<p>So anyone who has been around a while knows the anxiety our family experienced last summer, one year ago, when son had oral surgery on his upper jaw in which his palate was split and plates inserted to correct his bite. The oral surgeon, a real nice guy, said no contact sports for one year. Exactly one year after he said this, Son went out with college friends for a friendly (???) game of hockey . Now, here he is with a fractured lower jaw and it is wired shut.</p>
<p>On top of this he is into lifting and bike riding now, and WILL NOT wear a helmet although I have urged him vehemently.You can ask, beg, bribe, cajole, but if they won’t do it, at 19 you CAN’T make them! So the day fter they wired the jaw shut he went out lifting and bike riding. I suspect he won’t want to do these things after a few days on the liquid diet. Do you think so too?</p>
<p>I’m frought with worry. (Son does not come to this site.I’m safe!)</p>
<p>Bankhandgrip, I am so sorry, I cannot think of a single useful thing to post back in response, except that I totally empathize with you and hope that the liquid diet slows him down somewhat. LOL good luck with that - at least he’s not in the slightest danger of being labelled “lazy” (my poor attempt at looking at the bright side).</p>
<p>I can’t think of anything helpful to say either, backhandgrip, except that the young heal very quickly! (And this: aren’t you glad the 19-year-old S’s go away to college and we don’t have to ‘know’ about their stupid decisions!?)</p>
<p>In defensive driving, they show pictures of horrible accidents. Seeing those images make most of us straighten up and drive more carefully, at least for awhile. Perhaps you could find information and images about the dangers of riding without a helmet? I know an ER nurse in our community who had a heart-to-heart talk with our neighbor’s son, who loved to ride his motorcycle without a helmet, about the injuries she had seen with helmetless riders. It helped some but he is basically a risk-taker. Risk-takers typically have to learn the hard way and that can be extremely difficult those who love them. On the other hand, some risk-takers seem to lead charmed lives. </p>
<p>I wish you the best with what I’m sure is a wonderful and beloved child.</p>
<p>Oh, no! This takes me back to when my H got hit by a car many years ago when we were both in grad school. His jaw was fractured in 3 places and he was on a liquid diet for quite a while. I soon ran out of recipes for liquid meals.</p>
<p>On the helmet issue, wasn’t there a young football player who rode his motorbike without a helmet and got into an accident? He hurt his head (though apparently he did not sustain permanent damage). At this point, as your S’s jaw is still delicate, it might be a good idea to raise that example. But DRJ is right, there are people who are natural risk-takers; it is very hard on their parents. Best of luck!</p>
<p>I can only imagine how hard it is to get a 19 year old boy to take care of themselves.</p>
<p>My daughter broke her jaw at the end of first grade. She also knocked out 5 teeth at the time, and lost the three other front teeth several months later.</p>
<p>It was very hard to get a 6 year old not to ride her bike and rollerblade. (She broke her jaw right before summer.)</p>
<p>She lived on Ensure for months. She became fond of Orange Crush soda, pulverized ice chips and Ensure smoothies.</p>
<p>It was also hard for me to let her play soccer 9 months later, I worried at every game that she would get an elbow to the mouth.</p>
<p>bhg
Its hard to tell men,young or older what to do.H has been an avid bike rider (road and mountain) since I met him.He only started wearing a helmet once we had our first child.He’s 53 now but still wants to ride in the woods like he’s a teenager.</p>
<p>I think Marite might be referring to Ben Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback who had a motorcycle accident (sans helmet) with serious injuries including a broken upper and lower jaw. Here’s a few links:</p>
<p>Maybe your son would benefit from reading about Ben Roethlisberger’s experiences, but in some respects it seems even this experience may not have changed him that much.</p>
<p>Since both my husband and daughter have been hit by cars while bicycling, I am all too aware of how easy it is to have an accident–although neither were badly damaged. Car drivers are idiots about both motorcyclists and bicyclists. </p>
<p>Your son might be more willing to wear a bicycling helmet if gets a lightweight, high-quality one that is well-ventilated. The cheaper ones are both deadly hot and heavy. Even the Tour de France riders have to wear helmets now. (There’s a great photo from this year’s Tour of a cyclist (Kessler) riding with pebbles stuck in his helmet after a fall in which he went over a guard rail, and landed in roadside gravel–and got up and finished the day’s ride. Of course, I can’t find a link.)</p>
<p>I’m so sorry for the problems and worries you are experiencing. My son had a very bad overbite problem that could have resulted in surgery similar to your son’s…but DS was fortunate…the problem was diagnosed at 6yo and treated with massive appliances then and when he was 15yo.</p>
<p>We, however, experience similar attitudinal challenges…my DS is nearly 19 and will be going off to college as a freshman next month. I remember when I was in my 20s and had to have several major surgeries. It was the first time in my life that I realized I was not immortal…and when I sufficiently recovered I threw myself at life with a vengeance. No one was going to say that I was anything but perfect and able to do what I wanted when I wanted. Your DS may be experiencing a similar pendular swing…that is…I’m not the mortal, wounded, invalid…instead I am the “he-man” invicible to all. I guess if it were my son, I’d calmly (and I know that can be a tall order at that age) talk about your love and concern for him, express understanding that the surgery incident could have rattled his timbers and had a rebound effect, and encourage him not to engage in dangerous behaviors. After the discussion, no matter how difficult, say absolutely nothing. Anything more, even the invitation to visit the gruesome websites might be seen as nagging and have the exact opposite effect.</p>
<p>Lots of luck and ((((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))))! OB</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the articles. I am going to print and either give or leave them around for him to see. It is, in my opinion very reckless to go out bicycle riding the day after having one’s jaw wired. I do not understand this behavior at all. He has always been very responsible.
Orangeblossom; He had the braces option but went with the surgery as it involved less time in appliances and we were told the results would be better. Actually, that all worked out wonderfully. This NEW problem and his apparent reckessness has me quite worried.</p>
<p>Another thing upsetting me is when Son registered for classes for the next semester he took as an elective motorcycle certification. Believe it or not his college offers this and he registered for it WITHOUT telling us. My husband’s attitude is it’
s his life and his classes. I or the other hand am agast. I don’t even know how to brooch the topic with him now. I think I need support from my hus. on this one but don’t know if I will get it.</p>
<p>What is wrong with this usually extremely responsible kid? </p>
<p>As usual I use c.c. as a venting board. Not here for months until I have a problem and then I won’t shut up. </p>
<p>I really do believe your son is overcompensating for the weakness and dependency brought on by his surgery. I believe in time, he wil become more centered…like his old self.</p>
<p>My kids and husband all took the motorcycle certification course. They all found it fairly scary–they really emphasize safety, etc. Better to take it than not!</p>
<p>BACKHANDGRIP - I bet that motorcycle class FORCES him to wear a helmet - for safety reasons - here tho give those classes - but can’t participate in the actual bike riding if no helmet. Does he own a motorcycle?? I sure as shootin would not be paying ANYTHING - insurance and all that stuff ROFL</p>
<p>As far as his bikeriding without a helmet - uuummm - if it were me - I would take the tires off that bike for sure LOL - and leave a helmet on the seat.</p>
<p>He will be in for a big shock when he has to foot the bill for his own medical/health expenses - whew!!</p>
<p>I can empathize with you tho - I also have a very adventurous kiddo.</p>
<p>NJ Res, your state may not require a special course to get a motorcycle license–Washington does, and it is an all-day deal that is basically drivers’ ed for motorcyclists. But it’s required for all ages.</p>