Broken body

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Pictogram of my body with dots marking the locations of major injuries

Timeline

Concussion

On 26.06.1994 I got a concussion while trying to do a track’n’field-style hurdle jump over a hammock
On 26.06.1994 I got a concussion while trying to do a track’n’field-style hurdle jump over a hammock

Injuries tally: stupidity: 1, mountain bike: 0, BMX: 0

Open left forearm fracture

On 25.09.1995, while on a mountain bike ride with school, my front wheel washed away in a corner and I fell on a rock with my arm against my chest
On 25.09.1995, while on a mountain bike ride with school, my front wheel washed away in a corner and I fell on a rock with my arm against my chest

Injuries tally: stupidity: 1, mountain bike: 1, BMX: 0

Deep cut

I had a pair of those “bear trap” pedals on my mountain bike. I once slipped the pedals and it made a really deep cut that needed stitches on the inside of my right ankle. I was never sure if I didn’t get some long lasting consequences of that cut because I lost some range of motion on my big toe which has its tendon going through that neighborhood.

Injuries tally: stupidity: 1, mountain bike: 2, BMX: 0

Removal external meniscus on right knee

I am not completely sure about the timeline here. From what I could gather, I had an incident at the skatepark where I fell with my leg stretched, unknowingly squishing my meniscus. I apparently got some x-rays done on 17.12.1998 where they—obviously in hindsight, the meniscus being soft-ish tissue—did not see anything wrong. So I got crutches and a stupid thing to put my leg into:

Getting my injuries misdiagnosed, the story of my life
Getting my injuries misdiagnosed, the story of my life

6 months later, we were playing handball at school. I jumped and collided with someone else, which blocked my knee. I couldn’t bend or straighten it anymore. This time, the diagnostic was clear: the meniscus was torn and moved inside the knee in such a way that it did block it. I had surgery on 18.05.1999. Until now, this injury has had the worst consequences: light arthrosis which will only get worse, and quite a reduced range of bending motion.

It’s weird having a part of the inside of your body outside of your body. I kept that way too long
It’s weird having a part of the inside of your body outside of your body. I kept that way too long

Injuries tally: stupidity: 1, mountain bike: 2, BMX: 1

Left Achilles tendon rupture

For 12 years I did not have any major injury. I was less active too, especially during 2000–2003. There were a couple of ankle and wrist sprains from BMXing at the Geneva skatepark. My ankle was probably a little fragile, which resulted in an Achilles tendon rupture you can read about here: Talon d’Achilles

Injuries tally: stupidity: 1, mountain bike: 2, BMX: 2

Broken left collarbone

Technically not my fault because a stupid scooterkid was standing in the wrong spot, but I will still add this one to the “BMX” tally, not the “stupidity” one. The nice thing about bone fractures is that the diagnosis is usually pretty obvious. You can read all about this one here: Clavicule

Injuries tally: stupidity: 1, mountain bike: 2, BMX: 3

Partial removal external meniscus on left knee

History repeats, and I had to get surgery on my other knee: Genou. I am not looking forward to old age.

Injuries tally: stupidity: 1, mountain bike: 2, BMX: 4

Concussion + AC joint tear on left shoulder

A scary combo of a hardcore concussion and an acromioclavicular joint tear on the left shoulder (again): Luxation. This one could be filed under “stupidity”, because I tried to show off and keep up with guys that were definitely above my level.

Injuries tally: stupidity: 1, mountain bike: 3, BMX: 4

Open fracture right ankle

At the time of writing, this is still on-going. I will post an update when everything is back to normal (E.T.A. mid 2023 well, turns out I was off by 1 year)

Injuries tally: stupidity: 1, mountain bike: 4, BMX: 4

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