My climbing days may be over.....

[Rftreeman]

For the last few weeks I have had a problem with my knee, can't bend it all the way (stiff) and pain with swelling so I went to the doctor today and I may have sever arthritis in my right knee and permanent damage has been done and it could get worst so this coupled with the fact that I'm now at the 300 pound mark may just ground me, I only climbed on removals but did still enjoy doing it even though I acted like I didn't sometimes so I guess I'll just be the boss now and get my 57 year old buddy (who can run circles around me) to do the climbing for me. Pretty sad for a man that's only 38 years old.......

 

[TimberMcPherson]

That stinks mate, sorry to hear, athritis is that timeless detroyer of bodies, I was reading a while back about a 12 year old that was afflicted with it. Id hate to think how your felling right now.

There are some things you can to help live with it. No offence but unless your over 7 foot it might be a good idea to take some of the strain off the knee. Didnt Homer Simpson get to work from home once he got the 300lbs?

 

[Rftreeman]

No offence but unless your over 7 foot it might be a good idea to take some of the strain off the knee. Didnt Homer Simpson get to work from home once he got the 300lbs?

none taken, I been telling myself for awhile now that I need to lose some weight, hell I get tired of buying new clothes every year, I keep my brother up to date with all my hand me downs that are still in great shape......lol

 

[Blakesmaster]

Sorry to hear that. You probably already have the notion in your head that if you lost some weight it wouldn't be as hard on the knee to climb so I won't stand here in the young buck's corner and yell it at you. Best of luck.

 

[Nailsbeats]

I don't know what to say, but that is a depressing thought. Obviously, you know you need to lose the weight. Exercise and diet can move mountains. Good luck my friend.

 

[Adkpk]

I have arthritis in a number of joints including my spine. Doctor told keep on truck'n because if I don't things will get harder to move. I guess I'm lucky to have this type (I can't remember the name) of arthritis.

Rf it's amazing you get in a tree at all at 300 lbs.

Ain't nothing wrong with telling the story from the ground seems like that is what your body is telling what to do. Maybe you'll become happier and loose weight that way. Best not to think about it just keep on keeping on.

 

[asetree]

Sorry to hear about your knee. A couple of things, all just my take.

1. I am already skeptical of doctors and especially one that that mentions "permanent damage". I would get a second opinion, I would also look at some alternative ways of healing: physical therapy, yoga, acupuncture, chiropractor. I had a friend that couldn't sit in a car for more than an hour without severe back pain, a couple weeks of steady stretching and yoga made a big difference, a year and the pain was gone.

2. Stretch your hamstrings especially, They are the tightest tendons in your body(look it up). They are also the most under-diagnosed cause of knee pain.

3. Weight. Yeah Yeah, I am a fairly big guy too, 235, 6'1. I wouldn't give yourself a hard time about that. If you are active and fairly muscular(which skews the numbers), you probably are doing tree work, I would just ignore the weight for now and focus on getting out of pain to start with. You can always loose the weight but not if you can't walk. I guess what I am saying is, I smoke cigs, but I don't let that be a stopper for going and working out at the gym, take your knee problem one step at a time(like a big takedown) get your knee pain to a manageable level and then worry about losing some #'s.

Just my Fifty cent's Good luck.
A

 

[Rftreeman]

I'm suppose to go see a specialist about it but have to wait for my doctor to do a referral and such, I know people get cortisone shots but I can't use anything with the word "sone" in it due to other medications and side effects I'm also going to work on losing weight because I know that will help some also as for therapy, we'll wait and see what they tell me.

 

[dingeryote]

rftreeman,

Don't start thinking it's all over but the twitchin' just yet.

Unless the doc lifted up your patella, hung a drop light, and got in there to look around, he's guessing best he can.

He's looking at you bieng a bit "Fluffy" and the fact you climb(In his mind he sees a big squirrel with a chainsaw) and possibly repetitively stress the knee. He dosn't know squat untill they get some images.

A couple years back I was running around on the job at 39, about 20lbs over weight, and strapped down with approx. 40lbs of gear 12 hours a day, 5-6 days a week, Walking and sometimes running up and down long flights of stairs. My left knee started to hurt a bit, then a lot, and then going "trick" on me now and then on stairs(Sometimes while 80' above the deck).

Drove me nuts. Went to the doc, and got almost the same shpiel.The same day it rained like mad and got my new(Worn for 3 months) boots wet, so I switched back to the old ones for a couple days.
The Pain and swelling faded, So I stuck with the old boots untill the folow up with the doc, and darn if the swelling went back down the rest of the way.

It seems the new boots(Old reliable brand that switched to China for Manufacture ) broke in bad, and were causing some issues with an old ligament injury. Looked like arthritis and had me fooled too.
Nope, a whole lotta scare and pain over 150 dollar Boots.

It ain't over untill the MRI sings.
Keep positive!

Best of luck to ya!
Dingeryote

 

[00chris85]

ase tree is on the right track with the yoga and the "crack doctor" (chiropractor) dose wonders for me, but there is one thing that is full proof, i'm 250, and climb, when things start to hurt just take a lug out of your flask and push through it. why should a doctor, who has probably never sweated a day in his life, tell you to stop doing something that you love. just my thoughts.

 

[custom8726]

ase tree is on the right track with the yoga and the "crack doctor" (chiropractor) dose wonders for me, but there is one thing that is full proof, i'm 250, and climb, when things start to hurt just take a lug out of your flask and push through it. why should a doctor, who has probably never sweated a day in his life, tell you to stop doing something that you love. just my thoughts.

Flask of what??

I agree on waiting for the MRI before you hang up your Spikes!! Stretching every day is underated and works wonders. A good Massage really seems to loosen you up also. Good luck!!

 

[HolmenTree]

A few years back I was getting some pain and clicking noises in the one knee especially when climbing a flight of stairs. At the time I was climbing most of the time with a dynamic split tail and spurs or with just a long lanyard and spurs, kind of layed off on the footlocking without spurs either through plain laziness or trying to save time. I came to realize that the pulling the spur out of the tree was doing damage to my knees as it was pulling the joint apart. I went back to more footlocking and the knee got better. I now sharpen my spurs with a more blunter tip so it penetrates less.

 

[Rftreeman]

Thanks for the positive replies fellas, the doctor didn't tell me I had to stop climbing, I'll be making that decision based on the stiffness & pain level, right now I can hardly climb a ladder must less a tree with the spikes because I can't pull my leg up high enough to make the step up but if I can get some relief from the pain and get my motion back I'll keep climbing.

I'm going to see a specialist about it and I'm sure they'll know more, my regular doctor is making me an appointment with the specialist.

 

[John464]

sorry to hear about this. Can't say I am surprised. Over the years, 49yrs, I have had climbers that worked for us that had to stop because of knees, or hips. These are the first two areas on the body that fail due to climbing. One of my best climbers I ever had working had to have both hips replaced. Still can climb after surgery, but way too slow now. If you are in this business and are up in the tree every day, you owe it to yourself to use an aerial lift when possible.

 

[tree MDS]

John, I would think shoulders would be one of the first things to go? Hips huh? go figure. + 1 on the lift thing, now I climb when I have to - not every stupid little tree, that gets so tiring after awhile. Not that I dont still like climbing, its just about doing things the best/easiest way in my opinion.
That said, its also very liberating when the boom is out of the way and I can swing big leads below me without the damn boom in the way all the time.

 

[fishercat]

i cannot stress enough to get a second or third opinion.

i wonder who allows some of these doctors to practice sometimes.

i think if you got rid of some of the weight,you would be surprised at the results.

weight is a killer on joints,especially from the lower spine down.

 

[Rftreeman]

i wonder who allows some of these doctors to practice sometimes.

i think if you got rid of some of the weight,you would be surprised at the results.

weight is a killer on joints,especially from the lower spine down.

I think some of you are getting the wrong impression, my doctor is a great doctor and he didn't tell me I had to stop, what's telling me that is the pain and discomfort when I do climb, I know the weight is an issue but not so much as the knee, it hurts so bad today I can hardly walk.

 

[fishercat]

i was just saying.never hurts to get another opinion.

i'm sure he's right on.i'm 39 and i climb and my knees feel great.i weigh 225 but 75 LBS less.go to the store and pick up a 50 lb bag of bird seed and then an 80 lb bag of rock salt.then ask yourself,if i was a knee,would i like that extra weight?

 

[Rftreeman]

I am getting another opinion, I'm going to see an arthritis specialist, my doctor is a good doctor but he's not an arthritis doctor so that why I'm going to see the specialist. I know weight can be a problem and plan to lose the extra because I'm just plain tired of being a fatazz............

 

[fishercat]

good for you.

my buddy is 29 and over weight.he works at his families gas station at night and eats a lot of crap.he never feels good and everything is always bothering him.i'm 39and i smoke but i rarely drink and i stay away from bread and pastries (his weakness') and i feel pretty good for what i have put my body through over the years.i just started tree climbing 3 or 4 years ago.