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Injuries - update

John Fisher

John Fisher

John Fisher

Published: Thu 22 Dec 2016

While never super-fit, I was always well able to get around. For years I lifted heavy loads, jogged with heavy packs, rowed in racing eights, canoed and Eskimo rolled down rivers like the Exe, and dabbled in windsurfing, canoeing or caving. So when two years ago I developed a back problem and got to only being able to walk 50 yards a day it was a shock. The consultant agreed surgery was the best bet, and after seeing the MRI scan I agreed. So about 6 months later I was all prepped-up in the Nuffield Hospital. But it had got more bearable, and the surgeon decided on the day- correctly in hindsight- that I was risking major surgery and weeks of pain and rehab, and no guarantee of success. Soldier on and see.

Now, 18 months on, I can walk and stand fairly comfortably, but I am now very cautious. Any jarring motion could start it all again and I can't jog more than a few yards on open ground. Twelve months of next to no exercise hadn't helped my muscle tone or weight, either. And other hip and knee joints are complaining. Steep slopes are a struggle. Ducking under obstacles is slow and cautious. Walking on slippery damp brashings or tripping through brambles are hard. But we orienteers are built of stern stuff and others in the Club have had worse problems.

John Fisher

You can also read John's account of his life in orienteering