i have 13 screws in my fib and tib one in front of ankle and they had to cut my akilies..................no fusion yet but I do not have full range dorsey flex is limited now where a lift in my shoe.......pm if you want rehab is the key don't give up it took me 17 mounths before i got back to work Thank God....................

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on Oct 12 2009, 02:56 AM, said:

Thanks John, I'm not rushing for the surgery. I'll have to see how much mobility I gain, and how walking is (when I get around to it).  Zero weight bearing until Dec 4th.

Apparently some of my cartilage is destroyed, so we'll have to see what problems that causes.


Really, if I can get by without more carving up like a thanksgiving turkey, I'm not volunteering.


But if every single step is agony for the rest of my life, then I'll have to take their recommendations seriously. Please listen to me on this .....veefer800canuck...They told me may i may need fusion I said no..they said may not walk again i did..rehab took me about 7 months before walking without a cane.....it took 6 more months before walk without pain...cartlage can grow back chondrotine helps...i have more range now but it took over a year,,,,,,,,,, you may need akilies lengthinging .my ankle looked like a softball everyday for a year i iced it after work or walking. it sore as hell for a year..do not give up and try to get through it before fusion....i had 4 surgeries on it and was considering an ankle replacement not very successful..i broke it march 23 2004 and sometimes to this day  i may need a cane weather changes...but it has gotten stronger and can run with a limp for short distances..once they fuse the ankle thats it.... please do not do it right away give it time......rehab will be tough i know this, bite the bullet and stay tough.....any questions please pm i will help you....they can change a heart but not an ankle go figure...

[image: View Post]JES_VFR, on Oct 12 2009, 11:34 AM, said:

And stay away from that automatic VFR.
If you need to shift without that foot, I'll come up and rig the solenoids, buttons and rods for you.

Actually, I've already considered an electric shifter, if necessary.


But that's a long way off too, I've got to rehab, get some financial things sorted and so on before I even begin to consider rebuilding my bike.

In my current state, once healed, I'll be able to shift gears. IF/WHEN I get ankle fusion, then an electric shifter would be something to look at, but again, that's all way too far off to seriously consider ATM.

http://www.pingelonl...r_universal.htm

sometimes I think an Electric shift would be cool...and I have working ankles (knock on wooden leg)....

[image: View Post]theelf, on Oct 12 2009, 12:10 PM, said:

....they can change a heart but not an ankle go figure... Yeah, but 5 out of 6 never get that new heart in time..   :beer:

[image: View Post]vfrcapn, on Oct 13 2009, 01:07 AM, said:

[image: View Post]theelf, on Oct 12 2009, 12:10 PM, said:

....they can change a heart but not an ankle go figure... Yeah, but 5 out of 6 never get that new heart in time..   :rolleyes:



Actually, they DO have replacement ankles, it's called the STAR system.

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But, since my talus was so badly damaged, the bone doc doesn't think I'm a good candidate for the surgery, he warned me it would likely fail, and he wouldn't do the replacement unless I absolutely insisted, even then, he'd make me sign a waiver stating that I absolve him of any responsibility and that I realize it's quite likely not to work, and also most likely to fail in the future.

Another reason is because I am so young, and more mobile, that artificial joints don't hold up to the type of abuse a younger patient would inflict on the replacement joint. 10 years is about the max they expect any artificial joint to last, so I'd be shopping for a new ankle at around age 55.

Fusion is at least a permanent solution, not the nicest one, but one with the least amount of future complications, assuming good healing out of the box. It won't need to be re-done at some future point.


If nothing else, I think he's a straight shooter. If there was any better alternative, he'd suggest it.


But on the bright side, I'm gaining more range of motion through my exercising the foot, trying to get my "toes to my nose".

I could barely move it when I got my cast off mid-september, and now it's remarkably flexible and gaining distance daily.


So we'll see. Time, time, time. And I've got lots of that. More than money, that's for sure!

Great to hear you're keeping things on a positive level, and I think you're lucky to have a doc who won't beat around the bush and lay it all on the table for you. A second opinion never hurts, but it sounds like it is what it is. Just keep your head up, get through rehab, and go from there.

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on Oct 12 2009, 05:11 PM, said:

[image: View Post]JES_VFR, on Oct 12 2009, 11:34 AM, said:

And stay away from that automatic VFR.
If you need to shift without that foot, I'll come up and rig the solenoids, buttons and rods for you. Actually, I've already considered an electric shifter, if necessary.
But that's a long way off too, I've got to rehab, get some financial things sorted and so on before I even begin to consider rebuilding my bike.
In my current state, once healed, I'll be able to shift gears. IF/WHEN I get ankle fusion, then an electric shifter would be something to look at, but again, that's all way too far off to seriously consider ATM.

http://www.pingelonl...r_universal.htm
The Pingle shifter is fine, but we just used some simple ones with our own switches when we were building the system that we put on Darren's bikes.

he's a buddy of mine that has lost the use of his left leg and the lower portion of his right, but he still rides.
A few of his buddies got together and pooled all our skills to make modify his bikes so he can ride.

That is where I learned to hate BMW CANBUS wiring system.

Well, I'm back to work now, sitting in front of a bank of 8 computer screens, foot elevated, and watching the latest Top Gear episodes, er I mean, Safety training films!

Could be worse, the place could be running like crap and I'd actually have to concentrate on something!   :biggrin:

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Good to hear.  Top Gear "training films" certainly can't hurt! :biggrin:

Rob,

Glad to hear your back at work on Light Duty, that's a good start.   :biggrin:

Lets hope you work through options on your ankle and maybe even new processes for repair are developed.

BR

Well, the flexibility is coming around, if I lay down, put both legs straight out together and compare, I can almost flex the borked foot upwards as much as the good foot. I need about another 1-2 inches to be even, which is a huge improvement from 3 weeks ago.


Flexing it downwards is not nearly as good, but that direction is less important for walking than upwards is.

Downward was always harder for me after surgeries.

Don't give up, keep trying to get it to match the other foot.

Big props to JES_VFR for his advice to hit the pool for some rehab.   :blush:

As of Nov 4th, I am "allowed" to start putting "some" weight on the foot, so I was off to the pool yesterday and got right busy WALKING!

When the water is up to my armpits, I can walk around no probs without strain or pain, so I spent an hour or so yesterday and an hour again today going back and forth at the pool, just before the dropoff to the deep end.


Sounds boring I know, but it's exciting for me anyhow. One step towards recovery!   :fing02:


Swimming is a bit uncomfortable, I tried doing a couple of easy laps and the shoulder was complaining a bit. Didn't push that too far, I let the shoulder win that argument, for now.

Good news!   :fing02:

Go Robbie Go!!!

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:fing02:

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on 09 November 2009 - 12:19 AM, said:

Big props to JES_VFR for his advice to hit the pool for some rehab.   :blush:

As of Nov 4th, I am "allowed" to start putting "some" weight on the foot, so I was off to the pool yesterday and got right busy WALKING!

When the water is up to my armpits, I can walk around no probs without strain or pain, so I spent an hour or so yesterday and an hour again today going back and forth at the pool, just before the dropoff to the deep end.


Sounds boring I know, but it's exciting for me anyhow. One step towards recovery!   :fing02:


Swimming is a bit uncomfortable, I tried doing a couple of easy laps and the shoulder was complaining a bit. Didn't push that too far, I let the shoulder win that argument, for now.


Good on ya!! Your attitude is admirable.

I can understand how you felt about it possibly sounding boring to regular mortals but being exciting for you... I spent a year being unable to walk due to spinal lesions... faced two operations on my back as the first one failed... they spoke of fusing vertabrae but I was lucky to end up in the hands of a neurosurgeon who was old enough to have plenty of experience, but young enough to challenge some of the ingrained thinking/approaches... he was a firm believer in not fusing and not removing the entire disc, only the offending portions... I was informed that the most common unwanted outcome of the surgery was a "limp foot"... such that I would not be able to lift the foot upward (flex), although it was a relatively low percentage of cases which suffered that fate... statistics smiled on me in both operations and I am lucky enough to have full use of my foot.

I still have a lot of painful and bothersome symptoms and am sometimes laid up in bed, and my spine just gets worse with time, but I'm determined to keep riding and stay active and get as much out of life as possible and avoid burning as many bridges due to (often outdated) irreversible surgical methods as I can...

One of the keys is being constant... establish routines and stick to them... you have to be patient but you also have to push the envelope, it can be tricky knowing how much, but that's what pain is good for... you'll discover how much pain = gain and how much = slow down... you'll get uncanny delight out of some seemingly insubstantial improvements because for you they're giant leaps which to other men may seem small steps...

Keep it up (and I'm referring to the good work ehhhhh)

Your good self, Bailey and a few others here could probably start a club (an exclusive no-new-members club of course) of some sort...

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on 09 November 2009 - 12:19 AM, said:

Big props to JES_VFR for his advice to hit the pool for some rehab.   :ohmy:

As of Nov 4th, I am "allowed" to start putting "some" weight on the foot, so I was off to the pool yesterday and got right busy WALKING!




Very good Rob!

My brother said the Pool was the best thing he ever did for rehab and provided the best & biggest results!
I can't wait to be cleared to get in one!   :fing02:

BR

Dang Rob,  I go silent for too long and this is what happens?!?

Hope the healing process goes relatively quickly and the fusion can be avoided!

Finally got around to putting some STA-bil in the fuel tank, topping off the tank and starting up the bike.

It runs flawlessly, so that's good. http://www.vfrdiscus...tyle_emoticons/default/smile.gif

I also found out why the instruments aren't working.

The main plug from the wiring harness that plugs into the PCB for the gauges was knocked loose by the crash.

Plug it back in and all the gauges work.

Only the catch on the plug is broken off, so that's a bummer. Nothing to make it stay plugged.  http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on 18 November 2009 - 05:25 PM, said:

Only the catch on the plug is broken off, so that's a bummer. Nothing to make it stay plugged.  http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif

Clean it and add a dab or two of silicon to hold it on!   :rolleyes:

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on 18 November 2009 - 05:25 PM, said:

Only the catch on the plug is broken off, so that's a bummer. Nothing to make it stay plugged.  http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif

Shoot me a pic of your connector, I have a few spare Honda harnesses and may have what you need! the wires are pretty simple to remove from the connector.   :rolleyes:

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on 18 November 2009 - 05:27 PM, said:

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on 18 November 2009 - 05:25 PM, said:

Only the catch on the plug is broken off, so that's a bummer. Nothing to make it stay plugged.  http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif

Clean it and add a dab or two of silicon to hold it on!   :rolleyes:


Yep, I have had to do that a few times on honda autos.Put a dab of silicone on either side and if possible put a couple zip tyes in a figure eight around the connection or safety wire, just to make sure the connector doesnt get knocked off. I did a connector on my brothers truck like that and it's been fine for 5+ years.  

+47 on the pool. I didnt have access to one, but I truly believe my rt. foot would have alot more range if I had the pool. I am also guilty of slacking on the exercises because it hurt too much. I can still feel the screws catch the foot if it moves too far. Hurts like a sum beotch.

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on 09 November 2009 - 07:39 PM, said:

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on 08 November 2009 - 11:19 PM, said:

Big props to JES_VFR for his advice to hit the pool for some rehab. :wheel:

As of Nov 4th, I am "allowed" to start putting "some" weight on the foot, so I was off to the pool yesterday and got right busy WALKING!


Very good Rob!

My brother said the Pool was the best thing he ever did for rehab and provided the best & biggest results!
I can't wait to be cleared to get in one! :fing02:

BR



sure Kevin


we *all* love the pool.....








http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G-fSNDa91jg/SZzlsIk6JoI/AAAAAAAACO0/75uFGYp8R-o/s400/pool-girls-008.jpg

Doesn't exist without pics, so here you go.


The one with no hardware is the "before" picture.
Notice that the Tibia and the Talus bone are mashed together with about 1.5cm of overlap.

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Wow, your x rays look similar to mine minus the talus break.

I broke, or rather "crushed" my tibia at the ankle last March in a non motorcycle related accident. Went back to work at the beginning of October, and started to wonder if I'd gone back too soon! I'm on my feet all day(auto tech), and the amount of SUV tires I rotate per day seems to equal the amount of swelling and pain I have in my ankle.

My doctor asked me if I thought I needed rehab, at the time I said no, but I think it I should have gone for it when I was on disability. Ankle is still pretty stiff, but it seems to be loosening up day by day.

Hang in there and do the rehab if you can, I'm sure it will be worth it in the long run!

Jesus man!!!! Painful just looking at it!!! Best of luck with rehab, and I hope you get back 100% to previous state of near that.

C

[image: View Post]Dutchy, on 19 November 2009 - 12:46 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on 09 November 2009 - 07:39 PM, said:

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on 08 November 2009 - 11:19 PM, said:

Big props to JES_VFR for his advice to hit the pool for some rehab. :wheel:

As of Nov 4th, I am "allowed" to start putting "some" weight on the foot, so I was off to the pool yesterday and got right busy WALKING!


Very good Rob!

My brother said the Pool was the best thing he ever did for rehab and provided the best & biggest results!
I can't wait to be cleared to get in one! :fing02:

BR



sure Kevin


we *all* love the pool.....








http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G-fSNDa91jg/SZzlsIk6JoI/AAAAAAAACO0/75uFGYp8R-o/s400/pool-girls-008.jpg
:blink: :blink: :blink:

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:idea3:
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:wub:
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:goofy:

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on 20 November 2009 - 06:21 PM, said:

Doesn't exist without pics, so here you go.


The one with no hardware is the "before" picture.
Notice that the Tibia and the Talus bone are mashed together with about 1.5cm of overlap.
Y'ouch. That doesn't look like much fun.

I will say, between your and Kevin's incidents, I no longer even think of getting on the bike without boots on, I slacked off the last few years. Now that I'm commuting 20 miles I was tempted to ride with cheapo leather dress shoes that just covered my ankles. Now way, I wear the Sidi's for riding and carry the office shoes in to work & change there, even though it's a hassle. So thank you both, complacency can be the enemy. Not that you weren't atgatt, but not being atgatt makes the risk that much worse. :(

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on 20 November 2009 - 09:21 PM, said:

Doesn't exist without pics, so here you go.

The one with no hardware is the "before" picture.
Notice that the Tibia and the Talus bone are mashed together with about 1.5cm of overlap.

Ouch is right, that is pretty bad.

But Just so that you keep your head up, Mine started with a bunch of metal in it and then as they took that out, they glued, screwed, stapled and wrapped parts of my ankle back together.
I think mine was worse as there was more damage to the talus and other bones, but only the small tab was fractured off the tibia.

Keep at it my friend.

I hope I never have to learn which bones are which.
The only way I learn that is breaking them myself. :goofy:

Hopefully the healing is coming along, and some of the metal will go away soon. :beer:

Rob,

I hope you are getting stronger day by day. I stumbled (no pun intended) across this thread---wow! I wish you a speedy recovery and hopefully you can "swim" with some girls in the above photo..LOL. Hang in there brother.

Thanks all, I was in the pool today doing deepwater walking.


Doc wants one more MRI so he can check on a crack in the talus that he's concerned about and if it looks OK, he'll give me the OK to ramp up the weight bearing on dry land.



It's slowly improving. Now go and hassle Kevin, he's twice the target I am! :goofy:

May the crack in your penis talus (sorry, I don't know 1 bone from the other)
heal better and stronger than new. :beer:

[image: View Post]VFR4Lee, on 24 November 2009 - 10:01 PM, said:

May the crack in your penis talus (sorry, I don't know 1 bone from the other)
heal better and stronger than new. :beer:


:goofy:

Well, It's been almost 12 weeks since the surgery and I don't have to wear the stoopit boot anymore, so to celebrate, I changed my avatar.

<-------


First physio appointment on Thursday, and a CT scan coming up in a week or so, and pending the (good?) results of the CT scan, I may be able to begin ramping up the weight bearing immediately afterwards.


Still walking in the pool, and inching closer to the shallow end every time. :fing02:

GOOD NEWS!

Hope that scan goes the right way for you mate!! :fing02:

Good luck Rob!!

Maybe you can strap those new gold boingers to your leg for a bit to help with the weight bearing. :idea3: Might have to adjust spring rate and rebound damping a bit though... :goofy:

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 02 December 2009 - 04:05 AM, said:

Good luck Rob!!

Maybe you can strap those new gold boingers to your leg for a bit to help with the weight bearing. :idea3: Might have to adjust spring rate and rebound damping a bit though... :goofy:

Funny you should say, I had them out of the box yesterday and was bouncing them on the floor a bit. Boingy-boingy-boingy! :idea3:

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on 02 December 2009 - 07:29 AM, said:

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 02 December 2009 - 04:05 AM, said:

Good luck Rob!!

Maybe you can strap those new gold boingers to your leg for a bit to help with the weight bearing. :idea3: Might have to adjust spring rate and rebound damping a bit though... :goofy:

Funny you should say, I had them out of the box yesterday and was bouncing them on the floor a bit. Boingy-boingy-boingy! :idea3:

:goofy:

Would make a cool cane too, just a bit heavy for that... you could call it your 7th gen cane! LMAO! :laugh:

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 02 December 2009 - 05:40 AM, said:

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on 02 December 2009 - 07:29 AM, said:

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 02 December 2009 - 04:05 AM, said:

Good luck Rob!!

Maybe you can strap those new gold boingers to your leg for a bit to help with the weight bearing. :idea3: Might have to adjust spring rate and rebound damping a bit though... :goofy:

Funny you should say, I had them out of the box yesterday and was bouncing them on the floor a bit. Boingy-boingy-boingy! :idea3:

:goofy:

Would make a cool cane too, just a bit heavy for that... you could call it your 7th gen cane! LMAO! :laugh:

Gotta do it!!!

What weight and brand fork oil would you use???

[image: View Post]veefer800canuck, on 24 November 2009 - 10:53 PM, said:

Thanks all, I was in the pool today doing deepwater walking.


Doc wants one more MRI so he can check on a crack in the talus that he's concerned about and if it looks OK, he'll give me the OK to ramp up the weight bearing on dry land.



It's slowly improving. Now go and hassle Kevin, he's twice the target I am! :goofy:


WooHoo, congrats on the progress Rob! :fing02:

Keep it up brotha!

BR

Gee Rob... things were/are far worse than I realised. I've had a grade 1 separation from going OTB on a vertical drop when on my mountainbike (wet muddy tree root screwed up my line!) and that was painful enough, and a fairly long recovery.

Good luck with it mate!

My unintended getoff last spring caused only a grade 1 A-C separation ...I think I will quit complaining about it now.  Haven't met you Rob but wish you all the best in healing.  I know my 50 yr old body heals much slower...ugh!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

Rob, glad to see some progress for you, the shoulder is a different story.
I'm coming up on my 2 yr anniversity of being able to Walk again!  It's a process as I'll have good days even weeks even a month w/o pain for the most part, but then what seems out of nowhere wham I'm hobbled for no reason. It all goes away again and at this point I feel I walk normal 80% of the time, can't complain. Not sure what triggers my twinges, but Nerve damage/healing is sure a biatch.
I need to get back to some sort of exercise regiment and I too have lost weight, got up tp 205, now around 185. That helps. I do walk several miles every day at work covering the 330,000 sf facility, guess that's the only thing keeping me semi healthy.
Seems like swimming and a stationary bike did the best for me and returning to a pool would sure help my continued improvement.

Stick with it my friend!


BR