BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Neptune66 on August 24, 2013, 12:09:37 AM
-
Usually can't wait for fall-winter leagues to start up again, but this year is different.
Had 2nd knee surgery in 8 years in April 2012, an it was December before I got my shot and my confidence back, despite coming back after only 27 days from the first one. Then finally hit my stride and was helping my team and then the body parts started failing one at a time. Plantar Fasciitis, both hips (no cartilage left) and then, of course the knee started acting up somewhat.
The upside is that even though I still haven't had a pain-free day since December, I continued to bowl at a high level and my team and I won the championship last season (was our 3rd trip to the finals in 12 years and 2nd in 3 years, but we were flat in the first two).
Plantar Fasciitis was eradicated with 2 cortizone shots, and the knee has calmed down again, but despite various kinds of therapy (most recently something called ARP), my hips are still sore and constantly bothering me.
I know I will be ABLE to bowl, and I miss the competition and the my teammates, but I'm not optimistic about the pain subsiding and not looking forward to a whole season of fighting through the discomfort.
But I need to bowl. It's my mental stress-buster, and so much more to me.
And yet..... I really wish I had another month ---at least!!!---before the season started.
Unless bowling will actually help---in moderation? Not sure if I'm just trying to rationalize returning or not, but after "retiring" from bowling for the summer, I've only ended up feeling more stiff and more sore most of the time.
Anyway... sorry this turned into more of a whine than intended, and there is no magic answer (not mentally ready for hip replacement yet), but decided to throw this out there into a forum of people who can certainly understand how important bowling can be to one's mental health and self esteem.
Thanks for reading. (and no... I'm not anywhere near suicidal. Just very bummed out that the season is upon us, and I'm not ready for it.)
-
I had back surgery many years ago and just this summer suffered from pain in my left heel. I think that was called plantar fasciitis but not sure. I did get one cortizone shot for that and a series of exercises for the calf muscle. I think the exercises did more to help alleviate the pain than the shot. Did your doctor tell you about the exercises?
What pains are you still experiencing? What can happen if you are in pain is that you can subconsciously or intentionally start to do things a bit differently to avoid the pain and that can put stress or cause pain in other parts of the body. Have you spoken to your doctor about these other pains and about bowling? I know how important bowling is to me and I will tell the doctor that I want to bowl whenever I have had something like the back or heel problem.
-
Having lost 3 months of this past season to an ongoing hip problem and then losing the last 2 months of the season to a sprained ankle, complicated by Plantar Fasciitis from this past summer, I can understand your trepidation about starting this Fall season.
I started last season with my normal 15 lb. balls, but when I returned in February from the first hiatus, I started with 14 lb. balls, so as not to aggravate the hip. Swinging that extra 1 lb.creates more force and momentum than the 1 lb. So, dropping 1 lb. in ball weight will go a long way towards reducing the forces operating on the hip. Moving from 16 lb. to 15 lb. or 15 lb. to 14 lb. can help a lot.
After the 2nd injury, ankle sprain on the sliding foot, healed in June, I started bowling again, slowly at first, then joined a summer league midway through it and then started bowling a 2nd day in the week, keeping to 3 games per outing. Then I found my winter injury, the hip, starting to bother me again. So I increased my dosage of Glucosamine/Chondroitin (they "seem" to help with joint inflammation from cartilage problems) and added some calcium and also started doing a bunch of exercises to strengthen the muscles around and supporting the hip. These also seemed to help a lot.
Not sure what exercises you do or were told to do, but they are especially important for older people as the entire body degenerates more and more the older you get. Focused exercises can be even more important. I got mine from the physical therapist during my recuperation in January.
As MI 2 AZ said, stretching exercises are, from what I can tell, the most important thing in dealing with Plantar Fasciitis. When I had mine last Summer, it was the worst pain I ever had; it felt like someone was driving a spike into my heel with a hammer. The orthopedist diagnosed it; I thought I had re-injured the torn tendon I have in the same foot. I was wrong; it was PF. His therapist gave me the stretching exercise to do and it was gone in 2 weeks.
PF is/can be caused by a fallen arch which stresses the tendon that goes along the entire sole of your foot. Stretching it along with wearing good insoles seemed to fix it for me. That arch needs support all day long; so, I use inserts for all shoes including BOWLING shoes. These helped me originally, http://www.walkfit.com/info.html (http://www.walkfit.com/info.html). But good inserts, from New Balance and SofSole ($20 - 30), which I use in all shoes and slippers insure it doesn't happen again. This SofSole is good, https://www.sofsole.com/product/Arch (https://www.sofsole.com/product/Arch), as a starter. This is the New Balance insert/insole I use now: http://www.theinsolestore.com/new-balance-supportive-cushioning-insoles-iusa3810-2.html (http://www.theinsolestore.com/new-balance-supportive-cushioning-insoles-iusa3810-2.html)
-
Of course, the more comfortable you feel, the less dread you will have and the more confidence you will have. You don't feel physically comfortable right now, so, of course, you don't feel mentally comfortable. Been there, done that. You have to take some steps of different sorts to address your own situation and problems before you'll even begin to think you'll want to bowl.
Work with doctors, physical therapists, nutritional experts, do a bunch of research on the internet with reputable sources, but do something positive. That is, if you really wish to bowl. Whining can help get stuff off your chest, but the time to do something is now. You're the only one who's actually going to want to help you and you're the only one who can.
-
Thank you MI 2 AZ and Charlest for your replies,
My Plantar Fasciitis didn't respond to the exercises, so I went to a podiatrist in March, and got the first cortisone shot, which gave dramatic relief, but only for a couple days. Still ...it was remarkable how I was suddenly walking better and sleeping better. Unfortunately, I went out and bowled 10 games or so on it and messed it up again (dummy that I was!), and thus needed the 2nd shot, but that one did the trick and everything was better for awhile.
Even the hips and knee improved, cause I resumed my stretching exercises and used some judgement in how many games I bowled. But then went crazy again in April, figuring it was the last month of the season and I'd have 3+ months to heal my wounds and get ready for the fall. And that's where things went south.
I'm 57 (58 soon), and finding out that things don't recover the way they used to as recently as a year ago. It's like I still have a hangover from getting drunk 9 months ago, so I get disillusioned and am doing what I term "yo-yo exercising".
For a few days I religiously do the exercises and start to feel a little stronger and less sore and stiff, but then I plateau out and lose my incentive. No--- wait a minute... I don't just lose incentive. I get angry and disgusted and go on strike (not the good kind...the labor dispute kind), and stop exercising altogether, which of course is foolish.
Problem is... I don't seem to be able to sustain my belief that the exercises are helping...or helping enough or quick enough. And I am not in terrible excruciating pain at all. Most of the time is a 2 or 3 at the most on a scale of 10. But it's non-stop...perpetual...round the clock soreness/tightness/stiffness, and it wears me down. It's worst when I am NOT active, like trying to sleep or relax and read or watch TV.
If I compare my progress on a weekly or monthly basis, I am better off than a few weeks ago and a couple of months ago. But I am in constant pain (except when I give in and take a Vicodin) and that's part of the "yo-yo" cycle too, which goes like this:
1) Take a Vicodin to knock the pain down close to zero so I can be comfortable enough to get a good night's sleep.
2) wake up feeling refreshed and do the exercises and feel pretty good mentally and physically. Not pain free, but more positive attitude and I can "feel" myself getting stronger (strengthening the muscles around the hips so the bones aren't rubbing together).
3) manage to go 2 or 3 days of doing the exercises and not taking Vicodin
4) fail to see any further improvement and start to feel (or notice?) more pain again.
5) stop exercising cause I'm pissed off
6) eventually take another Vicodin
7) "rinse and repeat" (the cycle resumes)
Last night (Friday), for instance, I took my first Vicodin since Monday night, slept like a baby and woke up feeling refreshed and motivated once again to do my exercises, which I WILL definitely do this morning. But ....how long will I continue?
And more importantly...I am not convinced that they are helping....or helping ENOUGH.
Sorry for rambling yet again. But that in a rather large nutshell, is why I am kind of upset with the Calendar. If it were July, still, I would probably grade my progress a little less harshly. But September is upon us and I don't think I'm ready physically Mentally I crave my bowling fix, but I want to feel good and enjoy kicking people's asses and feel like there's extra juice in the tank. I don't want to start the season limping around and having to put 120 % of my strength into ever shot.
On a more positive note.... I do have one 14 lb ball that I could maybe start with, versus my 15 and 16 pounders. Although I don't feel like it's the weight of the ball that's a problem as these days I have trouble bending over to pick things up and just getting in and out of the car. But at least with the lighter ball... maybe will make things a little easier still.
-
Wrote 5 paragraphs talking my experiences. Read it over and deleted it all .. sum it up with .. GOOD LUCK!
-
Neptune,
Ok, your feelings and inclinations are not any different from anyone else's; HOWEVER you're old enough to know better.
Exercise is NOT like taking an aspirin or a Tylenol for a headache. Exercise is a life long necessity that allows you to continue doing both what you like and what you need to do. Now at this age, it is an absolute essential. Your brain know that as a theoretical concept; your body knows it as a practical concept. Let them talk or just do it; stop thinking about it. Too much thinking gets you into trouble.
Vicodin is a habit forming narcotic and only gives temporary relief. Besides, as time goes by, you need more and more to do less and less. You're also old enough that a lecture is not necessary.
If you're having all these joint problems, the 14 lb. ball can only help; buy some more used ones. You should find you need more surface and lower RGs than your 15s and 16s because they're so light. You'll throw them faster, also.
-
As my doctor told me about my right hip "you'll know when it's time to have it replaced". That time came when it hurt so bad that I quit after the first game and didn't bowl again until after having it replaced. That was in February of '03, I started back bowling in August to get ready for leagues, with a 14 lb ball. I went back to 16 lbs in January and got back to what I consider normal by about February. -- JohnP
-
Ok... One legitimate question having very little to do with feelings and motivation, etc. When I do get to the point where I decide to do the hip replacements....which one goes first? I'm right-handed, and despite equal levels of discomfort overall, have found that the left hip ---when it's acting up--- interferes more with my ability to throw a "normal' delivery. It also kills me getting into the car. Not so much with the right hip.
Does that necessarily mean that the left one should be taken care of first?
And I'm feeling pain in my knees and my thighs and my shins as well. They all started after the left hip became an issue, but what if I replace the hips and the other pains remain?
Yeap... I should ask the doctor and probably will soon. But from a strategic...more so than a medical....perspective, is there any kind of rule of thumb about which side to replace first?
-
I am no doctor and that is who you should ask, but I would think that I would have the one that hurts the most done first. As I said earlier, pain in one part of the body will cause you to 'baby' that side/part of the body putting stress and possibly causing pain in other parts. When I have back pain, other parts of my body will start to hurt later, like my legs, because I start to walk or stand differently. That is the only time I ever have sore leg muscles - when my back has gone out.
When I got the cortizone shot for my heel, the doctor said that it would help to reduce the swelling but the exercises were key to preventing any further pain. He said that in something like 80% of the cases, the exercises cured the problem. If they did not, then a little snip in the foot (surgery) would be necessary. My case may not be the same as yours. Also, he has advised me since that I should do the exercises before and after bowling.
-
Neptune,
I understand your feelings. It's part of being human and living in an imperfect world. We are all subject to highs and lows physically and emotionally. Knowing that doesn't make it easier, however, it does help to know that others are probably feeling the same things from time to time, and really do empathize with you.
I truly believe that we are all very much alike in some respects. We all have hopes, and fears, and illness, and bumps, and bruises, and sadness as well as happiness. You are not alone. And through it all we will hopefully learn to have compassion towards our fellow man, and appreciate more than ever the good times because tomorrow holds no guarantees.
Instead of being happy or sad because of the end results, or lack thereof, find joy in the process. I found this years ago and feel like now is a good time to share it.
"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.
Life is like an old time rail journey... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."
Appreciate the friendships you have through bowling, and cultivate them as you go through the coming weeks. Then your enjoyment will return regardless of your scores for the night. The more you give of yourself, the less you will focus on your own problems, and your perspective will change. People will look forward to being with you because of how they feel when you're around.
Bowling is part of life for many of us, but it's not everything. Bring happiness to others and they will return it for the rest of your life. Best to you and all the gang here on ballreviews.com. May this season be one of personal growth for all of us.
-
Ok... One legitimate question having very little to do with feelings and motivation, etc. When I do get to the point where I decide to do the hip replacements....which one goes first? I'm right-handed, and despite equal levels of discomfort overall, have found that the left hip ---when it's acting up--- interferes more with my ability to throw a "normal' delivery. It also kills me getting into the car. Not so much with the right hip.
Does that necessarily mean that the left one should be taken care of first?
And I'm feeling pain in my knees and my thighs and my shins as well. They all started after the left hip became an issue, but what if I replace the hips and the other pains remain?
Yeap... I should ask the doctor and probably will soon. But from a strategic...more so than a medical....perspective, is there any kind of rule of thumb about which side to replace first?
With that level of discomfort/pain, I don't how you're still waiting. Sounds like it's interfering with every level of your life. And it's possibly doing more damage that might not be reversible.
If the left is causing more trouble, do that one first; just make sure that replacement is THE cure you need. That fact that your knees and shins are also hurting a lot concerns me. As MI 2 AZ, the doctors, orthopaedic surgeons are the ones to tell you what's what.
Lane speaks words of wisdom that cannot and should not be ignored.
-
Mr Carter .. you said things I might have said .. but you said them better! :P
-
Thank you. I am reading and taking in everything---both the philisophical and medical comments.
Had a bit of a break-through last night/this morning. First... despite the discomfort, I resisted and did not take any pain medication. And I tried putting an extra pillow under my head and this seemed to help me find a comfortable position for sleeping. And woke up this morning feeling rested and stiff but not sore.
Was only one night, and my joint problems were certainly not caused by a bad pillow, but the lack of improvement I have seen since late spring DOES coincide with when I started using the current pillow. Is something my wife sent away for and ----well let's just say I think it is kind of gimmicky. And yet... I never suspected that it had any effect on my sleeping comfort till now.
But maybe the lack of support from the pillow coupled with my sore joints worked together to slow my progress. I don't know. Could just be reaching.
All I know is I haven't had any pain medication in 36 hours, and I woke up feeling better than I have in at least the last 2 months, and I actually was excited about doing my exercises this morning.
I stlll have some stiffness/soreness, but am more optimistic today. We'll see.
The pillow, though, definitely needs to be replaced and in the meantime accompanied by another pillow.
-
After my operation my surgeon recommended that I sleep with a pillow between my legs (I sleep on my sides). I do, and it helps. In fact I can't sleep without it now. My wife recently had a knee replaced, and he recommended the same for her. Give it a try. -- JohnP
-
I have tried the pillow between the legs before with limited success. Helped in certain positions, but not others, and although some of the pain is near the knees, mostly seems to be radiating there from elsewhere.
What I'm describing is just a regular pillow under the head (albeit one that is either too thin or shaped wrong). It seems when I lay down flat...regardless of whether it's on my back, sides, or stomach, that I can feel the muscles in my thighs/hips/knees, etc. pulling. Is not a strong pain, but is not comfortable for sleeping.
Seems that somehow having my head elevated by more or thicker pillow, results in my body not being 100% flat, and therefore I don't notice that pulling, tight feeling----or not as much.
At least... for one night it worked. I'll see if I'm onto something or not if it works 2 or 3 nights in a row. I'm still a little sore and stiff today, but if I can wake up tomorrow feeling as decent as I did today, I will finally feel like I am on the road to recovery.
-
Kind of fell off (or jumped off) the wagon tonight.
Had been doing well overall (in minimal pain, doing my exercises, and able to sleep decently without any medication), but tonight ...after waking up and feeling as if my joints were simmering over a low flame) I took a Vicodin.
I do not disagree with what Charlest said here:
"Vicodin is a habit forming narcotic and only gives temporary relief. Besides, as time goes by, you need more and more to do less and less. You're also old enough that a lecture is not necessary."
And yet... there are circumstances under which it's the lesser of two evils.
I don't know how many different dosages or strengths of this medication there are, but this is not one of those pills that gives you a high or lasts very long. The prescription says it can be taken every 4 hours, and for me... it generally takes at least an hour to slowly dampen the joint pain. It's at least 50% or more Acetometaphin (Tylenol). The other ingredient is Hydrocordone, I believe.
I honestly can say I am not addicted to it, cause first of all.. I experience no pleasure from it or anticipation about the next dose. I'm taking only 2 or 3 a week, for yes.... temporary relief. The pill tonight was only the 3rd in 8 days----although I DO want that number to be zero and while not an addiction, it IS a crutch. One that I truly want to be free of.
And only took it now, so that I can get to sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and not fall off the "exercise wagon", and not be a crabby mess when I go into work tomorrow (---I mean today!).
But I am interested in alternatives. Maybe instead of swearing off the stuff completely, I should just gradually lengthen the number of days in between---even if it does cause me to have to lose a night's sleep and call in sick to work to stay on course. Or maybe there is something over the counter that is stronger than regular tylenol or aspirin or ibuprofin, but weaker than the Vicodin? Or even a prescription medication that is in between?
When I had a broken or cracked rib a few years ago, I was prescribed something that deadened but did not eliminate the pain. It had zero drowsiness or sedating effects, and it was just as I described....weaker than a narcotic-type mix of drugs, but stronger than regular Ibuprofen. In fact... I think it may just have been a higher dosage of Ibuprofen, but maybe in a timed release manner, cause taking a too high a dose of that would have caused some stomach upset I would think.
Anyway... I'm not making this post tonight to poll for drug suggestions. It was really part confession (I AM disappointed I had to take the pill tonight no matter how infrequent it's been), and pass the time while the medication kicks in.
Feel better now---enough to go back to sleep. But thicker pillow and exercise aside, I am disappointed I had to use the crutch again.
However... as long as I get up refreshed and do my exercises for the 4th consecutive day (most since summer started), it was worth it.
Ok.... ready for flames and lectures alike. Any support or words of encouragement (or alternatives) would be an unexpected plus.
-
Some of us take ibuprofen because of arthritis, while others take what they need for their ailments. I trust that you know that your medication can become an addiction, and as long as you use it sparingly you should be able to keep it in check.
Every drug has some side effects. Some are long term, while others are very short term (addiction) that turn into long term problems. Just realize that. It sounds like you do, so don't change the way you use it and the day may (hopefully) come when you don't need it physically or otherwise.
Sorry I didn't flame you ;). When I was a young man the world was very 'black and white" meaning everything was right, or definitely wrong! The older I get, the more gray there is. I try not to be judgmental until I have walked in the other guy's shoes, which is impossible. The gray area seems to have grown in direct proportion to the gray on top of my head, too... Best of luck to you.
-
Thank you.
And yes... I am aware of the risks and ultimately am trying to go to zero medication....not just once every 3 days or so. But I do very much appreciate your message and the diplomatic way you worded it.
As for grey hair....I don't have a lot of it yet, but most of my friends do and my hairline is receding and the landing pad on top of my head is expanding.
:) I mean :(
-
Maybe you should try some Kinesio Tape Therapy, It will not heal you but probably will make the pain fade while you bowl. There's a lot of research and info about this tape, it's used a lot by pro athletes
Or try BIoFreeze Roll On or Spray Before you bowl.
Front Hip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz8IzHtF3oU
Back Hip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdn-uSTx2-I
Knee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsf4tN9XTbI
-
Did try Kinesio Tape therapy a few months ago, though not while active or bowling. Put it on one night and when miracles didn't happen, gave up. Maybe I will try it again while bowling and see what happens.
Not familiar at all with Biofreeze, but will look into it.
Thank you!
-
Yours is actually a unique problem. While the posts on here are interesting, they
do not relate to you. First--you must rest. The hip is an entirely different joint. It is a ball and socket, while the back, knee, ankle, etc., are not. Rejuvination requires
entirely different procedure. There are more muscles that impinge on the hip, and more effects on movement. You must make sure that any actions that help your hip do not cause compensation injuries somewhere else (knee, ankle, back). Please consult a physical therapist to acquire excersises that help your condition without going through the surgical fix. As you did not list your age, this advice would be most advantageous if you are not a senior citizen. If you are, consult an orthopaedic
surgeon. Good luck.
-
Was just about to retire for the night when I saw your post.
I have been to see an orthopedic surgeon (in Hips and Knees), but last saw him very early in the year. I'm fortunate in that he is not a "cutter" and he told me that while my x-rays show I am clearly a candidate for hip replacement, that if I can get relief from physical therapy, chiropractic adjustment, or just about any other remedy, that there was no need to rush into surgery.
And the exercises prescribed by my Chiropractor did in fact help to the point where I was virtually pain free for a few weeks in March. But then I got reckless and bowled way too many games in a short stretch, and ever since early April have had anywhere from excruciating pain from certain movements to just slight soreness or stiffness (or just constant low level aches and pains) that is barely noticeable----except when trying to sleep, which it interferes with.
I'm kind of at a crossroads now where I am starting to (I THINK) finally see some improvement from the exercises (I was very sporadic with them over the summer), and yet am running out of time to strengthen the muscles enough so that I am pain free before I return to my bowling leagues.
Even before reading your post, I had kind of decided that I need to make another appointment to see the Hip specialist again. I much prefer to rehabilitate myself without surgery (or at least delay it by a few years), but do not want to find out down the road that I'm making things worse at this point by delaying the surgery.... that I'm inadvertently causing more damage. I don't think that's the case, but it's starting to become a growing concern of mine.
As for my age...I am 57 years old (58 in November), and until last December, I was in better shape than some 30 year-olds, but since December I have felt like an 80 year-old. I have no shortage of drive or stamina and usually outlast "kids" in their 20's who engage me in a bowling marathon, waiting for me to tire. Just doesn't happen. But not being able to walk or get in and out of my car without enduring considerable pain is ----no pun intended----getting old, fast.
Used to tell anyone who would listen that as long as I bowled good, I didn't care if I couldn't walk for 3 weeks afterward. It's been 9 months now, and I'm no longer making that statement. :(
Anyway... thank you nextbowler. I do plan to follow your advice and see my orthopedic doctor again in the next few weeks. Even if my pains settle down, I need to discuss with him just how much activity (i.e. bowling) is too much. And if I am still in pain, I need to hear all the alternatives and their respective pros and cons from an expert.