What Do You Do When It's Over?

Hello! A few months ago I fell down a flight of steps, and had a bad reaction to an unplanned scalding accident in my shower when my wife didn't realize I was in there (She ran the water and I was burned). MY reaction was a severe pincehed nerve plus carpel tunnel.

Anyway...I went to a nerologist and after an MRI, Xrays, and a test of the nervous sytem where they send electrical current through your arms, wrist and fingers, I was told that under no curcomstances should I ever go on another ride again.

I am a big fan and my 6 year old son shares my love of parks, coasters, etc. I want to say goodbye, but I can't. I feel cheated and violated in a sense. My neck injury from the fall and shower reaction is depriving me of the hobby I love most.

Going to parks and watching others is not going to make me feel better (actually worse). I need support. I may be 42, but I am not ready for it to be over. What would you do and how would you handle it?

1. Lots of coaster videos

2. Plan trips to parks that are more dark ride/show orientated (such as WDW Sea World or Universal).

3. Remember the good times and always focus on the positives, hey you could be paralized or dead now loosing coasters is a small concession when compared to the other two things that could have happened to you.

I know its not enough and I cant possibly make you feel better but at the age of 5 I went to disney with my grandfather who had just been banned from coasters due to cancer. Even as young as I was I could see the pain in his eyes when he couldnt take me on Big Thunder, but boy the rides we could ride together are now extremely special (in particular Spaceship Earth) to me even 20 years later.

Ouch, very sorry to hear about that. Thank God though that you are alive, for one, and still have the ability to be mobile. To deal with not being able to ride....hmmm...that's a hard one. You could live vicariously through your son, but could make you feel worse. Hmmm. I would try to get several opinions from various doctors. Some Race car drivers suffer multiple broken bones yet still go back to the track. Try getting some more opinions...That's my take! *** Edited 5/30/2004 10:21:20 PM UTC by Antuan***

I would find something you love just as much as coasters. For the longest time I thought nothing in life could be as good as riding coasters, but now I've come to learn there's a lot more out there to experience. Personally I've found doing some retreats to be equally amazing and exhilirating as coasters.

I agree with Antuan, don't give up! But if you can't ride, just remember there's a lot out there!

Get a second opinion. One of the former mods here had back problems and surgery and was told he'd never ride again. What do you think he did in the long run?