It was fun

[D]

Well..

I always thought I would be a disc golfer for the rest of my life - but it turns out after only a year and a half, I am going in a different direction.

I love the sport and have put as much time (and money) into it as anyone else.

It was only my first year as a PDGA member and I got some rounds in. Some good, some bad, some great. But I had a good time.

To get to the point - Sunday after leagues I went to Adler with Nate and Todds other brother for some laughs and golf.

After about 27 holes there, we decided to play one more round of 9.  I step up to teeoff, and as I pivot I hear a pop in my leg - it felt as if my ankle was sprained. I had difficulty walking, but continued on to my lie. As I putted I knew something was very wrong, I felt a sharp pain in my ankle the moment I shifted my weight onto it, and decided to give up and head home.

When I got home, my mom suggested we contact our neighbors, who are orthopedic surgeons. As I was being examined, I was told I have "peroneal tendon instability" as a result of this injury. A "sheeth" of some sort was torn and I needed to have it surgically repaired.

Some of you may be firmiliar with the recent Injury of Curt Schilling, this is very similar, if not the same thing.

Not wanting to undergo surgery, I decided to goto a sports rehabiliation facility in Lake Bluff. Where after about 5minutes of inspection and a couple x-rays. I was told the very same thing. A cast may be used to immobilize the tendon and let it heal, but if it doesn't scar properly, surgery is the only option.

So here I am, I've been on crutches for 2 days, have had my ankle wrapped tightly, and oddly - feel a bit relieved that I have been properly diagnosed.

I've never had surgery, and can't help but feel a bit nervous and anxious.  

I doubt, even after post-op rehab, that I will ever play disc golf again - It is very scary to me to know that something like this could just happen out of nowhere and not really be explained. The throw was normal, solid, and good (had a 20 foot putt on hole 1) The only thing unusual about it was the pop I heard and the pain I immediately experienced.

I wanted to be a pro golfer, maybe be sponsored by Gateway, make some cash, play golf. But I don't know. Disc golf isn't as important to be as baseball was, which is something I hope to do in college after this operation.  I don't feel like running the risk of another tear for disc golf, as much as I enjoy it.

This injury sort of made me re-think my priorities and gave me a bit of a slap on the face.

You guys won't have to put up with my complaining about rules/baggers/etc. So be thankful But I'll sure miss the good times I've had out at Adler, Fairfield (mm bees) and of course Waukegan.

Discontinuum is a great club which can do great things for the sport and produce great golfers. I applaud thoes of you who pour your heart and time into this club for others. You deserve more.

Who knows, maybe I will play again, but it will never be the same. Now even when I think about playing again, I think about how each throw will be dodging another tendon tear.

Watch out for Todd, he's going to be 960 before you guys know it. Don't take it easy on his ass because he "putts" up one a hell of a fight.

I'm selling my discs, my bag, and my pins, most anything I own disc golf related. If people have an interest in any of them, please let me know.

Now that I've written a book on everything, I can't think of anything else to say. I hope my surgery is a success as well as my recovery. I'll still stop by the forums like before, but I'll just be a guy who once played.

Don't take it for granted like I did, be safe, enjoy it, and most of all have a good time.

[Dan Michler]

sorry to hear about that d-train, good luck with the surgery.  your young though, so it'll heal quick!!

[CEValkyrie]

Diron,
    Hope things heal fast. Good luck with the surgery. Sports injuries suck. I've been there before.
    Don't jump the gun & sell all your stuff. The one positive is that you are injured now instead of the spring or summer. Take the winter off & see what happens next spring. You'll be kicking yourself in the ass if you sell your stuff & want to get back at it in the spring.
    You are young & you'll recover quickly. You do realize that this is year 2004 & not 1904 . Look at McGahee. His knee was busted up & they thought he might not play football again. He's now starting for the Bills. 234 yards & 3 td's in the last 2 weeks.
    You can also try forehand, tommy's, & thumbers.  

[airspuds]

now you can make the real money
by  running events  
being the td  
designing courses

what office would you like to be nominated for ?

one of the reasons i wear high top spikes is for the ankle support
even on courses that one doesnt really need spikes

i tend to walk slowly on courses due to the fact
one small step into a gopher hole and its over

at 38 the knees pop the ankle (right) wakes me up
tells me when its going to rain  the recent shoulder problems
i hope will go away with rest (i felt a pull carrying a six pack -
now there is one thing im not giving up)

its not over
was it over when the germans bombed pearl harbor

yeah the kick ass game you had (according to you is gone)
change is good  
makes one stronger

i hope you get better
i havent had to go through what you are going through
but i will say a prayer for you (as well as for a job for me)
have faith

dont know if this will help or not
i hope it helps


by the why what kind of pins do you have ?
x mas is coming up

[Todd. Fanning]

Ill take the CE Teebird!!  
But i know you will be back and healed around spring time and you will be ready to golf. So you better hold on to ur things like brett said. But good luck with the surgery and the recovery and give me a call after the surgery. if ur not on crutches i could still use a caddie at some tournys if your not gonna be playing.  
Good luck

[Jon Brakel]

Germans?

[damonshort]

Germans?

Hey, look how many people think Hussein planned 9/11....    

[D]

I hope your right Brett, thanks for the support

Lube Pro in Mundelein just got an opening today - if you know how to work on cars Airspuds I'll pray for a job for you as well.

I have an Innova Skillshot Black, only been putted on a couple times. And a Discatcher Sport that sits out back.

Todd your a bastard    but the CE Teebird is yours.

GERMANS?!

[Chainmeister]

Diron

I am sorry to hear about your injury and sorry to think that I was on the same course just before it happened.  

Do not sell or give away your discs, targets, stuff.  You are facing a long and difficult recovery, but you will heal and you will throw again.  You may not have the speed that you had before, but we are not sprinters, we are disc golfers.

There is no question that you are going to be out of action for a while.  I am sure that your doctors will want you to stay away from disc golf for longer than you want.  But you will play again.  

I tore my achilles in 1994.  I had played in an ultimate league in 1993.  It was a long rehab.  I could barely walk the one block from my doctor's office to the therapist's office when the cast came off.  I was soon riding my bike and back in the swing of things.  Sure my vertical leap went from slim to none, but basketball was never my game.

You are young and will recover just fine.  You can heckle us for a few months and then get back to it.  It may be a while before you can push off and drive.  You will be able to practice your putting long before that.  By the time you can throw long you will have an amazing short game.

See you out there soon!

[D]

I run, well - ran. About 20miles a week.

God I'm going to be a house by the time this is over

How was the surgery on the Achilles?

[Chainmeister]

Tough to say.  I was asleep.

I was playing basketball and a guy twice my size tried to grab a rebount from behind and I thought I heard a gun shot.  I didn't feel pain, the thing just didn't work.  Somehow I drove a care, with a stick shift, the next day.  

Surgery was ok.  I became very facile with the crutches, you have to.  You will have a killer upper body.  Force yourself to move around on crutches, go a few blocks, and you can avoid porking up.  The hardest thing is that when the crutches come off your once virile leg will look like a stick.  It will take a while to build it up.  Running may be tough but you should be able to bike even when the leg is weak.  

Think long run.

[D]

I don't feel much pain either, which is good - Only very uncomfortable when I see my peroneal tendon slip over my ankle, which is nasty. Thus the reason for the wrap it's in

Killer upper body with crutches? I didn't figure that - a wheelchair but not crutches. I've only been on them about two days and I can already feel my right leg weakening. I've stood on it with about 80% of my weight and it just doesn't feel like the leg I used to have, very scary.

I would love to bike. I could go farther and faster than I could when I ran. You'll have to hit me up with some good manufactuers, as I know nothing about xc biking.  

[pat]

"its not over
was it over when the germans bombed pearl harbor"?

I believe the above reference is from Animal House. A line from John Belushi's big speach before the frat takes it's revenge on Faber College. Apparently I have watched this movie too many times. Kind of brings back memories from my youth which I don't remember a lot of for some reason.

Good luck on your recovery Diron.
 

[damonshort]

I believe the above reference is from Animal House.

I sure hope that's what he meant.    

[D]

Just found this - turns out Schilling has the exact same injury. Don't know why I thought he had already had surgery?

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/10-04...04/b01sp759.htm

[mirth]

Diron, I'll echo what most have said so far - don't sell your stuff until until after Winter at the earliest. My guess is that after some recovery & rehab time you'll want to play again.

And like Brett has said, after a resting period this is an opportunity to learn other shots that you may only infrequently use. You don't need much of a run up for overhands or forearms... hell, you don't need much of a run up for backhands either. its all in your arm speed & disc rotation.

I wish you a successful surgery & speedy recovery regardless. Be thankful you have health insurance!

[Guest]

Hey Diron -  Do NOT sell your stuff.  Don't give up hope, either.  You are very young and strong (at least physically if not mentally hee-hee) and hopefully can rebound quickly.
It is usually a good idea to take time and see how things work out. But an injury can certainly change your life - just stay positive and keep working harder than ever to manifest your dreams.
Suggestion - consult a nutritionist as well as orthopaedic physicians.  For a total recovery, you need to heal the body from every angle.  Good luck and stay strong dOoD!  I'm looking forward to seeing you well enough to cash at the 2005 Wisconsin Juniors again!

-scooter

[airspuds]

QUOTE (pat @ Nov 9 2004, 11:17 PM)


I believe the above reference is from Animal House.



I sure hope that's what he meant. 

yes quote from animal house the movie (1978 release )
thats what i meant

gee  i didnt think the reference would go right over the youngsters heads
i feel old  

interested in the skil shot

but take the advice from the discussion board and
dont clear out everything just yet

[Jon Brakel]

QUOTE (pat @ Nov 9 2004, 11:17 PM)


I believe the above reference is from Animal House.



I sure hope that's what he meant. 

yes quote from animal house the movie (1978 release )
thats what i meant

gee  i didnt think the reference would go right over the youngsters heads
i feel old  

interested in the skil shot

but take the advice from the discussion board and
dont clear out everything just yet

I KNOW what he meant! "Germans?" is the next line. Then someone should have said "Forget it, he's on a roll."

[D]

Great to hear from ya Jim