Rock Climbing Spinal Cord Injury

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alina

Trad climber

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 19, 2017 - 02:47pm PT

Thanks so much for the encouragement, John. It's easy to take progress for granted so getting some positive feedback really helps me to stay grateful and optimistic.

And Yes! Catching a wave is an amazing feeling. I just grin like an idiot after every ride.

I feel really stuck in the medical system right now. It seems it only works well if you are healthy and never have to use it. Once you are reliant on it, you notice in how many ways it lets you down and compromises care.

Bad Climber

Trad climber

The Lawless Border Regions

Dec 19, 2017 - 05:48pm PT

Fantastic, Alina! So good to see you gettin' after it. That's a great rig for surfing. For travel, it's obvious sea kayaking would work super well and provide a chance to self-power to remote and beautiful places. Thanks for the update.

BAd

PS: Yer lookin' kinda ripped. :)

bungs

Trad climber

Dec 19, 2017 - 09:31pm PT

Here's her donations page...

https://helphopelive.org/campaign/10900

Bruce Morris

Trad climber

Soulsbyville, California

Dec 19, 2017 - 11:38pm PT

As far as chiros are concerned, see Stephen Barrett's Quackwatch blog. He's always getting them busted and fined. What's a subluxation anyway? No one's ever been able to find one even though chiros will swear you have them. Chiros have conned the insurance companies to let them into the medical mainstream. That doesn't mean that anything they do is valid. If you like your chiro, the treatment will work. But this is one of the preconditions for the placebo effect to occur: strong sense of belief, like faith. All of which leads to the conclusion that what chiros are curing are mind-body conditions very much akin to Freud's hysterical neuroses. That's another characteristic of psychosomatic symptoms: they change from era to era. Back cracking might feel good, but that doesn't mean it's not mumbo jumbo.

steveA

Trad climber

Wolfeboro, NH

Dec 20, 2017 - 08:55am PT

Hey Alina,

I missed this thread 1st time around. I'm recovering from Surgery in the L4-5
area, which was my decision, since my left leg was going numb, with much pain from my hip to the big toe.
It looks like a long recovery for me with an unknown outcome, since unfortunately the surgeon damaged a few nerves in the process, ( it was a very difficult procedure). This surgeon is top notch, and he operated on me 10 years ago for a herniated disc.

I wish you all the best in your continued recovery!

Largo

Sport climber

The Big Wide Open Face

Dec 20, 2017 - 10:57am PT

As many know I took a 25 foot groundfall in the gym and my tib blew out the front of my shin and I destroyed the ankle joint as well. Nerve damage left me with a largely numb foot. The miracle is that I landed straight on my feet and didn't get a major compression fracture. Nobody knows why not. I could and probably should be right there with you.

My recovery took about 3 years. Crazy pain. It was torture to even walk ten feet, this after a year on crutches and in a wheelchair. Things slowly started getting better when I started riding a bike. A lot. It didn't hurt too bad because my ankle didn't have to flex when I peddled.

Bottom line is I think that movement helps the nerves and gets the blood flowing and both seem crucial to improved functioning. Just guessing here but if there is any way you can get access to a recumbent bike and start peddling around you might be surprised by the improvements. Maybe not but it's worth a shot. Just the feeling of moving around again under my own power was very freeing. Like being reborn.

Bad as it is I count my lucky stars that I didn't get a traumatic brain injury. That's can be an even worse nightmare, believe it or not.

I wish you continued success on your recovery and know all of us in the fellowship of the rope and rooting for you and happy holidays as well. There's always a way.

You have a wonderful smile and that's a great thing because I know what you are going through, Alina, and it ain't easy.

Clint Cummins

Trad climber

SF Bay area, CA

Dec 20, 2017 - 01:42pm PT

Thanks for sharing your update and new vids, Alina!

Rick A

climber

Boulder, Colorado

Dec 20, 2017 - 02:22pm PT

Alina,

So glad to see you getting better. The surfing video is wonderful, what a joy it must be to get the adrenaline going again outdoors.

I came late to surfing, starting in my 40s, and the feelings it can generate are, dare I say it, almost as good as climbing.

Don't know where you live, but there is a great spot for kayak surfing at
San Onofre State Beach. It has a nice reef break, you can drive right onto the sand making launching easier, and there is a dedicated area for kayaks and SUPs.

Rick

pud

climber

Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia

Dec 20, 2017 - 04:19pm PT

Alina,
I recently suffered a compression fracture of my L2 vertebrae, among other less serious fractures while motocrossing with my sons.
As I lay in the ER I remember thinking about you and your story through the morphine fog.

I thought about your attitude and strength and have held onto those thoughts throughout my recovery.
They didn't tell me for 3 days whether or not I would regain use of my legs but the simple fact that I could feel and move them (slightly) brought hope.

Watching the video of you walking with braces is such a gift. I knew you would recover and nothing could hold your spirit down for long.
Stay strong Alina and know your recovery has positives effects on complete strangers. Your spirit is an inspiration.
-wayne

Kalimon

Social climber

Ridgway, CO

Dec 20, 2017 - 10:54pm PT

That doesn't mean that anything they do is valid. If you like your chiro, the treatment will work. But this is one of the preconditions for the placebo effect to occur: strong sense of belief, like faith. All of which leads to the conclusion that what chiros are curing are mind-body conditions very much akin to Freud's hysterical neuroses. That's another characteristic of psychosomatic symptoms: they change from era to era. Back cracking might feel good, but that doesn't mean it's not mumbo jumbo.

So good to hear of your progress Alina! You are such a strong individual.

Melissa

Gym climber

berkeley, ca

Dec 21, 2017 - 07:57am PT

Welcome to the crew of ex-climbers who now paddle surf! It would be fun to have you join us on a downwind run surfing the summer windswell on the SF Bay in an outrigger canoe! (Video linked is not of us or even the Bay...but shows some fun downwind OC1 surfing.)

alina

Trad climber

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 21, 2017 - 10:13am PT

Thanks so much, everyone.

John: I'm also a big believer in biking. I got a recumbent bike soon after my injury and have been biking all over CA on it. I absolutely love it -- it gets me outdoors and able to explore again. I'm a better biker than walker.

Since about 6 mo ago I've been able to use an upright stationary bike. So I do about an hour on the spin bike every day. It helps a lot with how my legs feel after sitting all day at work in the wheelchair. Just 30 minutes of spinning gets rid of all the tightness and the cramping. I'm really happy I have that figured out.
And thanks for the kind words.

alina

Trad climber

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 21, 2017 - 10:27am PT

Rick, I've been to San Onofre -- great spot!
I live in the Bay Area but I've been down to Ventura and Carlsbad for surf trips -- water is so much warmer down there and there is a community of adaptive surfers in the San Diego area.

Wayne, so happy to hear that my story helped you out and really happy that you're recovering. Paralysis is pretty terrifying, so much different than any other kind of injury. It takes a lot of work to keep pushing through. But I think climbers are pretty good at that.

Melissa, I'd love to join you guys!

Largo

Sport climber

The Big Wide Open Face

Dec 21, 2017 - 12:30pm PT

Alina, that's great that you are biking. I too am a MUCH better biker than walker and the best part of it all is to be able to move around under my own power, whereas I am limited on foot.

If you're on a regular bike these days that's a big step. When I took my first few peddles right off of crutches I was terrified of something happening where I might have to stop suddenly and plant my bad foot. After a while I got used to it. Now I hardly drive at all and pedal everywhere.

I hope to meet you some day --- maybe on the bike path.

Cheers!

John

the Fet

climber

Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La

Dec 21, 2017 - 01:18pm PT

This is the first I've seen this thread. It was scary to hear how you couldn't feel your legs at all but then it was great to see how much you've recovered so far. It wouldn't happen without all your hard work and positive attitude, so great job!!

The surfing looks super fun. What a great activity.

In regards to the comments above about Chiropractic, unfortunately it wasn't established scientifically and there a lot of ridiculous claims and unscrupulous practitioners but it provides a lot of help for a lot of people. I don't think it your situation it would likely do much good, and is potentially dangerous if you went to the wrong one. I've been to a few really good chiros, and a few mediocre ones. The most scientifically based chiro I used explained things to me in a way I think makes sense and is realistic: You injure the connective tissues around your spine (e.g. through hyper-extension) and that forms scar tissue. The scar tissue isn't as soft and flexible as uninjured tendons/ligaments/discs so your vertebrae don't move as easily. The vertebrae get stuck out of alignment and that can sometimes pinch the nerves that exit via the space between two vertebrae. I would be in serious pain everyday but I have figured out how to "crack" my back around the T3/T4 joint, and I wouldn't have known where/how to do that if a Chiro hadn't done it for me first. I also do a stretch daily that "cracks" and frees up my sacral lumbar joint. Same thing I wouldn't know how to do that if a Chiro hadn't first done it for me. So with an injury with broken bones, there would probably also likely be soft tissue damage, but with a fused spine I don't know if a Chiro could do any good. They may be able to help with freeing up surrounding vertebrae with soft tissue damage, but I don't know if that's worth the risk to where the bones were broken and perhaps weaker and susceptible to damage by Chiropractic manipulations.

bungs

Trad climber

May 18, 2018 - 11:33pm PT

New blog post

http://smallrestlesshuman.com/2018/05/14/a-trip-to-portugal/

climber

Just livin' the dream on the California coast

May 19, 2018 - 12:15pm PT

What an inspiring thread.

Congratulations, Alina, on refusing to accept any limitations where the adventure of your life is concerned. Portugal looked amazing!