(brazilian) jiu jitsu with keratoconus

[chriser00]

Hi,

2 months ago I was diagnosed keratoconus. I'm training brazilian jiu jitsu profesionally for a couple of years (intensive trainings 4-5 times a week).

A doctor in Poland said me that I need to stop training jiu jitsu because of the high blood presure when doing exercises.

Contrary, when I was in Czech Republic clinic I was told I don't need to stop trainings.

Does anybody have similar problem and solve it with his doctor ?

I will be gratefull for all the answers.

P.S. Brazilian jiu jitsu is sport like judo: you cannot punch and most of the fight is on the ground trying to submit an opponent by chokes, leglocks and armbars.

[naveed]

Not Sure and I will advise to contact a Very good surgeon on this matter because it effects you eyes . Believe me if it does ...dont risk it ... We all face it at different stages of life .

And Its makes you fed up .

You can live without jiu jitsu but without good eyesight .......you can but it difficult.

So please take attention.

All the best

[Andrew MacLean]

chriser00

Welcome to the forum.

The problem with asking for advice like this on a forum like ours is that none of us can see your eyes, so none of us knows any precise details of your condition. We have had members of the forum who have continued martial arts training, but it may tbe that their condition was different in some significant way to your own.

If there is a danger of raising blood pressure or IOP, then I guess it makes sense to avoid those circumstances.

All the best

Andrew

[chriser00]

Dear all,

Thank you for the answers. I now that asking such questions on internet forum may be not the best way to get really good answer.

However I'm asking about the general rule. Do people with keratocunus avoid martial arts professional training.

About my eyes I think that their condition is rather good for people with KC. I don't need any contac lenses or something like that to see. Next mont I wil be having CCL to stop KC.

Best regards

Krzysztof

[Jeremy_123]

Hi Krzysztof,

I can offer the benefit of my experiences with regard to Martial Arts training. I train once a week in Krav Maga and in terms of physical demands the two are on about the same level as each other. I've so far been training in Krav Maga since September last year and I haven't noticed any ill effects with regard to my KC as a result of my Krav training.

I'm in a similar position to you in that I don't need my contacts for training and I probably wouldn't be doing it if I did. However my KC has been stable ever since it was diagnosed last year and I've always been a fairly active individual one way or another. If your eyes are going to get any worse it will probably happen no matter what. In fact I think high blood pressure is thought to be one of the possible causes of KC, so this may be why the Doctor in Poland recommended you stop training where as the one in the Czech Republic didn't see any problem with it.

It is probably down to the reason that there are many things that cause KC in the various individuals that have this problem but because no one can be sure what causes it the advice you get may well vary from Doctor to Doctor. My advice would be to either stop training until after you've had the CXL or to perhaps reduce the number of training sessions you do per week. It might also be worth after having the CCL done to have your eyes checked once they have settled to see if any deterioration occurs as a result of your Jiu Jitsu training and if it does then you may well have to give it up or try and find something similar but perhaps less intensive to do.

At the end of the day unfortunately Krzysztof, the question you ask essentially is the one that all people newly diagonsed with KC ask and that is when does it stop? or what will happen? or how will this affect me? and unfortunately the answer is as always every case is individual. You've got to try and assess the situation you find yourself in and make a decision that you are comfortable with and the potential consequences of that decision.

In short be careful, follow the advice of your Doctor or Doctors, if one has advised you to stop training for the time being then do so and when the time is right perhaps try and get back into doing Jiu Jistu but be ready in case you can't get back into it. Perhaps start considering some new hobbies now as a thought.

Take care though Krzysztof and I hope the CCL works out for you

Regards

Jez.

[rosemary johnson]

SOrry to ask a dumb question.... but have none of your doctors suggesting you get your blood pressure sorted out?
You will probably have to give up strenuous exercise, martial arts or otherwise, when you have the CCL done - maybe for a bit before and certainly afterwards till it is healed. How long that will be depends how well and quickly it heals.
I was told not to do energetic things and in particular not to lift anything heavy post-op.
I don't do martial arts, I go horse riding. They said I could ride a horse again as soon as I liked - but I mustn't fall off it!
Rosemary

[Lynn White]

The problem with asking a question like this, is that professionals are duty bound to point out all the risk factors and its hard to calculate the actual risk for any individual. The main risk factor with KC is a weakened cornea that is more vulnerable to sudden changes in pressure and trauma. Thus anyone with KC is at more risk than a "normal" from injury from physical sports, merely from the point of view that accidents such as an elbow in the eye are much more likely than with more passive sports. Hence Rosemary being told she could ride, but don't fall off. A blow to the head could cause a pressure wave that could possibly lead to a rupture within the corneal structures.

You ask if people with KC avoid martial arts - I guess the professional answer to that is you should avoid situations where traumatic injury is a possibility due to blood pressure/ocular pressure changes or direct physical trauma to the eye. Unfortunately, I can think of many cases where this could happen in martial arts, however well supervised or carried out. Accidents do happen and we professionals unfortunately see this a lot as we have to pick up the pieces. Thus we are aware of dangers and are duty bound to point them out. After that, it is up to you whether you heed the advice. As to whether its safe after CXL - to be honest its not been around long enough for anyone to say whether its OK or not - as patients have not been followed up beyond 8 years.

Jez gives some very good advice.

Lynn