Falling apart!

Just thought I would start a thread so I can talk myself into I ain't got it so bad. What parts of us are falling apart and whats the forecast?

 

I buggered up my knee at work a couple weeks ago. 20+ year old injury revisiting me again. Basically the teflon is all scratched up n no good anymore and when I over do it it raises a uproar and I can hardly bend my knee. Stairs are one at a time. Kneeling down isn't happening and I walk like a peg leg. Under and below knee cap is swollen and melts ice packs in no time. Doc said ibuprofen rest ice compression ect should be better in 6-8 weeks. Its fall I ain't got 6-8 weeks to pansy around. Hope for a late snowfall cuz if not I'll be behind big time!

 

Took care of that 2 years ago. My back has been a lot better since they stuffed my gizzards back in where they belong!

 

Got an ankle that feels like it is turning to mush.

 

It's called- "Getting old".

It should be referred to as-"Effects of living a good life".

 

Just remember, you did ask!

From my broken back I still have little to no feelings in my legs and feet. Often by the end of the day my back hurts so bad I want to scream. It's not uncommon for me to be near tears after mowing the lawn which is about a half acre with a self propelled mower. But, I do manage to walk on my own. No implements like a walker or cane is used the majority of the time. Occasionally in the house I do need to use a cane. (I have two canes, and a walker)

I also have both the left and right rotator cuffs torn completely through which means even little things like brushing or combing ones hair is extremely painful and awkward. Washing ones hair is as bad, and drying oneself off after a shower is a pain. I don't use the bathtub because I wouldn't be able to get out of the dang thing.

Having a pin in my left hand, thumb fused, and my being left handed I find I'm always having to adjust to doing something. It's annoying if anything.

I have about a 5 inch rip through my lower right abdominal wall where I can stick my hand through. When I'm splitting wood, my intestines do tend to push out through that rip. If they don't go back inside, I can manually push them back in.

I also have a hiatal hernia which makes it difficult at times to eat. If something gets stuck, it usually results in my needing to toss my cookies. Swallowing cold water sometimes works to break it free, but not all that often. I've tried to tuff it out, with the longest time being about 45 minutes of extreme pain and gagging.

All of the above have been verified/diagnosed by my doctors and they say I should have surgery to correct them, but I refuse. I had a single back surgery where they went into the backside, and then a double where they went in through the back, then turned my over and went in though the front. That's enough of their cutting on me to last a lifetimes, and yet they want to do more. No way!

I may have some arthritis though that hasn't been diagnosed as of yet. So yeah, I'm getting old and falling apart at the seams. Do you really think that stops me from doing what I want or doing what I need to get done? Not at all! (I won't go into the throws of menopause cuz that's just downright scary)

I still ride my Harley (Street Glide), split the majority of my firewood using an axe or maul. The rest gets noodled. I fell, limb, buck, split and stack whatever trees. I'm currently sitting on 13+ cord! If I need to sling some gravel like yesterday, I do it. (reshaping my driveway) Transplanting or planting trees and shrubs and so on. Then there is the construction end, like putting a new roof on the house including the sheathing, then underlayment, and then putting on the tin. (1500+ square feet worth) just to name a few of the things I've done over the past few years. Mind you, all of this was done alone. And that doesn't include what I do for my neighbors or someone who might need help. They won't help me, but don't hesitate to ask me for help or let me know they need help.

So yeah, PAIN, I know it well!

Okay, I'm done for now. Yes, there is more! I hope you feel better, I know I do (just getting it off my chest)!

 

I broke my elbow a few weeks back. It really hasn't been that bad, other than not being able to drive. I see all the horrible things that happen to other people and I realize how good I have it. I go for a long walk in the woods every day, I'm grateful for that.

 

OMG..............after reading that, I don't feel so bad......but yes, getting old, body component wise, does SUCK. We all gotta deal with it.

 

Quite the medical report! Kudos to you for toughness, I'm sure I'd be in tears on the regular with the things you do and the ailments you have.

 

OK, after Star Gazer's post I don't have ANY reason to complain!!!! Dang girl!!


The only part of me that's falling apart (aside from just being out of shape) is an ankle that was destroyed and reconstructed about 10 years ago. I've decided to sell my car with a manual transmission because I found after driving it for 5 days in traffic I was normally limping by Friday. Sometimes the titanium plate that's in there screwed to my fibula aches for no reason. On days when I do a lot of high impact stuff (snow skiing, running, dirt bike races) I just pop 4 ibuprofen in the evening and the throbbing goes away. It really doesn't stop me from doing anything (yet, I'm only 33) but I'm always aware of it because by the end of the day when I take my shoes off and walk around barefoot it makes a loud "snap" sound with every step. It's loud enough that it took my wife a couple years of hearing it before it stopped freaking her out! Apparently the surgeon I had was pretty darn good (he's done similar work for Cincinnati Bengal's players), it's just the nature of the injury.

 

All I can say is at 56 I feel like I'm still in my 20's then I realize it's morning so I should get up......that's when the disc that is touching the nerve and sending pain down my leg reminds me I am still above the grass.

 

Also got the ruptured disc and degenerative disc disease going on and now moving into my S-I joint. Where is the closest glue factory?

 

I get this nauseating feeling in my stomach whenever I hear my ex-wife's name....does that count?

 

What wrong with me, no one has that kind of time. What is right, as far as I am concerned, is I am still able to suck in air, and my body is above ground. I am still able to maintain the roof over my head, even if it is by paying someone, and I still have my mind enough so I can communicate here.

 

Wow...Think I will just hobble out to the rest of the woodpile and just finish stacking....

 

I don't generally "Like" any posts that have to deal with any kind of injury. But this time around, with age and other somewhat related injuries, I "Like" the fact that all have found some way to deal with it.

Oh, I'm not tough at all. I just learned early on that if I ever wanted or needed something done, that I should do it myself, and not depend on anyone for anything regardless of the circumstances including falling apart at the seams. Thankfully (knock on wood) I don't get sick, not even the common cold.

Now if you want examples of tough, these two are prime examples Backwoods Savage and savemoney and I'm sure there are many many more on this forum. Me, I'm just stubborn and ornery!