DrunkMonkey 0 #1 July 22, 2002 Ouch... Last jump at SkyFest was a great all Kansas-Jumper 10 way w/ video, outta the Skyvan. Great exit, got 8/10 in until #9 came in like a bat outta hell and funneled it to shiznit... Sooo.... Break, try to go low to catch the 105-pound girl who went *low*, break off pursuit when my Time-Out yells at me, turn 180º, track and pull.... ***WHAM!!!!!**** OOOOOFFFFF!!! *Welcome to the world of being slammed!* Now, I always thought that I knew what a slamming opening was, but--oh no, mere mortal... I felt my chin hit my breastbone, the base of my skull hit my shoulder blades, and I spent the first 10 seconds under canopy gasping for breath. My left pinky and ring finger are a lovely shade of red from I guess a riser slap, and I am whimpering involuntarily. barely have enough presence of mind to set up and land. Got down near SD Dallas' accuracy pit, and fight with every fiber of my being to not collapse like a rag doll. Now I am in pain, aggrivated by the 6-hour drive home last night, and cannot go to the doc's. The powers that be (I'm gov't property) would ground me if I reported a skydiving related injury causing lost work time. What should I do- Chiropractor (sp?), jacuzzi, and Motrin? Rigging question--I usually pro/trash pack. It's never caused me this bad an opening before... (I really hurt right now....) I jump a Triathalon(sp?) 160. The pack job in question was particularly meticulous, or so I thought. I had my SCS/SCR ceremony the night before, and intentionally waited to pack until the next day, to work the beer out of my system. Is it true that the more orderly you pack-the more likely a slammer is, as a trash pack takes longer to open than a careful pack job does? I am no doubt going to be sweating bullets at pull time on my next jump. I need some canopy packing tips so I can keep jumping, but preserve my spine.... Help!!! Any autopsy on what I've said whould be greatly appreciated... Neil A-34924 P.S. SKYFEST WAS THE GREATEST!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 July 22, 2002 What canopy are you jumping? Oh, BTW, I'm not a doctor so this ain't no prescription, but if you're not alergic to pain meds AND THERE'S NOT ANYTHING ACTUALLY BROKEN OR TORN, then you might want to try Aleve. It's a different kind of pain med and it may take a couple of hours to kick in. It's kind of subtle, but once you're in the zone on this stuff, it's a miracle. I was doing a Pro-rating school last February, sunk it in hard and twisted an ankle. Hurt like hell -- swelled up pretty good. As quickly as I could I took four of the over-the-counter Aleve tablets (220mg each) and I was FINE and back jumping the next day. Yes, I had to be careful, because I was putting myself at further risk of injury, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do to get through what ya gotta get through.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #3 July 22, 2002 Triathlon 160. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deuce 1 #4 July 22, 2002 Monkey, no intention to cause flaming, but the nickname I've heard for that canopy is tri-bash-alon. I've seen two that have opened hard enough to break lines. I've also talked to folks who have hundreds of jumps on them and love them. Good luck. 800 mg motrins, ice, wine and whine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wlie 0 #5 July 22, 2002 Quoteturn 180º, track and pull.... ***WHAM!!!!!**** OOOOOFFFFF!!! I think that's the real problem. And it can happen on any canopy with any pack job. You need to bleed off the momentum before pulling. This usually happens to me when I don't have enough time after tracking, and pull time is pull time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #6 July 22, 2002 QuoteI've seen two that have opened hard enough to break lines. ANY canopy can open hard enough to break lines. Some things that can cause a really hard opening include line dump, not slowing down before dumping, and errors in packing (other than line stow related). It is far easier to blame the canopy instead of the person packing and/or jumping it though. The manufacturer of the Tri recommends a specific way of packing it. They produce a video that shows this method in detail. Pack it the way they recommend and you are less likely to have a slammer opening. Neil - don't jump until your back doesn't hurt anymore, especially if you can't go to the doctor to get it checked out. I'd strongly, strongly suggest getting it checked out, even if you have to dig deep in the wallet and pay for a visit to a private doctor and for xrays, just to be sure that there is nothing seriously wrong. Back injuries are not something to ignore or mess around with! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #7 July 22, 2002 Shit, I've even seen a video (from a friend of mine) where his Spectre opened in 3 frames! He was seeing stars from that one for a while. Dude, I hope you feel better quickly, try talking to Dr. Bombay, that always helps me out... Oh, and do what Lisa (skybytch) said, she knows about those sort of things.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooked 0 #8 July 22, 2002 I firmly believe in Chiropractors. If you have a good one, I'd go!!!! J Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nws01 0 #9 July 22, 2002 Do what Lisa said and get it checked out man. I broke my three lower vertebrea and today I am in pain because I jumped this weekend. I never went back to the doctor after the initial emergency room visit. Maybe I should have gone back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antimike 0 #10 July 22, 2002 A couple of years ago kinda the same thing happened. Dumped in a track to avoid a cloud, I think the cloud would have hurt least. I went to a chiropractor, she charged me $150.00 for exrays andd said i compressed my T-6. Nothing she could do. Just heat & pain killers. I was grounded for 6 weeks. Then did a couple of weekends of hop-n-pops. go see somebody it's your back dude. If it hurts to get out of bed or when you sneeze or cough its probably a compression fracture. But I'm no doctor so seek medical advice Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deuce 1 #11 July 22, 2002 Yep. Listen to Lisa. That's why I posted that I saw something rather than I know what something was. Also use a private doc to get fixed. A chiropractor might be the cheapest way to get x-rays. But if something's cracked you might want to see an MD. Love may last a lifetime, but back injuries are forever. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #12 July 22, 2002 QuoteOh, BTW, I'm not a doctor so this ain't no prescription, but if you're not alergic to pain meds AND THERE'S NOT ANYTHING ACTUALLY BROKEN OR TORN, then you might want to try Aleve. Yum, Aleve is an over the counter version of Naproxen, a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflamatory (NSAID). Perscription Naproxen is 500mg, Aleve is 250. I've gone from Naproxen to Aleve to help with my ankle. Good stuff... _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #13 July 22, 2002 Naproxen Sodium (aleve), as well as many other popular anti-inflammatories, have been reported to delay bone growth and healing. So, if you have a broken bone, it's probably a bad choice. Read the article in the New England Journal of Medicine. Link to a newspaper story about the Journal article: http://www.cmonitor.com/stories/front2002/0528bonehealing5268_2002.shtml-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cobaltdan 0 #14 July 22, 2002 i recommend 2 percocets and a cobalt i know how you feel. i began designing canopies as a result of breaking my c6 on a sabre 135 slam. i was in severe pain and visiting a chiropracter turned out to be a mistake. see a good orthopedic doctor get a proper check up then see a chiro. if warranted. feel better. sincerely, dan atair www.extremefly.comDaniel Preston <><> atairaerodynamics.com (sport) atairaerospace.com (military) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #15 July 22, 2002 My triathalon spanked me hard twice! One time, I admit, I prolly wasnt square......but the other time was something else all together that caused a line dump .(No we are not going there) I now fly my beautiful new Sabre2 "Jezabelle" and so far she has been purdy sweet if you don't count the cutaway on her Maiden voyage. Aleve is great if there isnt anything broken. Just tell em you fell down the stairs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #16 July 23, 2002 QuoteSo, if you have a broken bone, it's probably a bad choice. I believe I already made a disclaimer about things that are actually broken, but thanks for the link. I hadn't read that.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billo 0 #17 July 23, 2002 dude, from another broken back survivor, i can say by all means don't rush anything. get some good bed rest and see what the doc says. Quoteand intentionally waited to pack until the next day, to work the beer out of my system. it's better to pack drunk than hungover, that's what i've always said! good luck, b Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
