accidents on a boat

[larryeddington]

Well I have quite a week last week, trying to finish un some small items on the Tri-Cab and had an accident. I was taking the indirect lighting shade from the star board side at the stairwell to front toilet and v-birth. I pulled out on the shade and for whatever reason went over backwards down the three steps and was stuck at bottom. (Think stick you rear in a barrel and slide down in it) I was able to extricate myself. The rest of the story is boring until I went to ER the next morning used an ambulance, I was bad hurting. End results were two mid back vertebrae were compression fractured. Will see the neuro surgeon tomorrow. I hope he can fix it as I am doomed if not as no moving without intense pain and due to the heavy meds can't drink.

Just a note I am usually very careful but things you do not suspect can bite you in the rear.

[WayWeGo]

Ouch -- sorry to hear that. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[prowlersfish]

Wish you the best Larry

[Reel Easy]

Good luck. I have fractured 2 vertebrae before. That is serious pain. Careful with those meds. Take it easy they should be able to fix you. Best wishes

[larryeddington]

Thanks Guys.

[El L Sea]

Hope you feel better!

I almost stepped into my open engine hatch this weekend, managed to catch myself on the countertop.

Maybe we need a new forum "Dangerous at the Dock"

[AwayOnBusine$$]

Similar but safe,get well don't push it.

Take care!

[Big D]

Holy sh*t Larry. I really hope there's no long term issues. Please keep us posted.

[Allen Sr]

Sorry to hear this. Do what the doctors say! Also watch the meds.

[rickalan35]

Darn it, Larry! Boy, that's really bad luck. I know you must be experiencing some real pain. So sorry.

Larry's case in point, the phase, "watch out! People get hurt on boats." is closer to the truth than it is an exaggeration.

Larry's unfortunate experience is probably enough for all of us to remind ourselves to be more careful.

We all have our own stories to tell, don't we. Last May I got my foot tangled in a line, did a face plant off the dock and onto the swim platform before bouncing directly into the drink fully clothed, incl wallet and cell phone. Two days later I developed shingles which lasted for 13 painful weeks. Amazingly enough, on the same day that I fell, my 5 year old grandson cut his armpit for 5 stitches and his scalp for five more. (he walked into the bow anchor of a nearby boat that was docked bow in.) Yee Gads.

All the best and hoping for a quick recovery, Larry.

Rick

[vabeach1234]

Sorry to hear. Hope you have a full recovery.

I ruptured a disc and herniated the one above that about 8 years ago. My foot was numb for 2 weeks due to sciatica. It got better after a few rounds of steroids. Then after 4 years of trying to be careful and limiting my range of motion I hurt back again stepping off the boat with my diving belt on. Go figure. The belt was higher on my stomach and that extra weight caused the one of my discs that I hurt before to push on my sciatic nerve again. I finally got about 6 weeks of physical therapy after a steroid shot in the back. After about 8 weeks of sticking with it I saw a huge improvement. I now have to do stretches and lower back and core exercises every day. If I miss a day I feel it. Getting old sucks. Even with the exercising, if I spend a day on the boat, my back feels it the next day. My neuro surgeon says that I will eventually have to have surgery as I have a bone on bone condition in my back as the disc blew out. Until then, I try to be careful but still tend to push it at time.

Good luck man. You may have a whole new out look on life and boating.

[larryeddington]

All fixed good as new I guess still tender. Neurosurgeon a procedure called KYPHON Baloon Kyphoplasty. Basically drilled two holes in each vertebrae inserted a balloon device inflated and made each vertebrae back to correct height then pumped some kind of cement into the void that set in 10 minutes. Anyway I walked out of the out patient surgery with 4 staples holding small holes in skin. Pain gone magic. I have some sore and tenderness left over. Wont need any physical therapy. I think my doctor is hooked up with voodoo or something as I figured my life was going to be badly impacted. Thanks for all of your thoughts.

I got luck this time, wont be a next time I am going to dial up my being careful. at 69 we are not as agile as younger.

Larry

[Big D]

That's great news Larry. Thanks for keeping us posted. Can't imagine the sudden life change if things didn't work out that good. Glad to hear you're ship shape.

[vabeach1234]

Glad to hear that you're no longer in pain. Be careful. It's amazing what they can do.

[rickalan35]

KYPHON Baloon Kyphoplasty. Basically drilled two holes in each vertebrae inserted a balloon device inflated and made each vertebrae back to correct height then pumped some kind of cement into the void that set in 10 minutes.

Balloon Kyphoplasty - Wow. Don't know if we have a technique like that in Canada.

Great news, Larry and in time for the boating season too.

It's pretty easy in a tri-cabin to catch the edge of that first step.

Rick