Hey Nick did you get the item that I sent? If not talk to DSI since I sent it to the shop.Good to see that your getting better and better. Sorry that I did not send some of the sister missionaries from Temple Square to visit you in the hospital. :D Take care.

Nick,
Sorry I've not been able to make it to see ya, this move to Boise has been a bitch. Dude its so early in your road back don't let the doc's get you down. Your impressing all of us and everyone is behind you, when this is all behind you we'll be back at Mollie's!!! Keep up the great progress and I'll give you a ring when I back in town. Pepper

With such a vague prognosis part of me is scared about the extent of what that means, and how it would limit mme from doing things I love, like fabrication. The other part wants to prove him wrong, I still have a list of many projects to build, and new thing to learn before I die, I guess it's time to learn how to weld with my right hand, MIG & TIG.

Nick



and i was never supposed to be able to stand/walk/feel any of my leg's again...

hell when i was at my physical last month the doc's even said they're not sure how i can control my leg muscles because my spinal cord is to damaged to be able to control 1/3 as much as i can...

that or doctor's are just dumass's...

Nick, stay positive, what I have seen in my recent injuries is that doctors seem to give worse case scenario without telling you that is the worst case, that way when you exceed what they say you are happy. Stay focussed on your rehab and goal of full recovery, don't let them set your path, make your own! Good luck to you in your recovery

and i was never supposed to be able to stand/walk/feel any of my leg's again...

hell when i was at my physical last month the doc's even said they're not sure how i can control my leg muscles because my spinal cord is to damaged to be able to control 1/3 as much as i can...

that or doctor's are just dumass's...

uuhhh Dave..............having seen you walk around in the rocks a bunch,you don't have as much control as you think :flipoff2: :flipoff2: Luv ya buddy!!

Hang in there Nick.

uuhhh Dave..............having seen you walk around in the rocks a bunch,you don't have as much control as you think :flipoff2: :flipoff2: Luv ya buddy!!

Hang in there Nick.


:laughing: :D :laughing:

Nick I don't know you nor have I ever heard of you but that has no bearing on what I am going to say. don't let what the doctors tell you scare you.

when I was 15 I turned a riding lawnmower over on my self. popping wheelies (I guess that's why my dad used to get so mad at me for doing it)

anyways it severed all the nerves and all the tendons and my arm was just hanging there. it dislocated my shoulder and messed the elbow all up shattering the bones. and I was missing a huge chunk of my arm.

it was litterally hanging by a pc of skin and a little muscle.

they kept telling me I would never use it again and that it was going to be deformed and it was never going to work right and would be at about 20% usage. I stayed in the hospital for 9 months with all the injuries and infections from the grass and dirt in my system went through countless surgeries. and therapy. but I was determined to prove them wrong.

I had no feeling in my arm from the elbow down and it took a long time to heal but about a year after all the work and surgeries and everything was done. it was at about 55% usage

almost every morning I would wake up to my stepmother praying for it.My step mother kept coming in praying for it to be healed and one day while she was praying it started to tingle like it was waking up from being asleep.
it stayed that way for several weeks all tingly it drove me nuts but I could feel. then it slowly crept up my arm until it was fine.

that was 27 years ago. but by the time I was 18 yrs old I was at about 90% usage so it took a while but I got through it. push your self in therapy. and don't give up when it seems bleak and like it will never be right again. don't give up.

as of today my arm is at about 98% usage and the feeling is perfect except right where the scars are. it hurts when it rains or is going to rain and there are some ghost feeling sometimes like a itch I can't scratch in the part that is missing. I have a large dent in my forarm and a nasty scar on my leg from all the skin grafts but other than cosmetic stuff it all works fine.

and you should see the exspressions I get when people ask me what happened and I tell them an alligator ate it
and I kicked his butt and got it back. or when I'm at the beach it's all about the sharks. or when I was eating this pig knuckle and it was dripping and so good I just kept on eating.

so get some determination and hope in your heart and consider calling around to some churches and ask them to pray for you as well.

and don't give up when the pain seems unbearable and don't settle for anything less than 100 % usage no matter what the doctors say or how you feel at the time.

and I'll pm you my number and if you get discouraged or depressed and want to talk to someone who knows how you feel (it helps)

it took several years for all the mobility to come back in my arm and the only real issue I have now is that I can't draw a straight line like I used too it has a little wiggle to it. but I have full extension,they said I would never have that. I have full usage of my fingers. they said I would never have that. I have full feeling in my hand and arm except for the scars and they said I would never feel anything again below the elbow. they said it would always be weak. and my grip would be very weak. I ride dirt bikes, mountain bikes, and water ski I can bench 225 and I could probably break someones hand with my grip if I wanted too. I do one handed pull ups with that hand. my pinky is the only really weak finger.

So here's to a quick recovery and making liars out of doctors
get well soon
John

I'll be praying for your healing and if you want to talk just drop me a line.

Just got back from ortho Dr. and after taking a look at x-rays he said I'mahead of schedule at only 2 mo but all bones seem to be mending fine and I am clear to start trying to walk. Both arms are cleared to bear wieght barring the fact of the left wrist/hand damage.

Nick

Thats great news. I want to come by along with Mark Purcha and come see how you are doing. I will have Mark get in contact with you next week. Best of luck! :D

Nick....I'm glad to hear that things are going "well" for you. You've been in my thoughts and I hope that you continue to improve as quickly as you have. Keep in touch buddy and I'll see you when you get back to the shop.

Geoff

I walked into theropy today at the pace of a 90 yr old......it's kinda fun walking slow, I get a preview of what it's gonna be like when I am old. You don't miss much if you can break away from the concentration of staying balanced :D. I totally understand how they feel.
It's funny how little things are a challenge, "ok gonna push it" (stepping up on the curb) "FEEWWW, I just fully got it" :cool2: . It's like going from a comp rig and having to travel to find challenging terrain, to a stock sammi and you can push it's limits in a ditch in the field, and having the same fun.


Nick

It's funny how little things are a challenge, "ok gonna push it" (stepping up on the curb) "FEEWWW, I just fully got it" :cool2: .

Nick

:laughing:,that is eggzactly what it's like!!! how's the pain level?

The femar with the rod hurts at the break when I take the weight off it after having weight on it. So every step hurts there and the insision scar in the side of my butt/hip (where they installed the rod) is sore after.The soreness the next day is the most hindering

Nick Socha

I walked into theropy today at the pace of a 90 yr old......it's kinda fun walking slow, I get a preview of what it's gonna be like when I am old. You don't miss much if you can break away from the concentration of staying balanced :D. I totally understand how they feel.
It's funny how little things are a challenge, "ok gonna push it" (stepping up on the curb) "FEEWWW, I just fully got it" :cool2: . It's like going from a comp rig and having to travel to find challenging terrain, to a stock sammi and you can push it's limits in a ditch in the field, and having the same fun.


Nick


Cool!!!!!

Walking is good. Keep it up!

:smokin:
Great to hear Nick. I am still amazed everytime I hear about your progress. Keep gett'in it!
Marc

great to hear your doing well Nick

awesome progress reports and wait until you reach the stairs

it will be like that first rock pile hill climb all over again and when you make it to the top you'll just be glad you survived with out breakage or roll over carnage.

keep up the hard work

we are still praying for you

I walked into theropy today at the pace of a 90 yr old......it's kinda fun walking slow, I get a preview of what it's gonna be like when I am old. You don't miss much if you can break away from the concentration of staying balanced :D. I totally understand how they feel.
It's funny how little things are a challenge, "ok gonna push it" (stepping up on the curb) "FEEWWW, I just fully got it" :cool2: . It's like going from a comp rig and having to travel to find challenging terrain, to a stock sammi and you can push it's limits in a ditch in the field, and having the same fun.


Nick

[My best Lance voice] Now THAT'S gettin' it! [/My best Lance voice] :flipoff2:

I've been doing steps since yesterday. Going up is fine, coming down is sketchy, I have to go down backward since the railing in my house is on the right. It hurts both ways on the leg and my low back hurts. I guess my sacrum was disrupted a little (It's like the "bushing" between the spine and pelvis.)

Nick

Keep looking up Nick!!!

Making good progress.

That which does not kill you,
Only makes you stronger!!!!

Get IT!

went wheelin this weekend in pete's buggy at moonrocks. had to drive/shift atlas etc. with right hand. Left still has little movement, but getting there. hopefully we can get some pics posted...Moonrocks is where I had my first comp as a driver and have never been back, it was nice to spank obsticles I had trouble on. It took me a bit to get comfortable on different obsticles but got a little courage back by the end of the day. Didn't hit any real vert, all I could think is how much I didn't like the hospital and didn't want to return so soon :p .....working on writing with both hands right now, right hand (off hand) is about 3rd grade level left hand (got crushed) is now ledgable kindergarden.....wrote the first thing in mind "Nick is coming back" over and over


Nick

Right on! Did you do the climb that you kicked ass on in your buggy? I got shot down on that one in mine, without the front locker :( I can't wait to see the pics!

thats the first I hit, but didn't walk it like the first time. I stayed into the left wall to stay level but forgot my rear locker wasn't on so the left rear fell and the right front was in the air....I thought that was a bad start to getting back, it got my blood flowing but backed out of it and got the double with no further probs. and hit our first obsticle without stopping.

Nick

ya did damned good for driving with one hand and little seat time in that rig... it was kinda cool to watch ya sit and stack/unstack the jelly's at breakfast and the salt shaker's at dinner :laughing: good progress!!

thats the first I hit, but didn't walk it like the first time. I stayed into the left wall to stay level but forgot my rear locker wasn't on so the left rear fell and the right front was in the air....I thought that was a bad start to getting back, it got my blood flowing but backed out of it and got the double with no further probs. and hit our first obsticle without stopping.

Nick

Sweet, I walked our first obstacle too, that was my best run of the day and right before breaking the outer axle. If you're going to be making practice runs, let me know. I'll trailer out and play!

Wheeling again already :eek: NiCE WORK man!!

Hope your holidays are great...

"Nick is coming back"

All I can say is DAMN STRAIGHT!!! :D

Glad to hear you are back out spanking the rocks.

All I can say is DAMN STRAIGHT!!! :D

Glad to hear you are back out spanking the rocks.
Ditto!

went wheelin this weekend in pete's buggy at moonrocks. had to drive/shift atlas etc. with right hand. Left still has little movement, but getting there. hopefully we can get some pics posted...Moonrocks is where I had my first comp as a driver and have never been back, it was nice to spank obsticles I had trouble on. It took me a bit to get comfortable on different obsticles but got a little courage back by the end of the day. Didn't hit any real vert, all I could think is how much I didn't like the hospital and didn't want to return so soon :p .....working on writing with both hands right now, right hand (off hand) is about 3rd grade level left hand (got crushed) is now ledgable kindergarden.....wrote the first thing in mind "Nick is coming back" over and over


Nick


NOW THAT IS AN UPDATE!!!
right on nick - super good to hear, i think I am going to sit down and write that too!

So where's the pics? Did you bring your TIG back with you. If you can practice writing, why not start practicing TIG?

I TIG welded a couple weeks ago when I went to shaffers but my TIG is on a specially made cart to hold both my welders soit'dbe too much trouble to get it and the bottle loaded up...the welds didn't look as good as before cause my left hand couldn't stay stil enough with the torch, then I tried it opposite of normal and held rod with left hand. DSI has pics of that so get on him for that. And the wheelin pics are on one of the shop cameras.

Did you pick up your new coffe table? Or did they toss it?

the lid is still on the buggy...I left a pretty good dent in it.

Good to hear you are making steady progress, I wish you more of the same throughout 2005.

Merry Christmas fawker :flipoff2:

Merry Christmas man. Glad to see you are making great progress! :D

Nick, stay positive, what I have seen in my recent injuries is that doctors seem to give worse case scenario without telling you that is the worst case, that way when you exceed what they say you are happy. Stay focussed on your rehab and goal of full recovery, don't let them set your path, make your own! Good luck to you in your recovery


they do that because they don't want to be sued by the lawyers for giving you false hopes if you don't recover.

can you beleive someone would sue a doctor for trying to give you encouragement? but they do

my lawyers told me to sue because the doctor did plastic surgery too soon on my arm. I just told them they would have to make a buck off somebody else, and that I was just glad to have an arm at all.

Merry Christmas and keep up the hard work Nick

just got back from the hand Dr., he gave me a smaller brace and wants me to up the hand theropy from 2x to 3x a week and go back in on Jan 6 to check it out, and possibly take out the pins. I got x-rayed and got the award formost pins of the day, I have 11 in my wrist and hand. The Dr. also told me not to get my hopes up to high, I'm luck to have my arm, and my left arm/hand would never be the same.
With such a vague prognosis part of me is scared about the extent of what that means, and how it would limit mme from doing things I love, like fabrication. The other part wants to prove him wrong, I still have a list of many projects to build, and new thing to learn before I die, I guess it's time to learn how to weld with my right hand, MIG & TIG.

Nick Don't let one comment limit your ability to conquer your injuries. I was told after a car accident I should not be able to walk again. Screw that. Take as much therapy as you can. Then rest. Work your ass off and you'll get it. Nerves take a long time to heal and as they do you can make your muscles stronger. Take a look at your diet and up the protein, maybe protein drinks like I did while working out. You'll do fine! :D

thanks,

I've already gone back to my high school wrestling coach (nuutritionist) and have been drinking protein shakes specific to athletic recovery.

as for an update the pins in my wrist are due to come out but aren't scheduled for poss. surgery til 3 weeks. I can use the left hand on minor things (cd's, sun glasses) but it's still not much use because the wrist is pinned and weak on anything remotely heavy (like pulling up a tight shirt sleeve)

I have played pool (not very well) and can pickup backgammon pieces and hold cards. stil a ways to go.

walking fine with a slight limp in the rodded led. I walk like an old man first thing in the morning and it gets painful and stiff (at the beak and hip) after walking awhile.


nick

walking fine with a slight limp in the rodded led.

nick

Got a "pimp-limp" ehh? :flipoff2: Call me back if you get a chance, I gotta get your tools back to you sometime too.

Thanks for the updates, glad to hear some progress is being made.

So great to hear you are doing so well. :D Keep up the good work.

Yesterday I showed up at my old high schools wrestling practice...the room was open but empty so I waited..that room has always inspired hard wwork...after about 10 minutes I got bored and I saw a jump rope hanging out of a box and wondered if I would be able to do it, I tied the rope around the left hand then....one jump,f#$k, 3 jumps,f@#k, and eventually got a good roll going.
Then streched out some more and did some trunk excersizes, I was still waiting....so I started walking around the mat and figured if I can jump rope I can jog, so I tried it and though it had a decent limp I was able to keep it up for several minutes.
just need to get the hand working more

nick

just need to get the hand working more

nick
http://www.book-mark.net/mark.html
:flipoff2:

no dice my wrist still has 11 pins in it, so no movement :D but if I had red bull I'd push the limits :p though there's no need to go there,I got a new (old) girlfriend from high school....it's funny how when you almost die people realize how important you are to have around (including yourself)...but seriously it's great and I'm very happy.

http://www.book-mark.net/mark.html
:flipoff2:

How about a 35% warning Dustin!! I am on my MOMS COMPUTER!! :laughing:


*adding to favorites


Hope to see you soon at an event Nick!! Oh, guess what, I got my NV warrant paid off so I can now drive to Reno. :laughing:

just got word the sergery to remove the pins monday

update pics....

Holy crap Nick! you are healing really really well. :)

Awesome. Whatever it takes. Get better man.

going under the knife again at 2:30.....11 pins out, which are trying to come out themselves. :flipoff2: before pic

going under the knife again at 2:30.....11 pins out, which are trying to come out themselves. :flipoff2: before pic

Have fun :barf: , get well :grinpimp:

going under the knife again at 2:30.....11 pins out, which are trying to come out themselves. :flipoff2: before pic


that photo is great! best of luck

So, how'd surgery go?

Nick, glad to see that you are still on the fast-lane in recovery. You've got a lot of folks putting special requests in to Heaven for you. My best to you and your family! You sure do have a great bunch of friends here. Keep on getin' on! Dave

I have definately had tons of help from all over....my surgery went on with no probs, but I have a huge bandage over the wrist/hand/arm which stays on until my stiches come out this thursday..... oh and my bithday was last friday, I made it to 24.

Nick

Glad to hear your doing good Nick! Let's get together and do some 12 ounce curls if your doctor says it's OK. :cool2:

Great to hear you are getting better. Happy belated birthday. :D

Glad to hear your doing good Nick! Let's get together and do some 12 ounce curls if your doctor says it's OK. :cool2:

I've been hitting the pints fo weeks now, I'll take you up on that. cause my girlfriend beats me everytime, guess I have to recover all across the board.

Glad things are still improving. Those pics of the arm look much better then last time I saw it!! How many/any more surgeries expected?

Tell you Dad, Mom and Sis "hi" for me.

Keep get'n it.

Marc


BTW thanks for the link Dustin....I'm at WORK. :rolleyes:

..... cause my girlfriend beats me everytime.....

Well it can't be that bad can it? Happy Birthday

I got my bandage off and stiches out today. It turns out the dr. got all 11 pins removed from 1, 3/16" hole, I only had two stiches....people said he was a good surgeon but damn.

Nick

Got a gym membership down here and have been working out daily ( some days twice) since last fri...

good job,nick. stay after it, you'll get there. :beer:

Nick how are you doing?

well he was spottin' in globe i believe so i think pretty damn good! :beer:

10th out of 29 did alright being back for the first time with rain and no radio's