TJC
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Tony
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2020
- Threads
- 45
- Messages
- 3,938
- Reaction score
- 9,886
- Location
- North Carolina
- Vehicle(s)
- 93 Miata, 05 Ranger 4x4, 20 Ranger 4x4, 23 CX-5
- Thread starter
- #1
Sunday I was mowing the yard between thunderstorms, the grass was tall and I had been out of town and just arrived home at 5AM, having drove all night (12 hour drive).
My yard is terraced, and out by the road the wall is up to 5' tall. I installed an engineered wall and it has been holding up well. But over the years the backfill has settled, from being level with the top of the wall to 6" lower.
The short of it was in a hurry and bumped a stump, which caught the front driver side wheel causing the tractor to lurch to the left off the wall - with me on it! A 4' drop to flat ground! WheelHorse tractors are overbuilt, and mine is an 8 speed manual transmission. It all happened so fast I didn't have time to react.
I found myself thrown off the tractor, tried to stand, but collapsed before even getting to my knees. I crawled over to the tractor (laying on it's side) and pulled myself up beside it. but I could not walk as the pain in my legs was too intense.
My neighbors across the street were out doing yard work and I managed to get their attention. They then got my wife's attention. Between the 3 of them that got me in the house holding me up shoulder to should with my arms around their necks.
We have a concierge doctor on call (best money I have ever spent), and had him on the phone in 5 minutes. 10 minutes later I am in an Ortho location (not ER as he advised against it). Xrays revealed no broken bones, and I saw my doctor first thing Monday AM.
He told me I was very lucky, but after looking me over told me It would be a month to reach full recovery. I have a 3"x2" patch of skin missing on my lower left wrist, same on my inside left knee, and back, and 3 severe hematomas. The bruising is still growing each day. Lots of swelling in both of my legs, and my stomach. He told me they would continue to swell and grow each day for up to a week, then slowly everything would be reabsorbed. First day, not a lot of swelling or bruising. But come this AM, I have deep bruising from the top of my thighs to just below the knees. And tummy is tight. Feels like i have a grapefruit under the skin on both legs.
I am one lucky fellow according to my doctor. It could have been far far worse. I can now walk slowly, but sitting is painful, and walking / bending knees is almost impossible. A heatpad is now my best friend! Another 3-5 days and I will start seeing improvement.
My Wheelhorse has a bent seat (it is an industrial seat too), bent ignition key, and the hood sheet metal is badly warped, but otherwise it looks none the worse except for being quite dirty.
I have lived here for 20+ years, and put the terraces in 18 years ago. I have never come close to doing this before.
I think I am going to get a load or two of topsoil to level the yard with the wall, and cover that stump. But not before I heal.
It seems that God looks after old fools after all! Ever Onward.
My yard is terraced, and out by the road the wall is up to 5' tall. I installed an engineered wall and it has been holding up well. But over the years the backfill has settled, from being level with the top of the wall to 6" lower.
The short of it was in a hurry and bumped a stump, which caught the front driver side wheel causing the tractor to lurch to the left off the wall - with me on it! A 4' drop to flat ground! WheelHorse tractors are overbuilt, and mine is an 8 speed manual transmission. It all happened so fast I didn't have time to react.
I found myself thrown off the tractor, tried to stand, but collapsed before even getting to my knees. I crawled over to the tractor (laying on it's side) and pulled myself up beside it. but I could not walk as the pain in my legs was too intense.
My neighbors across the street were out doing yard work and I managed to get their attention. They then got my wife's attention. Between the 3 of them that got me in the house holding me up shoulder to should with my arms around their necks.
We have a concierge doctor on call (best money I have ever spent), and had him on the phone in 5 minutes. 10 minutes later I am in an Ortho location (not ER as he advised against it). Xrays revealed no broken bones, and I saw my doctor first thing Monday AM.
He told me I was very lucky, but after looking me over told me It would be a month to reach full recovery. I have a 3"x2" patch of skin missing on my lower left wrist, same on my inside left knee, and back, and 3 severe hematomas. The bruising is still growing each day. Lots of swelling in both of my legs, and my stomach. He told me they would continue to swell and grow each day for up to a week, then slowly everything would be reabsorbed. First day, not a lot of swelling or bruising. But come this AM, I have deep bruising from the top of my thighs to just below the knees. And tummy is tight. Feels like i have a grapefruit under the skin on both legs.
I am one lucky fellow according to my doctor. It could have been far far worse. I can now walk slowly, but sitting is painful, and walking / bending knees is almost impossible. A heatpad is now my best friend! Another 3-5 days and I will start seeing improvement.
My Wheelhorse has a bent seat (it is an industrial seat too), bent ignition key, and the hood sheet metal is badly warped, but otherwise it looks none the worse except for being quite dirty.
I have lived here for 20+ years, and put the terraces in 18 years ago. I have never come close to doing this before.
I think I am going to get a load or two of topsoil to level the yard with the wall, and cover that stump. But not before I heal.
It seems that God looks after old fools after all! Ever Onward.
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