What would YOU do?

[TheLady]

I've made my decision but I just thought I'd ask your opinions...

I've been told by several doctors that I should not train in MA because I have a higher than normal risk of getting a detached retina if I get a blow to the head...what I also dragged out of the last doctor is that this may happen spontaneously...so it could happen as I'm sitting in my rocker watching the latest reality show. (If it does detach, the options are 1) laser surgery to reattach it. If that doesn't work: 2) inserting a gas bubble and a buckle around the eye to push the bubble into place while laying face-down for 4-6 weeks. If THAT doesn't work, it's lights out.)

What would you do?


:sadsong:

Thanks,

Janice

 

[Blindside]

Well, I would do one of two things:

1) Shift my course of study in my core art into areas that are less likely to give me blows to my head. Basically, I would cut out most of my sparring, not all of it, and I would work with partners that I knew had good control, but could make me work. As much as I view sparring as necessary for self-defense training, I would minimize my danger from it.

2) Switch arts to ones that don't punch you in the head. When I did BJJ we never (I was a beginner) punched each other in the head, it was focused on submission without striking. Another, very different example would be Tai-Chi.

I don't think I could quit martial arts, but I would make alot of changes if I thought the danger to my sight was high. It is hard to defend yourself if you can't see, regardless of Zatoichi movies.

Good luck and be careful,

Lamont

 

[D_Brady]

If this can happen no matter what than I would do what I love. I would make sure that I stayed focused on tyhe job at hand-Live MY life be happy , while keeping in mind all risks and let your instructor know.


Respectfully, Dan Brady.

 

[Cthulhu]

I've been told this as well about my own eye by a former eye doctor. My current eye doctor told me not to worry about it too much. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen, and the risk of if happening due to a blow to the head isn't really all that much greater. I'd imagine it would take a great deal many VERY hard blows to the head for it to be an issue.

Bear in mind that I am in NO WAY qualified to dispense medical advice and I'm merely passing on the advice of my own eye doctor.

That being said, I no longer have any fear of a detached retina from my training based on my current eye doctor's advice.

Cthulhu

 

[MountainSage]

Live life as if you are going to die tomorrow. I don't know who is credited with that saying but I find that if you live by this creedo that there a lot less daily regret.


Mountain Sage

 

[James Kovacich]

I think a lot of instructors might not want to teach someone like that just for insurance reasons. Thats what the MA world of buisness has come to.

But I'm sure that you could train safely in Goju or Shorin Ryu or just about any other traditional art.

Handicapped people are at a serious disadvantage but they are still taught. I would find a system that concentrates heavily on forms and then progress at a rate that is comfortable for you.

Martial Arts is a journey and some of us just can't take the freeway!

 

[tshadowchaser]

I will not tellyou to train or not to, this must be your dessision. I will say that if you do train you should do a few things.
1. let your instructor know what may happen and
A. give him the name of your doctor, hospital,etc.
B. make sure he has a copy of your medical insurence number and carrier and keep a copy on you also
C. he may want you to sign a waiver do so
2. Tell your doctor you are going to continue studying and let him know you have done the above.
3. Alway keep an emergency number of someone who can sign for you at the hospital on you

If you love the art and may have this happen anyway. I know what I would do but you decide

tshadowchaser:asian:

 

[Jill666]

I have a jaw condition (TMJ Dysfunction) from repeated trauma. (Car wreck, assault, etc). Chronic pain and bite problems, grinding teeth to breaking, 6 crowns and a bridge. I'm supposed to avoid any stress or strain on my face or neck.

I train, b@lls out. My partner knows not to elbow me in the jaw. Otherwise- well, you get the idea.

Truthfully, I will have a higher chance of popping my jaw out of socket again eating a sub than being hit in training.

I can't tell you what to do. All I can say is life is short. Take reasonable precautions certainly (you can avoid being repeatedly hit in the head in training, it's not really necessary). But accidents, well they happen in the dojo, at home, hell I walk into walls drunk and get bruised and my friends asssume it's from training :drink2tha (I guess that's why they're my friends).

I hope you remain healthy & happy. Hey, maybe it's time to check out yoga. I dunno- but I'm sure there's a way to learn and train without putting yourself in undue risk.

 

[MartialArtist]

I'd get it checked.

If it's too dangerous, that means you just can't participate in the sport and combat version of it, but you can practice the philosophical and methodical aspects of the MA which are closely related to the sport and combat aspects as one wouldn't be as great without the other.

Some new-age MA, like new-age Yoga or tai chi: you'd have no problem with. But personally, I'd go with the more traditional taiji, yoga, etc. because it isn't filled with outlandish medical ideas on how humans were meant to be vegans. Yeah, it's stereotyping, but even the traditional version has some spritiual ideas to it. The only difference is that it's added to practical application.

 

[Matt Stone]

Nobody seems to have mentioned getting a second opinion... It was hinted at due to someone else's experience, but wasn't offered as a direct option.

Personally, I maintain that doctors are not the end all / be all that they would love all of us to think they are... We accept whatever they tell us because they are doctors after all!

Horse poop.

Doctors are every bit as fallible and prone to mistakes as the rest of humanity. In fact, they are probably more likely to misdiagnose you than you are since you know yourself intimately, and you are lucky to get 5 minutes from Doctor Moneygrubber...

See someone else. Ask their opinion. Tell them the entire story. If they seem more interested in how much your insurance is going to pay than providing you with real options (they are, after all, working for you), walk out and go somewhere else. Just like bad dojos and bad teachers.

They call it a medical "practice" for a reason - they don't have it down quite yet!

Now if a boatload of doctors all tell you the same thing, then you may have a situation to deal with. In that case, ask yourself what is more important: preserving the possiblity of a spontaneous detachment by strenuous rocking, or run the risk of a possible detachment through training.

Good luck.

Gambarimasu.
:asian:

 

[Old Warrior]

After 4 motorcycle accidents, the last tearing my acl, mcl and miniscus in my left knee - I'm retiring from riding. There are other things in life that mean more to me than riding such as Kendo and European Fencing. The recovery from the last accident took 9 long months and the limitations were most inconvenient.

If I were you, I would be less concerned about being hit in the head and more concerned about falling and hitting my head. While I don't believe in focusing on living without risk, the question is the risk reasonable under the circumstances.

I rode for 30 years. I have more Harley memorabilia than you can imagine. Riding was part of my identity. But, it was easy to leave behind. On balance, the risk reward ratio was just wasn't worth it. Upon reflection, it was time to move to another Chapter in Life.

 

[Matt Stone]

I have degnerative joint disease, with a degenerative condition in my knees, my spine and my ankles.

I have one completely herniated disc, one that is bulging on the verge of hernation (both of which press in on my spinal cord when inflamed), and one that is dessicated and no longer serves its intended purpose (it is solid with no springiness to absorb shock).

I have calcification of one ankle, I have arthritis all over the place.

Does it stop me? Not hardly. Slows me down occasionally, but I don't stop.

Training keeps me happy, feeling young and healthy. Training is what has allowed me to continue being active as opposed to following the doctor's directions which would likely keep me partially disabled in the long run...

Gambarimasu.
:asian:

 

[jazkiljok]

Originally posted by TheLady
I've made my decision but I just thought I'd ask your opinions...

I've been told by several doctors that I should not train in MA because I have a higher than normal risk of getting a detached retina if I get a blow to the head...what I also dragged out of the last doctor is that this may happen spontaneously...so it could happen as I'm sitting in my rocker watching the latest reality show. (If it does detach, the options are 1) laser surgery to reattach it. If that doesn't work: 2) inserting a gas bubble and a buckle around the eye to push the bubble into place while laying face-down for 4-6 weeks. If THAT doesn't work, it's lights out.)

What would you do?


:sadsong:

Thanks,

Janice

odd- my doctors have never said anything about that... perhaps it was cause they were Martial Artists as well.

blows to the head? what the heck are you doing when you train?

blows to the head in general are bad for a lot more reasons than a detached retina-- in fact in boxing, where i assume this info is really coming from-- this appears to be the least of the problems associated with repeated blows to the head-- skip the doctors and ask Jerry Quarry about that.

either find a more rational martial art to practice OR learn how to duck.


Jaz K.

 

[sweeper]

well my brother got a detached retna playing soccer (ball hit him). He still spars but he's mostly blind in his right eye (he's very protective of his left). I don't think he regrets playing soccer, even though no one would have thought that that would have been a danger.. I think that's the most important thing in this kind of situation, what ever you do have no regrets, if you desided to mellow out than find something to fill whatever void harder fighting will leave. If you desided to take the risk and you do go blind in an eye, "try" not to let it pull you down.

I would also agree with yiliquan about a second opinion, also I would try to find information on how you can reduce your high risk of retnal detachment.

And jaz it doesn't take repeated blows, just one chance shot.

 

[old_sempai]

:asian:

Have you considered other arts such as Tai Chi - Iaido - etc?

Unlike yourself, I am legally blind in one eye, but not from a detached retina, rather Amblyopia [lazy eye which had no cure 60 years ago]. But, it never kept me from participating in various arts including Kendo, Naginata, Aikido, Goju etc.

However, a person in my office recently had this condition and under went surgery to repair this problem and is on medication. But, I can't offer further insight since they are not, and were not a physically active type.

:asian:

 

[TheLady]

Thank you for all the great replies.

1st of all, medical insurance is not an issue in Canada

Doctor #1 said "NO blows to the head - you shouldn't be doing MA." He referred me to #'s 2 and 3.

Doctor #2 said, "There's no problem - go and do whatever you want."

Doctor #3 (retinal specialist) said, "You are increasing your risk. I wouldn't suggest you take up MAs but since you've been doing it for a year, it's your decision."

My instructors know about the problem and don't have a problem working around it. I skip the obviously dangerous stuff like the mass attack exercises. And yes, I think falling is a bigger problem than getting hit.

There may come a time when I move on to another MA but I'm not ready to "find a more rational martial art :rofl: to practice" just yet.

Janice

 

[old_sempai]

at the martial applications of Tai chi, and Iaido. I've studied a hard style of Aikido for over 25 years, and approximately 10 years ago decided to add the other two arts to my studies and I find that each one goes hand in hand with each other.

 

[Cliarlaoch]

Originally posted by TheLady
Thank you for all the great replies.

1st of all, medical insurance is not an issue in Canada

Doctor #1 said "NO blows to the head - you shouldn't be doing MA." He referred me to #'s 2 and 3.

Doctor #2 said, "There's no problem - go and do whatever you want."

Doctor #3 (retinal specialist) said, "You are increasing your risk. I wouldn't suggest you take up MAs but since you've been doing it for a year, it's your decision."

My instructors know about the problem and don't have a problem working around it. I skip the obviously dangerous stuff like the mass attack exercises. And yes, I think falling is a bigger problem than getting hit.

There may come a time when I move on to another MA but I'm not ready to "find a more rational martial art :rofl: to practice" just yet.

Janice

Hmm.... basically, they couldn't agree on anything except it MIGHT be a problem. I don't know what the best path is, but I would tell you that you should, at the very least, be careful what you do while sparring, or doing anything that avoids head contact. Yes, life is short, that's why one has to be careful not to make it shorter or less enjoyable.

That said, don't stop doing what you love. I've been told by one doctor that I'd end up in a wheelchair by 50 if I continued to do the martial arts. I got a knee brace (it was one of THOSE problems) and kept on going. 5 years later, I'm doing okay. It hurts now and again, but I'm NOT giving up on something I LOVE out of fear of injury. It's not worth it. I mean, you've got a decent chance of this thing happening to you even if you do nothing... and I don't see how one shot to the head's going to cause a detached retina... again, like Ctulthu, I'm not a doctor, so take this with a grain of salt... I'm also the nut who's gonna be in a wheelchair at 50 while my wife scolds me for not listening to MDs.

Do what you think is best for you and your health. Be careful, and take up some of the suggestions above (giving out contact #s, etc.) if you choose to continue in the Martial Arts. Don't give up something you enjoy unless you feel it is really going to cause some ill effects.

... Either that, or we get all those doctors together and ask 'em to figure out which one's really got the right prognosis.

Methinks that meeting would go something like the following (via smileys for viewing pleasure):
:argue:
:soapbox:
:ak47:


:redeme:



And then they'd all ask for $ to pay for their own medical bills for once... figures.
:rtfm: