UKC

Does anyone know of/recommend any specialists for climbing finger injuries around the Blackburn/Lancashire area? Having troubles with diagnosing, treating and preventing finger injuries and as per the doctor wasn't much help on the whole climbing finger injury front, so thinking about seeing a climbing injury specialist. I've been recommended a couple specialists in Sheffield but they are an hour and a half drive (minimum) for me so wondering if anyone knows a good specialist closer to Blackburn/Lancashire area?
Cheers in advanced

In reply to 08JepsonH:

Hey pal,

Can't recommend anyone in that area, however I'd advise not going to a non-climbing, non-hands(fingers) specialist physio. I went to a general physio I thought wasn't very good at all.

By the time I could see a joints doctor specialist, he just confirmed the place of the area, which I already knew, and was reluctant against any specialist treatment (surgery) as the injury had occured months before and the healing process was underway.

The thing which helped me in the end was very progressive loading (literally starting from 5+ after a many month long break,6a the week after... doing a 6b in a couple of weeks, and then keeping this level.. for a while, back in the 7s after a couple of months after restarting). Before I actually restarted for close to 4 months there was pretty much no change in pain or the swelling to be honest...which was quite discouraging.

Dave Macleod's injury book was extremely helpful by the way. Especially the chapter on injury prevention for the future.

Happy healing!

In reply to 08JepsonH:

Yes! Get referred to the hand therapists (dept) at the Royal Blackburn Hospital. They aren't 'climbing/sport specific', but extremely good and knowledgeable, and you'd have access to scans surgeons etc if required. You may have to get referred in via GP.

In reply to 08JepsonH:

Laura Parker - Physio at Spire Hospital in Manchester, hand specialist and has worked with some of the top UK climbers on the comp circuit. I found her very good and wouldn't hesitate recommending her. Think it was about £80 for the first hour long appointment then £50ish for follow ups. As I was paying myself she gave me all the info I needed, treatment plan to follow etc, in the first visit so I didn't need a follow up.

http://www.spirehealthcare.com/manchester/our-facilities-treatments-and-con...

In reply to 08JepsonH:

Don't forget you can go fortnightly if money is short and the physio is decent enough., re general paying for things.