Maybe hanging the fins up

[Neilwood]

Consider diving as your therapy. Many years ago I had a bone spur perforate my Achilles Tendon. It was painful and required that my Orthopedist take the tendon off, grind the bone spur off and reattach the tendon. I was told that I would be out of the water for at least half a year and he prescribed all sorts of physical terrorism. Malarky. I married myself to the pool and in a few weeks (3?) I did my first dive in the soupy run off lake at Devil's Den. Vis was horrible, but the water was cool and all weight was removed from my ankle and my body. Kicking was gentle but I felt the pressure. Two days later I was in another spring, being careful going up and down the steps to keep my ankle safe. I even did ocean dives if the seas were 1 ft or less and committed to diving twice a week, never doing a lick of the prescribed PT. During our last visit, my Dr told me this is when he's supposed to berate me for skipping PT, but he wasn't going to do that. In fact, it was the first time he done this procedure and the patient had shown absolutely no atrophy in the leg. A little over a year later I popped the other tendon. Instead of PT, the good Dr prescribed Scuba therapy instead. Imagine that. I got the same results.

Take it slow. I did. Don't give up. I didn't. Let the resistance of the water do its thing and feel the healing. Take comfort in the fact that there are many disabled people who dive. Blind, paraplegics, quadraplegics, amputees and more use Scuba as their therapy. In fact, I am heading to a nearby spring today after lunch to work on my knee. I believe in the magic of Vitamin Sea.

I didn't want to bring up the subject of disabled divers (in case anyone thought I was labelling Marie13 as one) but you are right. A lot of those folk have way more issues to deal with than most of us will ever have to consider but manage to dive albeit with adjustments to procedures & skills or with a bit more help from their buddies/staff/ boat operators etc.

 

[Steve_C]

Not sure of your configuration but if you have a weight belt, be sure to take it off first. There have been some bad incidents where somebody forgot and took it off second. Good luck. My wife had bad shingles. Eventually fully recovered. A couple medical folks recommended steroids. A doctor friend of hers who is a specialist said to avoid steroids. They can make it worse sometimes. So check out whatever is recommended.

 

[Soloist]

Years ago we were on a boat with an older lady with physical limitations that limited her to diving with only one fin. However, she was very proficient in the water. This may be an option for until you regain strength in your leg. Best regards.

 

[woodcarver]

Mom is 84, has had several bouts with shingles, still actively cruising around the world (at least 2/year, usually 3 or 4). Snorkels when she visits Bonaire (she is not a diver) and manages the shore entries just fine with my brothers help. From what she describes, the initial onset is painful, but with some meds and just getting out and "doing", it hasn't kept her from doing what she wants to.
Don't give up or sell the gear yet!

 

[diversteve]

Just modify the way you dive - and where - if you don't want to give it up. As Bob mentioned, look into a scooter - many of them are designed to go in checked luggage. I was on a boat once with an older gentleman who had walking difficulties so used his on just about every dive to keep up with us.

Also there's several dive boats with lifts installed across the country - I'm pretty sure there's at least one in South Florida - another off NC and Akimbo here works on one in Monterey (for veterans). So climbing a ladder is a non-issue. I'm pretty sure I've heard of one in the Great Lakes also.

Some of the bigger SE Asia liveaboards have stairs down to the waterline where you transfer to a zodiac - it would be awkward but the crew could pull you back on board one if asked.I beleve several of the Socorros boats (Solmar,Nautilus) do also but that could be high current diving.

Where you go is also a factor - ex - Curacao is mostly sandy beach entries with the reef fairly close in. Bonaire 50 mi. away is mostly rough ironshore entries - people with no limitations go down regularly there. There;s a recent thread here about using foldable canes to get in the water there. Stay away from places like Roatan or Utila where it's all boat diving and often done by panga which does put a lot of strain on your leg to reboard. Although even there - Cocoview has boats with "moonwells" in the center - submerged stairs you walk up.

The best I ever saw was the defunct Nekton - their entire dive platform could be lowered into the water you floated onto it, stood up and they raised you to the dive deck level. The only issue with them is they were very vertical so lots of stairs to move around the boat.

As mentioned - drop your gear in the water. I have a bad knee so I've regularly done that at times later in a week of diving when it starts to affect me more. I dive with integrated weights and mine are in pockets with handles on them so I usually hand them up first even if I keep my BC on my back to reboard.

They also sell webbed gloves. I've seen HSA divers who dont have legs manage in the water with those. I even thought of that for myself as I use my free hand to steady myself while filming by slowly sculling the water.

And locate HSA certified dive operations - there's several in Hawaii, the Divi Flamingo on Bonaire, Divetech on Cayman and others - some fully wheelchair accessible. Hell Cap't Gary in Tavernier was able to get Matt in the water repeatedly several years ago - he has MS and dives on a ventilator.

Contact the Diveheart people - they regularly put divers in the water with much more serious conditions than yours. It requires some accommodation - and a willing buddy but that shouldn't be hard to find. A friend of mine buddies occasionally with a paraplegic diver - she (my buddy) took special training to do do.

It's not over unless you want it to be...

 

[<*)))><]

Just wanted to say I've enjoyed your contributions to SB and hope you have a quick and full recovery.

Whats worked for me during various PT and rehab's to not look to far into the future. Apologize for the cliche but one day at a time. Slow, steady, and never quit.

Best of luck and keep us posted!

 

[lowflyer]

Hang in there. I can tell you from professional and personal experience that nerves can take many, many months to recover.

 

[KevinNM]

Had an attack of shingles a month ago. Affected my left leg. Significant muscle weakness. Have a hard time lifting it into the car. Climb a boat ladder? Nope! I’m in PT, but I’ve got a very bad gut feeling it’s not going to improve much. All my plans for the season are on hold. Some early charters have already been cancelled.

Tried diving this weekend at the quarry. Leg doesn’t kick well at all.

Unfortunately, it looks as if I may be hanging up my fins permanently.

Have diving while you can!

I hope for the best for you, but I’m inspired to get the shingles vaccination I’ve been putting off.

 

[lowflyer]

I hope for the best for you, but I’m inspired to get the shingles vaccination I’ve been putting off.

Make sure you get the new one, Shingrix
Some places want to unload the old one, Zostavax

 

[Bubblesong]

Nooooooo! Don't leave us! @DiveHeart has all kinds of adaptive diver techniques, no matter what the outcome of PT is, so keep up your Diving Action Adventure Spirit!