piece of advice

[skullman]

let me give you younger guys a piece of advice.In my younger days I worked in a truck body shop.Always crawling under trucks on cement no pads.I went into maintainence and was constantly crawling on cement under machines-no knee pads.I had torn cartilage in one and had it repaired in the late 70's the hard way a 6 inch scar.I was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis.NO  meds or injections worked.I had my left one recently replaced with steel and plastic.Be advised this is the most painful thing I have encountered.Pain 24-7 for the past month and only halfway there.I had a femoral artery replaced in 05 and thought that was bad.Not even close.I have been laid up and between therapy 3 times a week and wearing braces to straighten and bend it I have no life.I can hardly stand playing but a couple hours at a time.My advice is to take care and protect your joints.The result of abusing them really blows.

[Anaxogoras]

Running on pavement is also extremely bad for your knees, even with today's athletic shoes.

[ROX]

I'll amen what skullman said and also highlight young folks with high school and college sports injuries.

You feel bullet proof then--and have ZERO idea the 24/7 pain you will have later in life.

After one spinal surgery (I need 3 more), there is no pill or therapy or procedure that stops the pain.

It's not worth it.  Play guitar and study 3 times as hard instead. 

A college scholorship is not worth a lifetime of pain as an adult later on.





ROX

EDIT:  Thoughts & prayers, skull    You are the man, and we hope you get better, bro!

[Rich46yo]

When my kid said he didn't want to play football I wasn't sad. I love the game and loved playing it but a lot of the problems I'm having now are from sports, specifically football and boxing.

But I cant say I wouldn't do it over again. Like Fat Albert, "I loved to play football".

[skullman]

thanks rox and wish ya well bro-us old guys paying for all our sins now.I have known jocks that are having alot of problems now.Ya gotta take care of yourself

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Getting overweight kills your knees joints too. Don't get fat, it will guarantee a life long of pain later. But don't worry, it's not going to be for long as, look around you, there's very few old fat people.

[Ghosth]

What they said above!

Moderate exercise, moderate lifestyle will pay off big time down the road.

Too much leisure is just about as hard on you as too much work.
Take care of yourself and you might be able to enjoy some of those years in your 50's and 60's.
Beat yourself up and you will pay the price.

[RipChord929]

There is an old saying among Motorcycle racers..
"Ya don't quit riding, because you get old..
 You get old, because you quit riding.."

Its true too!!!   I know a guy, named Dell Gray.. He's
65yo, Races an Iron Cylinder 80inch Knucklehead Harley,
w divorced Iron case Transmission.. In the Pre/unit
MOTOCROSS class.. The bike is massively heavy...
It has all of 3 1/2 inches of wheel travel, and the
guy FLIES THRU THE AIR.. Its incredible to see!!!
He dominates his class, a true example for geezers
like us, everywhere...

I'm 55yo and Race the ironman schedule... 3 classes
Vintage: 250GP, OpenclassGP, and Ultima Class.. I've been
racing MX and flattrack since I was 13yo.. Lost track
of ALL the crashes and injuries.. Masses of them, for sure!

Was Varsity Middle Linebacker at a AAA High School..
Retired (medical) from USMC Force Recon.. 2 times Runner
up, for the 1st Regiment Boxing championship.. Was a
mechanic and service writer for Jet Chevrolet in Federal
Way WA.. Then Ran my own shop, to support my car
and bike racing habit... Now I raise beef cattle, and run
a guided fishing and hunting biz on the Olympic peninsula
in WA state.. I don't turn wrench anymore, except for my
own stuff... Being bent over a fender, REALLY HURTS!!!

Over the years I've broken both knees, both shoulders,
both collarbones, both wrists, Broken ribs, punctured lung,
stabbed twice, and shot once... Had 5 reconstructive
surgeries, cartillage transplants, tendon repairs, and steel
plates in my left forearm and collarbone.. If it wasn't for
the VA, I'd be a cripple, and financially destroyed...
All of that, and I STILL RACE MOTOCROSS!!!
My wife, my girlfriend, and the Doc, all say I'm nuts!!!
Maybe so??? But MAN, I'M LIVIN LIFE!!!
Thats why god gave it to me!!!

Something I learned long ago, ya can't QUIT MOVING!!
If ya slow down or stop your physical activities, your
body will sieze up like an engine running out of oil.. I
take my pain meds when I have to, usually first thing
when I wake up in the morning.. But I keep it to an
absolute minimum, cuz the stuff is seriously addictive..
Instead, I keep a bottle of scotch around, and partake
of mother natures sticky green goodness... Its better
than the pills that eat a hole in my stomach...

When I can't go anymore, I'll suck a bullet...
Sayanara World... See ya on the flip side!!!

  RC

[nirvana]

I feel 40 sometimes and I just turned 19.  I'll concur with the above posts.

[Jenks]

I believe it was the divine Betty Davis who said "growing old ain't for sissies"