Jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft

[wild_deuce03]

*sigh* Still don't know why I do it, but I do. For those that don't know, I'm in the military and am also Airborne. I had a jump this past Thursday that didn't go that well. Well, I should say the jump itself was fine, it was the landing that was the issue. They claim that the winds weren't that high (9-10 knots) at ground level. I'm calling BS on that one. Don't know how skydiving is but on static line jumps, you are supposed to turn into the wind at about 200 feet AGL. You know you are facing into the wind because the front of your chute pushes in. I KNOW I was facing into the wind. I also KNOW that I was going across the DZ much faster than 9-10 knots. Let's just say that at about 100 ft I knew it was going to hurt. Unfortunately, I was right. I hit the ground hard. As soon as I got up I knew something wasn't right. Every time I tried to take a step with my right leg I felt a pop in my hip and couldn't put any weight on it. First time in my career I couldn't walk off the DZ. Got taken to the ER and once the adrenaline wore off the pain became excruciating. X-rays were negative and I was sent home. Followed up yesterday with my clinic and had an MRI done. Don't have the results yet but was given some unofficial results. It appears that I do have some tears in my hip. This can't be confirmed until the official results on Monday but it isn't looking good. I have to say that this is the worst pain I've ever had. I can't put any weight on it. Can barely move my foot without causing myself pain. I have to lift both legs to do anything. It's just damn near impossible to avoid the pain. They gave me some Percocet that is helping to take the edge off but sleeping is a chore. I've only been getting a few hours of sleep because I wake up once the pain meds wear off.

So, thanks for listening to me ramble. It just really sucks because I was supposed to be going to a school (BNCOC) on 08 Nov. For those that are in the military or were, they know that I need this school to get promoted. Unfortunately, this is the last school before the promotion board convenes on Feb. So it looks like I'll be getting passed over for promotion. I can handle the pain from the injury more than I can the pain of getting passed over for promotion.

2010 is officially the worst year of my life!!!

[Badmedicine]

Wow Ryan, that really sucks. I'm hoping for a miracle !

[wild_deuce03]

Wow Ryan, that really sucks. I'm hoping for a miracle !

Thanks. Me too, but I'm not holding my breath. Even if it's "only" a really bad bone bruise I still won't be able to run in a week. 2010 has just plain been the worst year of my life. Good friend is killed on my birthday in Feb, my dog of 13 years dies 23 Aug and now this. This year can't end soon enough!!!

[gnomad]

Really sucks to have years and times like these. With this landing incident, if you were facing in to the wind when you were lining up for a landing, the faster the wind the slower your landing speed. If the wind was faster than the forward speed of your chute then you would have been actually moving backwards. The fact that you were actually moving faster than expected signals that you were actually landing with the wind or at the least you were slightly cross wind and not quite facing directly into the wind. I use to jump for fun, landed with the wind one time. Luckily I flared at the perfect time to just slide across the ground on my butt right into a bean filed! Did not hurt at all (except for my pride) and that wasn't hurt all that bad. Really sorry to hear about the missed promotional opportunity, hopefully things get better in 2011.

[Baitis]

Missing the opportunity for a promotion sucks as does sudden stops. All you can do now is hope for the best. Glad I'm on the contractor side of the military and don't have to jump from perfectly good airplanes.

[Michael600r]

Sorry to hear that buddy. I'm sending some healing mojo your way.

[ricksza]

2011 has to be better.

[Spyderider]

That really bites.
I hope that you heal quickly.
Seems like you have made many friends here who are pulling for you.

They say that it's darkest before the dawn.

[brown recluse]

Wow, Ry. I saw this thread title and didn't realize it was about you and the seriousness of you situation. I am hoping that you can recover soon. Hang in there, buddy. Don't focus on the bad. There is a lot of good in this life. Crazy stupid painful situations will pass.

[Doug Web]

Hey just remember the saying "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" You will bounce back even better then before and be all the wiser for your experiences.
Remember your friends for their life not their death and be happy for the time you were part of it.

[jabbott]

Bad luck. Picking up on what gnomad said, couldnt you have prevented the bad landing by "Flaring" the chute at the appropriate time? Or was the chute not a "square canopy".

[wild_deuce03]

Bad luck. Picking up on what gnomad said, couldnt you have prevented the bad landing by "Flaring" the chute at the appropriate time? Or was the chute not a "square canopy".

The chutes we use aren't like skydiving chutes. Flaring does little to nothing with these chutes.

[wild_deuce03]

Thanks all for the kind words. Doing a little better today but that's mainly because of the pain meds built up in me. Tried to put weight on the leg and there's no way I can. Monday can't get here soon enough.

[ozyran440]

Ryan - I'm sorry to see all this happen to you this year. In fact, I can honestly say this outright sucks to see you go through.

Hang in there, Ryan. I know it's not easy, nor is it fun, but it's the best thing you can do right now. You'll be in my prayers.

[Charlie Gary]

Sorry to see you got hurt. Maybe this is just a way for you to get one more cycle of motivated preparation for the school (and the promotion board).

[insolentminx]

sorry to hear that buddy.

wishing you a swift recovery

[trikebubble]

Ryan, we'll all put our votes in that 2011 to be your year. All kidding aside, I talked to an elderly WWII vet a while back and when I asked him how his day was his response was something I try to remember on thos long, dark, bad days. He said simply "any day above ground is a good one". Again, not to make light of the crap you've had to deal with this year...but hold yer head high and you'll make it through.

As far as jumping out of a perfectly good airplane...well, I did it once and that was enough for me. I can say I've done it and have no interest in ever doing that again. So props to you for not only jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, but doing it continually with a target pasted to your back! A big thanks to you for what you do!

[ecave]

Hope you get better Ryan. I sure am sorry to hear that.

Best wishes to you.

[DebbieW]

So sorry to hear this Ryan. I know about bad years and losing people/companions etc. I do hope you heal quickly and that 2011 is a better year. I guess it can't get much worse. Look at the bright side. No motorcycle accidents. I know, that doesn't help but I was trying to come up with something positive.

[Fordtrucktough]

Hey man sorry to hear about the injury and possibly not getting the promotion. But as Trikebibble
said thanks for your service and everything you do there. 2011 has to be better!