Herniated disc in neck

[steve1954 0]

My neighbor wants to come with my wife and me to the dropzone Saturday to do a tandum jump. She is 35 and in good shape, but has a herniated disc in her neck from a car wreck 2 years ago. I am a little concerned that opening shock could cause harm. Does anyone know if it would or wouldn't be safe for her to jump?

[cloud_monkey 0]

You should probably have her talk to her doctor about that - I blew out two discs in my neck and two in my lower back on a hard opening while wearing a 12lb camera helmet about 4 years ago and I was back jumping in under 4 months. I've been doing camera work with the same size set up ever since and although I can't say it doesn't still bother me from time to time it's really not that bad for the most part. Each case is different though - Ask the doc first.....

Blue Skies....Black Death
Z

[hookitt 1]

What would another car wreck do? The possibility of a hard opening is allways there. A very hard opening is akin to another car crash.

If it's still herniated and unstable, I'd say it's a bad idea.

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[AggieDave 6]

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has a herniated disc in her neck from a car wreck 2 years ago. I am a little concerned that opening shock could cause harm. Does anyone know if it would or wouldn't be safe for her to jump?

Well, let me put it this way...if she showed up at my DZ and I was going to take her, I wouldn't. Its too high of a risk.

If her doctor says its healed and she's good to go, that's another story, but I'm not going to open myself and the DZ up to a possible lawsuit by taking someone in that physical condition.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Nutz 0]

According to my doctor a herniated disc never heals. I have two of them in my neck and skydive with no problem. A hard opening hurts and can cause a trip to the doctor for pain meds, muscle relaxers, steroid set and a chastising (sp?) by him. (I think I need a new doctor.)

Edit: AggieDave, do you really think that people tell you all the physical problems they have before they skydive? I didn't.

"Don't! Get! Eliminated!"

[AggieDave 6]

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Edit: AggieDave, do you really think that people tell you all the physical problems they have before they skydive? I didn't.

Well, the Release of Liability form asks and I ask every single student. So if they don't tell me and try to sue, that's one more thing in me and my DZ's favor.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[riggerrob 643]

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According to my doctor a herniated disc never heals.

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Yes.
I herniated a disc in my lower spine 17 years ago and it never fully healed. If I slack off on stretching or sit-ups, the old injury comes back to haunt me in the form of sciatica, meaning cramps down my left leg. I refuse to let any injury ground me and have done 3500 jumps since then, mostly tandems.
The key to reducing spinal injuries is keeping the surrounding muscles in good shape to hold the injured spine in correct alignment.
Yesterday I stretched and did 4 sets of back extensions and today is a sit-up day.

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[alanab 0]

i have 2 herniated discs in my lower back. skydiving makes them feel better!