Coasters after neck surgery?!?!?

I'm not generally one for discouraging people from riding coasters, but I would think that after major neck surgery would be a good time to. My father recently (July 8) had neck surgery to repair four deteriorated disks in his neck. My husband and I, my father and his girlfriend, are going to BGW the last weekend in September, and my dear ol' Dad has intentions of marathon riding Alpengeist, and getting on every other coaster at least twice. I have been trying to discourage him from doing so because of his recent surgery, to no avail. He just insists he's tough enough to take it.

My question is this... Am I just being overly worried for nothing? Or, should I really keep at him? His doctor says he could probably do coasters by then, but to limit it to a few rides, and nothing too rough. ( Telling this to an enthusiast, is like telling a nympho to wear a chastity belt). What do you say to a true diehard to discourage them from riding too much??

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Enjoy yourself. These are the good old days you're going to miss in the years ahead.

Tell him that if he gets injured on this ride, he is just giving Markey and company more reason to enforce more G-force rules and such.

*** This post was edited by Antuan on 8/24/2002. ***

I'd listen to the doc. I don't know about old Nessie or the BBWolf since they have the over the shoulder restraints. I think if the doctor gives the goahead I don't see any problems.

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Visits to Knoebels in 2002: 8

No, you have reason enough to be worried. If the doctor gives the go-ahead, let him ride, but by all means limit the number of rides. In addition, check with Doc right before you leave for the trip. Even if he gets the ok then, I'd still try to encourage you're dad to ride as little as possible. If somthing happens, you probably won't be able to fix it (I'm no doctor) The coasters aren't going anywhere, they'll be there next season too. Doctors are human, and mistakes can happen. The body is a delicate thing, and one bit of wrong advice...

*Hope I didn't freak you out*

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Thank You for challenging TOS: The Ride. We hope you enjoy the rest of your day, here at SFCB.

I had my colon removed July 28th, and the doc said I could go at it a month later. My first coaster was Mean Strak this past Wedensday to see the new track at CP.

1ej

Since most (if not all) coasters have a sign warning not to ride if you have a history of back or neck problems or recent surgery, I wouldn't recommend it. You definately have good reason to be worried, you're not just being paranoid, the warnings are there for a reason.

Like BullGuy said, check with the doctor again before going to the park. If the doctor says it's ok, then it's pretty safe to assume that it's ok, but he should limit the number of rides and try to stay off the really rough/intense rides for a while. If the doctor says not to ride, it's for his own safety, don't let him ride.

Tell him that whatever the doctor says is for his own safety and that no ride is worth being paralyzed or killed. The rides will still be there next time he visits the park, and his neck will probably be in much better shape by then so he'll be able to ride safely.

My mom had a similar situation. She got in a speedskating accident in 1994 and had her first neck surgery, a second one in 1997, and a third this past Christmas. Four of the disks in her neck are fused together, and have "cages" going through them, I guess which are more like bolts. Her surgeon said in 1994 when she only had to have 2 disks fused, to never ride roller coasters. She has season passes to SFGAdv but only watches the shows, because she is unable to ride anything.

From what I saw my mom go through, having this huge metal brace on for over two months, it doesn't seem worth it just to ride a roller coaster. It is possible that he could ride the coasters and feel fine, but the next day he could really be in pain. I would advise for him not to ride coasters.

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Dave Bonnetti

I had major emergency abdominal surgery in June. The doctor gave me the ok to ride coasters a month later. If the Dr. okays it I wouldn't worry. I know it made me feel a heck of a lot better to ride coasters as I didn't feel like such an invalid anymore.

If he had surgey the first of July and you are planning this the last of Sepmeber, 3 Months seems like it should be suficcient if the Dr. gives the OK.

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All I need is 4.5 million bucks and a half a mile long sliver of land and maybe someone could build me my very own Shivering Timbers. ;)

While I have never been to BGW, I don't think that Alpengeist will hurt him too bad. But maybe he should consider marathoning Apollo's Chariot to avoid the shoulder harness.

I say if the vertibrets have had time to fuse together, then it should be no big deal. If however, he is still healing, then he should lay off the rides for a while.

Thank you. All very good advise. Dad is extremely hard to persuade, but I'm going to keep trying. I may just have to resort to distractive measures once we're at the park to try and limit how much free time he has to ride. Of course that will also limit me. But, the man is a nut, so I gotta do what I gotta do. I want him in serious coaster contention next year.

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Enjoy yourself. These are the good old days you're going to miss in the years ahead.

My mother is a coaster nut as well; she's the one that got me into them at a young age (thanks Mom!). Anyway, she had shoulder surgery in September of 2000 and even now two seasons later, she's still not 100% pain-free after a coaster ride. She finds that some are easier to take than others, S:RoS at SFNE doesn't bother her with just its lapbar. However, any ride with OTS restraints are quite painful. Try to encourage your dad to start slow and see how he's feeling then go from there. Coasters are great, but not worth aggravating an old injury for. Good luck!