Fighting Injured - somewhat of a rant

[Gwydion Caithnes]

I'm recovering from four sets of elbow surgeries (two on each elbow) to address problems unrelated to SCA combat. The healing/rehab process has taken me off the field and out of the lists for much of the last several months. After explaining the mechanics of SCA combat to him, my doc has cleared me to fight polearm on a limited basis, but is encouraging me to avoid stick and board until I regain some additional strength.

Am I gonna listed to him? You betcha!

Due to the surgeries, I have not martially served my kingdom, my barony or my household as befits my obligations as a squire. Am I concerned about it? Somewhat. But my personal health is more important to me, and those who truly care for me understand the situation fully. Any who might think that the situation diminishes my honor do not know me.

You are generous and honorable to have offered your resignation to your liege, as a courtesy. But (and I must be frank, here), anyone who would have accepted such a resignation would be somewhat diminished in honor, to my own eyes. Especially when there are many other alternatives: for example, if the office truly demands martial activities, then a "deputy" could be appointed to serve in the martial role(s).

I grant that circumstances vary, but since you and your liege have come to a mutually-acceptible solution, no others may gainsay it. And any who do should not matter.

[Alric]

I think the issue is not with people who are legitimately hurt. I really think the "suck it up" attitude comes from being frustrated at fighters who take any excuse to not be on the field. It appears to me some fighters feel obligated to fight in order to obtain some goal, but there is very little true love of the sport, they are simply going through the motions, and when they start to get beaten a lot, they "get hurt."
A lot of times, I have seen fighters who fight 4 times a year, and they only fight for a few hours at the battles. They don't want to lose face by simply not being in condition to fight, so they say something about a minor pain or ache, because, being tired isn't an acceptable excuse, but being hurt is, (equipment failure as well).
I think what we forget is that for some people the 4 or 5 times they fight a year *IS* their sca experience, that's what keeps them going for the whole year. They want to fight their battles and have war stories to talk about. They want to be able to sit around the fire with everone else and be just as fantastic heros, and you can't if you just stop fighting... but if you're hurt.The problem as I see it becomes when the 4 or 5 time a year guys get frustrated that they are not being recognized, or even still not getting better, but are unwilling to put ay time or effort into it.
Now please understand real injuries are for real, and it's stupid to fight when truly injured. I was once told, it's ok to be hurt, fight through that, just never fight in pain.
Alric

[wilmot]

"“Ah, just wrap it up and get out there,â€Â

[Alcyoneus]

[quote="wilmot"]"“Ah, just wrap it up and get out there,â€Â

[wilmot]

"There are people who have been through things like that, and still say/do that.

They are stupid asshats."

You are so right, as my knee surgen says; "The last thing you want to hear while you are recovering is the word Revisitation". I won my first crown after having the flexer tendon in my left thumb reattached. It hurt like hell and I should not have done it as the thumb most likely took longer to heal.

Ronald

[Alcyoneus]

Most of us have probably done something dumb, and we knew better.

But you don't get the hat unless you tell someone else to do something stupid- like fight when you are injured.

[wilmot]

Alcyoneus,
Very true, I am the first to admit that I have been stupid and reckless. I am damn lucky that I can still do this and I encourage anyone I teach to not to fight if they are hurt or not up to it, fighting will still be there when you get better.

"Most of us have probably done something dumb, and we knew better.

But you don't get the hat unless you tell someone else to do something stupid- like fight when you are injured. "




Ronald

[Anjouleme]

First of all, you guys are the bomb! I look forward to crossing swords with as many of you as I may come January, in friendship and gratitude.

I've learned one thing, for sure, in the course of this thread. A couple of "asshats", as you say, are certainly not reflective of the majority. I am constantly reminded by the people I meet in this little game about how cool people can be and are. I need that every once in a while.

Its is my hope that others will read this thread and heed sane wisdom in similar times. Those who are truly dedicated to fighting (you know who you are) have a hard time staying off the field when they should, and any pressure or encouragement to the contrary is easy to agree with when you want nothing more than to be "out there" with your friends and family.

Thanks again, all! I can't wait to kick ass with or agin' ya in the relatively near future!

[Malcolm_Mor]

I can think of two guys I know in the Midrealm.

One had a recurring problem with his shoulder, and kept aggravating it. His "3 or 4 months off" that he couldn't take has resulted in over a year off, and he's still not up to strength.

Another had a recurring injury to the shoulder. He was advised to get minor surgery and let it heal up for a season. But he keeps at it, winds up getting hurt badly, and then requires major surgery. He will never fight again.

There is a time and place for "suck it up," but injuries requiring surgery are so far from this time and place as to be outrageous. Take care of it now; and be damned those who suggest that to do so is less than honorable, and insist you chance breaking yourself for good. Such people's good opinions aren't worth having.

[Alcyoneus]

First of all, you guys are the bomb! I look forward to crossing swords with as many of you as I may come January, in friendship and gratitude.

That is a long time to be able to watch, and not fight, and it sucks. I've had to take two breaks for injury. The first was when my shoulder was dislocated at BoH, and it was broken when it was put back in place. When my right arm simply did not work, it was pretty easy to take a break. The second was last year from the beginning of May until the week before Valor, due to a messed up L shoulder (rotator cuff stuff). I didn't want to take a break like Glendour advised me. I could go R hand single sword, right? But when reaching into my pocket for a cell phone, or snaggin my sleeve on a nail could pretty much dislocate it and cause a lot o pain...it was pretty easy to decide at that point.

I think you have enough experience that while you will be rusty when you get back on the field, it won't take you that long to get back to where you were when you took your injury.

It will be worth it.