skymick 0 #1 September 29, 2003 Well finally got to see my doc today about my busted back...good news is I got the brace off but when I asked if I can go jumping by december (6 months since the accident) with the metal inside me still...well just say it wasnt quite the answer I was hopeing for (it was expected though). The doc basically told me not to do any major activities, especially skydivng. Not meant to even lift anything over 5kg and restrict bending until I see him again in 6 months. Strangely enough he said dont do any physio as well! said there was no point (apart maybe from some swimming). This basically contradicts what I've been told by doctors who also jump and also from experiences other people have had with similar injuries. Obviously my doc knows my history better then anyone (supposably ) so i should listen to him...but damn im am very tempted to jump again by december, cant decide what to do though Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #2 September 29, 2003 Get a second opinion from someone as accomplished or more accomplished in that branch of medicine (orthopedics???), and perhaps familiar with the sport of skydiving. If the two opinions contradict, get a third opinion. best of luck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #3 September 29, 2003 Do physio even if he said not to. Your back muscles will thank you for it later. I jumped almost exactly 6 months after having 3 vertebrae fused. It was great for my attitude, but I could tell in freefall that it wasn't such a good idea for my back. Thankfully I had a nice slow opening and an easy landing. Saw the doc the next week but didn't tell him what I'd done. Good thing since at that appointment he told me to wait another 6 months to jump; there wasn't quite enough new bone growth in there for him to be comfortable with me jumping. If I were doing it over again I wouldn't jump so soon after surgery. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymick 0 #4 September 29, 2003 The surgeon I had is apparently one of the best in the state (or so im told). I only know of 1 person so is a doc and jumps (well an ex-jumper anyway) but does not specialise in orthopedics. I dont know if my doc is just being very conservative like thay usually are...and him being a whuffo (he seems to be the type to say why the hell would you do a stupid thing like jump out of a plane? ). I tried to explain to him forces such as opening shock landings etc, but didnt work too well..ah well Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymick 0 #5 September 29, 2003 Did you have any metal in your back at the time? I think the main worry is having another accident and dislodging or breaking the metal rather then just general forces placed on the back from opening shock etc (from what I was told my back will be strong enough to support this assuming i dont smack in again). Doc said the bone was healing fine and actually moved forward the date (well date I would be put on a waiting list Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #6 September 29, 2003 QuoteDid you have any metal in your back at the time? No. I had two pieces of donor bone placed vertically between L5 and S1. L4 was sitting directly on top of L5. A bad landing or a hard opening could have fucked me up permanently. Looking back it wasn't worth the risk I took just to make one skydive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #7 September 29, 2003 10 years ago I had the bottom 3 verts fused..donor bone from the hip... I still have the 2 nine inch 'rods' and 6 of the largest screws they put in humans, Believe your doc...6 months is to quick to start back jumping! I jumped the first time 364 days after surgery...and even then it was a bit scary. I started out slow getting back into it, and worked my way from 1 jump a weekend every other weekend, to 10-15 jumps a weekend whenever. Take it slow... HEAL! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
