Diving with Injured Clavicle?

Frazzd · 10-31-2006

We were going to surprise my husband with dive lessons to prepare for our January trip...until he broke his collar bone in August. It's healing, but very slowly. He doesn't know if he'll even hunt this year since he can't pull his bow back yet, and won't even consider shooting the shotgun.

The kids still want to do this for him, but I don't think it's going to work out. I'm worried carrying the equipment would aggravate the injury more...any input?

**james** · 10-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frazzd

We were going to surprise my husband with dive lessons to prepare for our January trip...until he broke his collar bone in August. It's healing, but very slowly. He doesn't know if he'll even hunt this year since he can't pull his bow back yet, and won't even consider shooting the shotgun.

The kids still want to do this for him, but I don't think it's going to work out. I'm worried carrying the equipment would aggravate the injury more...any input?

ask your doctor to be sure.

I think the answer will be if he is able to carry the gear comfortably, he should be able to do it. He'll need to be able to deflate his jacket comfortably, which can be accomplished in several ways, and also perform a regulator sweep (grabbing the reg by it's house in a sweep of the right arm). Apart from that, climbing into the boat will be the toughest use of the arms, since we don't swim with them while diving. My hands are usually clasped in front of me.

I've guided plenty of disabled divers including the blind and paraplegics. There's usually a way of getting it done.

I've dived with just about every type of party injury, including a broken ankle.

Frazzd · 10-31-2006

Doesn't part of the gear actually rest on (or near) the collar bone? I guess that was the biggest worry, but I never even thought how hard it would be to get in/out of the boat..duh. But that's why I'm asking the experts!
Thanks, and we definitely would get a doctor's ok first. Just don't want to get his hopes up and have them smashed under my well meaning feet.

Sogno · 10-31-2006

Sorry to learn of your dilemma. Indeed, while out of the water, the BCD vest that supports that tank is over the shoulders, like a backpack. The straps will be over the clavicles, and this doesn't sound too appealing. The tank is heavy, out of the water. I think the test would be to see if he could wear a stuffed backpack on dry land without too much pain. Also, as pointed out, he needs full rotational movement of the arm to do the regulator sweep. Your husband will be familiar with this maneuver. If he can't scuba, there's always snorkeling. Good luck!

Frazzd · 10-31-2006

Well he'd fail the backpack test right now...probably wind up on his *&^ depending on the weight, but I'm sure he'd recover in time to strangle me for suggesting it!
We still have 2 months though,so maybe...

**Bumper** · 10-31-2006

I got my open water cert in Playa a couple of years ago while recovering from a shoulder separation and rotator cuff injury. James is right, I think. Getting into the boat is likely to be the biggest issue, and if his mobility is seriously compromised by the injury, the bulky, heavy, equipment is liable to make things awkward. I'm sure it can be done, but tell him to take his time, and don't be afraid to ask for help.

Frazzd · 10-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumper

I got my open water cert in Playa a couple of years ago while recovering from a shoulder separation and rotator cuff injury. Congratulations!

James is right, I think. Getting into the boat is likely to be the biggest issue,Well, I'm a 5ft 90lb Frazzd person, but I just may need Popeye's spinach to push his skinny butt back up!

and if his mobility is seriously compromised by the injury, the bulky, heavy, equipment is liable to make things awkward. I'm sure it can be done, but tell him to take his time, and don't be afraid to ask for help.

That last part just may be the toughest one for "Mr. Oh I can tough out anything"

traci · 10-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frazzd

Well he'd fail the backpack test right now...probably wind up on his *&^ depending on the weight, but I'm sure he'd recover in time to strangle me for suggesting it!
We still have 2 months though,so maybe...

With 2 more months to heal, it'll prob. be Ok. BUT, as James said, be sure to check with his Dr.B4 doing anything or making any decisions. I recently dislocated my shoulder, and tho' it's been a few weeks I wouldn't be able to do a backpack. i don't have to worry about diving, since I have had 2 collapsed lungs my pulmonologist said scuba was the 1 thing I could never do. So DH and my 13 yo son are certified and love it! I hope things work out, as they both LOVE diving and would do it everyday we were there!

**james** · 10-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bellasogno

The straps will be over the clavicles, and this doesn't sound too appealing. The tank is heavy, out of the water. I think the test would be to see if he could wear a stuffed backpack on dry land without too much pain.

this is quite true, but you can avoid carrying the tank on land completely. you can do a rollback entry, and upon surfacing, the mate will lift the tank into the boat.

Joana · 10-31-2006

Playa info intern here.....

With two months to go- well, first of all like already said by others have a doc see him before he does it...........that doc can do a check up centered on diving on him as well then.
What the most important is though- IMHO is how he feels then, wether he still has pain etc.. If he does and still isn't up to it- why force it?? Diving doesn't run away.
But I'm pretty positive he'll be fine by then.

Daddy B · 10-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frazzd

We were going to surprise my husband with dive lessons to prepare for our January trip...until he broke his collar bone in August. It's healing, but very slowly. He doesn't know if he'll even hunt this year since he can't pull his bow back yet, and won't even consider shooting the shotgun.

The kids still want to do this for him, but I don't think it's going to work out. I'm worried carrying the equipment would aggravate the injury more...any input?

Check it out with the doctor, as my learned fellow diving instructors have so eloquently stressed. The hunting, however, he'd better forsake permanently.

PlayaCountryBoy · 11-01-2006

I too have broken my collar bone and am still diving. The clavicle heals quite well, he should have no problem diving or hunting after sufficient time. This hunting season may be out, but diving shouldn't be. If he is still having problems with it, he can do the course without having to carry around equipment. Underwater there is no stress on the joint because things are relatively weightless underwater, hence the fun part of diving....being weightless!!! If you have any other questions about diving with an injury, just send me a message. I am a certified RT (radiological tech.).

Frazzd · 11-01-2006

Thanks Everyone! I knew I'd get common sense input here. Since we're trying to make this a Xmas surprise, we're taking a "wait & see" approach. I'll feel him out (hmmm..anyway) if it seems at all possible in December, I think I may contact a local dive shop to have him spend some time there pre-vacation just to be certain. As stubborn as he is, I KNOW he'll find a way around this...no shattered bone's gonna get in the way I'm sure!

Now I just need to hope he won't injure himself further while hunting!

10-31-2006	#1 (permalink)
Frazzd way into it Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Podunk Ohio Posts: 239	Diving with Injured Clavicle? We were going to surprise my husband with dive lessons to prepare for our January trip...until he broke his collar bone in August. It's healing, but very slowly. He doesn't know if he'll even hunt this year since he can't pull his bow back yet, and won't even consider shooting the shotgun. The kids still want to do this for him, but I don't think it's going to work out. I'm worried carrying the equipment would aggravate the injury more...any input?

10-31-2006	#3 (permalink)
Frazzd way into it Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Podunk Ohio Posts: 239	Doesn't part of the gear actually rest on (or near) the collar bone? I guess that was the biggest worry, but I never even thought how hard it would be to get in/out of the boat..duh. But that's why I'm asking the experts! Thanks, and we definitely would get a doctor's ok first. Just don't want to get his hopes up and have them smashed under my well meaning feet.

10-31-2006	#4 (permalink)
Sogno way into it Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Town of Ottawa, Wisconsin, USA Posts: 161	Sorry to learn of your dilemma. Indeed, while out of the water, the BCD vest that supports that tank is over the shoulders, like a backpack. The straps will be over the clavicles, and this doesn't sound too appealing. The tank is heavy, out of the water. I think the test would be to see if he could wear a stuffed backpack on dry land without too much pain. Also, as pointed out, he needs full rotational movement of the arm to do the regulator sweep. Your husband will be familiar with this maneuver. If he can't scuba, there's always snorkeling. Good luck!

10-31-2006	#5 (permalink)
Frazzd way into it Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Podunk Ohio Posts: 239	Well he'd fail the backpack test right now...probably wind up on his *&^ depending on the weight, but I'm sure he'd recover in time to strangle me for suggesting it! We still have 2 months though,so maybe...

10-31-2006	#6 (permalink)
Bumper Class Clown Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 10,233	I got my open water cert in Playa a couple of years ago while recovering from a shoulder separation and rotator cuff injury. James is right, I think. Getting into the boat is likely to be the biggest issue, and if his mobility is seriously compromised by the injury, the bulky, heavy, equipment is liable to make things awkward. I'm sure it can be done, but tell him to take his time, and don't be afraid to ask for help.

10-31-2006	#10 (permalink)
Joana Niiiice!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: With Quincy....... Posts: 5,187	Playa info intern here..... With two months to go- well, first of all like already said by others have a doc see him before he does it...........that doc can do a check up centered on diving on him as well then. What the most important is though- IMHO is how he feels then, wether he still has pain etc.. If he does and still isn't up to it- why force it?? Diving doesn't run away. But I'm pretty positive he'll be fine by then.

11-01-2006	#12 (permalink)
PlayaCountryBoy life=playa Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 507	I too have broken my collar bone and am still diving. The clavicle heals quite well, he should have no problem diving or hunting after sufficient time. This hunting season may be out, but diving shouldn't be. If he is still having problems with it, he can do the course without having to carry around equipment. Underwater there is no stress on the joint because things are relatively weightless underwater, hence the fun part of diving....being weightless!!! If you have any other questions about diving with an injury, just send me a message. I am a certified RT (radiological tech.).

11-01-2006	#13 (permalink)
Frazzd way into it Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Podunk Ohio Posts: 239	Thanks Everyone! I knew I'd get common sense input here. Since we're trying to make this a Xmas surprise, we're taking a "wait & see" approach. I'll feel him out (hmmm..anyway) if it seems at all possible in December, I think I may contact a local dive shop to have him spend some time there pre-vacation just to be certain. As stubborn as he is, I KNOW he'll find a way around this...no shattered bone's gonna get in the way I'm sure! Now I just need to hope he won't injure himself further while hunting!

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