Left to Die. . .

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Bullwinkle

Boulder climber

Topic Author's Reply - Sep 14, 2011 - 07:44pm PT

Peter,

Thank you, thank all of you.

I didn't tell very many people because that's not who I am. I try and take care of myself and my friends and only take help from my friends when offered.

I make around 10k per year and pay my taxes, I don't have many things and am fine with that I am a Climber/Artist and that's a lot. The Stone and Climbing Comnuinty has given me much more than I've needed to live life, I try and give back to my people.

I've never asked for or wanted anything from our goverment, I feel that those who serve deserve the gov's/our support as they're paying for it with their blood. . .

Edit, I do Feel that Health Care is needed here, something that works for all of us regardless of how much money you do or do not have. . .

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Sep 14, 2011 - 07:46pm PT

I had a very similar thing happen to me last summer, the same day Scuffy took his spill, a couple days after Karl's accident. Fortunately my case was much less severe than any of you guys.
Eerily similar to Dean's though. Twenty foot groundfall from a familiar, seemingly safe, place (elevator Crack, Vedauwoo)onto a slab of Pre cambrian sherman granite. No health insurance, little $!

I did ice, ibuprofen and ace bandage (thanks Daph!) After a couple weeks I could hobble around for approaches, and climb with a left shoe three sizes larger than the other. A tiny redhaired muse prescribed 8 oz of inversion traction therapy, which helped more than I would have believed.

I've avoided springing the age card, but I'm no spring chicken. Pretty sure Bullwinkle, moose that he is, isn't, either.

For a while I was hobbling up to 5.12 ow's heavily bandaged and in considerable pain, only to put on yet more painful climbing shoes. Interestingly enough, the climbs were distracting enough that I forgot about the pain while on them, and for a while after. Nothing else helped as much.

Now, three months later I'm climbing in whatever of my shoes are called for and running up to ten miles in a run, in five finger shoes. My foot is a differet shape than before and I can feel a faint throb in various positions. I suspect that like my elbows, it will predict oncoming storms. Works for me.

I think I broke a bone above my little toe. I think there was also major dislocation of some sort. The ace bandage, applied two days or so after the injury decreased the swelling by 50% in a few hours. I think it put the pieces back in place. Inverted foot jam traction therapy popped things further into place to a point that I knew I would climb and run again.

But it reinforces what a backward nation we live in as far as health care. In what other so-called developed country would Dean or I have been compelled to take such a do it yourself approach?

At leas the repugs don't have a chance in the next election. Not that that alone will bring the US to the standard of medical care taken for granted in most of the modern world.

One day after,

a few days later,
sometime later, when I knew it would be okay...

Now Fatty, I know it means poorer returns and less profits for you and your clients; and further I realize that you personally, are a more than usually generous individual.... But, can you really make a case for why it is in the voting public's best interest to legislate substandard health care for our country?

malabarista

Trad climber

Portland, OR

Sep 14, 2011 - 07:46pm PT

Bullwinkle, definitely don't listen to the "can't climb" prognosis. I know of several climbers who have been told this and are climbing today. Your situation may be different, or it might not. Drs seem to underestimate the willpower and resilience of climbers.

Mark Rodell

Trad climber

Bangkok

Sep 14, 2011 - 07:52pm PT

Hope you mend quickly, fully. I wish you the best.

tolman_paul

Trad climber

Anchorage, AK

Sep 14, 2011 - 07:55pm PT

Sorry for the high jack, but I think in the health care debate we need to break it into two issues. One is the cost of the health care. The other is the quality of the healthcare.

My son managed to break his arm, for the second time, this spring. I've yet to tally up all the costs from the ambulance ride, the say in the hospital, x-rays, anesthesia, surgery, and follow up visits. I have no doubt they exceed $20k. We pay about $7k/yr for family coverage, and out of pocket for this event is ~$4k.

I'm both thankful for the quality of the healthcare we have in this country, and that we can afford it. Now the question is, can we retain the quality of healthcare and provide it to everyone? Conversley, perhaps the better question is, how can improve the economy in this country so that everyone can afford healthcare? I'm not paticulary sure that we want to change the system so that our best and brightest no longer seek the medical field.

Urmas

Social climber

Sierra Eastside

Sep 14, 2011 - 07:59pm PT

Couchmaster, How unamerican to suggest that we learn anything from the experience of other counties!

bluering

Trad climber

Santa Clara, CA

Sep 14, 2011 - 08:02pm PT

Sorry, Dean. I hope it heals well over time.

Tobia

Social climber

Sep 14, 2011 - 08:23pm PT

As advised earlier get a second opinion. There is definitely more than one way to skin a cat. Orthopedic surgery is like everything else that needs mending; there is always another way and often a better solution.

Even so; fused bones aren't the end of anything except your injury. A pal of mind just had some bones fused after limping around on an ankle the size of a softball for 30 years. It hurt to look at it.

He is as happy as a lamb now and no longer has the scowl of the walking wounded on his face.

Heyzeus

climber

Hollywood,Ca

Sep 14, 2011 - 08:27pm PT

Bullwinkle,

So sorry to hear this, if I was a rich man I would pay for it, but alas, I am a poor one.

Years ago my brother had to go to the ER at Cedars. No insurance, no money. He was there for days, lots of tests. Ended up paying almost nothing. They had some kind of poor people grant thing. I can ask him about it if you like. Might not help you as it was a ER situation. I know your sometimes in these parts.

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Sep 14, 2011 - 08:28pm PT

Haha Dingus. you know me, total wimp. "It's humid, I'm out of shape, hot almost girlfriend can be the ropegun"

fortunately for sods like us though, is that we are accomplished observers. We can deal with what is presented to us, accept and deal with it, and put it in perspective.

Break your ankle in valley backcountry with Fluoride in charge? Excruciating! but you know you're not Doug Scott on the Ogre. She will make sure you survive.

Possible fifth metatarsal fracture? "Stick your foot over your head and crank, weenie"

yeah in the overall scheme of things this ain't a biggee.

Lynne Leichtfuss

Trad climber

Will know soon

Sep 14, 2011 - 08:55pm PT

Dean, just got into internet land......Sorry. If I can do anything let me know. Life, we breathe and do it...a day, today. Peace, Dude. lynne

eeyonkee

Trad climber

Golden, CO

Sep 14, 2011 - 09:03pm PT

Best of luck to you, Bullwinkle.

Nick

climber

portland, Oregon

Sep 14, 2011 - 09:14pm PT

Damn, Dean I am really sorry to hear of your injury. Getting older and being a climber sure is a challenge. Heal well and soon.

Hope we get to rope up agin someday soon.

Nick

guyman

Trad climber

Moorpark, CA.

Sep 14, 2011 - 09:53pm PT

Dean... F#@kn bad.

but not as bad as it might have been.

Mark Powell has a fused ankle, didn't stop him.

Heal up.

Urmas

Social climber

Sierra Eastside

Sep 14, 2011 - 09:54pm PT

Tolman_paul, Can you imagine a society where people become doctors because they are passionate about health care, rather than because they expect to become rich doing it?

neebee

Social climber

calif/texas

Sep 14, 2011 - 09:56pm PT

hey there say, bullwinkle.... oh my....

here's to you, as to hope and prayers that things will resolved in some good way for you...

say, norwegian...as to your quote, very NICE solid-anchor type
words for future, when folks are in a rough spot:

best wishes dean.
though your physical beast ails,
your mind and spirit will teach it new life.

you'll remain a master of words and action.
the future is patient. kick it around again when
you get your foot good.

sometimes, when we least expect it, too, bullwinkle, a ray, and a WAY of help, comes our way, even after we may messed things up, or feel that we have...

sending hope you way, and to all those with ankle/foot injuries...

Karl Baba

Trad climber

Yosemite, Ca

Sep 14, 2011 - 09:59pm PT

I've been watching T.V. quite a lot, saw the Repub Debates and was sickened by the crowds reaction to the Question of an uninsured man in a coma, should he be Left to Die? a cheer went up and I felt like throwing up. Nobody deserves that.

With the GOP, the right to life ends at birth.

We've come to this as the tea party and similar political groups have given shelter to the idea of personal selfishness above all things and at the expenses of everyone. Senior Citizens are expected to give up social security so the very richest aren't subjected to an unthinkable minor tax hike. This is not the way to happiness for the country or even the rich.

In case there are other climbers out there making less than 10k a year and with less than 2000 in assets, if you get hurt, you can often apply for county insurance (CMSP or equiv) that might even pay retroactively for your injury expenses if you get it done on time. There's no premium so why not apply now?

I just got back from burning man where somebody's social value comes from what they can share with the greater community, not what they can acquire, out-compete, or Dominate. People stayed in Hot, dusty post-apocolyptic conditions crapping in nasty portapotties but everyone was 10x happier than the average joe in the city.

"The American Way" of dog eat dog leaves the taste of dog in your mouth

peace

Karl

crusher

climber

Santa Monica, CA

Sep 14, 2011 - 10:08pm PT

Dean I'm just glad you didn't smack your head, back or neck - this could have been so much worse. You will climb again, maybe even stronger - think positive!