Tuesday, February 24, 2015

While Time Marches on......................... There are Changes in the Wind


If you are looking for cheery...todays post may not give you what you are looking for.  But it is where I am at today.  
 
We all face diminishing abilities along with aches and pains as we get older.  Muscles that don't want to do what they have done effortlessly in the past,  declining physical abilities and increasing medical 'conditions'.  We all face it to some degree, it seems to be an inescapable truth. I didn't give this much thought until well after I turned 50.  In fact I payed little attention to subtle changes in my energy level and muscle response to exertion. But day by day, I observed my declining abilities creeping into my daily life.  

 
 
Some like me fight it, others may whine, while others may rail at the universe as time marches on stealing our abilities one little piece at a time.
 



After Christmas, I started physical therapy, to work on the increasing pain in my back caused by a significant fall three years ago on ice. (See there is a really good reason we ALL should be wintering in warm climates)  It was followed by breaking my ankle the following fall.  The inactivity and time on crutches added to a declining fitness level that I have tried to address on my own.  Increase the Activity.  Push through the pain.  Strain another muscle.


Imaging revealed a vertebrae, T7 had collapsed (in the front) onto T8 forming a wedge.  The three discs above and below the vertebrae are a bulging narrowing mess.  The longer I am upright during the day the nerves bundles are being irritated by the pressure that radiates across my mid back area and the feeling that my spine is not holding up straight on my left side.


 While physical therapy has strengthen my core muscles and provided for better posture.   
(Stand up straight, Shoulders back, Pull up the cord on the top of your head)  
 Still therapy has done nothing to resolve the pain that increases through out the day.  The only thing that helps is laying down. 

This is not how I intend to spend my SENIOR YEARS.   Do intentions count??

Butter cup - First wild flower of the northwest


My mind has begun to wrap around the possibility of the reality there may be no easy solution.  If pain is to be a part of my daily life I will need to alter some of the more demanding physical aspects of traveling.  My mind goes there in the middle of the night.  Giving up my dream of travel is not on the table.... just how I travel.   Less lifting.  Keep Going. Less pushing. 

  In the mean time it is time to explore all the options to make life easier.

  It is also time to check in with spinal specialists and see where we go from here.  

First Flower in the yard

Facing mortality is never easy, nor is acknowledging the changes we go through as we march into our senior years.  




13 comments:

  1. Well written. A good reminder to take it easy as the years go by. I hope you see some specialists for some type of relief from the pain.

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    1. Yes, Susan I am on my way to the specialists....There seems to be no easy answers and just weighing risks versus benefit......I just want to travel. lol

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  2. I'm so having spinal problems similar to yours....ruptured disc bulging disc and fractured first lumbar vertebrae....ask your physical therapist about a TENS unit ...that and physical has kept me out me out of surg...not how I thought I would spend my retirement...I am feeling 75% better than a month ago...keep on keepin on...donna

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    1. There is no giving up in my vocabulary. Just trying to find a happy medium where I can do some of the things I want to do.

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  3. I am so sorry to hear that your back problems are so serious. I don't know whether a chiropractor could be of any assistance to you or not but mine has done wonders for me and several of my friends. That said, it is really important to get recommendations before letting them work on you. I really hope you don't have to have back surgery. I know no one who has done it and hasn't had continuing problems. Your closing sentence expresses what has been on my mind a great deal recently as David continues in his battle with Myeloma. It almost makes me angry that after a life time of following all the rules and working hard to do and be "good" that one's senior years and they don't seem "golden" at all. I really hope you will find relief from your pain.

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    1. I agree, I do not go easily to any decision regarding surgery. It does seem that we have shared detours these last couple of years that are not the picture of a golden retirement.

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  4. It seems we hit one set back after another in our quest for the golden years. BAH HUMBUG! They have really gained in back surgery so I hope you can find a really good Dr. in the field. Keep your chin up and hopes high. Maybe looking into an RV you can drive and not have to hitch up. Doesn't have to be anything big this way you can drive it and park it anywhere you need to go.

    I'll be thinking of you.

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement. Some days are harder than others but I keep striving for balance between activity and rest. Not always easy. In the mean time I've been exploring lots of options.

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    2. I keep looking for a solution that will allow me the most freedom and still keep truckin on down the road.....

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  5. Dang it's a pain to get older! Darn, sorry you are having so much trouble. The wonderful thing is that we will always have sister who can help us in a pinch. Hang in there, never give up on the road that calls. Hugs.

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    1. You have that right.....getting old is a pain And it is not for sissies!!

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  6. So sorry to hear this! I hope you are able to find a solution that works for you. You deserve it, and your plan to travel? I like Jo's idea - my rig is small enough that I don't need a toad, and maybe you could find something that would be easy and comfortable to drive and park and set up. You'll find a way. :)

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    1. Gosh, I feel I have my own private cheer squad. Therapy is not easy and produces it's own pain which is difficult to distinguish the injury pain from plain ole sore muscles. Thanks for all the support. I appreciate the kind words and thoughts.

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