Injury, surgery, recovery, reality.
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(I wasn't sure what exactly to call this thread) |
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phil broscovak wrote: I can tell you from experience that climbers are for the most part A-type personalities who can endure more pain and discomfort than the average citizen can imagine. AND they are real likely to go off half-healed and do something NOT good for themselves.I've had the same observation, especially when I've been out with the more hardcore-like trad and/or mountaineer climbers. We (type A's) seem to be fighters, survivors and go-getters in one way or another throughout our lives which carries on to our climbing and our ability to deal with pain, illness, and/or injuries. Glad you survived your lightning strike Philo! Take care! G |
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So I have a young friend who is just about to have the pin removed from his wrist. He has been bouncing off the walls from not climbing. What would you tell him? |
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Tell him that he has one chance of doing it right. If he rushes it now, it could be years before he is back the same sort of form pre-injury. Got to focus on the long term here and not short-term gratification. |
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Mike, |
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Mike Morley wrote:.... I suppose my advice to someone recuperating from a major injury would be to be patient, but also to explore some other activities. Go visit an art museum. Take a class at the local community college. Learn French. The important thing is to do something and not feel sorry for yourself. You might even learn something in the process!You guys will inspire others in such a positive way! Very good advice Mike for anyone suffering a physical or emotional injury. I haven't suffered any serious physical injuries, but exploring positive, healthy activities helped me quite a bit, as I was suffering as a homeless teen in L.A. I would have died inside (or worse) in the many depressing and dangerous situations I was in, if I didn't have something positive to grasp. I thankfully met a boyfriend that showed me a world of reptile hunting and bottle digging, managed to finish high school and put myself through college. For myself, and I'm sure many others, when you stay strong and make it through horrendous ordeals, other "little" life circumstances seem easier to handle. Be strong, expose yourself to positive people and activities and find happiness! Oh, and one more thing...HAVE A GOOD, LONG CRY! (at least once a year) |
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Not to wear out a good word, but again...wow. |
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Mike Morley wrote:Ten years ago, I shattered my right femur. A 18"-long titanium rod, held in place with a couple 2" titanium screws, has substituted ever since. I was in a wheelchair for the first month after surgery, then graduated to crutches and eventually a cane. The muscle memory was lost, and my foot naturally gravitated to a resting position 90 degrees right of center. I had to retrain it to face straight ahead. It took a year to learn how to walk again. The hardest part was not being able to do anything active. I watched a lot of movies. I read a lot of books. Plus, this was pre-Internet, so I couldn't even live vicariously seeing what others were up to! To be honest, it was a daily struggle to stay sane and not sink into deep depression. During that time, I accompanied a friend in the Grand Canyon while he was doing research for his thesis project. He would later write an incredible book about it. I finally got the nerve to get on the sharp end again about a year later. I tied in and started up Sail Away in Joshua Tree, an old favorite that I'd climbed many times before. About 3/4 of the way up, my head got the better of me, and I backed off. The thought of injury and going through the recovery process again was just too great. I tried again, this time The Bong, a 5.4, with success. With each successive lead, I was able to regain not only physical but mental strength. It took a couple of years to get back to my former self. I suppose my advice to someone recuperating from a major injury would be to be patient, but also to explore some other activities. Go visit an art museum. Take a class at the local community college. Learn French. The important thing is to do something and not feel sorry for yourself. You might even learn something in the process!This post speaks to me..This is my situation. 2 plates and 10 pins and screws in my ankle. 3+ years after the fact, and 3 surgeries later. Pain is my main problem now, my ortho says if I get the ankle fused + rebuild w/hip bone in there is the next step. Problem is I DONT WANNA...I have some great vertical movement that I don't want to lose. Things are working ok, I've gone back to work at my tower job. I have climbed some on the tower and was ok, but I stay on the ground and it's hard work on mountain terrain. I can deal with it until about 3-4 pm then the thing goes numb and aches for the rest of the night. I could really deal with things a lot better when I had real pain killers...4-5 of them extra streangth vic's a few beers and joints and I can handle most anything.. they shut that off about 9 months ago. So it's just me and my sometimes unbearable chronic pain to deal with. hmmmm..? As far as my mental state, don't ask, I won't bore you do death other than say I was talking to the TV..crying over sad commercials and stuff. I need something, get out, even if it kills me. I'm at a crossroads..do something or just whither into a big blob of depressed pain. |
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Dave, man, whatever you do, don't turn into that blob. Surround yourself with good friends and other positive people. Consider a spiritual guide if the mental thing gets too tough. Look into holistic medicines. |
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Thanks for the replys... |
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There are many stories here that make mine pale in comparison, but I can still relate to the pain and depression thing. I have an ankle that the ortho doc wants to fuse or replace and I feel the pain with every step. I haven't been able to commit to doing anything with it when the doc says that there is no guarantee that I will ever be as mobile as I am now. I can't bear the thought of losing my mobility. I've already had to go from being the one that carries the heaviest pack and hikes at warp speed to being the one who tries to pass off the load to my partners and hobbles to the crag. There are many days that pain and depression try to take over my life, but for the most part I manage it by taking a lot of glucosamine and motrin and by trying to work out in ways that do not stress my ankle. Over all, my point here is that the love of climbing and the out doors have made given me the incentive to keep going. I know I'm not alone in that respect. |
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crankenstein wrote:... I've already had to go from being the one that carries the heaviest pack and hikes at warp speed to being the one who tries to pass off the load to my partners and hobbles to the crag...Well let's do some hobbling in 11-Mile next month. I hear the approaches there suck, but you gotta do what you gotta do. |
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crankenstein wrote:There are many stories here that make mine pale in comparison, but I can still relate to the pain and depression thing. I have an ankle that the ortho doc wants to fuse or replace and I feel the pain with every step. I haven't been able to commit to doing anything with it when the doc says that there is no guarantee that I will ever be as mobile as I am now. I can't bear the thought of losing my mobility. I've already had to go from being the one that carries the heaviest pack and hikes at warp speed to being the one who tries to pass off the load to my partners and hobbles to the crag. There are many days that pain and depression try to take over my life, but for the most part I manage it by taking a lot of glucosamine and motrin and by trying to work out in ways that do not stress my ankle. Over all, my point here is that the love of climbing and the out doors have made given me the incentive to keep going. I know I'm not alone in that respect.Holy cow...you too !! I dont wanna lose my mobility either. My ortho mentioned ankle replacement, but he said that if they don't work they often have to amputate. However, there are days I feel like cutting the damn thing off with a bow saw. Climbing was the only thing I did well, I'm going insane tim, insane !! |
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Tim Stich wrote: Well let's do some hobbling in 11-Mile next month. I hear the approaches there suck, but you gotta do what you gotta do.Your kidding right :) ?? (about the approaches) |
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Dave Brower wrote: Your kidding right :) ?? (about the approaches)Besides the Bastille, I don't think there are any closer approaches out there. Ankles are for climbing, not hiking, right? |
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Dave let me know how the bow saw works. I'm also going insane, broke my fibula on 2/2/08. I just started walking again. My leg has atrophied to the point of looking like a skinny chicken leg. Crankenstein I feel your pain man, it sucks to go from being the first with the heaviest pack to the last one in line and unable to climb anything. I don't have it nearly as bad as you guys, but the motivation that one day things will work again in my ankle has led me to stay somewhat sane. I may not be able to climb at the same level for years or ever. But making it to the top of a 5.6 is almost as rewarding for me as a 5.10. Just my two cents. Hope everyone has a speedy recovery and good luck! |
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Chronic pain is a terrible nightmare. I had ten years of it including more than a few times where the bow saw came to mind. Sixteen virtually pain free years with an artificial knee has done wonders for me. But so has Structural Integration aka Rolfing. I would recommend to you who don't want to fuse your ankles that you look into doing the initial "ten series". The ten sessions work you head to toe essentially returning your body to it's original blue print. You might be amazed how well your body will work when it quits compensating for injury and fighting gravity. |
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Great advice guys. Injuries suck but they happen. |
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Thats great dude. I'm glad you made it back to |
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Check out the latest podcast from the Dirtbag Diaries, about this very subject of injury and recovery, although focusing more on the rescue. Amazing story and really well done. |
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Wow !! cool pics.. |