Climber's With Artificial Joints

[chris_girard]

How many older climbers out there do you know (or maybe you are one) that have some kind of artifial joint/s and can still climb and work?

I currently do not have any, but I know the day will come where my left shoulder will need to be replaced.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I know of none: my shoulder aches!

 

[Burnham]

Boy, this is interesting...I'll be watching this thread . The hip replacement looms closer every day.

 

[pete mctree]

I have been told by the doc I have 10 years max left in my shoulders so I am all ears

 

[Tucker943]

The man that taught me to climb has both knees replaced. He is still climbing as strong as ever too. I remember when he had the first one replaced. He was climbing on it a few weeks later against the doctors advice.

 

[Tucker943]

On second thought, a tree service owner in my community, who Brett knew many years ago, had both hips replaced. He works out of a bucket most days but does do some low effort climbing now and again from what I hear. Watching him walk is painful nevermind climb a tree.

 

[Burnham]

Don't tell me that...

 

[MasterBlaster]

Youth is sooooo wasted on the young!

 

[chris_girard]

I've been wanting to post a thread like this for awhile here on TH, because I know that a lot of us are starting to get older and we're feeling the effects of hard years climbing and doing other activities.

I think with the capabilities of modern medicine, there's a much greater chance of climbing for as long as we want, within reason. I know of one crane operator who stills works daily with two artificial knees. He's 75 and started his tree service back in 1957. His son does the climbing now, but the old man could do it if he had to.

 

[tophopper]

Boy, this is interesting...I'll be watching this thread . The hip replacement looms closer every day.

I know a tree service owner here in the cities that had a full on hip replacement done(both hips). He stills climbs to this day, and as far as I know doesnt have any troubles due to it. He is the owner, so much of his climbing work is delegated out to his workers, but he is still fully capable and willing if the need arises. Id say not an everyday climber, but it doesnt hold him back in the least.

 

[Bermy]

The key is in the rehab...taking it easy, allowing everything to join up again and strangthen before thrashing the whotsits out of yourself again!

A mentor of mine (in environmental conservation matters) had both knees replaced at the same time at age 70...three months later he was out trail clearing, one handing his 200t on the ground while walking and birdwatching at the same time...guy's a phenomenon. Mind you I did hear him cursing when he stumbled a bit and couldn't lift his leg quite quickly enough and it hurt...I think he uses the 200t as a bit of a walking stick too...

 

[FJR]

I have had my left knee replaced. Not with artificial material though. I have a new knee from a cadaver, or slightly used knee I should say. Also have torn ACL, MCL, and PCL in both knees. My knees don't inhibit me from to much right now, we will see what happens down the line.

 

[chris_girard]

Here's some inspiration.

http://healthyoutlook.dcphealth.com/winter-2011/90-back-to-the-life-you-love

 

[SkwerI]

Fred, that's really cool.

 

[Bermy]

Chingas..! FJR, and you are only 28! Contact sports??

 

[OTGBOSTON]

Chingas..! FJR, and you are only 28! Contact sports??

Seriously! what gives Fred?

it seems like these types of surgeries are getting better every year....less rehab, less invasive, etc.

 

[FJR]

I would like to say it was sports related since I have played just about all of them, but it isn't. When I was 22, I was crossing a four lane street in a crosswalk (walking) and a car blew the red light and it turned out to be a hit and run. Got flight for life. Spent a month in the hospital in St. Louis and a few months in a wheel chair and had to re learn how to walk again. If you guys know what an external fixator is, I had one on my entire left leg and I was in it for forever and it sucked. Pretty much tore every ligament in both knees and blew out my meniscus in my left knee. The only thing I broke was my eye orbital socket. Never caught the driver either. My knees are pretty banged up, but most people really can't tell these days and usually they are surprised when I tell them. I usually don't say anything though. The best part is the docs didn't think I was going to walk again and here I am with this career, and I get the chance to play softball year round, and still squat at the gym (which does scare the shit out of me!). I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. The hardest part was watching my mom cry when she was with me in the hospital, I don't like to see her sad.

Most doctors would have given me artificial material in my left knee, and being as young as I was, the material would have needed to replaced 2-3 times if I lived to an older age. With the donor knee I may never need to get it replaced at all. I give my doctor props for performing a relatively new knee surgery and being successful. Rehab is everything as well. Only time will tell what surgeries I may need in the future. For now, I enjoy being here.

 

[Burnham]

Awesome, and I don't mean to over use the word a bit, Fred.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

On second thought, a tree service owner in my community, who Brett knew many years ago, had both hips replaced. He works out of a bucket most days but does do some low effort climbing now and again from what I hear. Watching him walk is painful nevermind climb a tree.

The question here is "How would he, and would he be, walking without the surgery?"
The "lighthouse effect"-- you only really would know how effective a lighthouse is for protecting ships if it isn't there.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

Rehab is super important, as is preventative PT. Rotator cuff exercises go a long way for shoulders. Seems whenever my shoulder starts acting up, I remember that I haven't been proactive with RC PT. Lots of exercise videos available on YouTube. Hydration is super important for lubricating joints, which many people forget (like my supervisor who was limping around the other day, and I told that some saws needed to be sharpened while we finished dragging brush). You wouldn't run an engine half full of oil, would ya?

 

[cory]

FJR, that's pretty amazing. I've never heard of getting a cadaver knee. Did you get their bones with cartilage attatched and/ or did you get their ligaments and tendons?? Amazing.

 

[OTGBOSTON]

I have to admit Fred, I wasn't expecting a story like THAT. Good for you for bouncing back.

 

[chris_girard]

Same here Fred, that's great!

 

[woodworkingboy]

Sure makes you glad to be in one piece without having gone through the pain and strain of what some other people have. Especially a close to could have died experience without physical scars from it.

 

[Bodean]

Dang, Fred... You're a toughie. That's gotta do something for one's outlook on life.