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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Working with an injury
Blaine McCartney, Photographer
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Sheridan | WY | USA | Posted: 3:28 PM on 06.08.11 |
->> Hey all,
This thread is for those who have had/have a significant injury, ideally a knee injury. I received a complete tear of my ACL and my specialist said I could go back to work if I wanted to, it's just that I won't be very mobile or agile.
I've never had a significant injury until now. Is there any advice you can give me to help make work a little bit more easier? I don't want to take off any more time off than I have to.
Thanks everyone,
Blaine |
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Thomas Campbell, Photographer
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Houston | TX | USA | Posted: 4:09 PM on 06.08.11 |
->> Take it easy.
I broke my shoulder in February. It's been a really tough road so far, and I am not close to 100% yet. Don't over do it. Utilize things like monopods/tripod/woefully underpaid assistants to take the pressure off yourself. Listen to your pain. |
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Robert Beck, Photographer
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Carlsbad | CA | USA | Posted: 4:10 PM on 06.08.11 |
| ->> DonJoy makes great braces. Get it custom fit for your knee. Otherwise neoprene can keep your knee tight for the day. Aspirin or the like can keep swelling down and mask pain. Ice in the eve is a must. |
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Mike Ullery, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Piqua | OH | USA | Posted: 4:15 PM on 06.08.11 |
->> There are a lot of variables Blaine. I was supposed to be off work for 3-4 months about 10 years ago after having my leg broken shooting football. (Surgery to repair the bones and adding screws, plates and bone grafts to put it all back together.)
I actually only missed two weeks of work. I was hospitalized for a week and spent one week at home...going crazy.
By the end of week four, I was shooting football. My daughter, who was 13 at the time, went with me and carried by monopod-mounted camera to the spot where I hobbled on crutches to shoot the play. I stayed further from the field as I knew my mobility was limited. (My daughter began shooting with me during this time. She now has a degree in photography and works for a competing newspaper) All of this was against the advice of my doctor.
In a nutshell, where there's a will, there's a way. If you plan your day well, you may still be able to work. Driving my be an issue. Any assignment that requires climbing or that requires a hike to get there could pose a problem.
I would talk to your employer/supervisor first. Ask them what they think. They could be facing liability issues if you would re-injure leg. On the other hand, they may be willing to work with you to make doing your job possible.
Not counting your employer's opinion, the biggest obstacle/advantage is yourself. As long as you keep a positive mental attitude about getting the job done, you will be just fine.
A slightly off-topic comment: The best advice that I can give you is listen to the physical therapists when it is time to do rehab. Rehabbing a knee/leg does have some pain involved. When you are working to get your range-of-motion back, do everything they tell you to do, as often as they tell you. I was blessed with some great PTs and a very good friend, Jim Rinaldi, who, in addition to being a great photographer, also has a degree in sports medicine and alot of experience with recovery from injuries. They worked me hard but I have them to thank that I regained full motion to my knee and full strength to my leg.
Best of luck.
Mike |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 4:39 PM on 06.08.11 |
| ->> Blaine, I slipped and fell off of a basketball standard while taking down a remote near the end of january. I called my boss and told him what had happened (I could barely walk and had to be helped back to the press room then when finished filing had to be helped to my car) I went through a lot of crap with the workman's comp claim but they ended up paying for everything. I had the knee scoped the second week of april. yup, about 2 1/2 months after the accident. I worked mainly basketball that two months because sitting on the floor and being careful getting up and down was easy. after the surgery I was out for about two weeks because the knee wasn't functioning worth a crap. don't go back to work until you feel ready and make sure you have surpervisor's who realize the injury can get worse if you push it too hard. I was fortunate to have that kind of boss. do ALL the rehab you're supposed to. mike was right about most of what he said....but....I would never go to work on crutches...in fact my boss would never allow that. the problem as my surgeon said is not now but later. if you don't do things right it can come back and really hurt you when you're older....hope you get better. |
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Matt Zimmerman, Photographer, Assistant
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Walla Walla | WA | USA and Quito, Ecuador | Posted: 5:51 PM on 06.08.11 |
->> Hi Blaine, I just got through ACL reconstruction myself. It'll be 4-weeks out tomorrow (Thursday).
My surgeon set me up with a passive motion machine for the first week, making sure scar tissue didn't form as readily and working to a greater range of motion. That was a tremendous help! I also go to physical therapy twice a week (starting once a week now).
I would say what others have said is spot on. First and foremost don't push it too hard because the reading I've done says 8-10wks out you'll feel great but your new graft will be weakest then. I'm very cautious because I only have two knees and I need them both for the rest of my life.
I am very diligent about doing my physical therapy - my knee feels better afterward anyway.
Working I take it very easy. My knee is ALWAYS in a brace when out of my house. I have two great Top Shelf Orthopedics braces - one "functional" one and the post-op brace and I still use them both depending on what I'm doing. It just takes a little bump, from the side in particular, to set you back.
My boss and coworker both stress taking things slowly which I appreciate. I've skipped out on a few things which I hate because I can't pull my share of the workload but it's been good. I sit or shoot from the car whenever possible which isn't ideal but I make it work.
Every day I feel a little better so I'm on the right track for me.
Please feel free to message me or call if you want to talk more. It's a first for me too! Good Luck! |
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Matt Zimmerman, Photographer, Assistant
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Walla Walla | WA | USA and Quito, Ecuador | Posted: 5:53 PM on 06.08.11 |
->> Some of that's assuming you're headed toward surgery. Most of it applies whether you're thinking about that or not though.
~Matt |
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Michael Granse, Photographer
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Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 6:12 PM on 06.08.11 |
| ->> Aleve (naproxen sodium is the generic form) is the only over the counter pain reliever that I have ever found to be effective for such injuries, but results do vary from person to person. Keep some in your camera bag at all times. |
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Dan Powers, Photographer
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Appleton | WI | USA | Posted: 6:53 PM on 06.08.11 |
| ->> I blew out my ACL...and MCL...years ago and used the DonJoy brace as well. It helped. But, if you work at a newspaper, you might ask if you can work the desk while you are recovering. I basically became a photo/assignment editor until I could move better on my feet. Hope you feel better...Dan. |
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Blaine McCartney, Photographer
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Sheridan | WY | USA | Posted: 10:11 PM on 06.09.11 |
->> Thanks for all the advice and well wishes. It's greatly appreciated.
I went back to work today and unfortunately, I'm the lone photographer at the paper, so I can't just sit behind a desk all day, though I do that typically in the mornings and evenings editing photos. I've got a hiking backpack that I'm utilizing to carry my camera and two lenses and that's a great help. I feel better knowing I can still work decently with a busted knee. I won't have surgery for another two weeks as I start rehab Monday to reduce swelling and to regain a bit of mobility before I'm under the knife. It's going to be a long, boring summer I fear.
Thanks again for your input and thoughts,
Blaine |
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Bryon Houlgrave, Photographer
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San Diego County | CA | USA | Posted: 11:03 PM on 06.09.11 |
->> Blaine, I'll throw in my support for the DonJoy brace. I'm actually currently going through the same thing. I injured my knee a couple months ago while surfing, then last month I tore the ACL and meniscus playing basketball. I couldn't move off the court, but after a week and a half of ice and elevation I was able to ditch the crutches and hobble around. Now, a couple weeks away from surgery, I'm walking with just the brace.
Have you been scheduled for surgery yet? Once you have surgery you'll be off your feet for about a week, followed by a lengthy therapy period.
For me, I've shot a few assignments for some clients, even chased a tornado, but I've been taking it easy as to not increase swelling.
With exception to athletics, I think our profession is one of the hardest on knees. |
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Patrick Smith, Photographer
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Baltimore | MD | USA | Posted: 10:24 AM on 06.10.11 |
->> Never had knee surgery, but had major back surgery six months ago, which shortly thereafter, found myself unpredictably laid off by my former employer during the holidays.
Best advice I can give without typing a novel: Patience, patience and more patience.
In case you missed it, I contributed my story to the Sports Shooter newsletter | http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/2479 |
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Aaron Jaffe, Photographer, Student/Intern
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 3:40 AM on 06.12.11 |
->> Patrick,
Your story is scary. What is going on with your back is almost exactly what is happening with mine. I got cut open at the ripe old age of 19. Good luck on the road to dealing with the pain, you are definitely not alone on that journey. |
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Doug Pizac, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | USA | Posted: 10:51 AM on 06.12.11 |
->> It all depends on the type of injury, extent, and method of recovery.
25 years ago I was punched in the face by the manager of a boxer during a Vegas prize fight. I suffered a partially detached retina and was home for a month because any strong activity like carrying 30 pounds of gear would raise my blood pressure which would have affected the vessels in my eye that were critical to my retina recovery. My sight returned to 100%.
16 years ago I ripped out all the ligaments on the inside of my left ankle slipping on black ice. After the surgery I woke up from the anesthesia, got dressed and headed to work straight from the hospital to process film, edit and transmit images from the funeral of the Mormon church’s president. (I did hire a stringer to do the shooting.) I scooted around the office with my bandaged foot up on a wheeled chair. I was pale and still a touch woozy but I got the pictures on the AP wire. I then went home and took a percocet whereupon I didn’t care anymore about work.
14 years ago I ripped out all the ligaments on the inside of my right ankle on a ski slope at a race I was shooting. Knowing what happened previously, I loaded up on ibuprofen, tightened up my boot and finished the day shooting before going to see my orthopaedic surgeon that night who happens to live across the street from me. He loaded me up on pain killers and anti-inflammatory meds. I then wore a too small ski boot that acted like a cast so I could continue shooting the next two days. Good drugs and auto-focus worked nicely together. |
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Nick Morris, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 11:24 PM on 06.12.11 |
| ->> Nov 6, 1996 1:05 pm Oceanside CA I was the victim of a crane accident. A load chain snapped and that big ball and hook you see on the end of cranes struck me like a canon ball. I was lucky to be alive at the time but still suffered a broken neck, back and spinal cord injury. I was told I would never walk again but it just never registered in my brain and I am not only walking but living a decent life. I do live with some pain but no where near the pain it would be not being able to shoot. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 12:11 AM on 06.14.11 |
->> Blaine, you can try all the methods and fixes everyone has suggested here. But I can speak from experience, YOU WILL have to have surgery if you ever expect to walk normally again without or with little pain.
I had a procedure way back in 1979. My doctor told me then I would most likely end up with a total knee placement sometime in my life. He was right.
Your injury may die down from time to time, but even after babying it, having various therapies including Cortisone injections, it always rears its ugly head again and usually at the worst possible moment.
I had a total replacement in 2003. I was able to work up until the time I had surgery, but I was on some strong pain killer and knew I couldn't go on with that.
If you can wait a few months and plan ahead, it's often a good option, because it gives you time to get together any co-pays you will need to come up with in addition to any other portion of the payments your insurance doesn't cover. There are plenty of surprises there too.
I was off work just under two months. Listen to the doctor. Don't try to be superman. However, a day after the procedure, and in some places, the day of the procedure, the hospital rehab staff will have you up taking your first steps, learning to walk on crutches and getting you into the rehab swing including the passive motion machine mentioned in another thread here.
It will be painful, but it has to be done to avoid further complications later. And let me emphasize something extremely important. If you are given a blood thinner med, TAKE IT!!!!!!
People get the idea they feel okay and they don't need all their meds. If you get a clot, it can travel to your heart or lungs and it can kill you. So listen up and follow the doctor's instructions. Good luck |
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Bryon Houlgrave, Photographer
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San Diego County | CA | USA | Posted: 12:27 AM on 06.14.11 |
| ->> I wish sportsshooter.com had an Ouch category for Nick Morris. I'm glad you defied your doctor's predictions. |
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Blaine McCartney, Photographer
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Sheridan | WY | USA | Posted: 3:27 PM on 06.14.11 |
->> Patrick,
I did read about your ordeal when it was posted on top on top of the Sports Shooter page. I keep telling myself that "it could be worse", like your back or Nick getting popped by the ball and chain.
The way I injured knee in a softball game fielding a ball, it could have easily been a broken leg. So I thank my lucky stars that I'm just dealing with a torn ligament.
Work hasn't been a bad as I thought it would be. It's just more frustrating walking around on crutches and being limited how I work than anything. Tell you what though, I should be pretty damn buff walking around with camera gear on my back walking around on crutches. :)
I'll have surgery in about 10 days or so, the very day my parents come up to visit. It just happened to work out that way, so I guess there is a silver lining. |
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Tracy Allen, Photographer
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Glenview | IL | USA | Posted: 5:26 PM on 06.14.11 |
->> Blaine,
Since you are already scheduled to have the surgery, my best advice to you is to take the time and put in all of the effort to properly rehab your knee after the surgery.
I tore my ACL and meniscus playing varsity college soccer in the early 1990s. I had 4 surgeries over 3 years and went through months of physical therapy, but I have had no knee pain, nor have I been limited in my activities since then. I have even run marathons and regularly do triathlons.
During my several stints in physical therapy, I met people who didn't properly rehab their knees for financial and other reasons. Some of them had permanent limps and other issues as a result. Nothing is more important than your health, so follow your doctor's instructions and take the time to do what you need to take care of yourself.
Good luck.
Tracy |
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