Bowling with an injury

[Empire895]

Hey everybody!

As we get older our bodies start breaking down and force us to bowl with nagging injuries that seem to crop up here and there.

I have had shoulder problems for the last few years that forced me to go from a 215 right handed bowler down below a 200 average for the first time in forever.

It was then I decided to try switching to left handed since my shoulder was causing weakness and fatigue in the right arm enough to try it.

Well I went from a 130 avg up to a 175 left handed in just over a year but the frustration of becoming a sub par bowler, well in my eyes based on my track record righty, I decided to switch back to righty last year and was able to hold a respectable 196 avg although my game by game avg score shows a significant drop in score. ie first fame avg 207 and last game 189ish. I forget the exact score.

But my question is what are some of the things that any of you find useful in dealing with a shoulder injury.

I dropped the weight of my ball down this year from 14 lbs to 13 lbs but need to be very conscious of the drop weight to avoid muscling the ball thru my shot. But the carry is around the same as with a 16 lb ball and def allows me to bowl 3 games without major fatigue issues I had before I went lefty.

I also use the compression sleeves on my elbow that helps and I tried a shoulder brace but it was too restrictive and actually made the shoulder worse. Anyone want to buy one hardly used? ;)

Of course I take a few tylenol too before bowling as well which helps too. ;)

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions in advance.

[1VegasBowler]

I've had 4 surgeries on my right shoulder, and in need of a 5th. I wear a compression shirt and a compression shoulder brace. While my shoulder may annoy me once in a while while I bowl, it's not nearly as bad as when I didn't have anything on my shoulder.

I've had my left knee operated on 7 times, and needs to be replaced. I wear a compression sleeve, a knee brace and compression pants. While the pain isn't as bad as it was, it can still bring tears to my eyes at times. Nothing more I can do except get another injection or 2 of Celestone until I can get it replaced.

Injuries just don't go away. They need to be addressed by the proper physician. And while injections can be good for up to 6 months, they only cover up what's wrong.

[Timmyb]

Hey everybody!

As we get older our bodies start breaking down and force us to bowl with nagging injuries that seem to crop up here and there.

I have had shoulder problems for the last few years that forced me to go from a 215 right handed bowler down below a 200 average for the first time in forever.

It was then I decided to try switching to left handed since my shoulder was causing weakness and fatigue in the right arm enough to try it.

Well I went from a 130 avg up to a 175 left handed in just over a year but the frustration of becoming a sub par bowler, well in my eyes based on my track record righty, I decided to switch back to righty last year and was able to hold a respectable 196 avg although my game by game avg score shows a significant drop in score. ie first fame avg 207 and last game 189ish. I forget the exact score.

But my question is what are some of the things that any of you find useful in dealing with a shoulder injury.

I dropped the weight of my ball down this year from 14 lbs to 13 lbs but need to be very conscious of the drop weight to avoid muscling the ball thru my shot. But the carry is around the same as with a 16 lb ball and def allows me to bowl 3 games without major fatigue issues I had before I went lefty.

I also use the compression sleeves on my elbow that helps and I tried a shoulder brace but it was too restrictive and actually made the shoulder worse. Anyone want to buy one hardly used? ;)

Of course I take a few tylenol too before bowling as well which helps too. ;)

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions in advance.

Hate to say this, but my only relief was finally having rotator cuff surgery. I didn't go back to the game for 6 years after that (10+ months rehab, and then self-imposed). If you have a doctor, talk to him, as there could be a very simple therapy you could be doing to get your shoulder back.

[Empire895]

Thanks, you reminded me I bought a compression shirt last year and that really helped, now where the hell did I put that thing.

;)

[1VegasBowler]

Thanks to a new kidney stone, I'll be bowling the next few weeks or so on some good narcotics.

[Empire895]

Hate to say this, but my only relief was finally having rotator cuff surgery. I didn't go back to the game for 6 years after that (10+ months rehab, and then self-imposed). If you have a doctor, talk to him, as there could be a very simple therapy you could be doing to get your shoulder back.

Thanks, yeah I have been putting off the inevitable but as a full time musician and working DJ and soundman I lug a lot of equipment every day but will just have to hire a roadie and get the surgery before this gets worse than it already is. \m/

Then maybe I can get my A game back. I am tired of the youngsters in our league beating us up every week and would love to have my arm back to compete with them. lol

[Empire895]

Thanks to a new kidney stone, I'll be bowling the next few weeks or so on some good narcotics.

LOL!!! Best of luck, kidney stones are no joke! Get well soon!

[1VegasBowler]

Thanks, yeah I have been putting off the inevitable but as a full time musician and working DJ and soundman I lug a lot of equipment every day but will just have to hire a roadie and get the surgery before this gets worse than it already is. \m/

Then maybe I can get my A game back. I am tired of the youngsters in our league beating us up every week and would love to have my arm back to compete with them. lol

BEST orthopedist is Dr. Robert C. Hendler in Goshen. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be walking. He also did my first 2 shoulder surgeries.

[1VegasBowler]

LOL!!! Best of luck, kidney stones are no joke! Get well soon!

Thank you :)

This is my second bout with them this year alone! Back in April I had to have 2 8mm stones lasered and had a stent for 3 lousy weeks.

The one I have now is 5.6mm. I'm hoping that the doc will prescribe Flowmax with the hope of passing it, but I think it's too big.

And you are right...They are no joke! I had to go to the hospital on Monday morning at about 2-2:30am in dire pain. I bowled monday afternoon at 12:30 and shot a 591. Not too bad considering I was all drugged up! lol

[Timmyb]

Thanks to a new kidney stone, I'll be bowling the next few weeks or so on some good narcotics.


Now that should be a cause for video!

[1VegasBowler]

Now that should be a cause for video!

Not really. Did it back in April after the laser lithotripsy and it ended up being a blessing. I had to change my style from standing upright, to a bent over approach like Marshall Holman.

It was the string that was attached to the stent that was coming out of and taped me that forced me to change.

Nobody knew I was on narcotics until I told them.

[manke]

Kidney stones are the worst pain i have ever felt.

[1VegasBowler]

Kidney stones are the worst pain i have ever felt.

You got that right!

i knew a couple of women who had them as well, and they said, that, they would rather go through child birth again than have kidney stones.

[manke]

When i had mine i couldn't stand sit or lay down without being in pain.

[2handedsniper]

I'm so sorry I hope you do not get more kidney stones this 2016-2017 season.

[1VegasBowler]

Went to the doc today and got some pretty good news.

My stone (5.6mm) is borderline for trying to pass on its own, and he let me decide on how I wanted to proceed by either going in and blasting it, or by trying meds to see if it will pass, and I jumped on the idea of trying to let it pass on its own! lol

He actually agreed that this was the best step to take for now and he gave me a script for Flomax.

If it doesn't pass or I become in distress again with severe pain or having problems taking a leak, getting sick, chills, etc., I can call him immediately and we blast the stone to hell.

Funny how the professional and layman can be on the same identical page at times.

[Tony]

Hey everybody!

As we get older our bodies start breaking down and force us to bowl with nagging injuries that seem to crop up here and there.

I have had shoulder problems for the last few years that forced me to go from a 215 right handed bowler down below a 200 average for the first time in forever.

It was then I decided to try switching to left handed since my shoulder was causing weakness and fatigue in the right arm enough to try it.

Well I went from a 130 avg up to a 175 left handed in just over a year but the frustration of becoming a sub par bowler, well in my eyes based on my track record righty, I decided to switch back to righty last year and was able to hold a respectable 196 avg although my game by game avg score shows a significant drop in score. ie first fame avg 207 and last game 189ish. I forget the exact score.

But my question is what are some of the things that any of you find useful in dealing with a shoulder injury.

I dropped the weight of my ball down this year from 14 lbs to 13 lbs but need to be very conscious of the drop weight to avoid muscling the ball thru my shot. But the carry is around the same as with a 16 lb ball and def allows me to bowl 3 games without major fatigue issues I had before I went lefty.

I also use the compression sleeves on my elbow that helps and I tried a shoulder brace but it was too restrictive and actually made the shoulder worse. Anyone want to buy one hardly used? ;)

Of course I take a few tylenol too before bowling as well which helps too. ;)

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions in advance.

I have had some shoulder troubles and has a detached bicep tendon and rotator cuff surgery, the best treatment I had prior to a major tear that required surgery was in seeing a non surgical sports med Dr. and going to the physical therapy group he ran, they were able to give me several exercises focused on healing and strengthening the shoulder and they really worked well. It delayed my surgery for several years and maybe would have indefinitely if I hadn't slipped and fallen on black ice while carrying an armload of 1" x 8' steel pipe and fallen right on the shoulder, I knew as soon as I hit the ground with all that weight I had damaged my shoulder.

Among several injuries and surgeries I bowled lefty for about 2 1/2 years. I currently bowl right handed again with a 14lb ball. Another thing I have done with some success is using the analgesic creams like Aspercream or Sportscreme on a sore muscle, or joint, I used to use Icyhot on my knee when playing softball and it helped some too.

Good luck with the pain of dealing with injuries, it's been no fun for me but I have managed to have some of the surgeries over the summer when I don't usually bowl anyway, last year I had left carpal tunnel and this spring ( if I can make it until then ) I will have surgery on my right thumb for trigger thumb.

[1VegasBowler]

I have had some shoulder troubles and has a detached bicep tendon and rotator cuff surgery, the best treatment I had prior to a major tear that required surgery was in seeing a non surgical sports med Dr. and going to the physical therapy group he ran, they were able to give me several exercises focused on healing and strengthening the shoulder and they really worked well. It delayed my surgery for several years and maybe would have indefinitely if I hadn't slipped and fallen on black ice while carrying an armload of 1" x 8' steel pipe and fallen right on the shoulder, I knew as soon as I hit the ground with all that weight I had damaged my shoulder.

Among several injuries and surgeries I bowled lefty for about 2 1/2 years. I currently bowl right handed again with a 14lb ball. Another thing I have done with some success is using the analgesic creams like Aspercream or Sportscreme on a sore muscle, or joint, I used to use Icyhot on my knee when playing softball and it helped some too.

Good luck with the pain of dealing with injuries, it's been no fun for me but I have managed to have some of the surgeries over the summer when I don't usually bowl anyway, last year I had left carpal tunnel and this spring ( if I can make it until then ) I will have surgery on my right thumb for trigger thumb.

The procedure is called a Tenodisis. The bicep tendon is reattached to the arm with a screw.

[got_a_300]

I had a bout with kidney stones back in 1987 worse pain I've ever had
and they had to keep me knocked out with morphine for 3 days before
they found out exactly what was wrong with me and used what the Dr.
called a basket thing to remove it/them.

Hope I never have to go through that again. :(

[1VegasBowler]

I had a bout with kidney stones back in 1987 worse pain I've ever had
and they had to keep me knocked out with morphine for 3 days before
they found out exactly what was wrong with me and used what the Dr.
called a basket thing to remove it/them.

Hope I never have to go through that again. :(

I hope you never have to go through that pain again either.

My father had kidney stones as well, and like you, they used a basket to get them back then.

Back in 2009 they had lithotripsy, where you layed down on a special table with an x-ray machine over you, and a device under your kidney that used electronic waves and actually pounded on you. That was done under general anesthesia (usually fantanyl).

Now they use lasers. They use a cystoscope to help the laser get into the kidney, they blast the hell out of it, and remove the particles with a basket.

In both cases, the put a kidney stent in (kidney to bladder). The first time they had to take it out while under general anesthesia. NOBODY is showing something into my joint, grabbing the string and then taking it out while I'm awake! lol

Back in April, the stent had a string on it that came out of me and was taped down. It took all of about 10 second to pull it out of me and wasn't the most comfortable thing, but not the worst by any means. And, naturally, the nurse that does this in the doctors office is pretty darn good looking! No nookie of any kind for 3 weeks and they have a good looking nurse handling you! lol

[Tony]

The procedure is called a Tenodisis. The bicep tendon is reattached to the arm with a screw.

I don't recall ever hearing the name of the procedure but the Dr. told me he looped the tendon around the bone and sewed it in place, it was torn off the lower attachment point rather than the upper. He said that he trimmed off a 1/2 inch where it was shredded. He might have used a screw but I can't recall him mentioning that. I do have a 2" screw in my foot.
I've never experienced the pain of a kidney stone however I have felt the pain of having a Kidney removed, yow that hurt. I do know the name for that one, it was called a radical Nephrectomy.