Dic: claw your way somewhere, claw your way back (from something)

• Some did manage to claw their way up iron ladders to the safety of the upper deck.
• Little by little, the county is clawing its way out of the damage caused by the flood.
• She clawed her way to the top of the company.
• They clawed their way back from almost certain defeat to win by a single point.

VERB | If you claw your way somewhere, you move there with great difficulty, trying desperately to find things to hold on to.

claw your way somewhere: to use all your energy and determination to achieve something.

If you claw your way back from a bad situation, you succeed in improving your situation again by making a big effort .

Cf.
VERB | If an animal claws at something, it scratches or damages it with its claws.
VERB | To claw at something mean to try very hard to get hold of it.

.... Cobuild, http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/claw+back