Farewell To Skating, Hoping Rink Folks and Skaters can Learn from my 65+ Years of Skating
Hi All,
SkaterVideoGuy here. My Skating Journey has changed up over this last year. Just after my 73 BD in Nov. 2019, I discovered I was having major difficulty just Skating around, never mind Jumping, Spinning, Doing Camels and Sit Spins, Dance and other tricky moves. I was finding myself literally jerking about just rolling around the Skate floor. It felt as though I was trying to Fall and correcting for slippery conditions – except my wheels and the floor were both tight.
Three Doctors, an Electromyography (EMG) on both lower legs, two Brain MRI's, a full body Scan, a full Blood work up, a Dexa Scan, and a Bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy later, I was told I had Neuropathy in both feet and had lost some 50 to 60 % of the feeling in my feet and lower legs. My feet were no longer telling my brain exactly where they were and what position they were in – exactly what you need to Skate. Turns out it also affects your walking on uneven surfaces and stairs. In addition, I now have a pre-cancerous Blood disorder that needs to be followed closely. I go for another Bone Marrow test next week.
As a consequence, the Docs all told me Not to get on Skates again. Since I had stopped two weeks before I saw my first Doc due to fear of falling, that sealed the Deal. 65+ years of Skating had come to an END for me. My Skating Journey is Over.
I will not likely continue to engage on this Forum, but would like the best of what I've learned over the years to be available to any and all who might benefit. The following URLs will get folks to the Posts on the old Skate Log Forum in the listed Subjects.
Floor Guards : http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25651
Skate Session Programing : http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25521
Rink DJ's : http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40802
Rink Lighting : http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25534
Rink Rules : http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43702
http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25555
Rink Sound Systems : http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25500
Skating Session Games & Specials : http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25379
Skate Session Programing : http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25521
For a little Skating Candy (& some other stuff), check out my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvD9i7knZFdQKxd4D0wcsg/videos
The Best to all of you. Keep Skating for as long as you can – as Safely as you can.
SkaterVideoGuy OUT !!
Comments
TY for your contributions to the skate scene.
Thanks for sharing and for all you've done for the sport. Hope your health improves.
Thank you for all you've done, and all the best for whatever you choose to do in the next chapter of your life!
Illinois USA
I'm awfully sorry to hear you have to quit skating. I have read many of your contributions here and will miss your knowledge. Maybe you can still minimally participate on this forum as it is a shame to lose all the knowledge you have accumulated.
Anyway, best of luck with everything and thanks for what you have done for all of us.
Press F to pay respect! This sport and all the people associated with it will never forget you!
Hat's off, and a lot of respect! You kept skating in your heart and I'm sure you did more than your part to contribute and share that joy with the next few generations. Good luck in your journey! Light and love. Peace and blessings.
Ouch! That's harsh. I know a little too much about how you must feel. I've been off skates for a year now. After a major injury accident, I thought I would recover and return but then I was hit with a diagnosis of "severe osteoporosis". I'm doing everything I can to get my bones back in skating shape but the timeline is two years to never.
Thank you so very much for your contributions. Hope your health improves.
Us older skaters are becoming rare. Sorry to see you leave the scene but perhaps in your dreams you will skate better than ever. Will you be able to bicycle and such? Good Luck!
Phil
Hear the Heartbeat of Another Before Your Own and then Pass Them😎
That Sensitive Moment Passing a Depleted Electric Scooter/Bicycle that Blew By You Earlier🤤
Up Date !
Hi All,
Thank you for your responses, I do appreciate them.
This March, I again went through the same Testing as a year ago. The Bone Marrow test showed an increase form 7% plasma cells (MGUS) to 10 to 15% - putting me into the “Multiple Myeloma” category.
https://www.drugs.com/mcd/multiple-myeloma
These results sent me for a Spinal X-Ray sequence, a Cat Scan and a PET Scan looking for Bone damage and Lesions. Found one possible Lesion on one rib. “Smoldering Multiple Myeloma” is my current Diagnoses. Going back in 4 mo's for retesting, as this status can change over time.
Currently, this disease is forever, and can only be partly controlled, but not cured. Just One of the Meds they may put me on costs some $20+K per month. (Revlimid) That's INSANE. In addition, most of the Meds they use to treat this can cause, or make, Neuropathy even worse. Not to mention a slew of other crazy complications from whatever Treatment you're given. There may also be Chemotherapy and a Bone Marrow Transplant in my future.
Turn's out my Skating didn't save my life, but it did give me the possibility of extending it somewhat, had I not caught early.
On to the Skating stuff.
I encourage all of you who choose to check out my SkateLog Posts to please read thru the entire Posts, as there are many good discussions and additions given by other Skaters from all over.
I would hope that you would then share what you find that may be helpful / useful, with any Rink Owners, Rink Managers, Skate Guards and DJ's you may know. I believe that the information could help them improve their work and the Skating experience of their Skaters. I've seen and done most everything I write about. Sadly, only in bits and pieces in most of the over 160 Rinks I've attended.
If anyone might like to learn even more, or engage in conversation about any of my materials, I'd be happy to do so. The better the Rink Skating Experience folks have, the more likely they are to return and encourage others to come too. That will help keep Skating Rinks Open.
SkaterVideoGuy
Best wishes, Harold. I hope to be breathing on my own at 73, much less still on skates. Prayers going up for your health and well being. Don't be a stranger, come around now and then.
Your stilt skates deserve a place in Lincoln!
New URL's To get to the SkateLog Archives:
Floor Guards: https://web.archive.org/web/20120922090423/http://skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25651
Rink floors with a inside wall: https://web.archive.org/web/20120105103559/http://skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40685
Rink Rules: https://web.archive.org/web/20120510093528/http://skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43702
and https://web.archive.org/web/20121031041934/http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25555
Rink Lighting: https://web.archive.org/web/20130116153242/http://skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25534
General Skate Session Programing Options: https://web.archive.org/web/20121031042151/http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25521
Rink Sound Systems: https://web.archive.org/web/20121031042335/http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25500
Session Skating Games & Specials Options: https://web.archive.org/web/20121031040058/http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25379
Rink "DJs" Best Options: https://web.archive.org/web/20120521000143/http://skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40802
Keep Skating !!
Such a loss for you and for us. You might want to visit here once in awhile just to be current. I am 73 and understand these transitions we make in life. Good luck...😪
Hear the Heartbeat of Another Before Your Own and then Pass Them😎
That Sensitive Moment Passing a Depleted Electric Scooter/Bicycle that Blew By You Earlier🤤
UpDate !!
Hi All,
I'm still Vertical, but a bit more wobbly. The Neuropathy in my feet seems to be getting worse over time.
Getting a 4th Bone Marrow Test in couple of months. If any of you get one of these tests, I strongly suggest you do it under Sedation. It's a BITCH with out it. I tried that 6 months ago for my 3 rd one. Having a hole drilled into your Hip Bone and then sucking Blood & Bone Marrow out is rather painful, at least it was for me.
After a 2 year Hiatus, the 2 local Roller Derby Teams are up and Playing again. I'm back at doing the Videography for the Kansas City Roller Warriors Women's Derby.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdNw-6xlqLtmvdr0chj57KQ/videos
Now in my 76 th year, it's as close to Skating as I can safely get.
Skate Safe everyone, Harold (SkaterVideoGuy)
Hi Harold,
Sorry to hear about your situation and condition. I'm sorry for such a late response. You will be missed. I can relate to your situation. I doubt I can return to skating too. About 4 years ago I was finding it difficult to stand up after falling (not related to the fall), but from old age. It got worse for me. Then a few years ago I needed a bypass. Had a quintuple bypass a week after I was told I could die any moment. Sheesh! getting old is bad for your health, so I don't recommend getting old...
Good news is that I am still alive (I think). I guess that all that skating when I was younger gave my heart enough strength to hold me together till I got the bypass, at least that is what I keep telling myself. I am working on getting my leg strength back and if I can manage to do that bit of magic, I will try to skate again. I miss it very much, so I can understand how you feel.
I hope you can recover, and recover soon.
I have not skated in over a year but did manage to get a pacemaker over the winter. Fortunately it will not prevent me from skating for which I do not intend to let go. I turn three quarters of a century old this summer and for the grace of God I continue skating, a true joy. Keep doing the good fight, video our Derby Sisters exploits and continue to update us. Young or old skaters rock!
Hear the Heartbeat of Another Before Your Own and then Pass Them😎
That Sensitive Moment Passing a Depleted Electric Scooter/Bicycle that Blew By You Earlier🤤
Hi Folks - Update,
Still Alive, and still Walking (although bit Slower). Now in my 77th Year, still have The Smoldering M M.
Yet another Pet Scan, Bone Marrow Test (# 5), Full Skeletal X-Ray Assesment, Blood Work, etc. coming in August. Hope it all still shows "Smoldering".
Still doing the Videography for the Kansas City Roller Warriors. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdNw-6xlqLtmvdr0chj57KQ/videos
Keep Skating for as long as you Can everyone. "Watching" just isn't the same as "Doing".
Harold