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GAF, this is the story of the accident that changed my life and ;left me as amputee.

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Holy shit man. I'm sorry to hear that. My father went through something very similar when I was very little. He lost his right arm and leg in a factory accident and had complications from it for decades afterwards.
 

Trouble

Banned
Man those pics are brutal. I can't imagine the process you had to go through to make the decision to amputate. You are one tough cookie, hat's off to you.
 
Damn OP, sorry to hear your story. If there is any silver lining to this issue just remember, it could have been much worse. I work in the heavy equipment industry and its not as uncommon as most might think for people to be maimed or killed on the job.

Just last year a mechanic for a competitor was crushed by a machine when the hydraulics failed while he was working on it.
 

Jenov

Member
Good read, thanks for sharing. I cannot imagine having to go through such an ordeal. Glad you've turned out alright. Prosthetics are pretty damn awesome and they're only getting better.
 
I've always been curious as to why prostetic legs are always so thin compared to the upper half of the leg, is it a weight distribution solution or something? Wouldn't a leg that was shaped more like the intact leg balance a lot easier? I'm curious about how and why these prostetics are designed that way.
 
I'm a carpenter, in 17 years i've seen a dozen ripped fingers and others injuries involving saw machines, but no limbs loses (one eye once though, always put on your protective goggles!!!).

I can only imagine what you have been through. I personally never got badly injured at my work beside a nail clipping through my feet once.

But, I can relate to this :

standing upright and being at my full height feels alien for a time. I use my leg only sparingly at first but within 6 days, I am able to walk normally again, with no crutches, walking sticks or other mobility aids.


At 21, I was involved in a car accident (I was driving, no alcohol or drugs). No memory of what happened. It's blank, can't recall what leaded to this. I woke up at the hospital, with a tube in my troat. I guess I wasn't supposed to woke up at that very moment. Needless to say that was very uncomfortable and very traumatic.

Anyway, I suffered a pneumothorax due to my ribs perforating my lungs and they had to drain the blood out of my lungs. I couldn't move on the bed for roughly two weeks with a tube on my right flank. I had a skull trauma aswell, all the ribs on my right side broken and my right Clavicle.

The day they removed the tube I thought I was good to go! Nope, when I tried to stand up i fell like a stone and started to throw up. I had no injuries to my back or legs but my head was playing fool. I suffered post-trauma vertigo due to my head trauma anytime I wanted to stand up even sitted. Felt like shit, for weeks.

So, of course I have no Idea what has been through your mind, sitting at the hospital waiting for the time you know they'll cut your leg. I have no idea and won't pretend to feel your pain. But know that you are the kind of man with a will of steel and was really touched with your story. When I was in post trauma rehab, I met a couple guys with amputated limbs and sympathized with them. Many motorcyclist, workers like you, some due to diseases, but man I felt like a pussy compared to them. Me with two legs and two arms... and them fighting bravely everyday to with hope to stand up like a man.

Excuse my english.
 
I'm a carpenter, in 17 years i've seen a dozen ripped fingers and others injuries involving saw machines, but no limbs loses (one eye once though, always put on your protective goggles!!!).

I can only imagine what you have been through. I personally never got badly injured at my work beside a nail clipping through my feet once.

But, I can relate to this :




At 21, I was involved in a car accident (I was driving, no alcohol or drugs). No memory of what happened. It's blank, can't recall what leaded to this. I woke up at the hospital, with a tube in my troat. I guess I wasn't supposed to woke up at that very moment. Needless to say that was very uncomfortable and very traumatic.

Anyway, I suffered a pneumothorax due to my ribs perforating my lungs and they had to drain the blood out of my lungs. I couldn't move on the bed for roughly two weeks with a tube on my right flank. I had a skull trauma aswell, all the ribs on my right side broken and my right Clavicle.

The day they removed the tube I thought I was good to go! Nope, when I tried to stand up i fell like a stone and started to throw up. I had no injuries to my back or legs but my head was playing fool. I suffered post-trauma vertigo due to my head trauma anytime I wanted to stand up even sitted. Felt like shit, for weeks.

So, of course I have no Idea what has been through your mind, sitting at the hospital waiting for the time you know they'll cut your leg. I have no idea and won't pretend to feel your pain. But know that you are the kind of man with a will of steel and was really touched with your story. When I was in post trauma rehab, I met a couple guys with amputated limbs and sympathized with them. Many motorcyclist, workers like you, some due to diseases, but man I felt like a pussy compared to them. Me with two legs and two arms... and them fighting bravely everyday to with hope to stand up like a man.

Excuse my english.

Your English is very good from what I can tell a few a few words out of place, but perfectly legible and the meaning is clear. I certainly couldn't write as well as this in a second language, I know French, but if I tried to write it at any length it probably wouldn't make sense or would have an odd sentence structure.
 

Nevasleep

Member
What is the procedure when working around heavy vehicles/machinery like that?
Is it to clear the area, or have a banksman?

I've only worked in areas with forklifts, and we had to stay the hell away from them lol.
 
What is the procedure when working around heavy vehicles/machinery like that?
Is it to clear the area, or have a banksman?

I've only worked in areas with forklifts, and we had to stay the hell away from them lol.

We didn't have either of those in place, we worked in close proximity to the machines all day every day.
 

n64coder

Member
Thanks for sharing your story. What safety measures should have been put in place to avoid this accident? Has the company changed their procedures today?
 

mkenyon

Banned
That was one seriously gripping story. Read it from start to finish. I'm glad you came out of it relatively okay. That's an insane struggle that most people would not be able to cope with, speaks to how strong of an individual you are.
 

liquidtmd

Banned
Before my big accident there had been at least one close call I know of involving improper use of a forklift

image.php


:)

Seriously man...I don't even know where to begin. I'm so glad you survived for starters. Thinking about your story, I guess my question would be...your short lived romance post accident. How was that in your mind? After something like this I imagine my mindstate would be overthinking everything in relation to 'how does the other person see me'. How did it compare to romances in your mind prior to the accident at that paricular time when you hadn't adapted mentally to your change of circumstances.

You sir, have your head screwed on and thank you warmly for sharing in such vivid detail
 
How long was it until you first smiled and laughed after the accident, and what caused it?

A couple of weeks, I was reading posts on another forum and a member posted a story about his experiences using hair removal cream on his testicles. It had me laughing uncontrollably for about a good five minutes.
 

Nere

Member
What a story gives new perspective in life after an experience like that. What I want to ask is how easy or hard is your day to day routine, what has changed? and can you walk easily with the prosthetic leg? how was it at the beginning? Best of luck to you dude stay strong life is hard.
 
What a story gives new perspective in life after an experience like that. What I want to ask is how easy or hard is your day to day routine, what has changed? and can you walk easily with the prosthetic leg? how was it at the beginning? Best of luck to you dude stay strong life is hard.

I can walk well enough, but there are lot of things I miss.

Standing in a shower, I still shower, but because I need to keep my prosthetic leg dry I sit.

Running and jumping, I can not do this on my currently prosthetic as ot has hydraulic components which would be damaged by the forces involved. Specialist legs can be made for this purpose but they are unsuitable for everyday use.

Cycling, I use to go everywhere on my bike previously, but now I cannot bend my left leg more than 90 ninety degrees due to my prosthetic, meaning I cannot ride a bike anymore.
 

Falcs

Banned
Thanks for sharing your story. It's incredible what you been through. While I was reading your story I was expecting you to end up with both your legs gone and permanently in a wheelchair. I'm glad that's not how it turned out. I wish you all the best.
 

Sami+

Member
Man, I felt genuinely sick to my stomach reading some of that OP. We always hear of these stories but to see a personal account from a GAFfer made it hit closer to home than any other story like this I've heard before.

I'm happy you have a good attitude about it. You're a braver man than I am. Thanks for sharing this with us man.
 
Thanks for sharing your story. What safety measures should have been put in place to avoid this accident? Has the company changed their procedures today?

Most I know of was cameras and screens installed into the machinery to allow more peripheral awareness.
image.php


:)

Seriously man...I don't even know where to begin. I'm so glad you survived for starters. Thinking about your story, I guess my question would be...your short lived romance post accident. How was that in your mind? After something like this I imagine my mindstate would be overthinking everything in relation to 'how does the other person see me'. How did it compare to romances in your mind prior to the accident at that paricular time when you hadn't adapted mentally to your change of circumstances.

You sir, have your head screwed on and thank you warmly for sharing in such vivid detail

At that time, I was on crutches, but I don't remember her treating me any differently than my previous girlfriends. That said, I do wonder how women see me now, much as I hate to think about it, the world is highly image conscious and I am sure some very vain peoplem are not able to look past my condition and get to know me for real.
 
Thanks for sharing your story. What safety measures should have been put in place to avoid this accident? Has the company changed their procedures today?

I missed this one.

They fitted cameras in the cabs of the machinery too allow better visibility, aside from that it's the same as before.

Apologies for the necro bump, just returned from a 2 week long ban.
 

Mekere

Member
Most I know of was cameras and screens installed into the machinery to allow more peripheral awareness.


At that time, I was on crutches, but I don't remember her treating me any differently than my previous girlfriends. That said, I do wonder how women see me now, much as I hate to think about it, the world is highly image conscious and I am sure some very vain peoplem are not able to look past my condition and get to know me for real.

I don't know for the other women here, but I think the prosthetic looks cool. That's definitely not something that would be a no-no for a date or a relationship and I'm sure some would be interested by a bit of pirate roleplay. ^^'

Thanks for telling your story, wish you the best!
 

oneils

Member
Bumping this after I saw Graverobber X's story. Just wanted to give you a shout out too and let you know that your story is pretty amazing.
 
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