Doctors who climb

I've been thinking that it would be really useful to have a list/database of doctors, physical therapists, and other medical professionals who either climb or have climbed and know what it's all about. I've had a few experiences with docs who clearly didn't understand the stresses that climbing puts on your body and gave advice I knew I couldn't take.

I would love to build some kind of list that could be kept somewhere on the web so the next time I need some good medical advice I can look up a doc who will understand what I mean when I ask, "so, can I climb?"

Thoughts?

I know a good hand surgeon in MA that used to climb if you want to put it on your list.

My friend recently had knee surgery (he climbs) from a md who climbs. I also know quite a few md's at work who climb but would have to get their permission to use their names. The only problem is the liability issues which might make people less willing to give advice outside of an office/hospital.

I coach distance runners through an online/email format, which means I work with athletes all over the country. I constantly run into problems finding doctors, in all those locations, who understand the specific problems related to running. The same thing applies here and the best advice I can give is the same that I use with my coaching clients... go to your local mountain shop or specialty outdoor retailer and ask about local medical people that they might recommend. I know that's not always going to yield the best result, but its probably the best source for good local information and yet another reason to support your local specialty store. Developing a "list" of those people does present a lot of liability issues that might be difficult to overcome.

How/why would putting a doctor's name on a list like the one I'm suggesting expose him/her to liability? Genuinely curious.

I regularly climb with or am acquaintances with least 7 physicians that climb here in Fort Collins.

-I'd venture a bet that most would rather keep their career & climbing lives separate for many reasons.

-I'd also advocate not "outing" any climbing physicians and let those Docs who are lurking raise their hand should they so feel inclined.

just my $.02

~FC John

To be clear, I don't want to generate a list of folks willing to give free advice. I'm interested in knowing what doctors in my area have experience with climbing/climbers and can give better advice than the hand specialist who told me it was fine to climb when it clearly wasn't.

I saw a doctor here in Boulder who purportedly climbs when I tore a ligament in my finger. They didn't really help me at all, just sent me a bill. I ended up having to do my own research and find my own ring splint for it, something they apparently had never even heard of. Strange considering they are a hand specialist. On the other hand, a physical therapist I have been seeing for a serious injury last spring is a climber, and she is helping me tremendously. I guess my point is a medical professional doesn't have to participate in a given activity to treat injuries properly, and just because they do climb, etc. doesn't mean they will be of any more help. In the end, I probably didn't need to post this, but I did, so there.

You know, while we're here and steadily getting more off topic, I was contemplating getting an iPod touch just in case I needed to explain to a doctor what I meant when I said "I'm a climber." Because, given the responses I've gotten to that in the past, I think most folks imagine that I enjoy climbing ladders or maybe hiking up the occasional hill or something.