Recouperating After Accident.

[Beo]

Okay, I bring this up because I am doing just that. My accident was a little different but still in the end I have theropy and healing time.
So here is my question.

Has anyone been injured, fairly bad enough to need months of theropy?

If so did it hamper you getting back into the woods and practicing your skills?

Did it slow you down any?

Did it make you question your skills?

Did it give you more drive to get back in the woods?

These and many more things I am wondering now that I am in that situation, so of course I come to the people that use these skills daily, weekly, monthly.... yeah you guys (and gals).
My theropy is going ok I guess ( the doctor kind) but the best theropy I have found is just going out into the woods for a day or two and doing my thing, solo is how I usually go. Just getting out there and doing it works wonders for, lifts the spirits, and tests me physically and mentally.
So my brothers and sisters what do ya do?
Beo,

[Schleprok]

Yes, probably the worst was twisting my lower leg 90 degrees out of wack. Popped back into place just fine. Walked on it all day. The next day, I fell a lot. Doctor couldn't find anything wrong. Xray showed nothing. Took them a year to finally operate (rough year) and discover everthing torn up inside my knee. Physical therapy, crutches, canes, and I still wear a brace on it. Took a while to get back outside. Kept sane by doing little things. Whittle a knife handle. Reread something interesting, like Bradford Angiers, How to stay alive in the woods. Clean the guns, sharpen knives, axes, machetes. Repack BOBs, etc....

[Schleprok]

Get Wll Soon!!!!

[Ken]

Beo, since early childhood, I've been a firm believer in jumping right back into things after a setback. The first time I faced such a situation (there have been several more times over the years) was when I was 4 years old. I think the story’s kinda’ funny, but my mother still cringes when she talks about it.

When I was a little kid, we lived in a family owned apartment – in one of those New England three-decker style homes. My grandfather had a telephone pole (with climbing rungs) set in the yard so that every apartment could have a clothes-line going to their window. This was back in the days when almost nobody had washing machines or dryers.

Well, on my very first day of school, I came home complaining of a stomach ache. The teacher told my mom that I was probably just nervous, being my first day of school and all. All of my protestations that my stomach ache was real were met with smiles….

I had my appendix removed the next morning, leaving a real big incision all stitched up. They do that operation a little differently today from what I’m told.

Anyway, on the day I came home from the hospital, I was told that I had to take things easy for a couple of weeks. No running or jumping. But nobody said anything about climbing. So, after I pleaded with my mother to go outside in the yard, my Mom said okay, but “no running or jumping.” I obeyed. Instead, I decided to climb up that telephone/clothesline pole. I climbed up about 15 feet before I slipped, and caught one of those climbing rungs right in my belly, and ripped open about 2 inches of my incision. I just kinda’ held on for dear life with this spike sticking in me until my uncle climbed up and got me down.

When I got out of the hospital three days later, they added “no climbing” to my list of prohibited activities. A week later, I fell off my bike (“honest, I was only sitting on it”) and needed 6 stitches on my chin.

But things got better. The only thing I did the following year was to chop off a bit of my left index finger with a hatchet. You can hardly notice it 47 years later…..

Heal up quick, Beo. There are far too many more opportunities to get hurt out there that us guys simply can't afford to pass up.

[Beo]

NEVER GIVE UP!!! Great Motto for life.

[Sam]

NEVER GIVE UP!!! Great Motto for life.

You have a chance to practice doing things around your injury. I helped my future mother in law learn one handed fire starting after her shoulder injury this winter. Now she can set and light a fire one handed with a firesteel.
Take Trooper with you for awhile until you are closer to 100%, at least you know you can trust him to watch out for you. And you mostly get along with him.
Be safe, I am glad you are home in most of one piece.
-Sam

[Ole WV Coot]

Personal experience: You have a few things you'll find it hurts to do. Don't push it, I did and in my 60s use a nasty ATV you don't like for long hauls. Gotta find time to get out in the woods anyway you can. Stay off your butt and move. Lay off any pain medication you can. When you heal from that particular injury you might have a permanent limp, won't slow you down, only if you let it. Hope you don't have much scar tissue, had my share and nothing really could be done for me. I don't have anything I can't do, learned to forget the pain. You can handle it, hardest thing is realizing there may be some things you just can't do anymore, hope not.

[Beo]

While there is some pain, not much and I refuse to use them pills. I get into the woods at least 3 times a week, havent found anything I cant do yet and the limp only hits me after a really time. Climbing seems to be the only real thing I'm slow'd down on but working on that basically it just gets real sore.
Biggest scar I got from over there is on my arm, a really bad burn from an explosion but its heal'd up fine just ugly looking.
I'm back with the SO here in cincy, on desk duty till August and the doc clears to return to full duty. Been doing a few other jobs and thinking about going back to Blackwater late this year once I'm 100% but we'll see.

[hoosierarcher]

Yes I have been badly injured. Want the list? LOL Anyway in my youth I ignored Dr's advice and just went back to my careless ways full steam and took longer to completely heal. Later in life I listened to the Docs and recovered faster than a man my age normally would. Three things to do, Take the meds they prescribe, sleep more than usual, eat red meat and potatoes and bananas and green leafy vegetables and eat that red meat right off the bone or take a bone meal suppliment. You need the protien and minerals to heal. Oh also eat raisins, prunes and beets to help restore blood volumne.

[Ken]

And beer. Drink good beer.

[crashdive123]

Has anyone been injured, fairly bad enough to need months of theropy?
Yes

If so did it hamper you getting back into the woods and practicing your skills?
Yes

Did it slow you down any?
Yes, but not permanently

Did it make you question your skills?
No

Did it give you more drive to get back in the woods?
Yes

[oldsoldier]

Beo... Sorry to hear about you getting injured. Speaking somewhaat from personal experience as well as from my medical training (EMT/P) some of the best therapy can and does come from "getting back in the saddle" unless I missed something the only injury you mention is burns from an explosion. If those are the extent of your injuries and you had/have no broken bones etc. then by all means doing what you love being in the woods and communing with nature and the spirits of the woods is probibily the best therapy mentally speaking you'll find because as you know any tramatic experience not only injures your body it also injures the mind. I know when I was W.I.A. it took a while for me to get my head straight. So enjoy the woods and keep up the physical as well just don't try to rush and overdo. best of luck

[red lake]

I had a small slip and snapped my arm while hiking the Bruce Trail with my family one day. I bent it back sorta straight and then hiked a solid hour to get back to the car. Drove another 45 minutes to a hospital where they put me out to reset the bone.

Most pain medication does very little for me. Felt my vasectomy, felt the surgery on my toes and certainly felt them resetting the bone on my forearm.

I cut the cast off with my dremel tool after 5 weeks and it took a while for the strength to come back. All healed up now and no ill effects. I think I am lucky there.

However, I am overly cautious now walking down a slope, which is how it happened. That was 4 years ago and I still remember the simple slip of the foot and me putting my arm out to brace myself and the sound of a snapping twig that was my arm. Slow and steady down the slopes now.

[vthompson]

A few years back, I had an accident at work and that accident triggered the flesh-eating-disease. I had to go through numerous surgeries and amputations through the ordeal. I lost fingers from both hands, amputation of my left leg at the knee, lost over half of my right foot,and endured massive skin grafts on my left upper torso.
So yes, I know what it is like to have to endure months of rehabilitation. Whenever I get in the woods, I sometimes get mad because I can't do the things that I used to do. I have to pick my courses of walk very carefully or I will fall down.
Now, I am getting to where I am pretty good at throwing the tomahawk and it is great rehab. for my left arm, and left upper torso.

[flandersander]

When i was in grade 1, I was putting books back in my desk, and they slid off the pricariously balanced stack and onto an open pair of scissors. Unfortunatly, my left ring finger was in between those scissors, and i got a massive gash right on the sensitive pad. it was about 3/4 inch long, and i got 17 stitches in that little space. Then I recieved a green stick fracture on my right arm when I was 14. But perhaps the most traumatic experience was the summer of my 15th birthday. Me and dad were getting ready to go to the lake. We were all packed up and ready to go in the morning. And he was just cutting all the grass on out 10acre farm. He finished cutting the grass and came in complaining of a stomach ache. He kept complaining, but I was just a kid, and didn't know what to do. I heard him breathing really really hard, from the kitchen, and he was in his bed. It wasn't just huffing and puffing, it sounded like he ran a mile with an azthma attack, wheazing really hard. So I called his name, and had no answer. Went in there, and by this time the wheazing had stopped. I waked in to his room, and he was unconscience, lying on his bed, holding his stomache. Just as i called 911 my sister (a lifegaurd) walked in, she knew what to do, but simply couldn't do it right under that sort of strain and pressure. I've always been very good at working in emergencies, so I took the helm, and performed cpr. The first responders (local trained personel to work until emt arrive) showed up with oxygen and latex gloves. They shooed us outside and asked me questions about everything that happened. All this was happening when mom was in the city grocery shopping. Of course, this was before everybody had a cell phone, so there was no way of contacting her. The ambulance arrived, and rushed dad to the hospitle. Mom got home just as they were leaving the yard, and asked us what happened. On the way to the hospitle (45 min drive) the emt and I explained all that happened. When we got there, the doctor explained that he was DOA. And the emt's tried to deflect the guilt from their shoulders by saying he was already cold when they got there. That was probably the thing that caused the most recouperation. IT took a few years for everything to return to "normal" And the whole year after, i couldn't look foreward to anything. Time flew by, and I didn't seem excited by anything. Mom took me to several therapists, and they all said the same thing, that I suffered from post traumatic stress. My grades dropped from low 90's to low 80's. The teachers were not at all understanding, except my math teacher, who was great. Mom was always on my @$$ to do better in school, and I always wanted to be alone, and finish the things that dad started. I finished the transmition of our tractor, re shingled the shop, put fresh venison on the table, fresh fish, geese, duck, finished harvest, and endured my mother's silly behavior. After harvest, we sold all the land, and all the machinery, and all my stuff in the auction. Most of my tools, all the trailers, the boat, my dirtbike, the tractors, and the lawnmower. Of course, we had to buy all new stuff then, because she sold it all. She bought a 300 dollar trailer, when I could have built one WAY better for less than half the price. I never understood it. It still hurts, missing him, the way he always used to joke around, and make light of the situation. He was a great guy, and lives within all our hearts. Sorry for the long graphic post. This is a picture of him beside our neibours truck. They both loved the leafs. GO LEAFS!

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[Ken]

A few years back, I had an accident at work and that accident triggered the flesh-eating-disease. I had to go through numerous surgeries and amputations through the ordeal. I lost fingers from both hands, amputation of my left leg at the knee, lost over half of my right foot,and endured massive skin grafts on my left upper torso.
So yes, I know what it is like to have to endure months of rehabilitation. Whenever I get in the woods, I sometimes get mad because I can't do the things that I used to do. I have to pick my courses of walk very carefully or I will fall down.
Now, I am getting to where I am pretty good at throwing the tomahawk and it is great rehab. for my left arm, and left upper torso.

Damn, V, you've been through some sh!t, haven't you. You're still going strong. Good for you, my friend. God bless ya'!

[Riverrat]

Hey Beo...to answer your question..Yes, two years of therapy and then told this is the best I get. I have trouble walking any more then 15-20 minutes at a time, spasms that come with out warning, and pain all the time. No..it does not stop me from getting out in the woods, that is my therapy, the peace of the woods is what I need to help.
I still go hiking, just don't go as far, sometimes I stop and lean against trees to stop the pain. I still go camping, still go backpacking, and still make the canoe trips. I am planing a canoe/camping trip at this time....
Just take it easy, don't push yourself to hard, and enjoy....get well soon....RR

[red lake]

Except for the fact that it is a Ford.....That is a GREAT truck!

[Bigdog57]

Not as long-lasting an event, but I recently had a motorcycle accident. Stupid driver STOPS for no very good reason just beyond an intersection during a light rain - road is slick. SO, I have two choices - me and bike make a 'lasting impression' in the back of her car, or I drop the bike onto the asphalt and take my lumps. I really did NOT want to have to deal with cops, insurance and medical stuff if I had a choice - IF I survived the encounter. And the bike would be totalled! SO, down I go. Thank goodness for my helmet, boots and armored jacket & gloves. And for the guard bars I put on the bike. We were both bent and battered but not broken, and never touched the danged car. She rabbited and disappeared......
Lucky for me the light had gone red and there was no traffic behind me!

The fact that as I stood up, I felt minor pains, and that I was able to lift that top-heavy D/S bike and roll it to the roadside meant I had no broken bones.
BUT.... the soreness had begun, and my right arm was starting to hurt - I straightened a couple things on the bike, cranked up and motored home - where I called in that I wouldn't be coming back from my lunch hour ride. I ended up taking the next two days off too. Had my right arm in a sling, and began convalescing at home. Had I not had my padded jacket on, I am convinced I would have a broken arm! Armored riding glove was scratched up too. As it was, the elbow was stiff and very sore. I could neither straighten it or bend it far for several days. Right knee was banged, but in better shape. Right foot took some damage - lost the toenail off my right big toe - had I been wearing light shoes, the toe would be mashed!
I couldn't ride for a week, and the right arm was still weak for a few weeks. I had to do many things left-handed that I had always done only right-handed. Makes you appreciate your 'strong' hand!
Could not shoot handgun or rifle at the range.
The elbow got better by stages - I could use it a bit more each day, and I could gauge progress by the increased straightness or bending I could do. Blessed day when I could lift a spoon to my mouth or even shave right handed again!
I am one of those lunkheads who tries to 'tough out' any adversity - I thought I was merely bruised, but I probably have some scar tissue and likely some hairline fracturing in the arm. It's healed now though. Thank the Good Lord he gave me a double dose of pain tolerance - I got my sister's share too - she can't take ANY pain. Well, turns out, I need it more anyways.....

[Rick]

I guess everyone and every injury is different, Beo. I've been down several times but that's not important. What's important is your injury and how you deal with it. Follow your doctor's instructions to the letter. Rehab is generally the most important part of recovery so don't fluff it off. Rebuilding strength and stamina will only occur if you do what they tell you to. Beyond that, let your body tell you what to do. Pain sets the limits and don't go beyond. Each day you will progress a little more. It's not so important to run a mile today and two tomorrow if you can do what you did before once your reach the end of your recovery road. Good luck!!