I just talked to Gary. He is in extreme pain with his damaged knee. He has canceled upcoming jobs and has appointment to see what can be done,
We seem to have gotten me through the worst, so let's start giving him all the support we can.
He is always there to he!p anyone at any time and I am praying for his rapid and complete recovery.

Gary,

Man I am so sorry to hear about your knee - I hope it is not your weinie. ;-)

Let us know what the doc says! Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Bill G

Gary sorry to hear about your knee problem. Will surgery be needed? In any case..rest drink some Green Margaritas and watch reruns of Adventures in Paradise
GET WELL SOON!!!

Hi get better soon. If its the meniscus, that can be painful. Get a good sports Dr. to look at it.

Hi Gary,

Hopefully your knee will get sorted out soon...a sore knee is a frustrating thing.

I'm doin' my best not to wear any vital joints out, so that means I'm laying back and enjoying being an old guy...I earned it!

Get well soon.

Ian

Gary, I'm terrified around here when ice develops. A couple of summers ago I was working on my property and backing up I tripped over a wheelbarrow handle. I fell backwards and Knocked my left elbow right out of the socket.

They let me sit around the emergency room for almost 3 hours til after midnight it seems to put me to sleep and jerk it back into the socket. The whole time I had to sit there perfectly still or it would kill me with pain. I had to position it several ways for them to take x-rays. I kept asking for pain pills and finally got one three hours later. They must have had a hot poker game in the back room

A week later another doctor got mad because they didn't tell me to go get an adjustable apparatus put on my elbow, and let me run around with a cloth sling for a week. What a bunch of incompetent "ASSHOLES." I think they all do pot too and think that nothing is wrong with smoking it until their brains burn out.

Then several weeks later the therapist threw a fit and was pissed because the other doctor had me keep the apparatus on way too long and it was harder for her to get my arm back working. It seems to be fine now for quite some time.

Like you said friend, this getting old ain't for wimps and sissies. Hang in there friend it all takes time. Keep your senses, cut down on the "T" Bone and Pork chops they are too expensive and eat hamburgers and Poke Chops not Pork chops because they are cheaper.

Man it's a lot of stress when you're use to an income and it disappears. At least it will be a temporary lost hopefully and I know you're strong and can handle this. You're a tough old fart. Hang in there and I wish you the best. Oh and remember lean on your wife. You know that she is in the top three with Susan and Penny. All the others have to star in 4th place. Ha ha!
Take care buddy.

....and they keep falling Gary, hope you feel better soon. I'm glad that we can be all part of the OFF (Old Farts Forum)

Hi Gary, praying for you!

Gary ... our prayers are with you now as well ... hang in there friend ... let us know what the prognosis is ...

I know about knees ... I have one knee that is 10 years old and another that is 8 years old ... and I'm about 4 times older than the two of them put together ...

"Life is Too Short To Dilly Dalley"
Live every day as if it was your last!

Get well soon, Gary.

Sorry to hear your a bit laid up,
Dan

Sending prayers and and get well wishes your way Gary!
Ciao

Gary

Wishing you the best for a speedy recovery.

Thanks for the prayers and get well wishes guys. This is the second time the knee has given me trouble since December. In December, the problem was short lived, and I was able to go back to work within three days. This time, however, the pain is far more intense, so intense that any movement of the leg feels as if someone shoved an ice-pick in my knee and gave it a twist for good measure. Consequently, for the past five days I have been unable to walk without the aid of a cane, and today, graduated to a walker. I had to cancel several jobs, and the medication, hydro-morphine, makes it impossible to function in any capacity. Can't drive, can't do anything other than watch TV and endure the pain.

Back in December I went to an orthopedic surgeon who said the problem is a bone spur that is situated directly behind the tendon connection to my patella. He said that it may get better on its own, which it did for a while, and that surgery in that area was quite risky, and the outcome may not be very good at all. The risk associated with this is that if he were to inadvertently sever the tendon, there's no good way to reattach it to the bone.

I'm going for another opinion next Monday, and hopefully, find some resolution to the problem. The guy I'll be seeing specializes in this particular kind of surgical procedure and with luck, I'll be back in the saddle again with a week or so after correctional surgery. If not, well, I guess this old fart will have to think more seriously about retirement, which I DO NOT really want to do at this point in life.

Thanks again everyone,

Gary

Gary any chance of seeing one of the doctors that work on the pro sports people in your area. One pro scout here that I knew played ball with the yankees back in the day had the local college sports doctors fix his knees and hips I think and he was suffering he said for some time.

He scouted for the Los Angles Dodgers and their doctors talked him into letting them do it over. He told me that there was no comparison and he stood there and jogged in that spot for sometime and quite hard while I was laying brick for him. If this is possible, go for it. They are the guys who can do it.
Wish ya the best friend.

This guy is one of the pro sports docs that works on the Ravens players when they play home games. Bone spurs are naturally occurring, and those of us that are above age 50 are more prone to having them develop.

Gary

above age 50?!? ... Gary, ... you?!? ... nah!!! c'mon ...
... be well friend ...

Hope you get through this soon, Gary. Nothing worse than creaky joints. However, on the bright side, at least it's not life-threatening.
I was just looking at one of those 'reverse-mortgage' ads on tv, questioning whether or not you might outlive your money. What a stupid question. Isn't that kind of "damned if you do, damned if you don't"? In one case, you're dead broke, in the other you're just dead. Ummmm, decisions, decisions.

Get well soon.

chas

Gary, you have always supported all of us, now we will support you with the knee pain problem! Praying for you daily .

sorry to hear about your knee pain. my thoughts and prayers are with you . Worth

is Joe Ayala taking over your gigs until your well enough?

Gary,

Let's hope the doctors can do something to help you.

Gary you need a beach chair in the keys the warm weather will heal all !! just sayin....

Gary I'm so sorry to hear about your knee. Lord knows I've had my share of knee problems over the years. I'm praying for a quick recovery and if you need anything please let me know.

Joe

Joe, I tried calling you a couple times last week and left messages. Call me when you can.

Gary

A bit late to the chorus here, but I sure hope you'll be up and running and back in the trenches real soon, Gary.

Just prayed for your complete recovery! Hang in there Gary, Joy comes in the morning!

any word on Gary's condition....?

This is not for Gary, this for some who may be starting to feel Arthritis creeping in. Many people laugh when I relate this event, but here's my story.
In 1995 I could only push myself up a ladder with my right leg. I was in construction. Went to one of the local College doctors. Ex rayed gave me a cortisone shot in the knee and said he'd have to replace my knee in a couple of years. That was 1995.

One morning in a restaurant, an old farmer boy in bibbed overalls tells me to take Glucosamine MSM and Chondroitin and to let him know how I felt in 8 weeks. In eight weeks I could climb the ladder again.

I take anywhere from 4 to 6 pills a day since then and can still climb the ladder. No new knee, I'm 73 I walk very well and carry heavy things still. I've had many friends say they don't work. Then they tell me they tried 1 or 2 pills a day for a week or so.

You need to take 4-6 pills a day to start off and then level off to 4 a day. Sometimes I take 6 for a couple of days. Works for me. One friend took them for a week and said it didn't work. She got a new knee. It got infected, they did it a gain. Than another problem developed, So they went in an fused it. Another problem popped up and they unfused it. After about 7-8 years of this, the poor soul finally passed away maybe 5 months ago. At least she isn't suffering any more. Start this regimen when your 40 or 50 don't wait till you're 75 and tell me it doesn't work.

I'm sorry to disagree, but Doctors don't know "SH*T about some things, and don't forget, they always have house payments, car payments and they are much bigger than ours. Oh, and they have to have that new golf cart or boat every now and again too. Plus they don't get a kickback from over the counter Glucosamine, only their prescribed meds.

The pain is a bit less, not taking anything stronger than aspirin now, and I have a meeting with an orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday morning. I can get around with the aid of a cane, but I'm afraid to try to pick up my gear so I will not be playing again until Tuesday afternoon. The place where I'm performing that day is filled with very young, attractive nurses aids and RNs, so if something goes wrong they can give me mouth to mouth, or a massage, or something that will make me feel better.

Cheers,

Gary

good luck buddy feel better soon!!

I like the mouth to mouth part.

Hey Gary, this will cheer you up.
I became pretty good friends with several of my nurses while I was in hospital. All the cardiac stepdown rooms are monitored continually via closed circuit tv.
The last day I was there one of them told me that the patient in the room next door and his wife put on quite a show for them! I won't repeat the details but let's say she got on her knees and helped him out, just days after heart surgery.
He's a better man than I am!

Wow - this one might make YouTube!

I'm having a sleep apnea study conducted tonight, and the gal that called to confirm my appointment said "Hey big boy, you're staying at my place tonight - OH YEAH!" I got quite a chuckle out of that. Hope the bed is somewhat comfortable - I need a good night's sleep. But they said you don't get to sleep late here - they end the study at 6 a.m.. Hell, you can't even get a decent breakfast around here at that time of the morning. I wonder if the gal that called can cook?

Gary

Aren't we old farts kinda passed the sexual innuendo phase....

I remember a song called................

"You may Look, But you better not Touch "

Gary.........Been thinking a lot about you lately and wishing you all the best on getting better. Knee pain is no fun!!

To brickboo...............

I'm 54 and an active utility mechanic. I never had knee pain until 2 months ago and it came on all of a sudden. Not caused by any trauma but climbing stairs and ladders cause intense pain. Xrays and an MRI verified arthritis and the cartilage is very thin with some bone on bone contact and bone spurs. Had my last of 3 injections last Friday but not feeling much relief.

Not sure if I want surgery but I did start taking 2 Glucosamine MSM and Chondroitin every day. I see my doc tomorrow and will ask if I could take more. She is good with over the counter stuff and often recommends them. Thanks for the tip. -charley

Dnj,

Pictures a lot better than the music in that video!

God Bless,
Don

I guess your not a Bruce Springsteen lover?

Was that him? Didn't even recognize the voice. He usually comes across a lot better than that.

God Bless,
Don

Charley two pills won't do anything for me. I've been taking 4 to 5 pill everyday of my life for 15 years. 15 years ago the doctor wanted to make me a new knee. Take the MSM, Glucosamine Chondroitin combination every day. I was doing 3 in the morning and 3 at night for years. When It started I could only climb the ladder with one leg. It been a long time now and I can still push up with two legs. Not like when I was 18, but I can do it.

15 years ago they wanted to tear my knee open. I see guys who did this and they limp all over the place . I feel no side affect from the glucosamine, chondroitin MSM. You've got noting to lose.

Take it for 8 weeks and you should start to feel a difference. You got nothing to lose before you let them gut open your knee up man. If they are pushing you for surgery, I hate to say this but maybe they need a new golf cart. They are human too. You don't have much to lose in 8 weeks. Take it easy, don't run climb ladders or do any jogging. Just walk average do this for 8 weeks and you'll be happy you did this. Those guys may want to cut on you ASAP before ya change your mind. You won't lose a leg in 8 weeks. Get a damn cane to use for a few weeks. You've got nothing to lose. Don't let them talk you into something you'll regret later friend.

Oh no, what a drag, hope you improve soon! Aging sucks, but not much we can do about it, it seems, lol.

My doctor isn't pushing for surgery. I want to avoid it too. We decided to give the 3 injections some time to work. So I have nothing to lose my tripling my dose of Glucosamine MSM and Chondroitin today and will give it a try. She is fine with that suggestion too. Thanks again for the advice. -charley

Charley, it's always great to hear from you, and with luck, I'll be able to sneak away from the Florida Keys next March and stop by for a visit on my way home. Do you still live at the same place and do you still have the same telephone number?

Gary

UPDATE: I've been to two orthopedic surgeons, and a GP, all of whom said "I do not recommend surgery. The bone spur is actually part of the tendon at this point and inoperable. If they were to try to remove the bone spur, there's a good chance that the tendon would end up being severed and there is no viable method of reattaching the tendon to the tibia. This would result in the total loss of use of my left leg. All three physicians said it's just something I'll have to learn to live with. Guess I'll mix up a fresh batch of Green Coconut Margarettas.

And if the day couldn't be any worse, I had to stop at the dentist on the way home, he ended up doing a root canal on an abscessed tooth, which broke off at the gum line just as the procedure was being finished. So, another procedure in in the works, a post and crown, which goes for about $1,000.

Gettin' old sure ain't fer whimps and sissies,

Gary

Gary get that boat in the water and go south young man and dont look back Hurry!

Well folks will tell you to cheer up, things could be worse, but I cheered up and sure enough, things got worse. Bah! Humbug! ;-)

Bill G

Gary - best of luck with the knee. Since a few people mentioned injections; I had put a separate note about my recent dealings with a pinched nerve in my neck (C7) which is affecting my left arm and hand. I just had a 1st injection; too early to know whether it's going to help. They are not pushing for surgery, unless other things don't work or help ...

Hope you can get your knee problem(s) resolved without having to go all the way to the surgical side of things - then again, maybe in some cases, that is the only answer to a literal, physical problem, if it can be surgically "fixed" or removed ...

Jim

Jim, because it's not a joint related issue, those injections will do no good whatsoever, and all three docs said they could make things a lot worse. They all said to avoid the injections, regardless of what anyone else may say. Knowing what I know about steroids and their nasty side effects, I think I'll heed their advice.

Surgical removal is out of the question. It is much too risky - Margarettas are the best medicine at this point. The doc I saw today said to be careful when walking and spend more time sailing than working. Yeah, right! Sure wish I could, but not yet. Got too damned many jobs on the books, as usual, but that will all change in 2015.

Gary

Jim,

Good luck with the injections. I've had (2) lamina surgeries, both with your symptoms. Nothing worked until they cleared the nerve. They should be able to tell from the MRI that's it's pinched. No injection is going to undo that - but I'm not a doctor.

Everybody take two aspirin, go to bed, and call me in the morning.

What are you gonna do Boo ... throw bricks at their affected areas? Or play sax till they're numb?

Look at yourself in the mirror naked. ....
Being way OVERWEIGHT can be very taxing on the Knee joints also,...I am glad I took the initiative to lose weight again and try to get myself in shape & I'm doing good too, down 15 lbs so far in 1 month, Eating right, I feel better, more energy too, glad I saved my skinny clothes, ...hey, I did it a while ago lost almost 100lbs and after screwing that up a few years later which I really regret I will do it again. Believe me ......LOSE The WEIGHT I'm talking 50lbs + I'm sick of looking like the Michelin Tire boy lol........and your knees & your entire body will fell better. On top of that you'll look better to your audience on stage if you gig out.

It's life or death.

Donny, I wish my problem was the knee joint. Then I could have it corrected surgically.

Do it for your family!

Gary when I was injured in the Army in a convoy accident as a kid I was flown to Walter Reed Army Hospital in DC,..
during the Vietnam Era,....after my surgery I was put in recovery with many of my fellow service men & woman,......
I looked around and it wasn't a pretty sight looking at all the people moaning and crying, without arms, legs, full body casts, etc, and much more,......
Although my injury was devastating and I needed 5 procedures to fix.....I said to myself what the hell am I complaining about?....

The moral of the story is ........
that there is always a worse problem then your own..
Now get out there kick ass on stage and make people happy with your music.....life is too short to complain and dilly dally!

Donny, I spent 15 years working in cardio-pulmonary medicine. I saw things that would make most people throw up. What you saw at Walter Reed pales in comparison to what you encounter working in a big city hopsital emergency room. Keep in mind that more people were killed by gunshot wounds in Baltimore last week than soldiers killed in action last year.

I'm 35-pounds overweight, most of which I'll loose this summer while sailing. My problem with my knee, while quite painful, is NOT operable. I have a bone spur trying to punch a hole through my Patella Tendon where it connects to the Tibia. It is not surgically correctable and I just have to live with the pain.

Unfortunately, I also have asbestosis, which is an insidious disease that will eventually kill me. With any kind of luck, I've have a massive heart attack first and drop dead on the job while playing like Jerry Lee, but so far that, obviously, hasn't happened. The progression of the asbestosis is such that in the next two years I'll be forced to get out of the entertainment biz. It's the nature of the beast.

In a few minutes I'll be on the treadmill, trying my best to hold onto what I have, physically, but I know that's not possible. I learned a lot in the time I worked in the medical field, probably too much. Fortunately, I learned how to tell the difference between a good doctor and a bad one, and there are a lot more bad ones out there than good ones. Just because they went to medical school and got their doctorate doesn't mean they're competent physicians and surgeons.

Good luck,

Gary

Only problem Gary's got is getting paid..... you need to be ill again for 12 weeks catch up on the NHS payments, only choking Gary, you take care in the Car Homes.

Thanks Tony,

Some days are much better than others, especially when it comes to getting paid. Dealing with some of these large corporations is a real pain in the tail, but eventually, the check comes through. I sincerely believe much of this has to do with today's economic situation, and if and when things get significantly better, this will all return to normality. Time will tell.

Cheers,

Gary