Hanging Up My Gloves

[MasterKiller]

Just had an MRI, which shows a herniated disc at C6 (Yellow Arrow) pressing into my spinal column. I also have a bone spur at C5 (Red Arrow), and two other discs that are compressed and slightly extruded at C3 and C4 (Blue Arrows).

The C5 bone spur was likely from a football injury as a kid, which has caused me headaches and stiff necks/shoulders since I was 15 or so. I had an MRI done in 1999 to diagnose this issue. The slightly protruded discs at C3 and C4 are probably a side effect of this injury, as well, though they did not show in the original MRI from 1999.

The C6 herniation, in all likelihood, was caused from my training. I've taken a few hard falls over the years, and had my neck cranked just about every way imaginable.
But I have no idea when it occured, or if it was something that just progressed over time, because I have no symptoms other than the normal neck pain associated with the C5 bone spur.

Regardless of treatment, I've been told by two orthos that I need to quit sparring/rolling. I'm still running classes, but I can only drill lightly. I'm currently researching my treatment options, but at 39, even with surgery, I don't think it's worth trying to get back into fighting shape.

[Fa Xing]

Wow, bummer.

[GeneChing]

I've got almost a decade on ya and I seriously feel ya. I have chronic neck issues too - neural foramenal narrowing - diagnosed over half a decade ago. I remember when my Doc was looking at my MRIs, he asked "have you ever been hit in the head or neck?" and I was thinking "too many times to recall actually". It's really changed my philosophy and approach to practice. It's very humbling. But don't quit. In fact, my practice has been my redemption, as I don't take pain meds. I experimented with prescription meds for a few years but nothing worked for me. They just made me spacier than I already was, and that wasn't a good thing, at least not in a functional way (but it was kind of fun for a spell).

It's a this point in your life where form practice really shines.

If you want to talk privately about this, I'm at your disposal.

[David Jamieson]

The bitter reality of omelet making.

eggs must be broken...

Now you can use your kung fu to bring yourself to health as opposed to taking health from another.

[sanjuro_ronin]

I feel your pain bro.
I stopped competing years ago because of the wear and tear on the body, especially my left shoulder and left knee.
Then a few years ago I started to get vertigo spells and was told to NOT spar anymore until they found out what it was.
As things went the veritgo was caused by a combination of inner ear issues and other issues that can't be treated and whenever I get a got shot or my head moves to suddenly, I get a bout of vertigo that KO's me for hours.
When we who have done MA for the "martial" part suddenly lose that part, it gives us a perspective on things that we won't get.
Be grateful that you managed to get some years of competition in because those lessons will be with you always.

[ginosifu]

Sorry to hear this. I had a similar issue 14 years ago that almost retired me from MA completely. I have 2 discs in the same area with chronic arthritis and spur build up. What saved me was "Traction Therapy". Even now I get a flair up once in a while and I go right back to some traction and I am god to go.

Let me know if you want some detailed info on what I did to save my career!

ginosifu

[dirtyrat]

I've got almost a decade on ya and I seriously feel ya. I have chronic neck issues too - neural foramenal narrowing - diagnosed over half a decade ago. I remember when my Doc was looking at my MRIs, he asked "have you ever been hit in the head or neck?" and I was thinking "too many times to recall actually". It's really changed my philosophy and approach to practice. It's very humbling. But don't quit. In fact, my practice has been my redemption, as I don't take pain meds. I experimented with prescription meds for a few years but nothing worked for me. They just made me spacier than I already was, and that wasn't a good thing, at least not in a functional way (but it was kind of fun for a spell).

It's a this point in your life where form practice really shines.

If you want to talk privately about this, I'm at your disposal.

Gene, out of curiousity, how has it changed your approach to practice?

[hskwarrior]

if anyone knows your pain its me bro.....

3 broken bones in my spine with one of them broken in have and pushed into my spinal cord too......sorry to hear that bro

[sanjuro_ronin]

This does lead us to discussing how one DOES keep his fighting edge without being able to fight regularly ( if at all).

[ginosifu]

This does lead us to discussing how one DOES keep his fighting edge without being able to fight regularly ( if at all).

I still spar / San Shou / Shuai Chiao and Wrestle with my students, but not on a daily basis and not full go. Normally I just play around and not really try to so hard... and not as often.

ginosifu

[hskwarrior]

This does lead us to discussing how one DOES keep his fighting edge without being able to fight regularly ( if at all).

one way is to keep up pad work. keep moving. prepare. by now, you should have skills to deal with someone effectively regardless of an injury. the only thing is you have to cut down the time in a confrontation to just the most serious techniques. do what you have to to end the fight quick.

on another aspect, you work to protect your neck in case someone goes for it.

but it all depends on your injuries and to what extent

[sanjuro_ronin]

one way is to keep up pad work. keep moving. prepare. by now, you should have skills to deal with someone effectively regardless of an injury. the only thing is you have to cut down the time in a confrontation to just the most serious techniques. do what you have to to end the fight quick.

on another aspect, you work to protect your neck in case someone goes for it.

but it all depends on your injuries and to what extent

Indeed.
I focus on drills more than anything, tons of bag and pad work and dummy work and developing speed and power into strikes.
The issue for me was timing and that is lost very quickly with lack of sparring and being a counter-striker it was crucial in my game.
I had to readjust and now fight in a different way ( sort of).
The protecting of the head did indeed become crucial and I managed to figure that out too.
Luckly I had years of full contact fighting and training to fall back on.

[GeneChing]

What saved me was "Traction Therapy". Even now I get a flair up once in a while and I go right back to some traction and I am god to go.

Traction didn't do much for me. Back when my insurance covered it, I did weekly traction at Kaiser Hospital, and also had a traction rig for at home. My living room used to be a yoga studio (my wife used to teach out of our house) so we have yoga props, including an inversion swing. Hanging inversions helped more than the traction rig, but I haven't been doing that lately. I have a tailored vinyasa, a downward dog sequence that includes handstand, which I do regularly, and that takes care of the inversion. I also have a whale (yoga backbender) which I work daily.

Gene, out of curiousity, how has it changed your approach to practice?

More qigong, much less impact, more time spent warming up and cooling down, plus a lot of therapeutic exercises, yoga and specific conditioning/strengthening routines. The challenge is that I get a lot of reciprocal injuries, which really suck, so it's a lot about being balanced in my regimen.

Here's were kung fu has saved my life. It wasn't in some back alley fending off a mugger, nor was it in the underground complex of Han's island. It's the daily practice. If I skip practice for a few days, my posture collapses and my chronic pain flairs up. I can't stop now, even if I wanted to do so.

[sanjuro_ronin]

More qigong, much less impact, more time spent warming up and cooling down, plus a lot of therapeutic exercises, yoga and specific conditioning routines.

*cough* hippie *cough*

[Hebrew Hammer]

Welcome to Taiji! HSK has a solid point. About a little more than a year ago I was diagnosed with severe degenerative disc issues of my L4 and L5, I was in excruciating pain almost every day and had to quit working out/training for several months.

It's very depressing to hear this kind of info, I was then about 41 and really getting into my training. Up till then felt the best I had in years. After seeing some specialists, I did some physical therapy, acupuncture, took some medication for pain and inflammation. I'm sure they're gonna offer you some surgical options...do your homework, ask lots of questions, and find the best specialist available. To this day, I have sciatic nerve pain on a regular basis and have to take pain meds.

The human body is an amazing thing, given time you'll be surprised at your ability to recover. Eat well, modify your training, go slow.

For me, I went to more of a boxing style training, I am able to do low leg kicks and push kicks but round house, side kicks to the head and torso area just put too much torque on my back. I've found that stationary bike or spin classes are better for me than jogging or stair work...etc.

You will be able to find something that will work for you even in a 'real' environment MK. I work in a Behavioral Ward, where I physically have to move patients defend myself and others against assault...just the other week I used my chin to try and break this guys fist! Don't try that one at home.

Looking for some new training in either WC or Tai Chi or both...these are styles that I can modify for my limitations. Like Gene said, feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

PS You'll just have to find another way to roll around with some sailors.