topic Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me? in Community Chat

Wondering if it is worth it for me?

hckynut — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 07:57:16 GMT

After today I am not sure. Decided about a month ago to start another comeback to get to the best fitness I can, at my age. Consider myself as being fairly fit, considering all the setbacks(physical) in the last 14 months. So!

One of my goals, which I really want to accomplish, is getting back my ice skating skills I have had since my single digit age. Because of my several serious health issues, and on blood thinner and Plavix, I hadn't skated for 12 years. Ran my adult league(52 years), with 2014-2015 being my last year, but all off the ice work keeping it going.

So, since I upped my workout loads the last 2 months to get my legs stronger, along with adding longer cardio sessions, with several intervals thrown in at different times on my treadmill and NuStep, some of my exercise equipment that did not get ruined when our basement got flooded with sewage.

I will shorten this up and get to the point now. I decided about 3 weeks ago to go ice skating. The rink only has Public Skating 2 afternoons a week, and that is about 3-4 too few to really have a shot at getting back once held skills on ice skates. Even moreso because of the nature of my health issues.

First day skating I found out within 10' I had no balance on skates, and slowly fell to the ice. Stayed close to the rink boards sonI could grab them, just in case, and good thing I did. I struggled along making very little headway, for about 45 minutes on skates? Got a little better, but some beginner skaters were doing better than me.

Last week only 1 day for Public Skating, I went and while better, I fell not by the boards. A nice young teen came and helped me up, and I skated back to sit down and try to mentally figure out where my skills and balance were hiding.

So this afternoon, off I go again to skate. I was trying to warmup up, still skating by the boards as a "just in case". Next thing I know, I am falling towards my right side, but forward. I was quick enough to get my forearm up as to not hit my head, but somehow my right chest hit the ice.

I have fallen enough over many decades to know bad ones from those where you get a bruise, even deep ones, and ones where they are probably more serious. I knew as soon as my upper body hit the ice, someting happened internally, and not just a deep bone bruise.

I got up, stood by the boards with my head down, deep in thought. Do I really want to go through the pains of my hockey injuries of the past, or just admit I have lost it? I decided to stick it out for a little over an hour, being 95% sure what injury I had suffered, and what was causing my 8-10 level pain.

I drove home and decided I best get in to see my doctor, but nothing till Friday. I called my nephew-in-law doctor, and he told me to go right to the ER, after I told him I was pretty sure I had fractured at least 1 rib. He said I might have more damage than that, and I would be wise to get the xrays.

Drove to the ER and spent 4 hours there waiting and another hour or more getting the xrays and the results of them. Sure enough I had a fractured upper right rib, once again the #4 I had fractured years ago. I know the drill from my 5 previous fractured ribs.

This time however I won't/can't take any anti-inflammatory or narcotic pain killers. Advil/Aleve will start my colon bleeding again. Narcotics will alter my brain chemicals and I really can't chance because of my issues and Clinical Diagnosis of problems caused with that imbalance. So I am pretty much stuck with Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and it does very little for joint/back or fracture pain levels.

So I figure it will be at the very least 3-4 months healing, which means coughing/sneezing/lifting my arm abovementioned my head, and keeping my furry kids between my fractured rib them standing on or around it. Lots more use of The Motivator (Spirometer) to prevent lungs filling with fluid.

When it is painful to breath deeply, many fail to do so and fluid build up in their lungs. Trying to avoid real high pain levels is a natural human instinct, and for old people like myself, it is harder for most. My advantage(if there is such a thing), is I have been this route 3 times previously

Talked with my wife and she said: "You are going to do what you ARE GOING TO DO, so why are you asking me, I think you like pain". Chances are I will probably grab my skates Friday afternoon and give it another go. I love skating that much, even though what I doing now, can barely be called skating.

Long story/long day, but I thought I would throw it on the board to see what others think. Thank you if you have read this far.

hckynut(john)

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

MarieIG — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 08:27:57 GMT

Sorry John, I think your body has already answered your question. Please continue to work out and take care of your health, and look to other past-times that you can enjoy. The balance is not there. This will not be easy, a part of you will "mourn" the loss.

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

qualitygal — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 08:43:12 GMT

John ol' boy,

I would say, think on this: and what if you need to be there for Cindy or one of your pets?

Don't tell me but remember your age.

Your rib says, not for 3-4 mos. John, what's it take for wakey wakey? You could really hurt yourself!!

Can you find something else you like that won't require balance as much and ends up at the emergency ward, and doesn't mean broken body parts?

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

AKgirl2 — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 09:01:37 GMT

I'm a cautious person by nature and given your history, I would "leave well enough alone," and heal that fractured rib. Meanwhile,

if rib pain isn't too bad, continue with your excercise and workout routines. If you chose to continue skating, you might not get away with just a fractured rib next time. It's true you don't forget how to ride a bike, skate or drive, but after many years, it's just not the same. Don't stress the could haves. If it should have, it would have. All the best to you!

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

Nataliesgramma — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 09:38:53 GMT

I think you already know the answer.......wish you the best whatever you decide...

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

haddon9 — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 09:45:42 GMT

I'm sorry to hear about your injury. I think that once you heal up and get well you should consider balance exercises. It's a fact that seniors lose their balance as they get older so even if you decide not to give the ice another spin getting stronger in that area can help with future falls.

You might want to consider yoga. My husband has been doing yoga for several years now to help with his balance issues. He has a neurological brain illness that affects his balance. Yoga helps to keep him strong and flexible. He take classes at the gym and is often the only guy in the class.

It's got to be very frustrating to not to be able to do something that was second nature to you in the past!

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

x Hedge — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 09:51:49 GMT

First, even if you don't return to skating, you need to improve your balance to help prevent falls. Falling is dangerous (YOU know that!)

I suspect all the bigger muscles are carrying the whole load, and the smaller muscles are not supplying the support they should. They've gotten lazy and are going for a free ride because they can, and your workouts have concentrated on strengthening major muscle groups, making the disparity even larger.
If you're nodding 'Yes', you need to force the smaller muscles to work.
You do this by slowing down.

Walking heel to toe very slowly down an imaginary line, (like a tightrope walker) hands out at your sides for balance, pausing to hold each step a few seconds will force smaller muscles to work.
The big ones let you stand up but the smaller weaker ones will be forced to work to keep you in balance on that line.

Also, stand with feet apart 18"-24", using fairly light handweights, move them in small arcs and large arcs, but move them very slowly.
You'll find small supporting muscles all the way around your torso will get into the act of extending that small weight and holding it out at arms length as you circle it around at snail's pace.

In no time you'll be able to hold one foot slightly off the ground while slowly moving the weights in arcs.

When these smaller muscles are strong enough to do what they're supposed to do I'd recommend a Ti Chi class with a good instructor who understands the work you've done to get that far.

If you decide to try skating in the future, you might try roller skates before ice. Or...do they still make a double bladed ice skate? Something where you can get the moves and posture down and feel the acceleration before going to a single blade.
Best of luck John.

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

AngelPuppy1 — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 09:52:48 GMT

@hckynut

Oh, goodness. I feel for you! I had a bad feeling when I was reading your post!!! I believe I can truly commiserate with you. Although I am not a skater (I always wanted to be) I think I understand where you are coming from.

I used to love to walk. Walking was my passion. I mean when I was younger, I was very active and physical. I would take all sorts of exercise classes and belonged to 2 exercise clubs and used all the machines and then I came home and did workout tapes, exercise bike, trampoline, slider, treadmill, stepper, --- you name it.

But my real love was walking --- I would walk and walk for hours and hours.

As I got older, and found I really couldn't do a lot of these things any more --- well, most of them --- I still could do the walking and it did so much for me. Not only physically --- but mentally.

A couple years ago, I started getting this ankle thing. Extreme pain. Like sharp hooks cutting into me. I have been to so many doctors and had so much therapy. But nothing has really been resolved. So --- no more walking. I am lucky I can just walk to get from point A to B.

So depressing! I never thought this would happen to me. I miss walking so terribly. Beyond belief.

So --- I do know how you feel! I know that skating is something that means a lot to you.

Maybe after you heal up from this injury, it would be best to hang up the skates and look for an alternative form of exercise. It's hard to give up something that means so much to you, but getting injured so much -- is it worth it? I guess that's up to you, but for me it would not be.

Best wishes, John. I hope you heal up quickly. You seem a great guy and we all enjoy posting with you!!!

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

jubilant — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:04:44 GMT

John, if it were me or any other of your friends here telling this story.....what would you say to them? Remember, when something happens to you it affects everyone around you...your wife, your furry kids, etc. I hope you'll heal fast with no complications. It's very hard to give up things you love....... I understand that... but I think someone upstairs is trying to tell you something.

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

truffle — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:18:12 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
John ol' boy,
I would say, think on this: and what if you need to be there for Cindy or one of your pets?
Don't tell me but remember your age.
Your rib says, not for 3-4 mos. John, what's it take for wakey wakey? You could really hurt yourself!!

Can you find something else you like that won't require balance as much and ends up at the emergency ward, and doesn't mean broken body parts?

John, you are currently experiencing pain on an 8 to 10 scale and you can only take tylenol? Time to hang up your skates friend.

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

Silver Lining — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:34:19 GMT

@truffle wrote:
@qualitygal wrote:
John ol' boy,
I would say, think on this: and what if you need to be there for Cindy or one of your pets?
Don't tell me but remember your age.
Your rib says, not for 3-4 mos. John, what's it take for wakey wakey? You could really hurt yourself!!

Can you find something else you like that won't require balance as much and ends up at the emergency ward, and doesn't mean broken body parts?

John, you are currently experiencing pain on an 8 to 10 scale and you can only take tylenol? Time to hang up your skates friend.

I was going to say the exact same thing.

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

Poodlepet2 — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:41:09 GMT

John, there is nobody here like you...aside from the fact that I don't think Hockey Players are quit like other humans (wink, smile), I think you know the answer.

You have a lifetime of resilience-and in spite of injuries and set backs, you keep going and going like the Energizer Bunny-on steroids!

I know how much skating means to you...but maybe it's time to hang up the skates.

You are vital and strong: I know you can find something to keep you engaged and challenge you physically and mentally.

I have an incredibly stupid question: I am not an ice skater, so I don't know much about it. When we lived in the NE, they had double bladed skates for people who were learning...I have balance problems and I don't know they extent of yours, but ego aside, would that ever been an option???

Are you familiar with a Bapst Board? They are used by PT in training people with balance problems....speaking of which, why not get in PT and work on the balance issue?

Before we go there, is this just related to skating, or does it spill over to other areas?

Feel better,

Hugs,

Poodlepet2

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

spud188 — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:43:27 GMT

John you are the guy on this board with the most common sense advice for everyone else but yourself.

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

AuntG — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:51:20 GMT

You offer a lot of sensible advice on these boards and you seriously want to continue your attempt to skate? Come on - there is a season for everything . Pick a challenge that is age/ health appropriate.

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

SaRina — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:27:13 GMT

Hi John,

I think you probably knew what most of the responses would be here before you posted and maybe you were hoping for that kick in the butt to bring you to your senses (meant lightheartedly).

I can absolutely relate. I have been very athletic my entire life and, BTW, I also skated in my youth - entered local speed skating races. At a certain point, I had to give up a couple of things and, oh, how I sometimes wish I had the capability of that 30,40-year-old again so I could do the things I'm passionate about! So I do understand passion for a sport... and how sometimes our passion can cloud our good judgment.

Even if you didn't have significant medical issues, I'd think twice about re-discovering the ice at an older age. I think what happened to you back on the ice surprised you -- you probably thought it would come back easily, kind of like riding a bike. I think your rib fracture was a warning sign to you. A lot worse could happen. Do you really want to risk that? You have Cindy and your fur babies to consider... as well as your own quality of life should you incur a a more serious traumatic injury. Again... is it worth it?

All I will say is... if you insist on pursuing this, please check first with a sports medicine physician, in conjunction with your internist, to evaluate what you should/should not be doing and of course, it would behoove you to work on balance exercises in particular before attempting the ice again.

My feeling? I wouldn't do it.

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

cherry — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:22:35 GMT

What does your Dr think?

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

goldensrbest — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:34:10 GMT

I am very surprised you are even asking this question, you tend to be very blunt with people, so here is my reply if it hurts you, STOP!!

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

LilyAnne1 — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:42:17 GMT

@hckynut I commend you for getting back in shape and pursuing your dreams. But if you get even more seriously hurt, then what? You have your wife and fur babies to think of too. Could a medication you take affect balance? I would suggest not skating at all until your rib heals. Then maybe have someone skate with you to help you keep your balance. Anyway keep doing your exercises to maintain your health. Great job on that! Sometimes as we get older we need to do different kinds of exercise. The body just can't do what it could when younger. Stay safe and good luck to you. Don't be discouraged.

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

Mominohio — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:45:21 GMT

I think as many people age, especially those that have been athletic, they simply can't let go of the former 'glory' they felt in pushing their bodies. I see it with my 80 year old mother.

Many of them simply refuse to cut back or only do so until they think they can handle the pace again.

I don't understand it, but I'm guessing that is because I never was athletic.

What you are struggling with John, is much the same as others who need to give up driving, but fight it, or those that need to be on strict diets for health reasons later in life, but feel that life it too short, and they are going to have their ice cream (or candy or beer) everyday.

I think some people just have a hard time letting go, especially when they have to let go of several things they used to do (and easily).

I guess the question you have to ask yourself is 'is it worth it'? Not just to you, but to those around you. If you compromise your heath and safety, does it hurt or put undue strain on others? Are you willing to undergo the pain and possible hospitalization, or even a more limited lifestyle because of the choices you make about skating (or any other endeavor that in reality is just too much for your body at this point in your life).

It really is an individual choice, I'd just consider those around you, and what kind of hardships it will be on them when things go awry.

Re: Wondering if it is worth it for me?

Harpa — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 12:02:24 GMT

I look at the yards and yards of Schirmer piano albums I have housed proudly in my bookcase. If I were to get back into piano shape, I would have to start from scratch -- Hanon, scales and Czerny -- and that would require much time and much, much effort!

If I no longer am proficient enough to play those concertos, etudes & sonatas, I am presently skilled & qualified to enjoy music as I once did in coaching and teaching others!

I am the last person to say give up. But I am saying that you can always turn your love of skating in a new direction.