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Darren Hill, Injured


spode@thinkbikes

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Hi Guy's.

Just got back home after a week in hospital - Simon, the Trials Forum Physio Specialist will be adding details later on as to the extent of my injury, and the process of repair and recouperation. Suffice to say it's worse than Spode's described it - Much longer period of recouperation needed, and the surgery is very detailed, but I'll be honest, it looks at though 14-18 months will be the period before I can even think about being on a trials bike.

I just wanted to say to everyone thanks for your good well messages. Coming home to these has made my evening.

On a side note, I may be selling my Ashton - - - Details to follow

Darren

www.thinkbikes.com

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Alright guys, Darrens asked me to give you a "layman's" terms description of what hes done,

been talking to darren over the last week or so while he been in hospital just to keep informed of any latest developments, as im sure a lot of you are aware the docs like to keep things fairly vague!!

well we he had the results of the mri scan today and the injury is probably as bad as was first feared. its cause the femur has shunted down the leg rather than just dislocating sideways and staying at the same level

this is darrens xray and leg shots

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to be perfectly honest its probable one of the worst they've seen as hes been told by the docs at the hospital and i'd agree its a biggie

got to say that he's been amazingly up beat about it all and positive in his attitude. pretty much the attitude that its happened, its gonna be fixed, its gonna take a bloody long time but at least he's still alive and will hopfully be walking in about 6-8 weeks crutchless but with a knee brace

the injury has basically ruptured everything that hold the shin bone to the thigh bone

this is a knee looking from front on (so the kneecaps been removed so you can see through to the ligaments in the centre (cruciates)

post-6709-1185555063_thumb.jpg

so the only thing holding the lower part of his leg to the upper part is the skin!! there is nothing holding the knee joint together

all of 4 main ligaments have been ruptured lateral and medial outer ligaments down the outer sides of the knee and both cruciates

he's going to have 2 operations

first one is going to sort the outer lateral and medial ligaments by replacing them with artificial tendons and then i imagine in about 4-6 months when these have recovered, they'll then go in and reconstruct the cruciate ligaments.

the reason they not doing the whole lot in 1 go is the amount of helaing required due to the amount of work that needs to be done will mean he will heal quicker in 2 stages

at least by getting the first 2 ligaments repaired he will have some stability regained in the leg and be ok to walk and maybe ride (not trials) in about 10 - 12 weeks..........hopefully!!

the cruciates are the main stability function in the knee so until they are sorted his knee can give way really easily so itll be gently does it until then

im sure darren will let you know how things are coming on after his opertaion next thurs

be thinking of you next week mate!!

si

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Cheers for the description Si. I will no doubt keep everyone up to speed on the recovery after the op - I think the hardest thing was aceepting the damage was done - In doing so, i was able to move on. Riding trials, as with any sport is a risk, and there are always chances of Injuries. I've been lucky enough to have a up to 12 year riding career, and so worse case scenario, if it were all to end due to this, I can say I've had fun doing it - Keeping upbeat will I think def help the speed of my recovery!

Thanks once again for your support, and i put a challenge out for everyone....

Try and beat this!!!!! ( I think if there's a contender - it's going to be Spode! he he

Darren

I'm sure darren will let you know how things are coming on after his opertaion next thurs

be thinking of you next week mate!!

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Hi Guy's

Update :)

Still trying to figure out if this is a good thing, but due to the severity of my knee injury, I'm having one of, if not the top consultant in my local hospital doing the 1st stage operation on my knee :) Hopefully that means that I'm getting the best care the NHS can offer!

Tip to everyone - If you feel like breaking a bone and you want the best care and surgeons, plus also avoiding the annoying NHS waiting lists, so it as severely as possible!!! he he gotta laugh

Darren

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Top Tip mate

however i would like to point out its easier if you dont get hurt :S

bit of advice, those of you that kinda feel like you land a bit too straight legged might wanna learn to come down a bit more bendy knee

darrens injury was as the result of him coming off his bike with his leg straight and hes asked me just to say that you guys gotta be aware of this and the consequenses of it

i know its difficult to plan these things and falling off is a bit of an unknown quantity, however learning to fall while youre in your back garden practising might be a good thing to do......imagine the same scenario with parachutists!!

si

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He he I will agree with you on that one :)

We did have a long talk about this, and in all seriousness, if my injury can help in any way, it's to highlight the importance of Simon's point - Learning to fall and land safely is sometimes more important than being able to land a 10 foot gap. I've been lucky over the 13 years or so of trials riding, and I've proven that it takes one lapse of concentration and forgetting to land that could spell the end of your trials career.

Darren

Top Tip mate

however i would like to point out its easier if you dont get hurt :S

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Well bit of an update :)

I'm going into theatre tomorrow morning at 7.30 am under General to have my knee sliced and diced. I think what's going to happen, and I need to talk to Si (My mate who's a Physio) about this is I'll have a nice long vertical scar over my knee, where they will set about attaching 3 ligaments to replace the severed one's ( Si mentioned Carbon Fibre, but this has yet to be confirmed), and then on the surviving sort of in tact ligament, they are grafting doner tendon to strengthen it up. I'm going to have a nice 6 - 8 inch scar on my leg - That's going to be one to show the kids!!!. I think after the op, the next stage will either be a tube cast to keep it stirdy for a few days whilst I'm bed ridden in hospital, or straight into a support and begin the physio. I'm quite lucky because as it stands now, I have a weight bearing cast, so I have been putting a little weight on, as so to remember the feeling of walking ( Sounds silly I know, but you'd be suprised!). Si is suggesting Hydro Therapy amongst other things,but he has said the recovery time is down to me, and as I stand now ( No pun intended!), I have the want to recover ASAP, and get off the crutches quickly. I'm being predicted 6-8 weeks for this ,and this is my target. Obviously, one thing at a time. The silliest thing has come of this though, after everything, I've decided to become a blood doner, but also sign up for a general doner card. It's due to someone who had this card that I am going to be able to walk again, and so if I can help anyone when I die, it's the very least I can do.

Anyway, rant over and done with.

Darren

PS - Anyone suggest any good books to read - I'm going to be in hospital for about a week recovering! And yes, I've read the New Harry Potter Book...

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jesus, get fit soon, i cant believe ive only just seen this. thats actually like the worst thing that you can do, i feel for you, i really do

Cheers dude - Appreciate it fella. Not sure weather the state of my knee once healed will take a battering from normal trials, but I have the intention of riding flatland style trials - Was getting pretty good at it before this.

We shall see

Darren

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  • 4 weeks later...

Bit of an update.

I've now had the 1st Op, and am up walking about with one crutch, and have to wear a support nearly all the time.

I'm attaching a few photo's of the scars, and the relevant leg support I have to wear.

Progress is slow moving, but moving all the same

Hopefully see people in London this Sunday

Darren

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Edited by hill_393
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woah! matey that looks like a fair size cut. Hope your coming to the MASSIVE ride in London on 9th September? I can give you love etc. and just generally make you feel better, although I can imagine it might be abit crappy watching everyone ride.

Hurry up and get well soon buddy!!

edit: :shutit: bionic leg!

Edited by Scopse
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woah! matey that looks like a fair size cut. Hope your coming to the MASSIVE ride in London on 9th September? I can give you love etc. and just generally make you feel better, although I can imagine it might be abit crappy watching everyone ride.

Hurry up and get well soon buddy!!

edit: :shutit: bionic leg!

I'm going to try. To be honest, I'll be photographing, and yea it'll be a bit shitty, but to get out is better than nothing!! Might be on my mates XC bike, but I'll just be happy to see old mates.

By the way, there 2 seperate scars. One either side of my knee cap. And there may be a third one added soon for my cruciate ligament operation, around the knee cap area, although i won't know for certain till Mon 10th September.

Come out on Sunday dude. I'm coming up with Tall Rob, and I think my ginger partner in crime Spode will be coming.....

Darren

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Anyone suggest any good books to read

The Sword Of Truth series, by Terry Goodkind.

Last book's out in November, and'll bring the series to about 12,000 pages.... Think that'll be enough for your time?

Hahaha.

Seriously bad luck. Broke my foot, and I thought 6 weeks was bad enough :unsure:

Still - various upsides to not being able to ride... In my case, I got a shite load better at guitar :P

Hope you're a medical marvel, and make it back quicker than they think possible :)

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Too right that is a scar and half!

Such a shame about the whole thing though. Just hope when it's healed it's healed properly and you can get back to what you love!

Indeed, fingers crossed. There's nothing worse for an active person that to be completely bed bound for 2 weeks, and then be completely limited for the next 4 or so weeks after that!! Pyschological side to the injury has been the toughest thing, and something i would wish upon no one

Darren

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