I’m trying to figure out how to write this without whining or complaining. I’ve thought about it for over a week now, and maybe sitting down and typing it out might be the best way. I’m happier when I skateboard, but the last five years I’ve had challenges. I’m 45 now, so these woes coincide with being over 40, but that’s not the only reason.
In fall of 2016 my psychotic episode did not tamper with my skating much. By summer of 2017 I had turned 40 and skated regularly. In fall of 2017 I tried to film some flatground tricks and fell hard on an impossible. The next day my groin killed, and I knew I was injured. A few weeks later, or maybe months later, I got it checked out. It could have been worse, it was not a hernia, or other injury that needed surgery. It was a pulled or strained adductor injury. A got some physical therapy, and learned some stretches. It was at least a year until I felt comfortable skating.
The years merge a little bit, but in November of 2019, I took a hard slam. At one of the only skateparks in NYC (city line in Brooklyn) with lights at night I tried a switch 180 on an A-frame. That A-frame had a rail going up and down it. I was not trying anything on the rail but fell on it. My chest landed on the rail decline. A few nights later I went to the emergency room for it, they did a cat-scan and gave me some medication. Luckily that didn’t effect my skating much, and I healed up quickly.
Covid at the beginning felt isolating for me. In the early days I would leave skate parks if they were too crowded, and if people did not wear masks. Skating by myself in parking lots or roads did not help much either. I kept my mental health in check, but definitely had anxiety and social anxiety.
After the Rockaway Beach skate park opened I felt better skating. I would see some of the locals every time I went. And I started to progress. Then on Thanksgiving of last year I hit my head on the low ledge on top of the middle portion of the park. Slowly I simply tried a frontside 180 to fakie grind. I landed on top of the platform, my wheels skid out, my body swooped parallel to the ground. my butt landed on the ledge, and the back of my head then hit the ground.
That shook me up, and a few weeks later I went to the doctor. She thought an xray or cat scan wasn’t necessary but worried about neck and back pain. She was right, my neck still does bother me some. I did not skate last winter, and wore a helmet for most of spring into the summer. But I was starting to skate better until mid June or so.
Now I’ll see if anyone has read this far. I won’t go into the details but I had internal hemorrhoids, and that was annoying. It was a Saturday, and I went to the ER for that. The solution is simply to drink Metamucil daily, and in general eat healthier. In my early thirties I had hemorrhoids as well, and diet did help get rid of it. My concern is I have a scheduled colonoscopy, and I don’t want hemorrhoids to come back before then.
Can skateboarding cause hemorrhoids? I think hard slams can’t help. So since mid June I’ve been skating gingerly and trying not to fall. That’s not as fun, everyone wants to progress. Injuries and other life events sometimes get in the way of skating. Taking the next few weeks off to make sure I have a clean bill of health won’t matter in the long run.
Everyone eventually needs time off from skating, and I’m not quitting. If too much time lapses that is a danger for every skater around my age. During my adult life I’ve taken breaks, and always feel accepted when I come back. The skate community is supportive and no one cares that my progression is super slow. I’m hoping to be back at soon after my colonoscopy. I really believe I’m happier when I skate.
Here’s an old youtube edit, and hopefully I’ll make more edits in the future.
