FL Biker’s Post-Op Report: Gabe’s Moto Come Back!

In case you have not been following me lately I have survived a four level disc replacement surgery in my neck (C3 – C7). I have been in recovering mode without any new Harley Adventures to post on YouTube. I am currently posting shorts and finding vintage Attorney That Rides travel footage to post on YouTube until I can record my first post-surgical moto-ride. I have plans to fly to Bolivia to ride the dangerous Death Road (see video below). I am going to ride the Iron Butt Associations’ Coast-to-Coast run from Jacksonville, FL to San Diego, CA in 50-hours or less. Among other great trips the big Kahuna is around-the-world on a Harley-Davidson Bagger!

What the Hell Happened Gabe?

I was in the hospital recovering for 5-days before releasing me. There is a donut between every vertebrae in my neck that acts like a shock absorber. That donut is full of fluid that when it leaks the vertebrate come in on each other causing extreme pain by the nerves being pinched. Before my operation I saw three doctors who stated that i needed six discs and that I had spinal compression with one vertebrae pushing into my gullet area. All the doctors told me that my health insurance WILL ONLY pay for 2-discs with the rest paid out-of-pocket. Look at the pic below showing what my neck looks like after the surgery!

I found the best of the best here in Broward General Hospital that convinced the insurance company to pay for 4-discs and my hospital stay. waking up from the operation I was fine until the anesthesia wore off. I did not sleep for 2-days due to the pain and swallowing was a painful task. I also could not drink or eat since they cut into my neck and gullet to reach the spine. 3rd day I started eating super soft foods and drinking water among other things that I will spare you the gory BOOMER details. I will mention that I have a nice scar and I hear the chicks love the scars… don’t tell my wife!

How Did Your Neck Get Injured?

It’s hard to say since my life has spanned so many stages of my careers, living situation, and multiple residencies. This includes fighting, motorcycling, accidents, and all round wild living before I slowed down. When people view my motorcycle videos on YouTube they wonder out loud when I ever slowed down? Trust me when I say what I do now is mild compared to the wild adventures of my youth!

Basically, my discs degenerated between C3 – C7 to the point I could NOT wear a full face helmet on the bike on excellent paved roads for more than 30-minutes before the pain would have me pulling off to the side in extreme pain. Performing sit ups or getting out of bed caused serious pain because it felt that my head weighed more than the support my neck gave me. Unfortunately one or two of the vertebrates pushed into the front of my gullet causing muscular discomfort making food hard to go down. There were times I had the sensation of choking that I would excuse myself to the bathroom to throw up my meal. This was no quality of life that ultimately limited my favorite activity of Long Distance Motorcycle Riding. I may be down but I ain’t out!

As you can see above I am wearing a novelty helmet that provides NO protection except keeping my head from sun burn. This is the only weight that my body would tolerate since the full face helmets pinched my nerves so bad that I felt like someone was stabbing me in the back with the knife! The last three Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenges where I rode 10,000 miles in 15-17 days I had to stop so often on the side of the road for pain relief I ceased to be competitive. NOW, with my new and improved strengthened neck I plan to tear up the run from Daytona Beach to Alaska in August 2024!

What’s Happening Now Gabe?

I have completed 5-weeks of recovery successfully with NO complications. I am trying to get my lazy ass back into training to get my body back into shape since i have had 5-weeks of zero activity. I am also eating everything in sight which is “No Bueno!” To be able to ride long distance it helps tremendously if your in shape. I have started my physical therapy but only I can get back in the gym to work on my upper torso as the surgeon recommends.

I am back in the office settling case as you may have seen a few bell ringers on YouTube. I have been to court via zoom and I am presently in a 4th DCA appeals case that is quite exciting to say the least. I feel as if God allowed this operation to give me a new lease on life. I can do things upon full recovery that I would not be able to. I feel invigorated with a sense of adventure that has me planning multiple motorcycle trips worldwide and domestically in the United States.

I am NOT a millionaire like those TV or billboard Attorneys. I prefer quality of life with time to ride my ride compared to a life of riches where I am a slave to the 60-hour per week grind with no breaks. Cases are won by giving the matter the legal attention it deserves. In my opinion, if your too big with such a large caseload how can that firm put in the sweat equity your claim requires for the win with so few hours per day?

Attorney That RIDES.com

I want to let followers and supporters know that I am open for business so if you have a friend or family member that is injured no fault of their own please recommend them to the Attorney That RIDES! Many folks still think that I am in the hospital or not working. I was gone for 3.5 weeks but I am back winning cases. I am NOT a millionaire like those TV or billboard Attorneys. I prefer quality of life with time to ride my ride compared to a life of riches where I am a slave to the 60-hour per week work grind with no breaks. Cases are won by giving the matter the legal attention it deserves. In my opinion, if your too big with such a large caseload how can that firm put in the sweat equity your claim requires with so few hours per day for the win? Just a casual observation in my 16-years defending motorcyclist and their families here in South Florida.

What About New YouTube/GAB Moto-Videos?

Obviously if I can’t ride there will not be NEW Harley Adventure videos to post. I do have some never before published GoPro gems that I will be uploading to my social media channels. With my extra time I have created new videos on different areas of law that I practice. I post updates on my recovery and I have been going crazy with my YouTube Shorts that is like Tik Tok. I am NOT on Tik Tok but perhaps you can convince me or support me not joining. My ScreamingThunder.com Vlog/Blog is being updated and the website is being upgraded to shine when those moto-videos drop.

I am planning some videos that are long distance but before I take the long haul riad I want to fart around South Florida or the Daytona Beach area to make FLA-Grown moto-videos. I will be riding a few Iron Butt Association self-documenting rides. Please send me a DM or comment below if you have any ideas for me to consider regarding an event or moto-gathering or whatever to document on my channel. Let me know I read all my comments personally since I am a one man show.

The most exciting trip that I am planning to ride is the Bolivian Death Road or what the locals call it: “La Carretera de la Muerte!” I plan on going with a tour guide first to learn the landscape to later prepare my Harley to do it on my 2013 Police Road King! Check out this sick video below!

Final Thoughts

Getting old sucks especially if your body refuses to catch up with your spirit. I paint myself as a Courtroom Warrior/Harley Adventurist on my social media accounts. I prefer to use YouTube as my main platform but GAB is becoming a major platform where organic reach to like minded bikers that love to travel is successfully competing against Facebook. As you may know that Facebook has banned me for life as well as Instagram in their war to silence individuals that think for themselves or hold opposing political views. I keep my YouTube free of politics but I am on other platforms without fear of speaking freely.

I look forward to my new rides that I am cultivating and planning. Both my 2013 Police Road King and my 2019 Road Glide Ultra have had its engines rebuilt. I purchased new recording equipment like my Insta360 cam and my DJI mini drone to showcase a better moto-experience in my videography. Riding and sharing that ride is a moto-hobby for me on YouTube and GAB.

If you have not subscribed to my GAB page or my YouTube channel please go today :)