Any handicaped bowlers out there?

[MICHAEL]

I am a retire Iron Worker local 10 here in Kansas City! I have boken my neck, and herniated a disk in my lower back, developed RA, and have nerve damage
in my feet, burning sensation. Have broken my right thumb, and third toe on left foot. Was told that I would be in a wheel chair in 3 years, but guess what!!
I am doing great working out, and bowling!!! Eat right and stay away from medication!! My question is how many out there have health issues, but still
bowl and enjoy it! I swear its a big part of keeping me fit, and something to look forward 2! And Not doing to bad for a new bee,,, 692 ser/298 high game so far!!

[got_a_300]

I have 2 ruptured discs in my lower back the L4 and L5 discs I believe it is
plus osteoarthritis in both of my knees and it makes for some really painful
bowling some nights but I think it is still worth it.

[billf]

I was born blind in my left eye. while in the Army I spent a weekend in a prison in the Philippines where I had all my fingers and toes broken at each joint. During the first Gulf War my temper got in the way of my brain, my right knee has no cartilage, miniscus and the bones rub together. I was told I would need a knee replacement and have severe arthritis (I was 23 at the time.) I live with memory loss, joint pain and migraines since the Gulf, supposedly due to Gulf War Syndrome and PTSD. I'm 43 now and have never let any of it stop me from doing anything I want. I even play softball albeit I run a ton slower than I use to.
November 3, 2010 I had a part explode on me at work. The first piece of metal knocked my safety glasses sideways. The second piece, a sliver 4mm long, entered my eye through the iris, through the cornea, into the retina which acted like a rubber band sending it out towards the front. It hit my lens again and went back in. It destroyed the lens, cut the cornea in three pieces and tore my retina in two. The first surgery (that day) was seven hours long. Several more surgeries and fourteen months later I was able to see again, with glasses (trifocals). Other than the month on bed rest for the retina attachment to take hold, I bowled the whole time. Derrick bowls on two of my teams and the player before me on both. He would guide me up to the approach, hand me my ball and tell me what board I was standing at and where my ball went with what pins were left. While out on workers comp I bowled an average of thirty games a day and had my highest average ever until I got my sight back. I struggled mightily with trifocals but since getting glasses with just the distance script in them, my mark doesn't move and back on the climb up.

[tigerbait6]

I have had 2 back operations when I was young. I was 16 and 21 years of age, respectively. I crushed a lower lumbar disc in my back the first time, with a pinch nerve in my right leg. I could not sleep for 6 weeks, until I decided to do something about it. The pain was constant and unbearable. The 2nd surgery, I slipped 2 disc's in the same area that I crush the one before. They ended up doing a fusion on me and I have been fine ever since. I am 44 years of age. I bowl with a 15 pound ball and I love it.

[striker12]

jsut a few months ago i had a fractured wristed but i stilled bowled with it, but i have a high tolorence for pain soo it dose not bother me much its starting to act up on my now but i also have got mussle up behind my knee cap on my right leg but if i go for surgry i will be out of bowling for 2-5 years.

then also my right shoulder has been dislocated 9 times from high school foot ball and is starting to hurt soo i have to go that check soo rather then later when it might be more messed up and keep me off bowling abit longer.

but the thing with the musle behind my knee cap i was doing track and field in grade 11 was about to set the world record for the 200 metor dash at 16second and my musle from my leg shot up threw the musle tissue and it hurts every summer but not during the winter cause it dose not warm up and expand as fast.

[Stormed1]

I have a disease called Charcoat in my right foot. It is a result of the nerve damage from diabetes. Basicall what this disease creates id every bone in my foot became broken and my foot deforemed. It created an ulcer on the bottom of my foot which required 3 surgeries and 8 years to heal. During that period i bowledwith an orthodic cast/boot on my right foot which extended up yo my knee. Also 8 years ago i also went blind in my left eye

[dgz924s]

Well I am a handicap bowler just not handicapped. But I am amazed at the replies and the illness/injuries suffered and still continue to bowl. I bowled against a guy who was sight impaired and used a set of binoculars to see the pins and this guy has an average in the lo to mid 200's. It gives me great comfort to see what you all have to deal with and yet still "keep on keepin on"! I am a Diabetic but have done very well at managing the disease so complications are null but do suffer from a fairly acute tendonitis in both arms/elbows which at times makes me wonder why do I even roll a ball with the pain but to see you guys and what you endure makes what I suffer seem insignificant and just gives me more incentive to continue bowling.

Keep up the good fight!!

[Etrain]

I was born blind in my left eye. while in the Army I spent a weekend in a prison in the Philippines where I had all my fingers and toes broken at each joint. During the first Gulf War my temper got in the way of my brain, my right knee has no cartilage, miniscus and the bones rub together. I was told I would need a knee replacement and have severe arthritis (I was 23 at the time.) I live with memory loss, joint pain and migraines since the Gulf, supposedly due to Gulf War Syndrome and PTSD. I'm 43 now and have never let any of it stop me from doing anything I want. I even play softball albeit I run a ton slower than I use to.
November 3, 2010 I had a part explode on me at work. The first piece of metal knocked my safety glasses sideways. The second piece, a sliver 4mm long, entered my eye through the iris, through the cornea, into the retina which acted like a rubber band sending it out towards the front. It hit my lens again and went back in. It destroyed the lens, cut the cornea in three pieces and tore my retina in two. The first surgery (that day) was seven hours long. Several more surgeries and fourteen months later I was able to see again, with glasses (trifocals). Other than the month on bed rest for the retina attachment to take hold, I bowled the whole time. Derrick bowls on two of my teams and the player before me on both. He would guide me up to the approach, hand me my ball and tell me what board I was standing at and where my ball went with what pins were left. While out on workers comp I bowled an average of thirty games a day and had my highest average ever until I got my sight back. I struggled mightily with trifocals but since getting glasses with just the distance script in them, my mark doesn't move and back on the climb up.

wow thats alot to happen. im not even going to complain about my lower back after reading this

[billf]

Just all part of life. My wife laughed because I didn't even mention that 2007 broken thumb on bowling hand, 2008 same thing, 2009 broke my right wrist. All happened during the season so I bowled through it against doctors advice. Once league ended I bowled summer league (non-sanctioned) left handed.
I'm an auto mechanic at a local dealership and have been for years. After so many years on the trucks I just thought back pain was normal. The doctor I saw laughed when I mentioned how I said no to any new pain because to me it has just turned to normal.

[MICHAEL]

billf I can sure relate, as and Iron Worker, handling steel in all forms, putting up buildings, bridges, towers ect I have had my share of pain,,,, forgot to mention.
I also Broke My right thumb while playing College Football at a place called William Jewell College. It was my passing thumb on my right hand, near the base of hand.
They had to pin it back togerther with rods. They must of did a pretty good job, I have no problem with it so far!! What dealer ship
do you work for at: Ford/Dodge/Chev ect...