So... basically it's over.

A

aaron.ebner

Active member
went in for surgery yesterday and it was a lot worse than they originally thought. they just cut out some of the meniscuis, not a big deal. but it turns out i have pretty bad arthritus in my knee and if i keep it up the way i'm going, i'll need a knee replacement by the time i'm 20. This blows so badly, but i have to basically quit skiing if i want to walk when i'm older. i'll still shred every once in a while on pow days, but for the most part, this is it......

 
damn man...thats really terrible news... if i were you, id try and prove teh docs wrong..but thats just my mentality. Start taking tri-flex from GNC if you arent already. Its a supplement that does wonders in joint recovery. I was told i have arthritis already too, but nothing like that. Best of luck.
 
^well here's the thing, a supplement won't help the cartelige that is damaged heal, no matter what. that kind of cartelige just simply doesn't regenerate. But as far as proving the doc's wrong....... i don't know what to think. it's a serious problem if i didn't. i don't want to sound like i'm giving up, but this is like my struggle to not have to give up. if i ski very very infrequently then i hopefully can wait till i'm much older to get a knee replacement.

i realized that as well as the skiing aspect of it, my favorite part is that when we're on the hill, nothing matters, 25 year olds act like kids, and i get to spend time with all my friends. As much as skiing means to me, i think i'll learn to live without it. i know that all my friends are still there and i'm going to have loads and loads of fun just raging with them for a longlong long time!
 
^thanks a lot dave for the support, i don't really think i'd go to mn for a doctor, but i'll see what someone else thinks out here.
 
That sucks so much.

As much as you have to weigh the decisions good luck man.

If i were you i wouldent quit. skiing is my life and one of the best things of it. without it winter would just be a god damn cold hibernation. but skiing makes me so very happy. it would take a bullet to my head in order for me to stop skiing.

 
Just to let you know, Andrea was at one time a U.S. ski team orthopedic. I would make the drive to see her if i was you.
 
oh no aaron! i would suggest doing what everybody else said. and saterbak is the best so maybe you should just come back to visit some friends and see what she says. keep your head up, we are here for you.
 
would you be able to just ski really easy like not buckle your boots and snow plow down? sucks dude. sorry
 
Im so sorry to hear that man, chin up tho! Even if you cant ski as much as you really want to, there are plenty of other ways to have fun and stay involved in the ski industry, dont worry thngs will work themselves out, they always do for skiers!!!
 
well if you bring money into the picture yes. my sister has a few friends with knee replacements and there only 18. ones a bumper and the others in freestyle.
 
I saw your post and understand where I'm coming from. I have had 4 knee surgeries (Cartilage and ACL both knees) and yes arthritis is there and so is tendonitis. Trust me, I can predict the weather better than the local tv guys! You need to find a surgeon who works with professional athletes! I'm in Milwaukee and thankfully I was able to find a former US Ski team surgeon. I can still ski with the best of them, I can still ski bumps, because I know the proper way to ski them, I can jump with a good safe landing (I don't guinea pig anymore though) and I can still do rails with a proper downslope exit. Flat landings hurt for a while, avoid them at all costs, make sure your park is safe, the majority are not! Get to know a your local park groomer to explain how important downslopes are and try to get them to build slight step-ups compared to cheese wedges! The go big or go home motto must be lost! Pick the features that will allow you to keep skiing. If the pros are smart enough to build slight step-ups for their big air events, why do resorts still build cheese wedges for theirs? As participates we need to insist on safer jumps!
 
hey you can always film! invest in a camera! a nice one get good at it. you can ski once in awhile film alot and just have a good time!
 
that really sucks! i dont know what i would do if my favorite thing in the world was taken away from me.

really sorry to hear.

you might not want to hear this, but have you ever thought of sit skiing? skiing is still skiing, even if it is different.

watch a warren miller move(haha dont hate me for liking Mr Miller) but those guys can really rip.
 
i've been thinking about this a ton, i mean a ton. i'm going to see what happens, but as of now, it's not looking like i'm going to find it worth it to keep pushing like i have been.

as much as i love skiing, i think that equal to skiing, the experience that i have with my friends while skiing is what i loved the most. I hate drama, crabby people, arguments, and "mature" people so much. skiing was just one way to get away from all that. i love the whole skiing thing with immense amounts of passion too, but if it means making the rest of my life hell just to try to walk when i'm older i don't know if it will be worth it.

i'm still going to get out and ride, just not every day, and not on every feature of the mountain like before. i was soooo reckless before, testing jumps with 5's and backflips and overshooting too many times to count. i'll just take it easy and buy some fat skis so i can slash pow instead of smash on rails..... it blows, but i'll see what happens
 
A-RON

Find hope in Tony Quinn. One of the best skiers to ever grace the slopes.

His ski career was taken from him when he hurt his back... After several consults and risky surgery he is back on the slopes. Not like before, but he is still able to ski backwards.

It's not over.
 
aaron, i'm incredibly sorry to hear of this. i wish the best for you and your recovery back to the slopes. the blew is rooting for you. stay strong.
 
ive had to consider a similar reality when it comes to my ski lifestyle. ive had both acls reaplced in both knees and in my right knee the most recent replacement has not gone well. i havent skied since jan of '07 and ive put everythin i have into getting healthy and it just hasnt come back the way i would have hoped. i have lost some of my passion for getting back based on how hard its been and how much my future could be affected by getting hurt one more time. i always used to say that i would never give up on skiing even if the docs told me i wouldnt be able to walk when i was 40. now with all the injuries and set backs i have a different opinion. dont get too down on yoruself first of all. you got to keep your spirits hihg no matter what happens cause the mind can determine how your recovery goes. never say its over, it just may be different from now on. consider taking up another sport. i know it is soo different but i have found golf to be a great sport that no matter what you will be able to do for a long time and a great way to stay competitive! there actually can be a rush found in hitting the perfect draw or sinkin the 30 footer for bird. hang in there kid and keep us updated.
 
when it comes to arthritus it's not twisting that will make the difference as much, it's the impact. it's the continuall time after time of bumps and jumps that will ruin it.
 
damn... reading this makes me feel really lucky i can even still shred after 3 acl surguries. I'm not totally back on the horse yet, but I have done a few 3s and stuff... I gotta keep takin it easy until next fall...

Let us know what you decide to do... training all summer might make your knees feel pretty good by next october. Keep your head up man, it was a tough winter for me, but its starting to pay off.

P.S. You'd be VERY surprised how much more stoke pow skiing is than almost any day in the park... but its still tough on your knees, just start training.
 
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