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Getting old sucks and I?m only 48!
Big Sky Redneck
Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
My body is letting me down, back surgery is needed but I cannot afford it and I?m not going to use oblammercare so taxpayers pay for it.
I?ve abused myself physicaly, never listened to my elders who told me not to carry heavy things such as engine blocks, transmissions and all sorts of other heavy stuff. I used to work for farmers when I was young and bailing hay, or should I say the child labor stacked hay! [:D] That gave me a sense of security that I thought I was Superman.
I?ve destroyed my back, my knees and ankles, numbness in my left arm and fingers and simple tasks like bending over creates problems. Today I changed S-Cam tubes on my trailer, this involves removing the wheels, brake drums and brake shoes to access the S-Cams. Lots of heavy lifting and I still enjoy that work. Well, after coming in the house and showering I sat on the couch for maybe 30 minutes, went to get up and had to have help to stand. After getting on my feet I almost faceplanted myself into the floor, had to walk hunched over. I knew this would happen but as most of you figured out by now I?m bullheaded and don?t learn to easy [8D]
I?m afraid that someday I?m going to be in a wheelchair, but ya know what, untill my back breaks I?m going to keep working. The day my legs no longer work will be my final day, I?m not going to live crippled.
Anyhow, not askin for pity or anything like that, just a rant and maybe a warning to the younger fellas. Don?t be like me, take care of your back!!
I?ve abused myself physicaly, never listened to my elders who told me not to carry heavy things such as engine blocks, transmissions and all sorts of other heavy stuff. I used to work for farmers when I was young and bailing hay, or should I say the child labor stacked hay! [:D] That gave me a sense of security that I thought I was Superman.
I?ve destroyed my back, my knees and ankles, numbness in my left arm and fingers and simple tasks like bending over creates problems. Today I changed S-Cam tubes on my trailer, this involves removing the wheels, brake drums and brake shoes to access the S-Cams. Lots of heavy lifting and I still enjoy that work. Well, after coming in the house and showering I sat on the couch for maybe 30 minutes, went to get up and had to have help to stand. After getting on my feet I almost faceplanted myself into the floor, had to walk hunched over. I knew this would happen but as most of you figured out by now I?m bullheaded and don?t learn to easy [8D]
I?m afraid that someday I?m going to be in a wheelchair, but ya know what, untill my back breaks I?m going to keep working. The day my legs no longer work will be my final day, I?m not going to live crippled.
Anyhow, not askin for pity or anything like that, just a rant and maybe a warning to the younger fellas. Don?t be like me, take care of your back!!
Comments
now at 61 I will have to say he was real close on the timing .
I too pushed the limits as a young fellow and paying for it now
I would complain but my my irritating / nuance pain compared to what countless other's , many on this web site even make it hit home just how bad it could get and they struggle and fight for each day
one of the doc's I seen about my back told me stop abusing it let the younger fellows do the heavy lifting / pushing and so on . If I do that I may post pone any major back issues if not well [:(]
Jose.
All day on my back rebuilding the front end on the pickup. Done, pull all the tools out, then just laid there a minute trying to find my get up and go. About that time the boys pull up,...naturally when the work is done.
Ty the smartazz says "Help, I've fallen and can't get up" laughing. The smarter brother tells him, "You better hope he doesn't, he's got a ball peen in his hand".[}:)]
There is one good thing about growing old===================== you only have to do it once.
With age comes wisdom. Learning to do things with limitations can be a very rewarding challenge! If all else fails I can still draw my wallet from my front pocket with very little effort![:)]
But they are still in fair shape! [:p]
The year I was 48 was the worst year of my life as far as mentally stressful and physically exhausting. My younger Son was in the hospital for nearly 4 months so I was driving 250 miles 2 or 3 times per week to see him, Grouch Attack moved out for the duration of his hospital time, it was calving time, I had a teenage Daughter in high school with innumerable activities to attend, and I had a full time job.
I don't think I ever fully recovered from that high stress period.
Physically, I began to fall apart around age 55. Now everything hurts-knees, elbows, shoulder, hip, and of course my back has hurt for decades.
Triple by pass at 50.
Did I mention those 20 years was as a Heavy Equipment Mechanic.
Then as soon as I retired I worked as the Production Supervisor at a Panel Manufacturing Plant I could do every job in the plant and often Had to when We had employees walk out cause the work was too hard.
That turnsignal switch I changed in my other topic was a bear cause I'm no where close to being limber enough to reach all those little wires. So now I have to look it over and find new ways to do things. Actually thought at one point I was going to have to take it in so a Mech could plug one wire back in.
My friends Mom (90) says, Your Mother is correct. However, "it does beat the alternative!"
I(59) too abused my body lifting, heavy warehouse work, whiplash in car accident(s), water skiing(barefoot), and ice hockey, etc......
Thank god for Beer, Bourbon, and advil!
Your arm and hand issues might be due to a neck issue. You need to find a good Neurologist, NOT a Neurosurgeon (like I made the mistake of doing)
Pushing 60 here....I too abused my back, shoulders and knees over my life time....I figure I will fix what I can and live with the rest...everyday I try to do the best I can with what I have.....
I hope things can get back on track for you...
Had both knees replaced, then a shoulder but if you want to see me near-incapacitated let my back go out.
Last time took two weeks to get muscles to relax and three visits to Chiro. The last time he rared back and really let my back have a pop. Felt like lightning went up my spine but I walked out straight and pain-free.
Plans for building shop DO NOT include anything closer to the floor than 18". I'm learning my limits[;)]
It won't get any better on it's own Lonnie. Start with a good Chiropractor before going for surgery.
The stuff we did in our youth that we thought were fun will probably come back to bite us in the butt.
My knees are totally shot, I can't even come close to bending and touching my toes, both shoulder joints have been replaced, I have a rod and 8 pins in my right leg, I have a biventricular pace maker and plastic lenses in both eyes...in short, I am a walking junk yard.
I can't say that riding bulls and playing football caused any of my problems , but most assuredly these fun things didn't help...
The good news is, at 85 I am still in reasonably good health and still on top of the grass and still have most, if not all, of my marbles.
It is hell getting old but it does beat the options and old age isn't for sissies [:D]
"Old age only means that you will still do stupid shxt...it just takes longer." So true !
So let me take a minute to quit thinking about ALL my aches and pains and cry you a river...
Have a good day big whiny redneck
A decent night's sleep. Simple stretches in bed, in the morning. Light healthy breakfast. A few sit-ups after a morning shower. A simple boring routine. As little medications as possible. I recently figured out an allergy medication was making my joints hurt ...
Last night it was lights-out at 11pm. Slept a solid -rare- eight hours. A nice morning, indeed! [8D]
I think I would put a bullet in my head if I was complaining at your age. I was told 33 years ago I needed a back surgery. I have needed two full knee replacements for over 10 years I still haven't got any of them fixed yet, my doctor tells me that I should be in a wheelchair because my back and knees yet I'm not. I got nerve damage in my feet so bad that it feels like all my toes are broke and I'm walking on broken glass. but you don't hear me complaining about ALL my aches and pains and pains and pains... Even when I had cancer and felt like I was being put through a meat grinder I didn't come on here and complain... And the most painful of all is coming on here and listening to little Susan's like you complain...
So let me take a minute to quit thinking about ALL my aches and pains and cry you a river...
Have a good day big whiny redneck
How many times have I politely asked you to piss off? All you do is troll me. Your misserae existsnce would be so much better if you never read anything I losted but yet your misserable * who only posts here to stir trouble constantly comes on a thread Instsrted just to complain about me.
It used to be fun just to get you going but now you are like a case of the crabs, just sitting there causing an itch.
But you have posted offers of asswhuppins l, telling me to look you up when I?m in Utah, tou do othing but complain about me or anything I say, you find fault in everything I do, you have insulted me, insulted my family, insulted my very existance.
So I?m going to ask you one last time, piss off.