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October 31, 2011 Hey folks! I've been playing
around a little bit with the content of the website. As you look around, it will be obvious I'm still in the middle
of it. Please check back in the next week or so for a few new items, and hopefully, a little cleaner navigation.
I will also be giving you an update on my recovery from the fractured vertebrae. Next follow-up appointment is November
7th... ************************************************************************************************************************************************** September 30, 2011 Hello race fans! Looks like I've been
slacking again in keeping you up-to-date on my recovery from the season ending crash on June 25th. This update may end
up a little long winded, but I know I've had quite a few of you ask how I've been doing. The August 28th follow up appointment
with Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine went pretty well. The first thing they do at each appointment is take me back
to get an x-ray with Cindy Williams, RT. She's always so upbeat, and says, "I remember you. You're the racer!"
She must know that is a boost to my ego, and it always starts the appointment off on the right foot. Once the x-rays
have been taken, I am shown the way to one of the 8 exam rooms where I get a visit from one of the nurses for a blood pressure
reading. After a short wait, Elliott Levine, P.A., who is a physician's assistant for the trauma team, conducts the
follow up exam lasting between 15 and 30 minutes. While I am generally against the practice of seeing a nurse practitioner
or physician's assistant replacing the actual doctor, I've been comfortable with Mr. Levine. A look at the x-ray film
showed that the vertebrae were all in place where they needed to be, and that there was some new bone growth (which is the
healing taking place). A handful of questions to and from are answered, and some basic physical tests resulted in Mr.
Levine happy with my progress to this point. Guessing another month in the brace and a "see you in 4 weeks." Fast forward to September 26th for my 3
month follow up appointment. Another visit with the pleasant Cindy Williams for a few pictures, and to exam room number
eight includes a 127 over 90 blood pressure reading. I had run out of my Benazepril and had not taken any for a few
days until about an hour before this reading. No worries. In walks Elliott Levine for a look at the films, which
he was happy to report were just as good as 28 days before. A few of the same physical tests, and a quick Q&A results
in him telling me I can now remove the brace! I was warned that the next 3 or 4 days might not be much fun, because
my neck and shoulders would be pretty sore from having to work harder than it has for 3 months. Having to actually
do the full job of holding my head up, and also with my neck having such limited movement looking left and right has
indeed kept me fairly sore. One
huge advantage of being out of the brace is now being allowed to drive rather than having to burden my friends and family
for rides. My dad has been a real big help being my regular chauffeur, driving me all over and bringing me lunch or
whatever. I've also had a ton of help from a handful of good friends who come pick me up to go to cookouts, races, and
just about anywhere I needed to go. I can't imagine how I could've lasted those 3 months without their help. Now
that I can get back to driving my trucks, I really feel a sense of freedom has returned. I have scheduled a general check up appointment with my
family doctor, Dr. Kenneth Maynard, for later today. Basically, I just want to give him a chance to be involved
with the recovery process, and answer any questions he may have. From there I have to decide on a physical therapy facilty.
My goal is to be fully released to race by the beginning of December. After the conversation with Elliott Levine, I
don't see a problem with that. He basically said that the vertebrae are now fully healed, and that I "could race
tomorrow" and it won't harm the vertebrae. He followed that by saying I wouldn't like it much, and that I likely
wouldn't do very well all due to the pain I would have. The muscles and ligaments are all very tight and have lost all
of their strength by not being used for 3 months. To give you an idea, when I am at a stop sign looking left and right,
I have such limited movement in my neck, I have to turn my body just to see each way. Backing out of the driveway is
a real treat! Next follow
up with Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine is November 7th. They gave me a work restriction on lifting that limits me
to 10 pounds or less. Unfortunately, my day job requires a lot more lifting than that restriction allows and they can't
let me return. So, for 6 weeks my job becomes a focus on rehab, getting the cars tore down and as ready for 2012 as
possible, sponsor work, and a few projects that I have started. By the time I return to the day job, I will have been
off for 4 and a half months. I hope I remember how to set my alarm clock by then. That's all for now. Remember folks, wherever you live,
support your local tracks. Whis ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************* August 3, 2011- Message from Joe Whisler: Hey everybody! I guess it's time for another update. Actually,
I'm a couple days late on this one. I had my first follow-up visit to Goodman Campbell Brain & Spine. They are the neurosurgery
group that I am seeing for my back. It had been 5 weeks since the flip at Putnamville, and I was hoping for some good news.
The things that are the most aggrevating to me are not being able to drive, and not being able to take a shower. I had hopes
of getting out of the brace, an being able to do both of those things. If they freed me from those limitations, then surely
I'd get to go back to work on a limited basis. It hasn't been much of a vacation! So, the first thing they did (after
I filled out a mountain of paperwork) was take an x-ray to make sure none of the vertebrae had shifted or compressed since
my exit from the hospital. They were right in line as they had been, so that is good news. I asked the x-ray tech how they
could tell how well everything was healing, and if I was far enough along to get the brace off. That was the point things
started going downhill. She told me that they only take those x-rays after the first month, and generally people are in the
brace for 3 months. They will take another x-ray at the 2 month follow-up, and won't take a CT scan until that 3rd month visit.
My hopes were shot! My attitude really sunk at that point. I really thought I might get out of this thing. So they said at
least another 4 weeks of no driving, no working, no lifting more than 10lbs., no repetitive bending/twisting, blah, blah,
blah... But there is good news. The last bit of pleading before I left their office gained me the doctor's approval to take
the brace off long enough to shower! I can't tell you how HUGE that is! One more small victory is that I got a second full
set of pads for the brace. So now I can swap them out and wash them. I gotta say, they were getting a little funky. Well, another 4 weeks surely won't be that
bad. At least that's what everybody keeps telling me. I suppose I have to come to grips with the fact that fracturing those
vertebrae was a little bit bigger of a deal than I was making it out to be. I don't know. I have been following their orders,
and just laying low and not over doing anything. So, I will continue to do that. Kenny Wayne Shepherd's latest cd just came
out, so I will burn up my player with that. This Friday, the World of Outlaws are returning to the Bloomington Speedway. I
can not wait for that. I have a feeling I can fill the rest of the time until the next appointment. So, that's it for today. I have a
couple of other things I am almost ready to talk about. Keep your eyes peeled for them on here, IndianaOpenWheel.com, facebook,
and twitter. In the mean time, we'll see you at the local dirt tracks! -Whis July 23, 2011- Message from Joe Whisler: I just thought I would
drop in and give a quick update and let you all know what I've been doing. Basically, a lot of nothing! My first follow-up
visit is back to see the Neurosurgeon on August 1st. The last thing they did before releasing me from Methodist Hospital was
to take an x-ray of my back. The way I understand it is that the first thing they will do at the follow-up is to take another
x-ray and compare the two. Assuming the fractured bones are still in line and are healing the way they are supposed to, no
surgery will be needed. I did finally get confirmation that
it was the T-2, T-3, T-4, and T-5 vertebrae that had fractures. The release instructions said no driving, no work, no repetitive
bending/twisting, and not to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk (I think that's a hint about drinking milk). Also,
I have to wear this brace 24/7 that goes from the bottom of my ribcage to my chin. The brace has been the root of most of
my complaining, or probably more realistically, my whining! The bad part is that because I can't get it wet, I'm not allowed
to shower. That makes getting cleaned up to go anywhere a lot more complicated, but I have it down to about an hour. Not being
able to drive anywhere gives ya a bit of a claustrophobic feeling. Luckily, I have good friends and family that help me out! 75% of the time, I spend at
home resting as the doctors ordered. I have been able to hitch a ride twice to Lincoln Park Speedway, where fans, friends,
and especially the track personell have been absolutely great. The number of people who have come up to me and shared their
wishes for my speedy recovery have been humbling. I know it's hard to miss the guy walking around wearing the big brace, but
it still surprises me how many people know my name. I did manage to get to Bloomington Speedway's sprint week show, thanks
to Jordan Angle of Angle Buildings and his dad Vic Angle. This past Tuesday, I was able to catch a ride with videographers
Dean Mills and Craig Jensen to Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA for the Don Martin Silver Cup. That's a track I've always
wanted to see, and to be able to go on their biggest night of the year was awesome. I owe a thanks to fellow Plainfield, IN
sprint car driver Bill Rose for helping me with a pit pass to this show. Bill has shirts for sale on his website: www.BillRoseRacing.com. Buy one and thank him for helping me! Hopefully, I will be able to keep catching
rides to LPS. If you see me, be sure to say hello! That's all I got for now. Be sure to visit your local dirt track and tell them I sent ya! Whis Angle Buildings joins
Whisler Racing in 2011 February
28, 2011- As announced tonight on the Racin' with D.O. Show, Angle Buildings LLC has partnered with Whisler Racing for the
2011 racing season. Angle Buildings co-founder, Jordan Angle, has been involved in racing most of his life and feels a marketing
partnership with Whisler Racing is a good fit. "Identifying your target customer is a key to any business, and motorsports teams are definitely a group that
Angle Buildings need to be reaching," said Joe Whisler. Whisler adds, "Every team needs a shop of some sort that
they work out of, and they will definitely benefit from the quality that they receive from Angle Buildings." When asked to describe Angle Buildings,
this is what Jordan Angle had to say: "Angle Buildings is built on over 35 years
of experience in the post-frame and general construction trades. We are the Indianapolis area Lester Building Systems dealer.
We specialize in post-frame construction ranging from small suburban buildings to large commercial buildings and everything
in between. All of our buildings are pre-engineered and come with a warranty to last a lifetime. We can provide
the services you need to get your building done from start to finish. We strive for customer satisfaction, and that is what
you will get. A great customer experience and a product you can be proud of. Call us day or night so we can provide you with
the building you deserve." To contact Angle Buildings: Jordan Angle 317.513.2543 |
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