Hey Guys,

Does anyone know how to handle this issue? My Fiancee has had a stupid notation placed in his medical file saying he cannot lift more than 50 lbs. The DOC is using this to keep him from working out on the weight pile. He has been working out with weights all of his life, as a matter of fact he participates in the weight lifting contest at the prisons and wins 99% of the time. He can bench press 550 lbs. Now, how can they all of a sudden do this to him, telling him if he is caught on the weight pile he will be written up? His weight lifting is a part of his health routine that he has relied on for the 12 years he has been in prison.

I would appreciate any ideas you guys may have. He has tried to get the doctor to take this off of his record but he refuses. :pissed:

Is there any underlying reason why this was put on his record to begin with? Did he hurt his back at some point? Has he been to medical lately with a complaint? Does he have disc or spinal problems?

My Mom - a former prison nurse - said in her experience, the doctor is the only one who can change this, but normally a weight lifting restriction is not a life-long thing. If for instance, someone hurts their back, the doctor would put them on a restriction for a few weeks or months. Until you find out the underlying reason for the initial restriction and the doctor changes the order, then there's nothing I know of that can really be done. I, too, am a nurse and will do whatever I can to help.

Yes, he has had disc problems since he played football in high school, but the DOC has never tried to stop him from lifting weights until now. We feel like they are discriminating againist him because of me. The weight lifting he does actually helps his back.

Butch has a deteriorating disk. This happened 20 years ago when he was 17 years old. The lifting of weights has helped him to keep his back strong. Had he not done that, he would have not been able to walk by now.

The State of North Carolina is trying to ban all weight lifting from all camps in the State because they believe that the guys could be a security risk if they get too much in shape. Butch is not being descrimated against because of any reason. This is just the way the DOC believes. We have had this same problem over the last 12 years at every camp he has ever been to.

Sometimes I thing he and Renee both feel things that are not true. There is no descrimination of any sort. All persons on his camp who have a disability are in the same shape he is in. They have even increased the #of lbs he can lift from 25 to 50 lbs. I have talked with his case worker on two occasions about this. Sometimes we have to do things that we don't necessairly want to with the DOC. That does not mean they pick us out specifically to pick on....

Donna

Donna and I have differnet opinions of this, but that doesn't really matter. The only thing we want to do is find some way for him to be able to lift weights again. This is why I asked the question.

They say weight lifting is a security reason. I have a source of information that is a bit different. I have read this somewhere and I will try to retrieve it for you. It was in the newspaper and possbly archived on the net.


What has happened is that a radical group is protesting things that appear to be entertainment, or sport type activities for inmates. Not because the prisoners will get strong. There is scientific studies body builders do not necessary have more strenght fore say than a working person. Body sculpting in weight training is a past time for most people on the outside who are members of health clubs. They don't won't prisoners to have the Sports club ideal of Balley's for prisoners. They are working to have all weights removed from all prisons.

The activist they are trying to fight this legislation is giving evidence that males need some way to burn off all that agression. It helps with the mentality to work out. etc etc.

TORREY:

LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE ACTIVIST LOCATION OF THIS LEGISLATION. NC IS GETTING VERY HARD ON THIS WEIGHT LIFTING THING. THIS IS THE ONLY REAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THAT IS ALLOWED ON THE CAMPS. THEY CANNOT PLAY SOFTBALL OR BASKETBALL. THEY CANNOT RUN. AT ONE CAMP IN THE STATE THEY STILL ALLOW WEIGHT LIFTING. THEY EVEN HAVE WEIGHT LIFTING MEETS AND GIVE TROPHIES TO THE WINNERS.

BUTCH REALLY DOES NEED TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS UNTIL HE IS ABLE TO GET OUT.

DONNA

Torrey, I would appreciate that it you find it