Climbing hurt

[JustplainDave]

Hey all, I'm new here. Longtime lurker, this site has lots of awesome info, both for pros and beginners. I thought there was a climbing hurt thread, but I couldn't find it when I looked tonight.

Anyway, what's everyones opinion about climbing "hurt"? I had a bad logging accident when I was younger, around 9 years ago. I have 4 fractured vertebrae. The first time I climbed after kind of being healed, took me a couple days to walk normal again. Now it's not so bad, but I still know I'm weak, and need to be careful.

I got out of it three or four years ago. I sold all my climbing gear, sold my saws, etc. I was done, I was pursuing other things, made my peace, etc etc. A buddy of mine conned me into looking at a tree job, booked it, bought new gear, and got back into it (reluctantly).

Now, last week, I had 3 or 4 jobs booked. I wanted to stagger them, one day climbing, one day off, but it didn't work that way. I ended up climbing three days in a row, I think most of the jobs averaged 3-4 hours in the tree. One storm damage pruning, and two tight removals. I was surprised, I was tired and sore after everything, but nothing that I couldn't handle.

I don't know what to do- I don't know if I would have much luck working for a company that knew I wouldn't ever slug blocks of wood, I'm not THAT good of a climber to be that much of a prima donna. But I love the work, and I would love to be ISA certified. I thought the dream was dead- now I'm not so sure. I don't know if the risk is worth the rewards.

Any thoughts? Sorry it's a long read.

 

[imagineero]

Only you can answer this question. You could seek out medical advice, and most doctors would probably tell you not to do it. If I were in your position I wouldn't do it, I'm 35 now and I don't intend to keep climbing past 40. At the end of the day though, it's a personal choice. We all have only one freedom in life, the ultimate freedom; "to do whatever we want, at any time we want". With it though, comes the ultimate responsibility; "to accept every consequence of my own actions and never try to pass the buck".

Get some medical advice and weigh up the risks. Then ask yourself whether the risk is worth taking for you to be able to climb. Would you be just as happy if you were permanently disabled as a result of climbing, or could you at least live with it?

Shaun

 

[capetrees]

Not climbing past 40??? I'm fifty and can't wait to get in the trees! Repost in 5 years and tell us you're done!! (not gonna happen):msp_wink:

After recovery, it's up to you to be able to tell if you can do something. If you can't lift heavy material due to your condition, I would tell an employer that and if they require a wellness check prior to working, so be it. Some will accept it, others not so. It's all up to you as far as what you can do comfortably.

 

[sgreanbeans]

Be careful. You can really jack yourself up, if you start hurting while in the trees, time to get down. I speak from a great amount of experience. When the pain starts to control your thinking, then you are not making rational decisions, which not only can, it will come back to bite you. I have several spine injury's and now a jacked up hip, but I know my limits, so I deal with it pretty well. I have scaled back in a big way and schedule due to this. Hard climb today, stumps tomorrow.......... where I can turn a kid loose and watch. If I have a hard climb, I am usually done for a few days. Gotta let your body recover, I know that sometimes in the heat of the moment, ya just want to get it done, but the cost to your body doesn't always show up right away, so you have to be your own devils advocate and realize when you are going to do something that you will pay for later. "Getin' er' done" today may cost you tomorrow. Stretching is a big help. I do it every morning. There are many guys on here that deal with aches and pains everyday, that is par for the course. Dealing with serious injury's is a different story and you have to be real damn careful, but it is done every single day. I know a couple guys on here that have it worse than me, they are still very productive, they, like me, try to be smart about it, not bull headed. Except it and work with it, don't ignore it. Your not 10ft tall and bulletproof, even tho we like to think we are, we're not. We are just flesh and bone. Move at the pace that your comfy with, to push any harder is foolish. I know I have slowed way down and actually had to modify the way I climb, there are some things that I just cant do anymore with out paying for it with a ice pack and a bottle of IB Profen. Ya don't wanna end up in a wheel chair, but you may if your not careful. Go see a Doc, tell him what ya do, get his advice but remember that he/she is always going to rule on the side of caution. Once you get the info, its on you to manage it.
Now with that all said, as usual, my local hack lurkers will use this to tell peeps that I am crippled and shouldn't be in the trees! In a another shameless effort to get some work, but it wont work, they will still go with the guy that may have some injurious that slow me down a bit, but I don't smoke crack and I know what I am doing. So just keep it in your pocket ya hacks. Even broken........... I am worlds above you.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

I ain't as good as I one was, but I'm as good once...a week... as I ever was. Plus one on what's been said. At 45, I've chosen to slow down as well. I no longer have an interest in full-time production climbing. After the last few years of 5-6 days a week on the trees, I was about ready to hang up the spurs, but after slowing down a bit this year and pursuing some other interests as well, I'm enjoying it again.
That being said, I've got the usual aches and pains and bumps and bruises, but I don't have an injury like you've described. To me that's really a question for a doctor to answer. Jeff

 

[squirrley]

Well, I have psoriadic arthritis. I am 44. I take shots to suppress my immune system. In my opinion honestly can you do it safely? Do you have a crew with another climber and a groundy? If you get hurt 911 may not save you. In a tall tree in a back yard you may very well be on your own ie self rescue. You claim you are not a good climber. Get a good climber and do the sales or only do small trees 40' and under. Older climbers are around because of safe climbing practices generally and have a huge amount of rigging experence.

 

[gorman]

Me: "Doctor, it hurts when I do this..."

Doctor: "Then don't do that."

 

[woodchuck357]

I had a bad back injury years ago (the doctors at the va tell me they see many guys with less damage to their spine that can't walk) I quit breaking and training horses to keep from screwing myself up more but still did tree work. I'm retired, only do average of one tree a week now, but worked full time for many years after the back incident. I had to be careful to make sure the belt did not ride up and put pressure on the spine but other than that the youngsters had trouble keeping up. Back injury is very difficult for doctors to assess, you have to be careful in what you do and listen to your body. My lady and daughter have insisted that I always wear a back ring harness just incase I have to be rescued.

I am VERRY careful to lift with a straight back but still split wood with an ax to provide wood for several households. No one but you can say what you are able to do, but few outfits will be willing to put you on the payroll. They have liability issues that can't be ignored.

 

[Zale]

Your body will tell you. Unfortunately we don't have a infinite shelf life. If you feel good today, great. Just keep in mind there is a whole lot of life after climbing. I would like to be able to walk in a upright position when I get older.

 

[sgreanbeans]

(the doctors at the va tell me they see many guys with less damage to their spine that can't walk) .

My VA doc said the same thing, said it was a double edged sword, the thing that hurts me is also the thing that keeps me in good shape. He said that if I was not in the shape I am in, I would be using a walker!

 

[sgreanbeans]

Your body will tell you. Unfortunately we don't have a infinite shelf life. If you feel good today, great. Just keep in mind there is a whole lot of life after climbing. I would like to be able to walk in a upright position when I get older.

Amen

 

[PassionForTrees]

I absolutely admire YOU for the love of the game itself. I have been at it 26 years and Im 44 and I see all sorts of climbers all beat up???? I dont climb like them, If you can walk and pull yourself up ..... You can climb. Just dont expect yourself to be humping with speed, now is the time for steady smart SAFE mentality. Use your gear and become a master at the Throwball and be tied in safely and learn to use your landyard too. Ergonomics ways of using your body that are easier on you. Always consult with your Docs for sure but man if you can still do it and love it, just listen to your body and know when to take it easy. Again I admire you for your love in the game. as I will be doing it as long as I Can. Father time works against us but it does not have to stop us.
GOD SPEED FELLOW CLIMBER I SALUTE YOU!:msp_sneaky: