The Armour Archive

Greetings!

Last week, I got the results of X-Rays of my right foot; a bad fracture, possibly a break, of the right big toe. It's "broken in place" so should heal in place. They told me to wear some specific shoes and stay off it as much as possible.

I've realized that the injury that probably did that was actually back around Sept. 20. There is not a lot of pain in the toe. My doc does not know that it has been that long.

I will check to see what my doc says, but I would like to get down to a fighting event this weekend. It is one of the rare rare rare opportunities where work and church and personal commitments would allow it, but I have this bum toe.

I'm a diabetic, which complicates issues. Any advice on how I could brace/pad it to hel ensure it's all right, and still fight?

Thoughts?




Val

Talk to your doctor, include a full explanation of this sport and what you propose to do. Then take his/her advice. If it means you miss a really cool event, but get to keep a really cool toe....

Corwin

Or even get to keep the foot/leg. I am sure that you already know the consequences of diabetes, but let me reiterate with a little story. We just had a benefit for a buddy of mine who had his leg amputated because of a little sore on his foot. He had diabetes and well, lower leg problems do not heal quickly and the diabetes was bad enough to prevent him from ever getting better. His bones became infected and was never cured. They HAD to cut off his lower leg to save his life.

Good luck.

Odo

Dude don't do it. Diabeties and foot fractures are dangerous enough. Don't complicate the situation.

We had a lady in our area that was well liked and loved, and died because of complications with diabetes. I never knew her, but my baron has told me the story several times. they progressively took from her toes to her entire leg off trying to save her, but they couldnt. Dont risk it, wait for it to completely heal then play.

I'll wait for you, Valstarr, you know how much you want to hit me...

Dont fuck around. I've been taking it REAL easy because of a sore on the side of my foot that resulted from an ulcerated callus. And I'm the one that likes to fight three times a week. From one diabetic to another wait till you heal. Seriously.
Good luck with that.

I am not a diabetic.. but a recent situation that occurred involving a very important friend in my life and *his* diabetes taught me just how valuable the *important* things in life are.

Things like walking, being with family.. living. There are times in life and in fighting when one must be able to take it to the next level, push beyond the pain and excel. And then there are times to STOP.. listen to your body.. and heal.

My recommendation is that this is one of the "stop" times...

M

http://www.billyandcharlie.com/gyrthmemorial.html

I've realized that the injury that probably did that was actually back around Sept. 20. There is not a lot of pain in the toe. My doc does not know that it has been that long. Thoughts?.

Yeah, I have a thought. Your doctor needs to know that it's been since Sept 20 that the original injury took place. By my counting (using all my fingers and toes, which which through the grace of God and modern medicine I still have) it's been going on 8 weeks. And if it's still badly fractured and not healing they need to look into more serious intervention.

As a diabetic, you need to be especially careful about foot injuries. They take forever to heal, and because of the poor circulation and damage to the nerves in the foot, you may not be aware of the extent of the damage. As a diabetic, a broken bone in your foot that you keep reinjuring is more than an inconvience- it is a literal threat to life and limb.

Go back to the doc. Make sure he understands you are a diabetic, and it's been almost 8 weeks since the original injury and have him reevalulate it in that light. And DON'T fight on it till you have his OK.

I take my meds, watch my sugars and keep a close eye on any injuries to my legs and feet. If you want to do SCA (or any sport, for that matter) as a diabetic, you need to do the same. Yeah, it sucks. But the consequenses of not doing these things sucks way more...

While I admire Sir Kief in Ansteorra, I have no desire to follow in his footstep . If you don't take care of this now, you may get to join the exclusive club of one legged fighters.

Brucer

I'm going to go with several others on this and say you probably don't want to do this. Even if you are a good diabetic and take your insulin and your medecine and all that happiness you could still hurt yourself very badly. Heal up first. Please.

Greetings!

First of all, I seriously and truly want to thank you all that have replied, nd the one bt P-M also. It is ncie to know people are concerned enough to give straight advice.

I went back today to my doctor, and told him when I think it occurred. The first time I heard, last week about it, it was his nurse relaying to me. I still have feeling in my feet and am not as unfortunate as those suffering serious neuropathy.

He okayed me to fight, and told me not to get my head knocked off. He saaid I could do anything it would let me do..if it starts bothering (bad,) back off.

So, I had not anticipated such a response. he has always been a go out and do anything you think you can/normally do. I was somewhat surpirsed.

So, I would really really really like to go this weekend and fight. I have not completely made up my mind yet, though.


Thank you, again, for all your input! I really appreciate it!
Val

So, where would I have to drive to hit/be hit?

dizzy Dean broke his big toe. Being an athlete in the 1930's he continued to play, and modified his pitch so that he didn't hurt the foot more.
by the end of the season he had destroyed his shoulder, was in constant pain, and never pitched again professionally.
Screw the diabedes - a broken big toe will throw your fighting off enough to rip apart joints (cf notice big toes being cut off in the old testiment - it is a significant punishment)
I want you to take care of yourself, if I do wind up in Omaha next year you're probably one of the people I will travel to meet.

I'm 4-5hrs closer, and haven't met him yet.

But I will.

I do appreciate the advice and thoughtfulness.

In honesty, I will admit I'm not in shape to fight this weekend. Hopefully another time will come.

Thanks again, everyone!




Val

This is a good time to train. Work on your armour (whose armour *doesn't* need work?), lift weights, read good works on fighting, do pell work. Stand on the sidelines and analyze the fighting.

In all ways and guises, make your compatriots fear your return to the field and pray to the almighty to save them from getting hit by you.

Good luck!

Alejandro

Shoot video of everyone, especially the best fighters in your area. Go home and study them. When you are in fighting shape integrate what you can and use what you know against them.

Odo

Baron Alejandro wrote:This is a good time to train. Work on your armour (whose armour *doesn't* need work?), lift weights, read good works on fighting, do pell work. Stand on the sidelines and analyze the fighting.

In all ways and guises, make your compatriots fear your return to the field and pray to the almighty to save them from getting hit by you.

Good luck!

Alejandro

Valstarr -- when you do get back in harness, please keep a close monitor on your foot, and how it feels. I'd also go with whatever kind of footwear provides the best comfort and protection, regardless of authenticity. Good luck, Dude.

-- Captain Obvious

I had one side of my face shattered playing that famous of noncontact sports, soccer. I took my helmat, sword, and pictures with me to see the doctor so as to impart the best impression of what we do. A week before I was suppose to be cleared to practice again I took part in the fighting classes at a Kingdom University. I took a chance and armored up for spacific sparing and training. After a while things evolved into triad practices. It was not until a hold was called after an incident involving me occcered that the gravity of my not following my doctor's orders and my wife's concerns that I quickly left the field and caved in on myself at the realization of my impatience. I not only risked my own health, but that of the harmony of my family, the continuation of my employment and the mental/emotional effects on any of my opponents if something unfortuneate had happened. I was being very irresponcible and selfish in my impatience. Lesson learned with no harm and little foul.

Val, go get some Redwings. They make some of the best footwear I've ever worn.

"Any advice on how I could brace/pad it to hel ensure it's all right, and still fight?"

IF. Big IF. You decide, if this diabetes thing is the cause of your skeletal fragility: I have to echo the comments of others...don't risk it. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when you hurt yourself bad because diabetes is a foe that never sleeps and never goes away.

Consider a career in field heraldry. You obviously love to fight--which means you love the life of arms and maybe even the culture of deeds. Support the martial culture by doing good field heraldry. Get a super cool soft kit and learn public oration; it's needed! A Knight's Tale was right in this: a good publicist can increase a man at arms' renown very much.

Ask Geoffrey of Wigmore.

Jehan de Pelham, esquire and servant of Sir Vitus

Talk to an orthopedist, they make a special sole insert that can help you. It kind of looks like a Dr Shoels insert except that it has a metal plate under the joint to keep it from flexing. Feels a little wierd, but it helps. It is what I used when I broke my big toe in tae-kwon-do.

Uric