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Millers Banter: Unofficial Rotherham United Fans Forum / Message Board → Football / Sport / RUFC Related → When is it time to give up?
 

Topic: When is it time to give up?

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Exetermiller
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When is it time to give up?
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I've got a dilemma.

So I'm stuck on my backside again after 2nd knee ligament reconstruction in as many months, where I broke my collarbone too at a leisurely (not league) indoor 5 a side. Wife has gone from, play again and ya getting divorced to it would be unfair for me to ask that. Its rare I go out boozing, I did play 3 times a week - it was my thing. At 37 there is / was no better way to keeping fit plus all the psychological benefits etc.

What do I do? It scares me repeating this nightmare as much as it scares me that I need to move into the 'next stage of life' i.e. a more sedentary existence, coaching my lads and playing golf!

If you played and gave up, why? - particularly anyone with dodgy knees it would be nice to hear a been there got the t-shirt scenario. Is it really worth it? - should I just face a reality of jogging, swimming and or gym like what it seems most people my age do down here?



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sickly child
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Hard to say Ex, I am still playing 11 a side at 51 but a lot of team mates have suffered like you over the years and have ended up retiring from the game. Two reconstructions is a lot, certainly I like to play golf in the summer, seriously thinking of taking up reffing when I cant carry on. Good luck.

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Exetermiller
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That's a very privileged age to get to - I'm jealous already!

The thing with this is, ok some people stop because its physically not a good idea, it forces the issue, but I don't wanna be one of those who psychologically give it up, there's a lot that do and understandably so. I don't want regrets but neither do I want a repeat of this freak accident, no matter how unlikely

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sickly child
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What do the docs say? If they think it is unlikely that you will have the same injury then on probabilities with regards to risk assessment then get your boots back on. I always thought I would finish at about 35 but I will go as long as I can, every game a blessing.

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Exetermiller
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Surgeon says its solid, but its very early days yet, got months of PT ahead so plenty of time to get my head around it. Just can't see myself saying, sorry lads I quit

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sickly child
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Square it with the wife and get back in there. If knee is good no problem.

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Fliker
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I gave up at 30. Had a few problems with knee and ankles. But I started working for myself. You can't afford the time off with no sick pay..

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Unifier
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I took up cricket at that age, couldn't keep up with the kids any more. Became a proficient left arm spinner, which extended my cricketing career until the mid 50's. Still hanker after a game of footie at 67 though.......



-- Edited by Unifier on Sunday 2nd of August 2015 10:31:48 AM

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ridgeway kid
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Exetermiller wrote:

I've got a dilemma.

So I'm stuck on my backside again after 2nd knee ligament reconstruction in as many months, where I broke my collarbone too at a leisurely (not league) indoor 5 a side. Wife has gone from, play again and ya getting divorced to it would be unfair for me to ask that. Its rare I go out boozing, I did play 3 times a week - it was my thing. At 37 there is / was no better way to keeping fit plus all the psychological benefits etc.

What do I do? It scares me repeating this nightmare as much as it scares me that I need to move into the 'next stage of life' i.e. a more sedentary existence, coaching my lads and playing golf!

If you played and gave up, why? - particularly anyone with dodgy knees it would be nice to hear a been there got the t-shirt scenario. Is it really worth it? - should I just face a reality of jogging, swimming and or gym like what it seems most people my age do down here?

 Give up immediately.  I am 63 and all (repeat all) my friends who played football into their late 30s and beyond now use sticks, crutches and zimmers or are addicted to codeine or suffer almost constant pain.  Take up walking and get a dog.  If you persist you will be knackered in another few years.



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Duncang
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I'm 53 and I'm still playing five a side once a week, about 5 years ago I was getting to the point where I was going to have to give up because of the way I felt the following day but then the center where I play ripped up the hard surface we played on and replaced it with a 3 G surface which is much, much gentler on the joints! Some of the blokes that have given up have gone on to play walking football and they all seam to enjoy it, that could be an option for you?

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ian
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dont think all or nothing it will crucify you.

take pleasure in a walk or bike ride-whatever you can manage.

dont be in a rush and be realistic.

try the gym and walks and bikes and swimming before anything with twist and turns.

there will always be an opportunity for what you can manage even if it takes a year or two but in the meantime dont panic and stay fit in other ways.

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Kempo
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Playing sports for many years often leads to chronic musculoskeletal problems and I wish I could get a bet on you getting significant arthritis in your knees.

I finished up with chronic groin pain due to many years of sport and training and then was unlucky to get a problem from the corrective surgery but thats how it goes.

I have always loved going training in the gym so it was easy to substitute more gym for less sport participation although I have had to stop running.

Give up football for sure but there are still many active options that wont destroy your knee joints......well hopefully!

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ian
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I've never understood groin injuries. We're you a gymnast?

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Exetermiller
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Some very sobering views in this and thank you. 3 months on crutches and what 9 months getting back to 'normal' shows how far back you go. But its gotta be good to have goals. I would love it if I could make the choice myself, it shows that with the skill of the Surgeon and physio's you've beaten it with that & your hard work. For me if you get that choice taken from you its almost your own fault for not doing to exercises and such - that's what it feels like. Its short termist but like the 20 a day 30yr old smoker not bothered about cancer, arthritis in 20yrs time seems like that will happen to someone else.

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Kempo
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ian wrote:

I've never understood groin injuries. We're you a gymnast?

 I am not surprised that you have never understood groin injuries because they are very difficult to sort out due to the complex anatomy.

Interestingly, most of these so called ' hernias' in footballers are not hernias at all but an inflammatory condition of the tendon or ligament attachments.

I was not a gymnast but had done years of training including daily running on a running machine which I suspect played its part.

A common but often under diagnosed cause of chronic groin pain in sportsmen is inflammation of the inguinal ligament where it attaches to the pubic bone.Its like the groin version of tennis elbow.

The surgical treatment of this is to release the inguinal ligament and then reinforce the inguinal canal with mesh as in a hernia repair.

This should allow the inflammation to resolve.

This is all done via a laparoscope and remarkably footballers have returned to playing in 2 or 3 weeks!

I hope this helps.

 

 

 



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Heman
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I have played football all my life. I have had 3 knee operations and a high tibial osteotamy on both legs. My cartlage has worn out on the inside of my knees. I am 50 years old.

I still play, without fear of injury. Why?

Because you can't go though life worrying about getting injured. My mate broke his toe last week by walking into a door. My wife has had many more health problems than me and she never exercises.

The harsh truth is...you're born, you do stuff, then you die. The stuff you do is up to you. I say do what you enjoy doing. I know I will. Until I can't.

P.s for arthritic problems use FLEXISEQ. It's brilliant.

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Heman
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Bump - want to see a response to my views.

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Exetermiller
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I agree certainly. You should do stuff that you enjoy, and I'm the same, wife has much more profound issues than I and has always had one thing wrong or another. In fact how she is now means she cannot do certain everyday things, which makes you realise if you can do something, do it, cos the big man upstairs just needs to click his fingers and bang, one day you can't.

Thanks for your more positive outlook!

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sickly child
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I see both sides (man get off the fence) but kinda swayed to Hemans opinion giving up everything you enjoy might not lead to living longer but will certainly feels as if you are.

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