How long is your recovery from a good CCS day?

Sunday I worked Kenzie and Richelle five hours solid. We moved most of my second holsen haus to the woodshed. Then we headed into the woods to cut and split some tree tops.

Still had plenty of energy for an evening of scary movie and spirited rounds of Euchre.

Slept like the dead last night, and woke pretty stiff. Late afternoon today, I had a hard nap, that I could tell was a need for recovery. I seemed to be bounced back, but after a good day of outdoor work, it is a couple days to feel up to hitting it hard again.
Blessed to have no back or other impairments, but it is like the batteries drain down.

Bottom pics are of the girls mounting the brush guard on my new tractor. It took a few weeks for it to arrive. They are still learning how ratchet wrenches work. Since there were four bolts, I had them alternate the torque on each bolt, and explained the reason it is done on wheels and other machinery. Little nuggets for them to recall later in life to send the message to not judge by the cover.

 

So much fun to have a friend working beside you, at that age! Keeps them on task for a lot longer, too.
I've found that after a full day outside working on wood, I need a down day the next day. I usually wake up feeling great after a work day, though. The exception is if I split too much, then my right shoulder can be sore for 2 or 3 days. So I have to watch that, do a little at a time.
Some days I only have enough energy to work half a day.

 

Nuthin like the aches n pains from working up firewood... it hurts so good... ...

 

Yup, getter older sucks. One word: Ibuprofen

 

Sometimes I'm worn out in just a couple hours. And it takes a day or 2 to bounce back.
I'm just happy to be able to still get firewood after my heart attack...

 

It depends on how often I’m working. If it’s been a while, I feel it the next day. If it’s mid summer (when I get most of my work done) I go day after day with no issues. I’m 43 btw

 

At my age (66) I do a lot of half days or about 4 hours. Then definitely a day of rest. The wood is not going anywhere. In cool weather it's a whole lot easier. But that goes for all outside jobs not just wood. It was really nice when we had grandchildren who loved to help out. But they have all moved away now.

 

Now at 55 years of age, I can defiantly relate to ibuprofen, along with ample water.

The next day I notice more stiffness now than 10 years ago, but if I slowly start moving and working, things seem to loosen up enough to get a decent amount of work done the second day. By the third day things are feeling pretty good.

I have some good mentors in the active aging process. My father-in-law is 89 in a few days, and he still can work wood longer, and do more than one would expect at his age. He grew up on the farm heating with wood, and really seems to enjoy exercising his muscle memories. At age 69 years and 8 months he was working 14 hours days for eight days straight when we were building our cabin, and then into his mid 70s during some long days of miscellaneous projects such as outbuildings, deck, flooring, sheet rock, electrical, paneling, trim work, etc..

Our neighbor up north was running his single man logging operation of over 65 years at age 87. He still is heating with wood, but is now only stacking after an injury last year. He suffered some serious burns on his legs after his well oiled cutting chaps and logging clothes caught fire in some brush that was burning after a storm downed electrical line started a fire by his sawmill. His hoard is still pretty impressive to see.

The main thing as we age is to keep doing it as often, and for as long as we blessed to be able to do so.

 

Thats why i tell my family i need to do firewood everyday. It keeps you in shape and i hate the gym. Some people go to a gym or exercise on a treadmill to nowhere. That used to be me! I workout on my property it funner

 

60 work hard everyday I am afraid if I stop I will not start again.
Wife says I am like an old steam locomotive, have to keep it moving because once you stop it it takes a long time to get going again.
Doc releases me Jan.1 from my shoulder repair, I have ALOT to catch up on. Two houses sitting I need some cash back.

 

I really enjoy working with firewood but with a failed back surgery and Lupus the days I can get out there are usually followed by several days of recovery. I’ve also had diverticulitis surgery and can’t take any stomach destroying OTC pain medication like ibuprofen or other nsaids or acetaminophen anymore after destroying my insides with them already, so I had to learn about natural alternatives and I start with topicals like arnica, St. John’s wort oil, and copaiba. Turmeric, ginger, pine bark extract, ginseng, holy basil are all good to take internally for pain and arthritis relief.
Most important thing I’ve learned is to keep moving and exercising every chance I get or I stiffen up in a few days and that always makes the pain worse. I can’t sit still for very long.

 

"The main thing as we age is to keep doing it as often, and for as long as we blessed to be able to do so" ... you rest, you rust...

 

One ibuprofen and a very good night's sleep...

KaptJaq

 

So far, as long as it isn't my lower back ( and that's been pretty good actually since I bought a splitter ) a good nights sleep and I'm good the next day. My dad and both of my little brothers have/had arthritis problems, so, feeling lucky.

 

I told my buddy recently, "if you ever see me jogging/running, please kill whatever is chasing me."

Same for treadmills and gyms...its not going to happen. On the other hand my parents, in their late 70's get great benefit from their treadmill. It is just not for me.

 

When the logger I mentioned was logging our land at age 85, he told me that he planned to go until 90. He said, "if I retire I am afraid I will end up crippled or dead like all my friends." I think he would have made it if not for his injury, although he also told me a few years ago that one day he could not start his chainsaw. He said, "I lost all my power" at the same time he was flipping over his small fishing boat at the landing after an evening of fishing with his wife. I hope I have that much "power" at age 87.

 

I'm not even close to "that much power" at 65... ... I'm usually outa steam by noon...

 

Im 44. If I dont do anything stupid like step in a hole, get banged in the shin, etc... usually a cold beer and a decent night sleep is all I need. Not saying I don't feel it in the muscles and occasionally the joints. Sometimes my shoulder gets sore. But thats usually if I over swing while splitting.

 

Looks like a great day weather wise and productivity wise. Quality family time working together.
When i was roofing full time it was tough to go day after day. I loved a rain day as the body got a chance to recoup. That was over ten years ago. I no longer roof full time and when i make firewood, be it hoarding, cutting, splitting stacking it will be four hour session max. Ive thought about doing a full day, but if i get that tired/sore it takes away the fun part for me so i do a little at a time.
I hand split about a half cord Sunday and was surprised i felt as good as i did Monday morning. It all depends on what the task at hand is at the time. 75% of the time its a "good" soreness if that makes any sense.