Yeah, Dennis, um, my downstairs neighbor just recently had the fusion. She can't bend very well and is hobbling with a cane. No more pain for her, but well, there's a big cost to that surgery.

You know I'm a huge fan of yoga, but yeah, you know, that's more a preventative measure or something to do in addition to an actual treatment. Do a pose incorrectly, and well, you could hurt yourself more. If you really want to do that, find an instructor that'll watch and help, not a DVD. No offense to Yee.

Hopefully, these alternatives will help. Cross my fingers you never have to get the surgery.

Domo, etal. A couple of years ago, on this board, when I first experienced my problem, I posted that I worked with my Coach, and his comment was we have to work with what we've got. I bowled like Herman Munster, with stiff legs. As strange as it was, I did shoot 750 my first night back with an old Warp Zone ball. I just dumped on the 10 board and let it roll.

That Coach knows me and we see each other often.

Over, the past year, I have gradually been getting deeper into my slide, and the pain came back. So, it's back to the Herman Muster approach again.

I did bowl last night, with some discomfort in the first game. Pain killers helped. Then, early in game 2, I slid really well, good knee bend and extension of my arm. And, BANG, there was the pain. I just stayed, hunched over at the foul line. I think it happens with my left leg forward too much, or more than normal. When I first went down, I couldn't move my leg forward, only backward. So, over time, I am honing into what I can and can't do. Stretching doesn't help, as I have a good routine for that. It's nerve compression in the spine.

I was about for 2 months because of torn a MCL in my left knee. I was worried i might have to shut down my bowling because the surgeon didn't know how my knee would react to the surgery. I'm still rolling and the pain is a lot better than it use to be but there are times I just can't bowl.

Dennis, I'm real sorry to hear about your problems.
The unbent approach might look funny, but a 750 is remarkable!

You might try an inversion table for your spine.

I once had an injury - my knee - and so I bought a 6 pound White Dot. I got 2 strikes per game with it, and threw it until it cracked, which only took about 50 games....

Bowling is fun, no matter what. My pal Bob returned to the center after a knee operation, wearing a brace (when the doctor said it was okay). It's in our blood, can't get it out.

Just don't hurt yourself.