hello everyone, this is to all of you that have ever had a caving injury as afew of you may remember i had a caving injury on the last bank holiday of may, fractured spine. whats the best way to get over it, if thats the best way to put it, cavings a really big passion of mine so i want to carry on with it but is it as simple as just going out there and caving again?
caving injuries
- Thread starter lizzy
- Start date
Cave_Troll
Active member
thats got to depend on how badly you were injured.
i'd talk to your Physio / GP for advice on any excercise programme
i'd talk to your Physio / GP for advice on any excercise programme
C
cucc Paul
Guest
I mentioned it to my physio and they just moved the deadline for when i can start caving again further back :? you mention climbing about and underground and wet and they look at you strangely then add another six months onto what theyve told you previously... ERGH
Stu
Active member
lizzy said:
The medics have a different agenda to yours. Anything they think that may hinder this, they will advise you to refrain from. I was told I might be running in a years time... six months after the leg broke...I'm running!! The physio's were the most help in my case (and of course each case is different) and I suggest you take their lead. In my instance I was told that recovery was pain dependant...if I could take it do it! I did.
Mentally?! Well, I've been out four times now and yes it does feel different and slightly more oppressive... but if I want to do it I have to get through it and I think I will. If at any stage I wasn't happy I'd not do it... why do something that you don't enjoy?
well im started im physio next week but if they are anything like my doctors they will just look blanky at me. because ive had to wait so long for physio ive been doing alot of exercise, they day after i got my back brace off i went cycling, ive been going to the gym and the only problem i have is a feel abit stiff when im not doing exercise. i think i would be ok, but a big worry for me would be my confidence, i havent got a clue how i will react, if its going to be like caving for the first time.
cap n chris
Well-known member
The first thing to do when you fall off a horse is to get straight back on again; try a friendly pony to start with before eyeing up any stallions.
Stu
Active member
lizzy said:
IMHO they won't be anything like your doctors. They want you to be back where you were before the injury. If any of yours are like mine you may wish they were a little less pushy. Sample physio session " Does this hurt...no, does this hurt...no, does this hurt...aaaagh. Don't do that then"!!!
C
cucc Paul
Guest
I'm with Captain Chris as long as it is safe for you to do so. I know after my accident it felt strange working at height again at work, it does knock your confidence but then u soon pick it up again though. You dont want to injur your self again causing the same damage again or more.
T
tubby two
Guest
You should know when youre ready to go caving again, i'd agree with what stu said. You kind of know what you can and cant do physically so just start on easier stuff than normal and go with folks who owe you beer. I've been having physio but its not that much use- they seem really suprised when you improve every time but i think they see many folk that wont push themselves. I've been out wandering all over the moors on my crutches and hey presto my leg gets stronger.
Don't know about the psychological side though- i've not been near a climb since falling but if you want to do it you should be ok. Whenever i see a rock i still try to climb it! Have you figured out in your head why your accident really happened and what you could have done differently?
tt.
Don't know about the psychological side though- i've not been near a climb since falling but if you want to do it you should be ok. Whenever i see a rock i still try to climb it! Have you figured out in your head why your accident really happened and what you could have done differently?
tt.
not really... i fell down a hole that no one really realised was there and if they did... didnt think it was very big, the whole reason why i fell was because im short and my caving friend that was with me at the time just jumped over two bits of rock however i decided cos im so short i would just slide from one to the other just to stop me frm falling from head hight however the rock backs down on itself which you cant see untill your on the other side so i kept on sliding, if it was fault of kit or because i wasnt paying attention then i would know, its tricky...i guess ill just have to do something basic that ive done loads of times before to see how i feel.
T
tubby two
Guest
cucc Paul said:
Wow, thats so true. I went for physio this morning and when i stood on my toes i suggested climbing might be 'good excercise' for this and got that look. The sort your mum used to give you (still does actually) when you say something really stupid. I dont think she agreed anyway.
tt.
Stu
Active member
tubby two said:
Where are you getting phsyio? I'm receiving treatment at Northern General Sheffield and the two physio's I've been treated by have been very supportive and really expect me to really work. Both have said if you can deal with the pain do it and if I can't...tough, do it anyway. Don't want to give the impression they are cavalier, they are very pragmatic and practical with loads of tips and variations. They are both sporty types, which being NHS, I think is coincidence only not having the resources I assume to assign specific physios to a particular patient (though I'm sure they try).
T
tubby two
Guest
Same place, but the physio i've had just dosent seem very bothered in a way. I guess its just luck of the draw as to who you get. I often just feel like it's a bit of a waste of time. The physio i started with back in newcastle was much better, though i couldn't do much back then. i'm being reffered back up there now as there were no appointments for 3 weeks and it seems i have to do some work eventually.
tt.
tt.
T
tubby two
Guest
Ha ha- i've just wondered if i could run too. The answer was no. I tried to run across the room but managed two very ungainly and painful strides before stopping... quickly!
tt.
tt.
M
MSD
Guest
I have personal experience of this from two angles.
I had an encounter with some loose boulders in Glingling Hole in 1991, which left me with some severe ligament injuries in my knee. Incidentally this meant I had to do most of Gingling Hole on one leg, but that's another story. I was a bit wobbly about going caving again, so I walked (limped) up to Gaping Gill and went down on the winch. Going down the winch just did it for me, before I got to Birkbeck's ledge I was psychologically ready to go caving again.
THe other experieince I have is going caving with someone on their "comeback trip" after a serious injury. We went down Ireby Fell. It was a great trip, but on reflection a bit hard.
I guess both of these approaches were a little bit "kill or cure" and I reckon that's the best way. Don't get on a pony before you're ready, wait till you are ready and get straight back on a horse.
Mark
I had an encounter with some loose boulders in Glingling Hole in 1991, which left me with some severe ligament injuries in my knee. Incidentally this meant I had to do most of Gingling Hole on one leg, but that's another story. I was a bit wobbly about going caving again, so I walked (limped) up to Gaping Gill and went down on the winch. Going down the winch just did it for me, before I got to Birkbeck's ledge I was psychologically ready to go caving again.
THe other experieince I have is going caving with someone on their "comeback trip" after a serious injury. We went down Ireby Fell. It was a great trip, but on reflection a bit hard.
I guess both of these approaches were a little bit "kill or cure" and I reckon that's the best way. Don't get on a pony before you're ready, wait till you are ready and get straight back on a horse.
Mark
hell little caver
New member
hey lizzy i was on your rescue
my parter broake his back climbing and one of the first thing he told me he did was go out and bye a harrness as a stament he still climbs and i think maby just doing a trip you know to start with is the best way
i haope your better
hell
my parter broake his back climbing and one of the first thing he told me he did was go out and bye a harrness as a stament he still climbs and i think maby just doing a trip you know to start with is the best way
i haope your better
hell
C
cucc Paul
Guest
Oh dont get me wrong my physio is very supportive and has worked wonders... but reminds me im not super human and i have to build up fitness and strengh again first... I go to the local hospital for physio.