training with hip problems... how do you do it?

twistkick kid · Orange Belt

Greetings all,

it's been a while since I've posted here, but I come to you all with questions and seeking some advice.

Martial Arts Background first.
I've been a martial artist in various styles since I was 7. I'm going to be 25 in November of this year. I trained very heavily from the time I was 7 until I was 18 in Tae Kwon Do. After I turned 18, I went away to college, and my training load lightened from 5 to 6 days a week in the dojang to 2 or 3 days a week practising on my own or with some classmates who also studied TKD. I got involved in Aikido at a local dojo for 3 semesters or so, then had to knuckle down on my studies because I was taking 300 and 400 level classes as a sophomore. After I finished college in June 2014, I took about 9 months off from formal training entirely because of various health issues (some of them requiring surgery to straighten out). In March 2015, I tried to go back to my old TKD dojang, but I felt alienated and like the programme had changed waaaaayyyy too much from what I liked, so I searched out other places to train. 2 months later, I found a USSD (Shaolin Kempo) dojo within a short walk from my house. Fast forward to today (15 months after starting with USSD) and I'm loving what I'm learning, just got my green belt, and am in their Instructor's Academy Programme.

Health Background.
I was always hypermobile in many of my joints as a kid. I could entertain myself by finding odd positions for my fingers or grossing out my friends/parents/teachers with bending my thumbs in to touch my inner forearms. I got the nickname Gumby because I could kick over my own head without stretching (and still can when my hip is not making me miserable). I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome hypermobility type in 2012, and again by a different set of physicians at the end of 2015. I've always had incredibly flexible legs (especially at the hips) and my right hip always made horrible popping noises, but I never thought anything of it. Unfortunately, I've had recurrent bursitis (at the greater trochanteric bursa) since 2012 and partial dislocations of the right hip starting in 2013. I had a minor training accident in December of 2015, and that led to discovering that I have a torn labrum in my right hip, snapping hip syndrome, and to top that all off, I was also diagnosed with congenital hip dysplasia by x-rays and CT scans two months ago. I will need surgery to construct a hip socket that will not dislocate.

My questions are these:
1) how do you find motivation to train when you are in pain and it feels like the slightest wrong move will pop the joint out of place?
2) how do you cope with training partners who nag at you to do things the un-modified way when you have a modifier that makes doing a technique less painful?
3) how do you handle being teased or picked on for being young and in pain all the time?
4) how do you know when to ask if there's an acceptable modifier for a technique?
5) how do you know when is a good time to sit and watch class instead of participate?
6) I'm to start using crutches for mobility assistance when the pain gets really horrible- is there a way to still train while on crutches?

Any and all assistance, ideas, coping mechanisms, thoughts, and commiserations are welcome

-twistkick kid
_________________
Shaolin Kempo, 1st Dan (earned 3 July 2018 in China)
ITF Tae Kwon Do, 2nd Dan (earned 6 June 2009 in San Diego, CA)

Almost 20 years of martial arts training in total

sensei8 · KF Sensei

Speak first with your doctor!! Then, speak with your Sensei about what your doctor said, without providing private things, if you can. Your health before anything else, or you won't be able to do anything else...at all!!

Forgive me my short answer, but I'm no doctor, and I believe that you need to consult with your doctor, and you both can come up with a plan for your long term health.

I know you're hurting, and for that reason alone, the sooner you visit with your doctor, the sooner you'll have medical answers to your questions, and not the uneducated answer that I'd try to give you. SEE YOUR DOCTOR...FIRST...then visit with your Sensei.

Don't execute anything that causes you discomfort and/or pain!! The pain is there to inform you that something's wrong, and don't try to ignore it for any reasons. If fellow class mates are pressing you to do things you don't want to do because of the pain, I'd bow out for the moment.

Hang in there!!

_________________
**Proof is on the floor!!!

twistkick kid · Orange Belt

I have an appointment with the surgeon who will be fixing my hip tomorrow at 1.30 pm. Unfortunately this office has been less than cooperative when it comes to communication and responding to messages, phone calls, and emails. So they will be getting an earful from me.

I plan on discussing all my options with this doctor tomorrow, and explaining that martial arts is how I make a living.

I have started to do more behind the scenes work rather than being on the floor teaching and training. I'm in the office placing calls, scheduling, doing the stuff to keep our dojo running.

Sensei8- any answer you can give, even if it appears short is food for me to think about and grow from. I appreciate the input.

_________________
Shaolin Kempo, 1st Dan (earned 3 July 2018 in China)
ITF Tae Kwon Do, 2nd Dan (earned 6 June 2009 in San Diego, CA)

Almost 20 years of martial arts training in total

sensei8 · KF Sensei

Good news that you're tending this now, instead of later; you're in my thoughts. Yes, it's frustrating when not even a doctor's office practices good customer service, because of all the places that it's paramount, it's at the doctors office. Don't rush me through the examination as though you're rushing cattle!!

I've been chronic with my right arm, elbow to fingertips, and with my right leg, knee to toes. Oftentimes, the pains more than I care to endure, but I push through. Yet, what's lessen the pain is when I stay on track with stretching everyday, twice a day, as well as doing yoga, twice a day. Also, going to the gym as often as I can helps me.

What doesn't help me is when I don't get out of my recliner for any length of time. That gives my body time to take 3 steps backwards, instead of forwards.

Nidan Melbourne · KF Sempai

Discuss with your Physician to get some assistance to find a way to help you with your health issues. From my Point of View you'll need to be doing some strength training, but also to rest until your Bursitis gets to a level that is safe and comfortable for you to train.

twistkick kid · Orange Belt

Thanks for the input Nidan Melbourne.

Ironically, my bursitis has been relatively well controlled since starting Shaolin Kempo, and most of the current round of aches and pains in my hip have been from the torn up cartilage and the partial dislocations.

I've found a few modifiers for defensive maneuvers, like DMs 3, 4, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19 and Kempos A, 1, 10, 15, 16. I unknowingly did an accepted modification to the scissors kick in #3 Kata and a work-around or two in #3 Pinan. some of them I picked up from watching other students with physical issues in the dojo, and others I discovered because I specifically asked Sensei and Hanshi Turner

Hopefully I get more answers as to things I can and can't do from my ortho doc today. It's just frustrating as hell to sit and watch, or be the loner off in the back working on forms and DMs and Kempos in the air when everyone else is doing sparring or rolling around with grappling stuff.
_________________
Shaolin Kempo, 1st Dan (earned 3 July 2018 in China)
ITF Tae Kwon Do, 2nd Dan (earned 6 June 2009 in San Diego, CA)

Almost 20 years of martial arts training in total

Nidan Melbourne · KF Sempai

twistkick kid · Orange Belt

Ahh, here's a quick run down of those things.

Dm's are set system wide and there are 108 of them. They're the equivalent of one-steps. Also called combinations.

Kempos are defenses against a punch that are more free form than Kempos. The ones taught at my dojo may not be taught at the dojo down the street.

A scissors kick is where you spring off the ground and execute simultaneous back kick and front kick (right foot front kick, left foot back kick)

There's some good explanations of Kempo as an art and the different combinations at www.kempoinfo.com and tge katas are there if you are interested
_________________
Shaolin Kempo, 1st Dan (earned 3 July 2018 in China)
ITF Tae Kwon Do, 2nd Dan (earned 6 June 2009 in San Diego, CA)

Almost 20 years of martial arts training in total

JR 137 · Black Belt

As has been mentioned, make sure you're following your doc's advice. Make sure he/she understands what you're doing and you're doing it for a living rather than some weekend beer league softball player.

Contrary to common sense, orthopedic surgeons really ARE NOT the best at modification, prescription of exercise regimen, etc. Orthos know what's wrong and how to go in and fix it. They know parameters such as 15 degrees of flexion and extension the first two weeks, adding 5 degrees weekly afterwards, etc. Seek out a physical therapist or occupational therapist for specifics, as you'll be seeing them for post-op rehab.

As far as communication with physicians, that's on their assistants, be it a secretary, PA, nurse, etc. Surgeons are a mess, and they know it. Their assistants tell them where they are, where they're going, and what they're going to do tomorrow. In all fairness to them, their schedules are hectic and they've got far more important things to keep their brain occupied. Assistants are there for a reason. Bring up your communication issue to the doc, as he has an idea of what's going on.

Sorry, I've been around quite a few orthopedists. Most have been great people. Make sure he/she answers all questions you have. They get the mentality that you know what's going on and don't get too thorough in explanations.

But remember, the modifications stuff is best coming from a therapist. That's what they do. Surgeons operate.

As far as people saying this and that, so what? As long as your teacher knows what's going on (and you know), everything will take care of itself.

While you're on crutches/wheelchair? Anything seated (upper body). You can still do basic blocks, punches, etc. Maybe get someone to hold focus mitts. I know, not glamorous, but better than nothing.

Edit: I somehow didn't say orthopedists aren't the best at modification of activity. Edited stuff in caps.

Nidan Melbourne · KF Sempai

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