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Chockstone Forum - Accidents & Injuries

Report Accidents and Injuries

 Page 1 of 2. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 23
Author
Herniated/Spinal Injuries and Climbing
teeo
4-Nov-2014
12:28:44 PM
Hi Guys,

Let me preface by saying, I didn't post this in the Injury section as it seemed like the place to report an injury you have. Rather, I wanted to garner a discussion within the community to see if people are climbing after having had a spinal injury (specifically herniated discs). Reason being, I really really want to get into the sport but currently dealing with a few herniated discs. I've scoured the internet to see if there are others but haven't found anything concrete. I was referred to this forum and was hoping to find others in a similar situation as me and are still climbing injury free.

Thanking you all!
widewetandslippery
4-Nov-2014
2:06:21 PM
I've got 5.

I have only once seriously aggravated my back bouldering. Most times it plays up is doing simple movements doing quite benign things in the morning, bending down to quickly or picking something up in an awkward way. In theory climbing should be good for it. Strengthening core muscles and keeping you supple. I certainly wouldnt let it put you off.
teeo
4-Nov-2014
2:09:46 PM
Wow. How long has it been and what was your recovery like? Mine's been almost 2 years and I can function quite well but I can't sit for long periods and my mobility isn't the greatest. Not to mention I've constantly got aches and pains around my back, butt, hamstrings but it has been so long that its in the background.. sort of thing.

I guess I"m a bit worried about falling and the whiplash with the rope on my back. Is there anyway to minimise this?
widewetandslippery
4-Nov-2014
2:18:36 PM
Ive had problems on and off for over 20 years. As I get older I have more bouts of sciatica and just try to put up with them. Touch wood I havent had sharp back pain for over a year. I think staying as mobile as possible is key. And yes I find long periods of sitting bad. Never had a problem falling in a harness. I do find bouldering falls a bit harsh but that could be as much about getting older as it is about a dodgey back.
teeo
4-Nov-2014
2:26:53 PM
I don't think I'll be bouldering for quite some time.

I guess first step is to head into an indoor rock climbing gym to get started. Cheers!
Chockstone Moderator
4-Nov-2014
4:28:12 PM
On 4/11/2014 teeo wrote:
>Hi Guys,
>
>Let me preface by saying, I didn't post this in the Injury section as
>it seemed like the place to report an injury you have. Rather, I wanted
>to garner a discussion within the community to see if people are climbing
>after having had a spinal injury (specifically herniated discs).
>Snip

The Forum Headings are broad, but part of the long term logic that makes them work is keeping even the vaguely related sub-topics within the closest match, and health issues regarding climbing, is better off in the Accidents/Injuries Forum.
This is because it is more likely, especially in five or ten years time, that someone will peruse that section for herniated discs re climbing, than wade through the much larger General Discussion Forum to find proverbial needles in haystacks.

I guarantee that if the topic is inclined to gather discussion, then this will happen equally as much there, as anywhere else on Chockstone. More your worry is thread-drift or thread-hijack due too much, or unsolicited discussion!

As a compromise, I will move this thread to Accidents/Injuries in a day or so, unless you can convince me otherwise.
teeo
4-Nov-2014
6:23:54 PM
No, that's fine. It can be moved to the appropriate section. Thanks!

Doug
4-Nov-2014
10:19:57 PM
On 4/11/2014 teeo wrote:
>Hi Guys,
>
I really really want to get into the sport but currently dealing
>with a few herniated discs. I was referred to this forum
>and was hoping to find others in a similar situation as me and are still
>climbing injury free.
>
So, I had an operation for two herniated discs - L4/L5; L5/S1 - nearly 38 years ago. (It was a bit of a different procedure to what it is nowadays, and not in a good way.) I didn't start climbing until a couple of years later when I came to Oz. I had a few episodes of significant back pain over the next ten years but would have to say that climbing is the best thing for my back. The stretching, strength building in your core and release of muscle tension that climbing produces seem to be of major benefit. Having said that, anyone who has a back injury of the nature you've described should weigh up very carefully the advice of health experts across a range of disciplines before plunging into any strenuous sport. For example, with climbing you might want to be very careful about hard landings when bouldering - or leading!!! ;-) - for a while.
Good luck with your journey teeo. Hope to hear that you are on the improve - perhaps partly due to your involvement in climbing - in the near future.

Cheers

Doug

Big G
5-Nov-2014
6:54:56 AM
Like doug I had an op on herniated discs in the lower back. Since then I've had very few issues. I also have a couple of herniated discs in the neck that I have not had an op on. These cause me grief when I have slept awkwardly and occasionally when I belay but overall I still climb (badly) without any dramas
Wendy
6-Nov-2014
9:40:26 AM
A disc injury is not a disc injury is not a disc injury ... one of the funny things about them is they have so many different names which may or may not refer to the same thing. How bad they are can depend on size, location, whether they compress nerves, whether you have the support around them to stabilise them, whether you have bone deterioration around them ... so what one person's experience is might not be at all relevant for another. With that proviso, I had a bulging disc about 16 years ago now. My solution to recovery is be young and fit at time of injury, find a good physio and follow their instructions religiously. Aside from having the good fortune to be young and fit at the time, I credit keiranl's partner with the complete absence of problems from my back for about 15 of those years. When people talk about core muscles, they are often talking about fairly hard core work that should be secondary. Sit ups will not help your back. At least not in the early stages. Get a good physio to assess your very basic core stability. These muscles often turn off as a protective measure after back injuries and maybe not be activating when they should any more. The exercises to retrain them are very low key and almost don't feel like you are doing exercises unless you are paying close attention to detail. But they do wonders. Saying climbing is good for your core and good for your back is not untrue, but it's not going to reactivate those muscles without conscious effort, so you need to learn to identify them and turn them on. Then all the other stuff is rebuilt on top of them. Climbing hasn't been a problem for my back at all since the acute phase of injury and certainly the overall physical strength from it is great for prevention of further injuries (along with sensible practices!).
jprockbelly
6-Nov-2014
10:02:41 AM
Good comments here, especially from Wendy

Guess I'll toss in my 2cents as well. I have 2 herniated disks (L3/4 and L4/5) one mild one more serious. I haven't had surgery, but a lot of physical therapy of one sort or another.

Personally I find that climbing has a very positive effect on my back. Even after an exhausting day out I typically find that my back is in great shape afterwards. The only time I've ever aggravated it was by landing awkwardly while bouldering (although it was already a bit sore and I probably shouldn't have been climbing anyway!).

I don't think a disk injury should stop you from climbing. But I guess the main thing is to listen to your health professional, and listen to your body. Start slowly and if it begins to hurt STOP!

teeo
6-Nov-2014
10:38:38 AM
On 6/11/2014 Wendy wrote:
>A disc injury is not a disc injury is not a disc injury ... one of the
>funny things about them is they have so many different names which may
>or may not refer to the same thing. How bad they are can depend on size,
>location, whether they compress nerves, whether you have the support around
>them to stabilise them, whether you have bone deterioration around them
>... so what one person's experience is might not be at all relevant for
>another. With that proviso, I had a bulging disc about 16 years ago now.
>My solution to recovery is be young and fit at time of injury, find a good
>physio and follow their instructions religiously. Aside from having the
>good fortune to be young and fit at the time, I credit keiranl's partner
>with the complete absence of problems from my back for about 15 of those
>years. When people talk about core muscles, they are often talking about
>fairly hard core work that should be secondary. Sit ups will not help your
>back. At least not in the early stages. Get a good physio to assess your
>very basic core stability. These muscles often turn off as a protective
>measure after back injuries and maybe not be activating when they should
>any more. The exercises to retrain them are very low key and almost don't
>feel like you are doing exercises unless you are paying close attention
>to detail. But they do wonders. Saying climbing is good for your core
>and good for your back is not untrue, but it's not going to reactivate
>those muscles without conscious effort, so you need to learn to identify
>them and turn them on. Then all the other stuff is rebuilt on top of them.
>Climbing hasn't been a problem for my back at all since the acute phase
>of injury and certainly the overall physical strength from it is great
>for prevention of further injuries (along with sensible practices!).

Your words ring so true!!

I've got a good physio and understand what needs to be done but have been hitting road blocks and other injuries along the way which has hindered my rehabilitation. ie. start of this year i was recovering really well to the point where I was hardly in pain and I could sit for long periods.. until i hurt my peroneal tendon (ankle) during a long hike. The inactivity that followed from this injury made me tweak my back again and my back hasn't been the same. I think i need to go back to the basics again and start with the small core muscles again (even though I had started off with them initially). Thank you for mentioning it!!

How are you now in terms of your back Wendy? Are you completely recovered? Can you sit?

I'm seeing my physio next week just to get the ok and will then head into an indoor gym. Thanks a log for your comments guys! It has motivated me to get into climbing and to get really involved with my rehab for my back.


phil_nev
6-Nov-2014
4:45:32 PM

Ok, I will add my 2c.

I climbed for about 10 years, continued to improve and get stronger. I never really put much thought or time into other training (Core specific, stretching etc) and had very few injuries in that time... The it all caught up with me. Started with a torn hip flexor, then torn ITB, followed not long after by a L5/S1 disc tear. I have no doubt that climbing (though perhaps not directly) contributed to the injury, along with poor posture and super tight, un-stretched muscles and the big killer – sitting for to long. I’d been seeing a masseuse and Physio/Oesteo on and off for general maintenance throughout a lot of this time.

The disc injury knocked me on my ass. I pretty much had 6 months where I couldn’t do much in the way of exercise outside of short walks around the block. It was suggested by my Oesteo that I look at doing some Pilates to strengthen my core... I have to admit, I laughed. I thought, I’m a climber. Look at my abs.  There is no way I could have climbed the things I had without good core. A little naive at the time, I had no idea that ‘core’ was more than just abs. It’s the entire trunk and in particular, the TA or Transverse Abdominals. Add to that, glutes, hip flexors, obliques, traps and a host of other muscles and you have an idea of what the core unit comprises.

I spent a solid year doing clinical Pilates twice weekly and a heap of other stuff in my own time, including weights. After that I was able to start doing some light climbing again. I would say ive been back to full capacity for a few months now, but I train my ‘core’ pretty much every day. I changed jobs so I didn't have to sit so much. Bought a standing desk. Stretch more and eat better.

Honestly, I actually feel better, and body feels better when I am moving, climbing and training. Get your core strong and I think climbing could be very beneficial for your recovery.

teeo
7-Nov-2014
1:18:06 AM
On 6/11/2014 phil_nev wrote:
>
>Ok, I will add my 2c.
>
>I climbed for about 10 years, continued to improve and get stronger. I
>never really put much thought or time into other training (Core specific,
>stretching etc) and had very few injuries in that time... The it all caught
>up with me. Started with a torn hip flexor, then torn ITB, followed not
>long after by a L5/S1 disc tear. I have no doubt that climbing (though
>perhaps not directly) contributed to the injury, along with poor posture
>and super tight, un-stretched muscles and the big killer – sitting for
>to long. I’d been seeing a masseuse and Physio/Oesteo on and off for general
>maintenance throughout a lot of this time.
>
>The disc injury knocked me on my ass. I pretty much had 6 months where
>I couldn’t do much in the way of exercise outside of short walks around
>the block. It was suggested by my Oesteo that I look at doing some Pilates
>to strengthen my core... I have to admit, I laughed. I thought, I’m a climber.
>Look at my abs.  There is no way I could have climbed the things
>I had without good core. A little naive at the time, I had no idea that
>‘core’ was more than just abs. It’s the entire trunk and in particular,
>the TA or Transverse Abdominals. Add to that, glutes, hip flexors, obliques,
>traps and a host of other muscles and you have an idea of what the core
>unit comprises.
>
>I spent a solid year doing clinical Pilates twice weekly and a heap of
>other stuff in my own time, including weights. After that I was able to
>start doing some light climbing again. I would say ive been back to full
>capacity for a few months now, but I train my ‘core’ pretty much every
>day. I changed jobs so I didn't have to sit so much. Bought a standing
>desk. Stretch more and eat better.
>
>Honestly, I actually feel better, and body feels better when I am moving,
>climbing and training. Get your core strong and I think climbing could
>be very beneficial for your recovery.
>
>

Yeah, this sounds like me but with weight lifting x poor posture x office job.

I started off with pilates with my initial rehab. Do you still do pilates or do you do other core work now?

phil_nev
7-Nov-2014
9:14:05 AM
I still do one Pilates class a week and find it invaluable. I have a great instructor who pushes me really hard! Wouldn't be where I am now without her. You have to be careful though, I spent a lot of $$ first time round at a different clinic on a completely useless instructor.

I took what I learned in the clasees and do a lot of similar exercises at home. Purchased a foam roller, fit ball, wobble board, ab-wheel and a few other bits and pieces... It's amazing what a workout you can get just with body weight training. I combine this with weight training (nothing super heavy outside of a bench press).

ehestigoni
8-Jan-2015
7:27:43 AM
>the overall physical strength from it is great for prevention of further injuries (along with sensible practices!).

My wife and I both had back injuries in the past (lower back, neck) and we found that climbing helped us a lot.

Coincidence or not, when we had breaks from our climbing activities (weekly climbing gym, weekends in the mountains) the back/neck soreness came back. So in our case, we just have to keep climbing to keep the pain away :)

Having said that, we had to stop bouldering. Jumping back onto the mattress was too much impact on our backs and for our herniation and disk bulge types the pain would come back on the next day...

skegly
8-Jan-2015
12:24:11 PM
I too have a bad back and neck. I have a deformed bone in my lower back that doesn't protect the disc which crushed the nerve sending pain down my leg and arm. I was on strong meds and walking stick for 6 months. But due to being a subby I haven't stopped working and even moved house in that time. I think moving helps as in the morning im stiff but frees up during the day. And yes climbing helps both body and mind.
Good luck
teeo
10-Jan-2015
1:58:40 PM
Thanks guys,

After starting this thread, I aggravated my back again. Been doing rehab, so I don't think I'm at the stage to hit the wall (or confident) yet. Once my back and pain settles, I will definitely hit the wall.


BoulderBaby
11-Jan-2015
9:21:59 PM
I've got a L5/S1 spondylolithesis w/disc issues.
I do core activation exercises daily - TA, Pelvic floor w/resistance. I can't wear I harness or take a whipper comfortably, so I only really boulder.

But I do recommend getting on a reformer and finding a really good clinical pilates instructor, and do your own strengthening exercises at home.

Duang Daunk
11-Jan-2015
11:03:04 PM
On 11/01/2015 BoulderBaby wrote:
>I've got a L5/S1 spondylolithesis w/disc issues.
>I do core activation exercises daily - TA, Pelvic floor w/resistance.
>I can't wear I harness or take a whipper comfortably, so I only really
>boulder.
>
>But I do recommend getting on a reformer and finding a really good clinical
>pilates instructor, and do your own strengthening exercises at home.
>
No whippers eh sister?
That's not good, and I feel sorry for you.
Do you still climb trad well within your limits so as not to fall but still get some air exposure?
Grades (an boulders), ain't everything, but easy trad is memorable if ya let it.

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There are 23 messages in this topic.

 

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