Posted Oct. 4, 2004 - Received Oct. 2, 2004 Steve Wentz recovery report This report comes directly from our bent but not broken friend, Mr. Wentz Himself. I hear he's surpassing all of the doctors' expectations (of course). With his positivity, drive and competitiveness, Steve will be back in no time. I predict he'll be doing wheelchair tricks at Interbike, which is cool, but if you see him eyeing a big gap, distract him with some peanuts. He loves peanuts. Hey Lee, As you know, there were a lot of rumors that were going around after I crashed, and also I assume some about recovery. I'm not sure if people are interested, but for your info and the info of some of my buddies in the cycling community, here's a small update on my current condition and what happened after my crash. I crashed friday, first day of dh practice on the set of extremely small and close together jumps, breaking four bones in my left cheek, a couple ribs on my right side, as well as four vertebrae in my back, T-7, 8, 9, and 10. I had surgery on Tuesday. It was successful, but also the most painful sleep I have ever come out of followed the surgery. The doctors cut a line approximately 35 centimeters in my back and then cut the muscle in my back to get to my spine, and then the doctors attached two ti rods along the sides of my back to fuse T-5 through T-12 together, and because they are where the ribcage is, loss of flexibility should be minimal. Fifty staples in my back to secure my cut muscle and skin, and I'm on the road to recovery, but the term 10 out of 10 as far as pain goes took on new meaning, especially immediately following surgery when anesthesia wore off. Without moving much in the next couple days, I will have been pretty much motionless for five days and then I would need to start my recovery process, and the process has been going well. Photo: Rocking the TLD logo cap. So very pro ... Both my family and Jessica have been extremely helpful, and all the calls from friends have been especially encouraging. It is now Friday night, a week plus 12 hours after my crash, and I'm walking on my own, no walker or anything, and I am looking forward to seeing friends at Interbike, so I will rest up now, I will need my strength there. Needless to say, no backflips for me at dirt demo on the new Turner xc bike... :) Thank you again to all my friends and family for all the support, sometimes you don't know what you have until it's almost gone. Thanks everyone, and don't be afraid to go for it. Trust yourself. -- Steve

See more Wentzy in: The corkscrew of death Practicing for Sea Otter '04 Colorado Springs dirt jumps Porcupine Rim Trail The original injury story from Sept. 28

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