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Eventful Western Canada Ski Trip

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I have just got back from a 2 week combined skiing and sight seeing trip with my brother to Western Canada, which turned out quite eventful.
We flew with Zoom to Calgary from Manchester. The flight was OK, except for the two drunken blokes (Brits) who sat immediately behind us. They were the last to board the plane, at least 20 minutes after everyone else (presumably they had been using every precious drinking moment in the airport bar Sad ). Shortly after takeoff they had beers from the stewardess when she first came round with the drinks trolley. However, it soon became apparent that they were well drunk, and then a stewardess noticed that they were having more drink from a whisky bottle which they had brought with them! At this point the crew, rightly IMO, told the guys that that they would be served no more alcohol during the flight, and that the whisky bottle would be confiscated and handed back on landing. They grudgingly accepted the situation and calmed down, although I heard one of the guys say he would never fly with Zoom again and it was "disgusting that they take away your own drink from you" rolling eyes . One humourous note as far as I was concerned was that about two and a half hours into the approx nine hour flight the fasten seatbelt signs came on because of some turbulence, and as the stewardess came round to check that everyone had fastened their seatbelts, one of them was so far out of it that in all seriousness he asked "Are we landing now?" rolling eyes Anyway, since the medical advice for long air trips is to drink plenty of water and little alcohol, I bet the guys weren't feeling too good after their flight. Toofy Grin
On arrival at Calgary we went to the Thrifty Car Rental desk for our prebooked car. Along with about 4 other British car renters we were told that the cars weren't available yet as they were being cleaned, they were short of staff, and it would be at least an hour before the cars were ready Evil or Very Mad. We got our car after a ninety minute wait, by which time it had gone dark and it was also snowing - but at least we had prebooked overnight accomation in a nearby airport Motel - some of the British renters were wanting to drive to to their accomodation in Banff or Fernie that evening!
The next day, after looking at the impressive facilities built for the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics, we drove to Banff, where we had prebooked 3 nights accomodation. My brother(who doesn't downhill ski though he does some cross country) set off to look at the sights in Banff whilst I drove to Sunshine. The conditions at Sunshine were excellent - some fresh powder on a firm base. I had a great time exploring the runs on the 3 interconnected Mountains (Goat's Eye, Lookout and Mt Standish). Then mid afternoon as I was on Scapegoat (a blue run on the North American scale) I somehow messed up a turn which resulted in a rather fast forward fall. As soon as I landed I knew from the pain in my right shoulder that I had damaged something. A quick check showed that I had dislocated it Skullie BUMMER! A passing ski instructor stayed to help me whilst the ski patrol was sent for, and within 5 minutes they had arrived and helped me into the sled for a trip down to the base station. I had never been in a blood wagon before, and was wondering how bumpy and therefore potentially painful the ride was going to be, but in fact the ride was quite smooth. Knowing the possible costs in North America of such services I emphasised to the ski patrollers that I had insurance, but in fact they were unconcerned, since rescue down from the ski area is included in the lift ticket cost. (I gather from Snowbunny's experience in the 3 Valleys that this is not always the case in all countries).
The Banff Mineral Springs Hospital did an excellent job of pulling my shoulder back into position Shocked (I believe the medical term is reduction - anyone know why?), taking several X-rays and equipping me with a sling (mind you I expect they get plenty of practice at it!). The charge for that was just under CDN$800 (about £400), although of that CDN$356 was a basic minimum fee for non residents of Canada. I suppose if the hospitals are funded in some degree by the Canadian Government its reasonable for non Canadians to pay more. Anyway I will be claiming it all on the travel insurance (Norwich Union Direct). Incidentally, the hospital doesn't deal with travel insurance companies directly, they bill your credit card and they provide you with receipts for the insurance claim.
So my combined skiing and sightseeing trip turned into a sightseeing only trip - but still enjoyable. After Banff we visited Lake Louise, Jasper, the Okanagan valley, Vancouver Island (including the capital of British Columbia (Victoria) and Tofino on the west coast, and finishing in Vancouver. Have just got back home today.
I'm just pissed off that I've had this injury after 22years of injury free skiing Evil or Very Mad. I will be getting physiotherapy to aid the recovery process. I'm just concerned that now that I've dislocated the shoulder once it's more likely to happen again. Has anyone got any experience of this/comments/advice?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Really bad luck..and on the first day...

Is that your season over....?
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Alastair Pink, Poor you, fancy doing that on the 1st day Shocked At least you were able to get out and sightsee. I'm not sure if your shoulder will dislocate more easily, if you fall on it again, maybe one of our SH medics will be able to provide some reassurance. Seems that your emergency attention was of a better standard than mine ! I hope that you had no drunks on the return flight, shame the cabin staff can't shove them out of the door, or....stick them in the hold Toofy Grin
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
JT wrote:
Really bad luck..and on the first day...

Is that your season over....?


Yep. I did have a good week over the New Year in Wengen and Murren though snowHead
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Alastair - that's such incredibly bad luck. Best of success for a full recovery and thanks for the interesting report. The following is definitely a 'worst case scenario':

One of my instructor colleagues on Cairngorm used to dislocate his shoulder quite often. I remember the joint becoming so unstable that he did it several times in a single run going down the bumps once. I used to regularly see him pulling everything back together! But that must be really unusual, and I don't think he was taking best care of himself.

Only a good orthopaedic consultant is going to give you the best advice as to the prognosis. I guess the shoulder can be operated on to strengthen and stabilise the joint if the consultant reckons you're now more vulnerable.

As to other advice, I don't know what you've invested in ski instruction but one of its key advantages is to dramatically cut the risk of falling by providing positive use of ski edges and greater balance/stability in situations like that. Reducing the risk of wipe-outs is definitely the name of the game, but you must be a pretty good skier if you'd enjoyed a quarter century free of injuries.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
Erm, scapegoat's a black diamond.. I seem to remember that one being pretty steep?
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Alastair Pink, sorry to see there are now two Alastairs unserviceable. Hope the shoulder recovers quickly.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
prog99 wrote:
Erm, scapegoat's a black diamond.. I seem to remember that one being pretty steep?


The bottom bit may be blue, but the top bit is single black.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Alastair Pink, I dislocated my right shoulder playing hockey when I was 19 - the medical advice I was given at the time was not to have it opearted on, something called a putti platt IRC, as I could end up with restricted usage of my arm. This in hindsight was a mistake as I have been plagued by shoulder dislocations ever since. Had to stop playing racquet sports as any overhead shots had the joint out instantly. I did play squash for a while but had to restrict myself to a low range of shots or play left handed. Cricket was my passion at the time and I soon found out that if I tried to throw the ball normally that the joint seemed roll about. I stopped fielding and took up wicket keeping, which I have to say I did enjoy.

As for skiing, well I have put it out a copule of times, once I am sure it would have come out anyway as the impact from the fall was huge and broke some ribs as well. I now ski well within myself, still enjoy it, and try not to do anything too ambitious.

Get it sorted now is my advice.
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Hi

Sorry i hear about your injury. I dislocated my shoulder at 21 (falling over the cat going down the stairs...honest) After that it often used to pop out, and i got rather good a pushing it back and it was suggested that an operation was needed. However with help of my coach (did cycle racing then) i did lots and lots of strengthening exercises and it is now virtually fine for the sports i do, i just have to be careful lifting heavy items down from high shelves and things out of plane overhead lockers is a bit of a pain. However i don't really do any activities with over shoulder movements as CP does, and if i did i would get it operated on.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Alastair Pink, What rotte luck. Get it fixed now though. Check out a sports doc and get the whole thing properly looked at . The NHS won't do much unless pushed. I never got any physio for my shoulder injury (went out but straight back in again), and 25 years later am still paying the price. It was never suggested by any of the docs I saw, and I never thought to ask. Evil or Very Mad
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Not totally up to speed on shoulder injuries, but I think that physiotherapy is the best option after a single dislocation, surgery being reserved for multiple dislocations AFAIR.

Definitely worth a private visit to a sports medicine doctor (which I, unfortunately, am not), for which you are likely to have to pay privately, but will be able to give you a better opinion than mine.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Thanks for that Kramer. The doctor at the Banff Hospital who obviously sees many such cases said that in his opinion no surgery was necessary, but strongly recommended physiotherapy to avoid "frozen" shoulder syndrome. In fact the hospital had a very useful preprinted patient information handout on Shoulder Dislocation which they gave to me Very Happy . Quoting from it:

The shoulder joint is held in place by the fibrous rim of the joint socket (the labrum), by the joint capsule - a series of ligaments, and by the rotator cuff - a formation of 4 muscle tendons which attach near the joint.
When you dislocate your shoulder, one or more of the structures holding the joint in place is damaged. Unless the damage heals, the shoulder may become unstable - and dislocate more easily the next time you rotate the arm outwards or away from your body.
Even with proper care, the damage to the structures around the shoulder is sometimes so extensive that instability results. An unstable shoulder may require surgery to prevent recurrent dislocation. A torn totator cuff may leave weakness with soime movements and may require future surgical repair.
In order to provide your shoulder with the best chance for it to heal, you must strictly follow immobilisation instructions. You must also follow exercise instructions or you may develop a "frozen" shoulder which will be very difficult (or impossible) to get moving oncve the healing is complete. Conservative (non-surgical) treatment generally provides as good or better outcome than surgery.


The handout also gave information on the immobilisation (basically for the first 3 weeks keep the arm in a sling and doing gentle pendular exercises) and then a progressive exercise programme. I have now seen my GP who will be arranging physiotherapy sessions at the local hospital and I also intend seeing my company's medical dept to see if they can arrange some physiotherapy sessions to complement/support the NHS sessions.
So overall I am quite positive - after all I've got the incentive of getting fully healed for next season's skiing snowHead
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Alastair Pink, Bad luck hope the recovery is progressing. Looks like Sunshine is bad news for snowHeads this year thats where I tore my ACL from the bone 6 weeks ago. Know how you feel about wrecking a holiday it stinks but one of the risks we take.

I thought the trip in the blood waggon was smooth a relatively pain free. I was really impressed with the ski patrol at Sunshine very quick and efficient. I was in an area difficult to access with a sled they had to negotiate a steep pitch through the trees to get to me. I was dreading the bill for rescue even though I was insured and couldn't believe it was free, a great service included in the lift pass price.

I though the Banff Mineral Springs hospital was good X rays and seen by a doctor within 15 minutes of arriving.

Look after the shoulder, I would follow Kramers advice and see a specialist
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Thanks for all the feedback, guys. One point worth noting after doing some Internet searching is that the most common form of shoulder dislocation (about 95%) in contact sports such as rugby etc is when the arm is outstretched which results in anterior dislocation (where the humerus slips forward and down out of its joint). In my case I fell with my arm inwards across my body which resulted in a posterior dislocation (humerus slipped backwards out of its joint), which occurs in about 4% of shoulder dislocations, so I guess most people's experience of dislocations may not be so relevant.
One interesting reference I came across said that approx 90% of patients younger than 20 years at the time of initial dislocation have a recurrence, however dislocation recurs in only 14% of patients older than 40 years. Maybe some compensation for being the wrong side of 40! wink
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Quote:
Maybe some compensation for being the wrong side of 40


Yep the Arthritis keeps it in place NehNeh
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