Advice for jumping back in the ring.

[Muenkel 0]

As alot of you know, I injured a nerve in my shoulder in the wind tunnel at the beginning of my aff training. I am still on the DL. When I did my two tandems I really had alot of confidence, however that was really shaken by the disaster in the tunnel. I literally was unable to stabilize myself due to the injury. Would you folks suggest I do a tandem again to get my confidence back or do you think it would be OK to go right into AFF. Someone told me that the tunnels are actually more aggresive on your body than actual freefall.
"JANE, HOW DO YOU STOP THIS CRAZY THING?"
Chris

[thrillseek 0]

what are the doctors saying?
which shoulder is it?

[hooked 0]

Do what you would feel comfortable doing or what your doctor suggests. How about it everyone, if he did a tandem would he know how his shoulder would react in freefall during AFF? If you are apprehensive at all, do another tandem or just jump in and go for the AFF. If you are at all nervous, maybe you would tense up too much. Maybe talking with the instructors at your DZ would be more help.
J

[Muenkel 0]

It's the right shoulder. The Dr's told me I will make a full recovery and can resume normal life. My jumpmaster advised that once it is 100% to wait an additional 2 weeks to be on the safe side. I am cleared to go back to the gym and resume my workouts, but at this time I am to use 50% of the normal weight.
"JANE, HOW DO YOU STOP THIS CRAZY THING?"
Chris

[thrillseek 0]

right side injuries are tough.....
everything is with the right side, with the exception of the reserve. You have to KNOW that you are 100% before resuming jumping. Safety first. As far as Tandem goes, i don't know if that will help with the confidence or not...up to you on that one.
Are you able to arch and hold it comfortably with no pain or tension? What about the amount of strain when you pull?? all things to consider. Just my $.02, but i would go with the doctor's recommendation as well as your safety concious JM.

[rgoper 0]

you can convert your container to a left hand boc, but this would require a whole new muscle memory process, but i've seen it done.
Richard
"Gravity Is My Friend"

[drenaline 0]

You might wanna talk to a Instructor or a coach about different ways to do levels without arching, arching to much might make you bad.
"Life is full of danger, so why be afraid?"
drenaline

[Muenkel 0]

Quote

Are you able to arch and hold it comfortably with no pain or tension?

Actually there was no pain with this injury other than the secondary muscle spasms and the pain of not being able to pursue aff. The difficulty was that I did not have mobility in the right arm, so I was unable to put it in the proper position for freefall. Also there was considerable numbness and loss of dexterity. It is about 99% healed now and every professional I have spoken too said these injuries do heal completely...they just take time.
drenaline, good point about the arching. The injury was a "tension" or a "traction" injury. In other words, the shoulder was thrown back, stretching the nerve. This is a common injury among football players. This is something to think about.
"JANE, HOW DO YOU STOP THIS CRAZY THING?"
Chris

[AggieDave 6]

Remember something, you have the next 40 years of your life to jump, but you can permenatly fuck yourself if you push coming back from an injury too soon. Is it worth it? I want to see you back in the sport that we all love, but I don't want to see you permenatly screw up your shoulder.
Are there any Drs. on the DZ? Talk to them if there are, since they understand the sport and the stresses the sport puts on your body.
Aerials
So up high
When you free your lives (the) eternal prize

[PhillyKev 0]

It's not going to set you back training wise (maybe money wise) to do a tandem first. I would explain to the TM why you're doing it. Have them let you practice some flares up high, etc. Wouldn't want to find out while approaching the ground on a solo that your injury has f'd up your ability to flare properly.
cielos azules y cerveza fría
-Kevin

[freeflir29 0]

Quote

Wouldn't want to find out while approaching the ground on a solo that your injury has f'd up your ability to flare properly.

No doubt!!! That happened to someone I know not long ago and he doesn't fly a big canopy. It was shear luck he didn't hurt himself.
"Here I come to save the BOOBIES!"

[gale 0]

Good point. What about some time in a training harness. True, there's no freefall arch in one but you can practice the flare (and it doesn't cost like a tandem would.)
Gale
Isn't life the strangest thing you've ever seen?