Are my meaningful ski days coming to an end?
I am 62. During the past 18-20 years I have sustained non-ski related left knee injuries (meniscus tears) which have required two arthroscopic surgeries. For the past year, or so, arthritis in the knee has reared its ugly head to the point where I experience left knee pain/discomfort just about everyday. Last year, for the most part I skied through it, and was able to ski hard, 4 hours/day, steeps, chop, pow, some moguls, chair to chair without stopping, climbing uphill and taking smallish jumps without too much thought. OK, so I occasionally iced my knee with my Iceman. I don't like anti-inflammatories, so my jar of 200 Tylenol-Codeine 3s remains full. Lately, even the most benign hikes seem onerous. I do not look forward to skiing like one of these old coots at Alta (or anyplace else) who meander down the blues at a snail's pace making nicely forms parallel turns. Many reputable studies, including Johns Hopkins, suggest that additional scopes offer no, or very little relief. Knee replacement is not a consideration. Exercise and strengthening is part of my routine I am bumming out.
