I Sold My Motorcycles
I've been riding bikes for over ten years. Sadly, that abruptly came to an end.
What Happened?
Last year, on Thanksgiving Day, I hurt my right hand and fractured the trapezoid bone in my wrist in two. I won't go into details on how it happened. However, I will say that it was bound to occur due to the volatile nature of my work.
Why Did I Sell My Motorcycles?
I sold my motorcycles because I have limited motion in my right hand.
I am in constant mild pain, and if I use my right hand to push, pull, or lift anything heavy, my wrist is in great pain. It's very inconvenient since I am right-handed.
I decided to sell my bikes because I won't be able to ride them soon, and I am uncertain if my injured hand will get any better. The future brings uncertainty.
I have so many fantastic memories. I included helmets, GoPros, jackets, boots, gloves, and all the OEM parts that aftermarket ones had replaced. I mean absolutely everything! The riders who purchased them loved them and paid the asking price without trying to lowball me. It was a bittersweet moment when I saw them taking them away.
Will I repurchase A New Motorcycle and Ride?
As I mentioned above, I am not sure. I am working on getting a second medical opinion to see if I can get better, even if it means I need surgery.
My injury's annoying. At first glance, it seems as if everything is fine. However, looks can be deceiving. I can assure you that.
I look forward to returning my right hand to normal and riding motorcycles again. I want to ride the Husqvarna Norden 901. It's an adventure bike. I want to take a break from everything and ride without a destination. 🙃
My (Bad) Experience with the Company Doctors
My doctor referred me to a hand specialist who told me he couldn't do surgery because it took so long for me to see him. He explained that the injury had healed over the damaged area, and it would be riskier to operate since I could move all my fingers and my hand's nerves could conduct electricity without any problems. The specialist did not recommend surgery and referred me back to my doctor.
Since the hand specialist recommended no surgery, my doctor told me I had reached my MMI (maximum medical improvement). He couldn't do anything for me and cleared me to return to work without any work restrictions.
At that point, I had already been six months off work and wearing a wrist brace. The doctor told me I had to embrace the pain and learn to live with it. That was such a savage moment. He left the medical exam room before I could respond. I stayed in the room, and a Physician's assistant came in. She talked to me in a somewhat passive-aggressive manner, and towards the end of our one-sided conversation, she told me that "sometimes we imagine things that are not there" and that sometimes "we tend to behave like the people that surround us." She was referring to how I was injured and insinuating I imagined the pain I felt.
Can you believe these doctors?
Here is some advice: Do not stay with the company doctors. In my experience, they're useless and do not look out for your best interests.
This injury, without a doubt, changed my plans for the future. It made me realize I am simply a replaceable cog in the machine that is my work. It made me realize that no one cares about you when you're off work due to an injury. I only had a handful of people reach out to me to check how I was doing—a literal handful.
Anyway, I am working on getting a second medical opinion from a doctor without ties to my company. I also got a Worker's Comp attorney. What do you know? Things move much faster now. I have to look out for my best interest. Am I right?
What now?
I am taking a knee, scanning my sector, drinking water, and reassessing my situation. As I said, the future is uncertain. I'll keep my head up and see what the future holds. Hopefully, things will work out better for me. I can only hope.
Thank you for reading this long status post. Feel free to leave me a comment!