Bad news on neck

[Shane]

I was just told by my Doctor today that I should not do any more
martial art training involving contact to the head and neck. It
appears that years of not respecting the pain that I felt in my
neck and just driving on has just about desroyed a disc in my neck.
The ones in my back are not to good either. He said that he felt
certain that if I dont quit I will end up having surgery, but If
I do right I can avoid surgery. I am bummed. I had taken about 5
years away from hard training but my neck will not heal. Thanks for
listening and any advice would be great.

Thanks, Shane

[bretc]

Shane, I'm not qualified to give advice on any medical condition but me and most everyone on this forum knows what it's like to be side lined with injuries so we're here to listen and offer support.
Good luck with your recovery, clean the slate and take baby steps and remember health first.

[KD Jones]

Really, really sorry to hear this.

On something of this magnitude, may I suggest 2nd, even 3rd and 4th opinions? I'm not dissing your doctor, and my case is probably much less severe and different from yours (leg and hip) but there are sometimes a number of ways to look at these things.

The hard thing for me is preventing my own spirit/mind from becoming an enemy. I learned from a friend of mine who fought lyphatic cancer for years... that we should not let our diagnoses "become us" or "define us." If we do, they become little more than professionally administered curses.

Do everything you can, never give up. Every bit of health you can purchase is still gold, and always will be.

I end this little sermonette with the altogether too anti-climactic statement that my thoughts and prayers are with you on this, for what they may be worth to you.

Blessings. Please keep us posted, and know that you are part of this tribe regardless of what direction your "training" takes. The fight is defined by you.

[Shane]

"that we should not let our diagnoses "become us" or "define us." If we do, they become little more than professionally administered curses". Great advice and thanks for the support.

Shane

[Coach Tran]

Mr. Holley,

I am sorry about your news. Don't give up finding a solution to your condition. Bruce Lee was told he would never kick again or practice MA. Joe Wilson was told the same thing as a boy, but I think you know what happen to these guys, right? I hope you recovery soon. Please keeep us updated.

Yours in CST,

[Hobbes]

For what it's worth, as a sports medicine physician and former judoka with a narrowed cervical spinal canal, 2 items:

1) Respect your neck almost as much as you respect the squash, i.e. your sensitive gelatinous, doesn't-heal-for-beans brain. There is notably less free space around your spinal cord in your neck for a bulging disc or arthritic bone spurs to not pinch, compared to the relatively large spaces between the cord and bony tunnel sidewalls in your low back. There are levels of severity to disc bulges, etc. that would make judo/jiu-jitsu type activities Risky, and lesser levels that would just fall under the category of "make my doctor nervous." Figuring out where you actually stand depends on getting good medical feedback - I second the notion of getting quality alternate opinions - as well as your own tolerance for risk. Some folks find it unacceptable proceed with an activity that could possibly lead to major pain flares, others to chronic pain, others only stopping when paralysis or death are being mentioned. And some just don't care, not doing judo or whatever is worse than death.

2) If in conjunction with your trusted medical allies, you conclude that grappling type activities (or whatever) are out, there are PLENTY of other activities you can do, including martial arts. You may choose to participate with limits, like avoiding competition, or unchecked free sparring, choosing to train with partners who will work with your limitations. You can choose a non-neck intensive MA, like kendo, which is cool, traditional from here to eternity, armored-safe, and gut and wind challenging to the max. CST and clubbells give you a leg up here on swinging that sword around :) You could choose iaido or a similar form-based art, that puts absolutely no stress on the neck, but which retains most of the training techniques that, aside from combat, are identical to how classical warriors trained (i.e. weapons forms, focusing on distance, timing, precision, and endless repetition to ingrain motor patterns, and later, spiritual insight and release).

If one door closes, think of it as an enforced opportunity to explore another window opening (sometimes it takes something dramatic to make us move). You may find working with weapons or even live blades gives you insight and experiences that you would never have gotten with more conventional MA's. And you may even find, after all is said and done, that you can return to MA's after some kind of treatment or rehab, or that things aren't as bad as one physician thought. There is hope, have faith in the process of being prudent, and remember that however things turn out/you choose to proceed, you have options that are kick-ass any direction you turn.

[Hobbes]

A clarification on my above post: this is not meant to be specific medical advice. That can only come from a physician who knows you and your case specifics well.

Any ultimate cautions should be worked out one-on-one with them, with a discussion of the risks and benefits of various options, including surgery vs. not, or which workout type is OK vs. not. But even within those guidelines, the possibilities for ongoing personal enrichment are great.

Hope this helps, some.

[Shane]

Great advice, thanks.

Shane