Caving Illnesses

pwhole

Well-known member
A guy I know has a small business selling medical devices/equipment, and he was very excited about ChatGPT being able to write 'reviews' and 'articles' to accompany said products on his website. I reminded him that the medical industry (and science in general) usually tries at least to stick to the peer-reviewed truth, and 'agreed facts', and that mistakes in this field could be costly, or at the very least embarrassing, but he was lost in a wave of excitement - though more at the money he'd save by not paying someone to write the stuff, rather than interest in the science behind the tech. Hope he doesn't have to learn the hard way.
 

AR

Well-known member
There was another article on AI in the Register recently which linked to the blog of SF author Charlie Stross - he made an offhand comment there about referring to AI as "Artifical Boris Johnson", in the sense that they will confidently parrot all manner of things without having any understanding of what they're saying. In the light of Alexander Hanff's experience of it coming out with a falsehood and then trying to justify it with more falsehoods, that really does start to look right on the mark - I can hear the voice of Private Fraser in the distance...
 

DJFRASER

New member
Just a quick question to this post...

I have found that when I go caving and get my feet wet, once drying it feels like I've got somone stabbing my toes with a long ass pin. Like really bad pain and feels like my bone is being stabbed at.

Anyone else get this? It's literally only when I get wet feet and have been dry mines/caves and don't get the same pain?

Tia
 

cap n chris

Well-known member
Just a quick question to this post...

I have found that when I go caving and get my feet wet, once drying it feels like I've got somone stabbing my toes with a long ass pin. Like really bad pain and feels like my bone is being stabbed at.

Anyone else get this? It's literally only when I get wet feet and have been dry mines/caves and don't get the same pain?

Tia
Sounds like gout or chilblaines, perhaps induced by cold/capilliaries. MRO Doc might know more.
 

The Old Ruminator

Well-known member
Mr O'Doc was in favour of me getting disected when I die to see what a multitude of diving bends have done to my CNS. I have been caving for 60 years. Much of it digging and using drills. I am 76 and still cave every week. We are getting too risk averse. Everything is dangerous to life in its own way. Doing nothing is worse . I am pretty sure obesity is a higher risk than radon. I have never had a cave related illness. Actually rarely even ill. I dont know if I have even had Covid as I dont test.Now and again I get a bit dizzy due to the relocation of those little bits in the inner ear.( BPPV) Caving might shake em up but conversely it might shunt em out. ( Epley Maneuver ).
 

cap n chris

Well-known member
Mr O'Doc was in favour of me getting disected when I die to see what a multitude of diving bends have done to my CNS. I have been caving for 60 years. Much of it digging and using drills. I am 76 and still cave every week. We are getting too risk averse. Everything is dangerous to life in its own way. Doing nothing is worse . I am pretty sure obesity is a higher risk than radon. I have never had a cave related illness. Actually rarely even ill. I dont know if I have even had Covid as I dont test.Now and again I get a bit dizzy due to the relocation of those little bits in the inner ear.( BPPV) Caving might shake em up but conversely it might shunt em out. ( Epley Maneuver ).
Frankly you are an amazing man/person/caver. There are just a few handfuls of such people in caving, per country.
 

ChrisB

Active member
A guy I know has a small business selling medical devices/equipment, and he was very excited about ChatGPT being able to write 'reviews' and 'articles' to accompany said products on his website
Point out to him that it can do the same for his competitors, even if their products are rubbish, and his customers won't know what to believe.
 

mikem

Well-known member
& how it is expected to change over next 10 years (taking into account the uptake of 20-25 year olds diminishes in most activities as they move for jobs / get into serious relationships / have children or dogs - then some return afterwards):
 

DJFRASER

New member
Sounds like gout or chilblaines, perhaps induced by cold/capilliaries. MRO Doc might know more.
Just had a read up and I have symptoms of both haha. Think the pain is probabily more related to gout but going to have to speek to somone I think...thanks for your reply!!
 

Pitlamp

Well-known member
If it's related to warming up your feet quite fast after them being cold and wet for some time, especially if your toes go red, it's probably just chilblains. They can be alarmingly painful. I occasionally get them after going for a cold / wet run on the fells in winter then jumping straight into a hot bath, or toasting my frozen feet in front of a revved up stove. It seems my grandma was right when she used to warn me about this (and I of course ignored it, LOL).
 

The Old Ruminator

Well-known member
A long term caving interest as in any similiar pursuit is a stimulas to keep yourself fit. Age itself is I suppose an " illness ". I have just had four trips in eight days and certainly felt it. So I dont drink any alcohol, smoke and watch my weight. I am just a few pounds heavier than I was 40 years ago. Ergo. Caving is good for you if you can avoid the minor accidents. What you cant work out any more is your stamina. ( bearing in mind most caving trips are uphill on the way out. ). Also your bones are a little more fragile and the elasticity you had in your ribcage has gone. Certain squeezes are now impassable for me not because I am bigger but the elasticity has gone. I would not relate caving to illness onset as surely the risks are minute. Keeping body and mind active is the longer term answer to good health . Bearing in mind the genetic Russian Roulette in life.. ( my younger brother is diabetic and another died of prostate cancer as did my Dad aged 55.
 
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