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Looking for advice on hobbies and whether I should continue rock climbing? (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

26 comments fedilink hide all child comments

As the title says, I’m looking for some advice about hobbies.

I struggle with depression off and on and recently it’s been quite tough to be motivated, but I tried indoor rock climbing and I’ve been going twice a week for around a month and I love it. I like the problem solving aspect and it being mixed in with physical activity, as I have a sedentary job as a software developer so it’s good to be more active.

This is where the issue is though, I have terrible hands. I have something called Dupytren’s Contracture, which essentially is extra collagen forms around the tendons and severely limits range of movement in the hands (I’ll post pictures of my hands in the comments).

So my question is would you continue this hobby even though it’s wrecking my hands and look at having another fasciotomy to get them less painful.

Or can you suggest any other physical hobbies that would also be engaging mentally to complete.

Perhaps I should have been wiser before getting hooked on this, but I’m devastated that I might not be able to do it long term.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Have you talked to othet climbers about whether this is an issue that sort of goes away after some experience? If it's going to cause you significant physical harm, I'd say look for other activities. If it's just discomfort or something that goes away with experience, I say keep going considering you love doing it.

For sports with a problem solving aspect, I'm not sure whether sweeping is the most physical intensive activity, but curling is basically a sport that comes with a fun physics/geometry problem attached. Just don't become a skip if you want the exercise (they don't sweep).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Thanks for the response.

So generally if you had non fucked up hands to begin with then they would toughen up and build callouses in the places I currently have cuts.

The issues is my Dupytren’s Contracture, but as the other person said I should probably see my doctor about that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

In recreational climbing, skin calluses and surface abrasion aren't usually much of a concern compared to tendon health. Skin heals light damage quite easily.

However, it's not uncommon for a new (or experienced) climber to develop their muscles beyond what their own tendons can take. Since it takes tendons so long to strengthen, it's common to need managing the risk of finger pulley tendon injuries in climbing.

Also, I do not know how these nuances apply in your context of your medical condition.