Physical abilities and geocaching.

[+Team_Vod]

First background on my current physical abilities:

 

Last June/July my left knee started bothering me. I have no idea what I did to it, I did not turn or twist it, hit it on something, fall on it, etc. It started hurting to the point of having limited mobility. I after being prescribed an un-loader brace, going to the orthopedic specialist, having an injection, x-ray and an MRI, which only found arthritis I had it scoped. The Dr. found and fixed three things, cartilage tear and a meniscus tear both. Also found was plica tissue which should have disappeared before I was born or at the latest when I was still a toddler, I was 43 at the time this was happening. The scope was in August of 2015 and after PT I still needed the un-loader brace for activities such as riding bike, mowing lawn, etc. Summer ends, fall comes and ends and I hang the bike up for the year but still need the brace for tings such as clearing snow from driveway. I needed another round of PT due to knee starting to bother me again. this is when I was told I have vein variscosity in the left leg and should get it checked. The new year starts and my wait for a while to see another doctor. In early Spring my knee joint is as good as it is going to be for a while but below the knee the pain and swelling is getting worse. I see a vein specialist. After wearing compression socks I have the procedure to close the varicose veins. The final treatment for which was today. While the varicose veins were and the problem with the knee joint are and were completely unrelated the swelling from the varicose the veins does affect the knee when it occurs below the knee joint because of things like the law of gravity. After enduring all of this with the knee and lower leg I am feeling a lot better. I have since stopped using the brace and my mobility is a lot easier than it was 10 months ago.

 

With that boring story out of the way I have noticed when it comes to cache listings there is an indication of the terrain and whether or not is handicap accessible. I started geocaching when I was still using the brace, in fact the very first time out I had to wear it. I am glad I did, without it I would not have been able to do what I did to grab the cache from a hiding place. Even with this I was still very sore when I got home and took the brace off.

 

My physical disability was very minor by comparison, not to mention temporary. I have seen people with permanent disabilities that are more mobile and capable than some would give them credit for. I have seen people go places in wheel chairs compared to some who have full mobility without the help of an aid that will not even do so on foot. People with disability's or limited abilities no doubt only do what they know they can.

 

Do you know of anyone who geocache's with a physical disability and even with a mobility aid and does not let it stop them regardless of the terrain rating or if the location is not suitable for say wheel chair or handicap access? Have you ever seen anyone geocache like this?