Injuries - Long and A Little Venting

[crashhelmet]

More specifically, I guess I should say serious or debilitating injuries. I can deal with muscle strains and the occasional broken toe or finger, even a broken arm or leg, but injuries that force you to completely change your lifestyle and fight your instincts/habits while you wait to heal are a complete pain in the ass. Pun intended in some circumstances.

A little background, I've been training in martial arts for 31 years. If you count fingers, toes, and ribs, I've had over 30 fractures in my life. Most of those are from training or competitive fighting. I've had my right ankle, my right hand, and my nose reconstructed as a result of some of these breaks. But none of them compare to what I'm dealing with now.

I've had a history of knee problems in the last 11 years. I've torn the lateral collateral ligament in each knee twice and even suffered tears in the Iliotibial Band in my left leg. While quite painful, they healed fairly quickly with therapy and I was right back to training and competing soon after.

Now, I'm dealing with something new to my knee. I've recently been diagnosed with a partially detached Patellar Tendon. Walking doesn't hurt, but kneeling down feels like I'm kneeling on a lego or a rock. Putting any amount of weight on it, like trying to go up stairs, hurts like hell too.

My doctor doesn't think surgery will speed up the healing process any more than letting it heal naturally will. I'm currently waiting on a second opinion for that, but in the mean time I'm not supposed to do anything that will put any stress on that tendon. No running, jumping, kicking, squatting, kneeling, weights, or even swimming.

If I was in a cast, something that required crutches, or even a wheel chair, I don't think I'd really mind it too much. But as it is, everything is "normal." I constantly have to remind myself of what I can or can't do and am often given painful reminders when I forget. Instinct causes more pain and discomfort than stupidity. I almost feel like I need to go out and buy one of those full leg braces just to keep me from being able to bend it.

The next "about 6 months" are going to be so, so fun.

[linguist]

have you considered a patellar strap? it will at least help stabilize the tendon. you'll still have to limit yourself, but it should help for day-to-day movement. i use one occasionally for patellar tendonitis, and it makes a huge difference.

[crashhelmet]

I asked my doctor about it and he didn't think it would make a difference, which is yet another thing I'll be asking with that second opinion, but I'm tempted to try one anyway. I'm honestly beginning to think this doc knows very little about the knees.

[SongsOfDragons]

*gives hugs/air hugs*

Owwies. I was going 'not the knees' all through that. I hope you get some good news and less pain soon.

I'vd been very, very lucky. In a quarter century the only time I've been in hospital for an injury was when I had a seizure and broke my glasses which made a deep cut into my eyebrow. So, practically nothing. *taps self on head for luck*

[MaggieTheCat]

Not an injury, but a good friend of mine had a life-changing illness a few years ago called Guillain-Barre Syndrome, or GBS. Basically her immune system turned on itself and the result was that she was paralyzed for several days and in critical care in the hospital. She spent about 2-3 weeks total in the hospital and another 6 or 8 in physical therapy, re-learning how to walk and use basic motor functions.

That was about 3 years ago, and she is still suffering from the after affects. She gets intense headaches in her shoulders, neck, and head, which results in a massive amount of her energy being drained every day. There are days where she will be working on her computer (she is a graphic designer) and the next thing she knows, she will wake up on the floor 4 hours later. She will fall asleep and not even realize it. She will sleep for hours or even days on end due to lack of energy.

This is a person who used to be highly involved in sports, clubs, anime conventions, and traveling, just to name a few activities she used to do on a regular basis. Due to her energy restraints now, she has to carefully allocate her time and allow for naps and down-time days if she is going to be busy for a few days in a row. She rarely works more than 30 hours a week (at a sedentary job) and when she does, she usually works half that time on the following weeks since she will be so exhausted.

Debilitating injuries/illness are a terrible thing to have to live with...I sincerely hope you are able to recover from yours quickly so you can get back to your normal routine.

[BlaqueKatt]

I almost feel like I need to go out and buy one of those full leg braces just to keep me from being able to bend it.(

you do not want a knee immobilizer, I've been stuck in one twice, they need readjustment every 30 minutes(they slide), and you end up with your "good leg" in more pain than the bad one from being forced to limp.

I asked my doctor about it and he didn't think it would make a difference, which is yet another thing I'll be asking with that second opinion, but I'm tempted to try one anyway. I'm honestly beginning to think this doc knows very little about the knees.

See if you can get in to a sports medicine doctor, they are the best for joint injuries, and using any kind of brace without a medical professional's recommendation can cause more harm.

[Racket_Man]

My GF is currently going through this. she has been diagnoised with Corticobasal Degeneration

this is a progressive neurological disease that includes nerve cell loss and atropy of the whole brain.

it is a fairly rare condition affecting about 5 people in 100,000. what little research there is does not show any correlation on environment or heiretity.

some info links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corticobasal_degeneration
http://www.wemove.org/cbd/cbd.html

she is going through the ridgity and impaired balance stage right now. Unfortuneately the condition is always fatal within 6 - 8 years with the smyptoms getting progressively worse.

and there is NO cure nor is there any drug type therapy that will slow down the progression.

She used to be a vibrant person who worked 2 jobs. Now after about 2 years since the symptoms appeared she can sometimes barely stand let along walk. She falls frequently enought (luckly she has not done any major damage) that both her daughter and I have to keep a very close watch on her (GF and I live together) .

and I get to watch her slowly become even more feble and eventually die.

Remember too that there are people around that are effected as well. I have had to alter my life somewhat in order to be her caregiver whilst still working full time (gotta have some kind of income). at least she was approved for Social Security Disability (and gets the monthly payments) but will not be eligible for Medicare for another 18 months mso the medical bill are beginnng to pile up.

[crashhelmet]

You have my sympathy Racket_Man. What I'm dealing with is getting more and more frustrating for me as days go by. I can only imagine what it must be like for her and the people like you that are there for her.

[crashhelmet]

you do not want a knee immobilizer, I've been stuck in one twice, they need readjustment every 30 minutes(they slide), and you end up with your "good leg" in more pain than the bad one from being forced to limp

I'm already feeling issues develop with both my other leg and my lower back from compensating and/or adjusting to this.

See if you can get in to a sports medicine doctor, they are the best for joint injuries, and using any kind of brace without a medical professional's recommendation can cause more harm.

The doctor I'm seeing for the 2nd opinion on the surgery is a knee specialist and the doctor the UFC fighters see here in Vegas. I figure he'd be the best of both worlds for me as he could not only "fix" my knee but get me back on track to start training again. The only problem is he' backed up and I can't get an appointment to see him until the 25th.