OT: Don't Need My Left Knee to Play Bass...

[AnthonyD]

I'll be around the house a bit more in the coming months, having blown my ACL in my left knee. That's how my ski season ended last week.

Bit of a bummer, but I expect to fully recover (ok - almost fully). Surgery is planned for end of the month and in 6 to 9 months I should be back to a "full active lifestyle."

One of my first thoughts, while being taken off the mountain in the Ski Patrol sled was that I could at least still play bass - and would likely have some extra time to practice.

Gotta look at the positives...

 

[bovinehost]

In the early 90s, a lifelong friend of mine (and right fine guitarist) met his "Waterloo" in a motorcycle accident. I called the hospital after he regained consciousness, and he told me his arms were working okay, he could breathe and so on, but that the legs appeared to be non-operational. He would be spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

I said, "Okay, but your arms....you can still play guitar?"

He said, "Yeah, yeah, I'm getting Dale to bring me an acoustic later today."

In the background, I can hear his wife screaming, "Who cares? Why does EVERYONE ask if you can still play GUITAR?"

Well, because it MATTERS, woman.

Apparently, that was the first question all his musican friends had and it was making her insane.


He's still playing, by the way. She's long gone.

Jack

 

[AnthonyD]

Great story - sorry to hear your buddy remained wheelchair bound.

And, yes, it does matter... Not because it's how I make my living, just because it's what I really like to do.

My band plays seasonally - late spring through early fall - maybe 4 - 5 gigs if we're lucky (three on the calendar so far with two strong possibles).

With surgery planned for later this month I may be on a stool for the earlier gigs, but standing or sitting, I'm there!

Expecting to ski again, too, but that's another discussion...

 

[tkarter]

You have the I got it beat already attitude. Good on you.

Hope all goes will with your full recovery.

tk

 

[mbgreene]

Sorry about the knee Anthony - wishing you a speedy recovery.

But hey, while you're convalescing, maybe you can work on that fretless technique

 

[Eggman]

Anthony - that is a bummer. Another positive is that it was near the end of the season - not the beginning. Hopefully you got a lot of good ski days in.

I will send positive vibes to you and your knee-----tomorrow from the sunny slopes of Vail.

Heal well,

Eggman

 

[Eggman]

But hey, while you're convalescing, maybe you can work on that fretless technique

Nice one -

 

[RitchieDarling]

Ah yes! I remember my one and only skiing trip.....

I became intimate with a large tree about 35 seconds into the trip.....

Spent the rest of the time at the hotel/chalet drinking......

Although, there was this nice redhead who had a twisted ankle.....and we did get to know each other VERY well over the next few days!!

Sorry to hear about your accident.....Take care and get yourself back on the slopes!!

As for me, I'll be in the bar!

Ritchie

 

[AnthonyD]

Sorry about the knee Anthony - wishing you a speedy recovery.

But hey, while you're convalescing, maybe you can work on that fretless technique

Ha! Don't think it hasn't crossed my mind!

 

[AnthonyD]

Anthony - that is a bummer. Another positive is that it was near the end of the season - not the beginning. Hopefully you got a lot of good ski days in.

I will send positive vibes to you and your knee-----tomorrow from the sunny slopes of Vail.

Heal well,

Eggman

I should be jealous... But as an "North East Skier" I would be completely lost in the fluffy stuff our West!

Funny thing is the mountain I was skiing had a bunch of fresh powder over night that hadn't set yet - I got tangled up in it at very slow speed and simply fell over. Binding did not release (you know the rest of the story).

And I do believe it was about 35 seconds into the first run of the day!
Thanks for the well wishes - enjoy and be careful out there!

 

[adouglas]

Oh, bummer.

I tore my right ACL in 1982 or thereabouts, at Smuggler's Notch in VT. I thought I'd just twisted my knee. I went back up for one more run down the mountain!

Three days later, after falling over like a tree, I figured I'd better go see a doctor.

The good news is that after the repair, your knee will be as good as new...perhaps better than your other one. Mine is.

The other good news is that the surgery and recovery are MUCH less intense than they once were.

Mine involved:

A week in the hospital with its associated discomforts and unspeakable things done to your anatomy
An epidural (spinal) anaesthetic (not the safest thing in the world)
Surgery that left an eight-inch scar on my thigh
A few dozen surgical staples
A couple of months on crutches with a crotch-to-toe cast
Recovery after the cast came off

These days you're walking on a cane right quick.

Say, if you don't make it, can I have your Bongo?

 

[SteveB]

Anthony,

Sorry to hear about your accident. Hope you have a speedy recovery (but with enough time off to do some woodshedding ).

 

[Mobay45]

Ah yes! I remember my one and only skiing trip.....

I became intimate with a large tree about 35 seconds into the trip.....

Spent the rest of the time at the hotel/chalet drinking......

Although, there was this nice redhead who had a twisted ankle.....and we did get to know each other VERY well over the next few days!!

Sorry to hear about your accident.....Take care and get yourself back on the slopes!!

As for me, I'll be in the bar!

Ritchie

Do you still remeber his name?

Hey Anthony, I hope you have a quick recovery. I have to have my right shoulder worked on in July. It will affect my ability to play bass for at least 2-3 weeks though.

 

[Baird]

I'll be around the house a bit more in the coming months, having blown my ACL in my left knee. That's how my ski season ended last week.

Bit of a bummer, but I expect to fully recover (ok - almost fully). Surgery is planned for end of the month and in 6 to 9 months I should be back to a "full active lifestyle."

One of my first thoughts, while being taken off the mountain in the Ski Patrol sled was that I could at least still play bass - and would likely have some extra time to practice.

Gotta look at the positives...

I am on the Ski Patrol in Ontaro and although blowing out your ACL sucks, there are much worse injuries that can happen when you are flying down packed snow on 2 boards! Believe me.

I had a snowboarder in an accident last month where the wrist/arm was so badly smashed, he will be lucky if he ever picks his own nose again let alone play a bass....

Hope surgery goes well for you and I hope you wear a helmet!

 

[AnthonyD]

Do you still remember HIS name - classic! Thanks for the laugh Larry!

Thanks for the well-wishes Stevie - I am looking forward to some dedicated music time.

adouglas - I am glad to say things have improved considerably since 1982. At this point I am in pre-op physical therapy to regain strength and mobility in the knee.

In about two weeks I go in for arthroscopic surgery - two little holes and a small incision. The procedure is an hour or so and I am home the same day. Then the tough road begins...

There's a week or two of crutches followed by a few months of physical therapy - all with the eye on the prize of running around "good as new" in the Fall.

 

[AnthonyD]

... I have to have my right shoulder worked on in July. It will affect my ability to play bass for at least 2-3 weeks though.

Sorry to hear - hope all goes well!

I am on the Ski Patrol in Ontaro and although blowing out your ACL sucks, there are much worse injuries that can happen when you are flying down packed snow on 2 boards! Believe me.

I had a snowboarder in an accident last month where the wrist/arm was so badly smashed, he will be lucky if he ever picks his own nose again let alone play a bass....

Hope surgery goes well for you and I hope you wear a helmet!

Ouch - another thought on the "sled" (brief moment of insanity for this 42 year-old) was whether or not to make the jump from two boards to one.

And yes - my '06/'07 season saw the introduction of the helmet!

 

[Aussie Mark]

You'll be right. I have no ACL in my right knee, and haven't since 1991. Life goes on. I can't ski any more, but snowboarding is ok. I can even squat and deadlift in the gym.

 

[AnthonyD]

Update: Cleared for surgery and all set for tomorrow - ACL replacement!




I just ordered Ed Friedland's Walking Basslines book; thought it would be a big part of my post-operative rehabilitation!

 

[tkarter]

Good luck with the surgery tomorrow. Will be rooting for ya.

tk

 

[koogie2k]

Get well soon. Been there done that....hasn't slowed me down.