When is it time....

grindz

grindz

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
to hang it up? I've been struggling with this question for a couple of years now. I'm not sure what to do, or what I can replace this game with that can bring the same satisfaction.

I played in a small tourney tonight... my first in a while. The fun was hard to find. I have Familial Essential Tremors. For those who don't know, it can be like an extreme case of nerves.. or just minor twitches. The small muscles fire when you don't want them to. It can be exacerbated by stress, anxiety, anger, cold, or the pressure of getting a spoon of cereal to your mouth w/out spilling. It usually progresses with age.

I've tried to "embrace the shake" as someone once told me. I just don't know how to do it anymore.... sometimes I can barely rack and it feels like I'll drop my cue if I don't hang on to it. Sucks the sweetness of competition away completely.

Has anyone out there found a way to have success with this? I know of some pros who have had great success in spite of similar conditions. Alcohol can aleviate most if not all of the symptoms... but I can't get a DUI, nor do I want to drive intoxicated. Driving is my living, I'm in Real estate.

I love pool.

Anyone have anything for me?? I'm not sure where to turn.

td
 
Have you talked to an MD about this? I sure wish you well. I too, thinking of quitting.
 
pwd72s said:
Have you talked to an MD about this? I sure wish you well. I too, thinking of quitting.
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Yes. My doctor told me about the alcohol solution!! :) It's genetic.... my father has it fairly bad.

I may try to see if some of the drugs will work.. before I sell all my things.
Alcohol is a good solution... but plenty of bad problems go with that. I hate taking drugs too, but I really do love the game.

Thanks for your well wishes, and good luck with your decision as well.

td
 
grindz said:
Yes. My doctor told me about the alcohol solution!! :) It's genetic.... my father has it fairly bad.

I may try to see if some of the drugs will work.. before I sell all my things.
Alcohol is a good solution... but plenty of bad problems go with that. I hate taking drugs too, but I really do love the game.

Thanks for your well wishes, and good luck with your decision as well.

td
Click to expand...

Gotcha on the alcohol...and the bad problems that can go with that. Been there-done that. With me it's diabetes and numb feet that hurt a lot, blurry vision that comes & goes...like my 20-400 eyes without glasses aren't enough handicap! Booze is laden with carbs, and I have a pretty strict carb intake now. :frown:

Just a thought...maybe try the booze in carefully measured doses...but be sure you have a designated driver to & from tournaments....or take a cab?
 
pwd72s said:
Gotcha on the alcohol...and the bad problems that can go with that. Been there-done that. With me it's diabetes and numb feet that hurt a lot, blurry vision that comes & goes...like my 20-400 eyes without glasses aren't enough handicap! Booze is laden with carbs, and I have a pretty strict carb intake now. :frown:

Just a thought...maybe try the booze in carefully measured doses...but be sure you have a designated driver to & from tournaments....or take a cab?
Click to expand...

Booze has no carbs.. it's the mix that gets ya

gin and tonic with diet tonic... 0 carbs ...no fruit

beer and wine... well that's another story
 
I'm 50 and have the same thing.Getting worse each year.In the past I have tried a beta blocker called Propranolol.No effect positive or negetive.I was then prescribed a drug called Primidone.It helped my shaking but i felt slightly intoxicated.I didn't like it.For me part of the joy of playing is to have a clear mind to make decisions on what i am and am not capable of executing.I have lowered my expectations physically.Mentally,technically,i've found renewed joy for pool here at AZ.High speed video by dr.dave and Bob Jewitt,how about Mike Page or Joe Tucker or Buddy Hall.Watching the good players on TAR or the other live feeds are great. Stick with us grindz.Adapt with us all.
 
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DON"T PLAY LEAGUE!!


Just go out and shoot for fun with good friends and don't over think yourself. It's the fun and the friends that will always bring you abck no matter what.

I wish the best to you...
 
grindz said:
to hang it up? I've been struggling with this question for a couple of years now. I'm not sure what to do, or what I can replace this game with that can bring the same satisfaction.

I played in a small tourney tonight... my first in a while. The fun was hard to find. I have Familial Essential Tremors. For those who don't know, it can be like an extreme case of nerves.. or just minor twitches. The small muscles fire when you don't want them to. It can be exacerbated by stress, anxiety, anger, cold, or the pressure of getting a spoon of cereal to your mouth w/out spilling. It usually progresses with age.

I've tried to "embrace the shake" as someone once told me. I just don't know how to do it anymore.... sometimes I can barely rack and it feels like I'll drop my cue if I don't hang on to it. Sucks the sweetness of competition away completely.

Has anyone out there found a way to have success with this? I know of some pros who have had great success in spite of similar conditions. Alcohol can aleviate most if not all of the symptoms... but I can't get a DUI, nor do I want to drive intoxicated. Driving is my living, I'm in Real estate.

I love pool.

Anyone have anything for me?? I'm not sure where to turn.

td
Click to expand...

My buddy Drew had this same problem. i have no idea how he got over it though.

you could take some sort of relaxation pill maybe. can't blow over .06 on them
 
Sorry to hear about your health problem. It's no fun trying to play pool when your health won't allow you to play your best game...been there done that twice. I was lucky and my health improved when I changed some things (cigarettes & booze).

They have new drugs out for just about anything now, only problem is they help one thing and give you other problems.

I hope you find a way to get back and enjoy the table again. It's hard to replace pool with anything else when you've played most of your adult life. Johnnyt
 
Never give up

This is a saying my mother has taught me since I was a child nearly sixty years ago. Don't give up on something you love. Reduce your expectations as you change in capability. Tiger Woods will not win all the major tournaments until he dies. He will gradually have to accept that some young stars will pass him by. He must accept this and keep on truckin'. We only get one shot at life so live it up.

Begin maybe to enjoy some of the finer points of pool. Find a friend to go to and from the poolroom with. One evening they are the sober driver and you can alternate who drives. Find ways to stay involved with pool and the social scene. On nights when the shakes are the worst sit on the side and kibitz with friends and sweat a money game or tournament match.

Whatever you do DON'T GIVE UP. We need to continually learn. Start studying pool strategy. Many of our senior players don't have to run out from everywhere to win the cheese. If this sounds like I'm giving you a talkin' to then I've succeeded. If I was in the room with you I'd kick you in the seat of the pants. Get out and play the game you love.
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues:cool:
 
grindz said:
Yes. My doctor told me about the alcohol solution!! :) It's genetic.... my father has it fairly bad.

I may try to see if some of the drugs will work.. before I sell all my things.
Alcohol is a good solution... but plenty of bad problems go with that. I hate taking drugs too, but I really do love the game.

Thanks for your well wishes, and good luck with your decision as well.

td
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I had a friend that had a similar condition (inherited) and he could shoot a .45 as well as anyone I've seen. Don't know how he did it but what he said was, "I just shoot between the shakes"

Don't give it up. If I hear you right it's a part of you. Don't give you up.
 
I have minor shakes as well, even when I'm not nervous. I've found proprananol (beta blocker) helps greatly. I've learned to play with it. The tiny-muscle firings as you call it don't affect the cue movement too much and when you have the tip where you want it, you fire your large muscles and rocket the OB into the hole. Nick Varner shakes, Stevie Moore does.. a lot of good players do. Learn to "play" it.
 
I agree...

TripXQ said:
This is a saying my mother has taught me since I was a child nearly sixty years ago. Don't give up on something you love. Reduce your expectations as you change in capability. Tiger Woods will not win all the major tournaments until he dies. He will gradually have to accept that some young stars will pass him by. He must accept this and keep on truckin'. We only get one shot at life so live it up.

Begin maybe to enjoy some of the finer points of pool. Find a friend to go to and from the poolroom with. One evening they are the sober driver and you can alternate who drives. Find ways to stay involved with pool and the social scene. On nights when the shakes are the worst sit on the side and kibitz with friends and sweat a money game or tournament match.

Whatever you do DON'T GIVE UP. We need to continually learn. Start studying pool strategy. Many of our senior players don't have to run out from everywhere to win the cheese. If this sounds like I'm giving you a talkin' to then I've succeeded. If I was in the room with you I'd kick you in the seat of the pants. Get out and play the game you love.
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues:cool:
Click to expand...

with your words about 'changing expectations'. I know that it's a part of life as I've had to change how I felt about, and pursued other favorite things in my life (skiing and tennis). I guess the difficult part about pool, is that I always thought it was something that I could seriously pursue into my later life (I'm 50 now). Letting go of that idea is part of the pain.

For me like Jmuck above it diminishes the enjoyment of the game to alcohol medicate myself... but I have done it in the past :) .....now that risk isn't worth taking. I have grown to like the mental part of the game as much or more than the physical. I suppose I will always be a railbird..even if I quit. ;)

Thanks for the virtual 'kick'. If we ever cross paths... I'll know not to turn my back on you! :wink:

td
 
gwjackal said:
DON"T PLAY LEAGUE!!


Just go out and shoot for fun with good friends and don't over think yourself. It's the fun and the friends that will always bring you abck no matter what.

I wish the best to you...
Click to expand...

I agree. Being there playing is the key. When my hands start shaking racking is always the worst. I think the other player may think I trying to serve up a slug. Very frustrating. In those times I try to get the them to agree to rack your own. That helps me a bit.
 
That's a funny story...

3kushn said:
I had a friend that had a similar condition (inherited) and he could shoot a .45 as well as anyone I've seen. Don't know how he did it but what he said was, "I just shoot between the shakes"

Don't give it up. If I hear you right it's a part of you. Don't give you up.
Click to expand...

I went shooting with some freinds last year and shot a pistol for the first time in my life. I was only having mild effects at the time and from about 60-70 feet hit a golf ball with their .45 (and .22) multiple times when they had a hard time hitting it at all. Gave my ego a grin.... I don't think they believed me about never shooting a pistol before after that. Must be a carryover from pool!

You are hearing me right!!! It IS a part of me. I don't remember who spoke the words, but it was in a thread where JB cases was giving a case away and about why you play pool..... someone said... "I'm stuck".....
That pretty much sums it up!!! :wink:

Thanks for your words.... I tried to rep ya.... but I guess I'm out of "bullets" for the day. :grin:

td
 
Thanks....

SpiderWebComm said:
I have minor shakes as well, even when I'm not nervous. I've found proprananol (beta blocker) helps greatly. I've learned to play with it. The tiny-muscle firings as you call it don't affect the cue movement too much and when you have the tip where you want it, you fire your large muscles and rocket the OB into the hole. Nick Varner shakes, Stevie Moore does.. a lot of good players do. Learn to "play" it.
Click to expand...

I think I am going to pursue some medication solutions (other than alcohol)
with my MD at my next visit. I did ask Nick about how he does it after an exhibition he did here recently, but he really didn't give me an answer. Same with Stevie via email, with not much response.

The main positive thing about it (if I can learn to "embrace the shake") is I can practice with the shakes and that just gets me more ready for some competition.... I already know how it feels when the pressure cooker is on! :) I used to love the competition as much as the game... but this extra burden sucks most of that joy right out of me.

I like how you think about, and your solution to your stroke. That is kind of what I had concluded about the larger vs smaller muscle groups. The difficulty for me is when the tremors get violent it totally sharks me, because I start thinking about holding my cue rather than the shot. I suppose the answer is somewhere in my last sentence... and if I continue to try.... some kind of mind mastering must be going on.

Or...... I can just relegate myself to 'banger' status, and put whatever is left of my ego in the closet.


td
 
Thanks...

Mathew said:
Im not saying it is but those symptoms are actually early warning signs of MS. Shakes could also denote parkinsons. You definately need to go to your Dr.
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He did rule out Parkinsons on my last visit.... but it's been a while. You never know what's coming next in this life. I will get reevaluated if/when I pursue a prescription though. Kind of funny .... going to the doctor because my pool game is off.. :grin-square::grin-square: I think that may be somewhere in the definition of "ADDICT"!!! Makes me feel better just at the thought of it. LOL

td
 
If I read correctly, you said that anxiety makes it worse, right?

It seems that if you're worried enough about it to ask here, you're probably pretty anxious about it when you're playing, too. Have you thought about just taking some time off from pool? After a few weeks, you may miss the game enough that it overrides your discomfort about playing with the shakes. You also might get more comfortable with yourself and your limitations if you take a break and remove yourself from the situation.

Whatever you do, don't sell your stuff. If you love the game as much as you say you do, and you actually decide to quit altogether out of frustration, it's almost guaranteed that your feelings will soften after a few days or weeks and the love of the game will pull you back in.

If you have to put your cue down for a minute and wait for a particularly rough episode to pass, who cares? I don't know a single player I'd want to shoot with who would have an issue with that, and no one will think less of you for doing what it takes to play your best game.

Pool is a part of you. Your condition is a part of you, too. Get comfortable with you, and the rest of it will probably fall into place pretty quickly.
 
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