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elepita
Nov 16, 2006, 10:47 AM
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Registered: Jun 23, 2005
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 Hi all, yes I injured myself...I pulled a muscle in my back, well I don't know if it is one muscle or all of them really because everything hurts. It happened the day before yesterday while bouldering at the gym (freaking gym!). I knew that after 3 days sport climbing a lot outside I should have not gone training, I could feel how my back was asking me for a rest, but did I listen? No, why not? because I am super woman of course!  So I thought let's just go and traverse a little, nothing hard...but there it was, the boulder problem that all my friends were trying and I just HAD to try it as well, I could not look to the other direction. Didn't get it the first try, not e the second, almost the third time...and I thought...just one more try, I almost have it..and bang! I felt a horrible pain as I went for the last hold...my back decided for me that it had been enough...
I was so much in pain, but what hurt the most was my pride…why did I have to be so stupid of pushing it when I knew I did not have to…\
Anyway, now I can hardly move my neck, I walk as R2P2…went to the physical therapist, it got a little better although of course no miracles. The doctor gave me muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory….and both said rest it for a month….A MONTH!!!! That is soooo long…but f^%& I have been two days without being able to look at my feet…guess I have to rest, even though I was working on this route even in my dreams.
Ladies, please encourage me, I am so sad I can’t climb for now…worse of all is that this is not the first time it happened, I stretch and go for massages and all but once in a while when I am pushing it and don’t watch it, it pulls. Has this ever happened to any of you? I think it is my levator scapula. The doctor told me that if it happens often I should look into practicing some other sport….stupid doctors!!!! Please tell me he is wrong, I am just so depressed right now….I am looking for some sympathy I guess….sniff 
PS - I tried to create a new threat with this, I hope I am going to (I mean when I click the submit button), I am still trying to figure out the new rockclimbing.com environment. If I highjacked someone else's threat...sorry....
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lena_chita
Moderator
Nov 16, 2006, 2:56 PM
Post #2 of 11
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Registered: Jun 27, 2006
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Ouch! I hope you get better soon.
Yes, I went through the muscle relaxant/untiinflammatory stuff earlier this summer for my back... It took a cortizone shot, too. And massages, and adjustments, and PT, etc. etc. But the good news is, it got better! And so will your back, too!
And yes, I know what you mean about pushing yourself when it would be really wiser to stop. Guilty as charged... For some time before I really injured myself, I went through the warning signs-- it would hurt a little and get better after massage... and I'll be right back there on the wall... and it would hurt and get better, and pull a bit again... and the cycle would repeat... But the injury and having no feeling in my leg and not being able to walk was a good wake-up call. I would like to think that I am more aware of over-doing stuff now...
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troutboy
Nov 16, 2006, 5:41 PM
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In reply to: PS - I tried to create a new threat with this, I hope I am going to (I mean when I click the submit button), I am still trying to figure out the new rockclimbing.com environment. If I highjacked someone else's threat...sorry....
Hey, I thought this forum was supposed to be non-threatening 
Anyway, hope you're feeling better soon.
T
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elepita
Nov 16, 2006, 5:47 PM
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Registered: Jun 23, 2005
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In reply to: In reply to: PS - I tried to create a new threat with this, I hope I am going to (I mean when I click the submit button), I am still trying to figure out the new rockclimbing.com environment. If I highjacked someone else's threat...sorry.... Hey, I thought this forum was supposed to be non-threatening Oooops! sorry! hahaha!...I meant thread of course!  Anyway, hope you're feeling better soon. T |
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htotsu
Nov 17, 2006, 1:57 AM
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Registered: Aug 11, 2005
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Hi hon. We all have our moments. I'm very sorry, and I know exactly how it seems - a month looks like forever from where you sit. Err, lie. But do exactly what you are supposed to do and REST. Otherwise the month will stretch into months, and if you're not smart, years. Heal.
As for me, I injured my big toe in karate. You know how you don't appreciate the use of something until that use is no longer an option? Yeah. It's like that. Big toe doesn't sound like a big deal until something goes terribly, terribly wrong.
The soft tissue damage of a bad sprain (in my case two because both joints of the big toe pretty much exploded, AND I snapped a tendon) takes 3 months to heal, and that's on the low side. At the end of those 3 months I had to get surgery because of an issue with the bone. Recovery from that is one month. The injury was at the end of July, and I had the surgery at the beginning of this month. It will be December when I set foot onto the dojo floor again.
There were times I thought I'd lose it. But it's all about perspective. Either I was going to take a break and heal or I was going to wreck my foot forever. I chose to take a break. Think about how you want to feel in a year. You don't want this to be nagging you even then because you didn't take off a few measly weeks, right? Think long term here, and the short term will pass.
Incidentally I'm healing well, and I hope the same for you. It wasn't easy, but hey - martial arts DVDs, reconnecting with friends, new and exciting books, television shows and websites.... You'll find that a month isn't so bad if it means that you'll be strong enough not to hurt yourself when you go back. Back! Ha! Ahem. Take care of yourself
Editing to add that the one thing you're allowed to ignore from the doctor is the suggestion that you stop climbing. To me it sounds like you are not warming up properly before you climb, and that you could use some increased back flexibility in general. Maybe during your time off you could look into both of these things.
(This post was edited by htotsu on Nov 17, 2006, 2:01 AM)
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robdotcalm
Nov 17, 2006, 4:08 AM
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Unless you need some surgical intervention, and it sounds like you don’t, the best therapy is TOC (tincture of time)—less expensive, fewer side effects, and longer lasting results than anything else. Also, very moderate, high-repetition exercise that does not cause pain will help. For example, if you can bend at the waist a few centimeters without pain or shrug your shoulders a little bit without pain, do those for 20 repetitions a few times per day. As the healing continues, the range of motion will increase—but it’s much better to do less than to do too much.
Cheers,
Rob.calm
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tigerlilly
Nov 17, 2006, 4:00 PM
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Registered: Nov 2, 2006
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In reply to: I knew that after 3 days sport climbing a lot outside I should have not gone training, I could feel how my back was asking me for a rest, but did I listen? No, why not? because I am super woman of course! ...worse of all is that this is not the first time it happened.
Girl, I know the last thing you probably want to read is a lecture, but you say you've done this to yourelf more than once. I don't mean to criticize or be harsh in any way - I've been where you are, as I'm sure many here have. To get good you have to push, but within limits! One of the toughest lessons in any sport is to learn to listen to your body and to know when to take a break. I know it has taken me a long time to learn, but once you hit 40 and don't heal so quickly (and suffer the accumulated effects of many injuries), it hits home fast. An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure and all that. Better a day of voluntary rest than a forced month off. Remember this episode in your life next time you hear your body asking for rest. You'll thank yourself.
In the mean time, do things that don't hurt that you might not do otherwise, like go to a movie, or hang with non-climbing friends for a while. Don't bash yourself for pushing so hard, and don't let the demon of self-pity move in with you. Resist the temptation to start back to soon or too aggressively. Strength and skill will return, but if you rush things, you'll just set yourself back again. Be gentle with yourself.
I discovered a lot of new things when I shattered my wrist in a cycling accident a few years ago. I'd been a cyclist for over 20 years and rarely did much else when another rider crashed in front of me on a downhill and I got launched, landing first on the back of my left wrist. It took 2 surgeries, a plate, 8 screws, two pins, a tendon transfer and had to be re-broken once to get it all back together right. Surgery #2 refused to heal, so I spent 4 months in an over-the-elbow cast and had to wear a bone-growth stimulator for 6 months. In all, I spent 14 months out of 22 months off my bike. I thought I'd lose my mind, but I discovered I could hike and snowshoe with my arm in a cast. The accident opened my eyes to other things besides my one sport, eventually including climbing (thanks to my talented hand surgeon, my wrist is 100% functional and does not object). I have to say I threw away my remote control once that last cast came off! I haven't watched TV since.
So, rest up and heal. Listen to your body when you are able to return to exercise. Talk to the doc or PT about exercises to strengthen your core to prevent re-injury. If you are already doing core exercises, perhaps an adjustment to your routine is needed. You might be overdoing an area, or missing a muscle group. A trainer should be able to set you up with a good workout routine. Good luck!
Kathy
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uasunflower
Nov 17, 2006, 4:02 PM
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Registered: Aug 11, 2003
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hey, sympathy your way - let's make this a general injured whining thread - if you want to feel better just look at all those other injured people...
i fell last w-end on lead and screwed up my ankle - supposedly it's not broken, but ligaments might be, and i'm in plaster for some time...so have lots of time to give sympathy to others and write on rc.com - but girl, at least you can walk!!!
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elepita
Nov 17, 2006, 5:47 PM
Post #9 of 11
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Registered: Jun 23, 2005
Posts: 160
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Thank you all guys! Well after reading your posts about surgeries and broken ankles...well....a muscle pull is not that bad...and yeah at least I can walk. I am going to take it easy, I am just going to go for gentle runs (I also like to run a lot). My back is feeling a little better already, I guess the muscle relaxants are doing their job. But I know the injury is there, so if I climb in this month they will just be 5.3s if even.
Injuries are just very annoying, and they mostly happen when you feel the strongest, at least to me. Anybody who needs encouragement, join this thread! I, at least, send from here all my positive energy to those of you who are injured and are dreaming of their perfect route. Cheers! 
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matekason
Nov 18, 2006, 7:40 PM
Post #10 of 11
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Registered: Nov 15, 2006
Posts: 9
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Its nice to know other girls like me are dealing with the pains of not being able to climb. I broke my ankle in three places (while bouldering on top of a mountain of course) and had surgery 7 weeks ago. I still can't put any weight on my foot and every time I go to the climbing gym with my friends i'm so jealous of their ability to climb things that aren't 5.7 top rope! Arg.... Hope everyone heals well.... : )
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spunkyredraider
Nov 19, 2006, 7:17 AM
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Registered: Mar 17, 2006
Posts: 13
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Trust me a month is nothing. I was just released to climb after hurting myself in March and not finding out how badly I was hurt till May then getting surgery in June. After I hurt myself (torn ACL) I couldn't climb very well. Started again and my knee feels stronger than before. Take the time off it seems awful during it but when you come back it is better.
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