arthritus certainly slows you down

nick55
nick55 Member Posts: 119
edited 4. Feb 2010, 12:08 in Living with Arthritis archive
it is by way of reflection that even at the young age of 56, one wonders if nature is making a point of slowing us down, perhaps in some way making us think more about things, instead of mad rushing about. one certainly notices nature more and the coming of spring, as we has to rest far more on walks.

also it does impart a certain humility. when I see others steaming past on walks whilst my knee is aching, telling me it is perhaps unwise to walk any further, and head back to the car, instead, it certainly makes you aware of your limitations.
I am sorry to here of Mellmans post about the patella, and hope it gets better for you. it will stabilize, so long as you balance rest with more gentle exercise though many people I meet tell me how wonderful their knee/hip replacements have been. I can still do six or eight miles but only at odd intervals now.

I will not go down this route however, of knee replacements, and stick to what nature now allows me to do. at least after a few days relative rest one is able to get jobs done around the garden, go shopping, and always with plenty of tramdol in the wallet, as one never knows when the hip will go and it can be so embarrassing gasping every five minutes in the supermarket when the hip is jolted.

I have learned over the past few years now, to have a sense of humour, about all this, never ever get depressed, and if things are bad, simply sit down make some tea, and let the joints settle down. for me it always works though it may take a few days sometimes.

I have had it easy this last winter , the last two were dreadful at times often quite painful. Maybe things are settling down or my routine is better now.
Spring is here now, almost, so we have the summer yet to welcome, and I hope it all goes well for you all, if walking about is limited at any time then I hope there is the garden for you to enjoy.

Nick

Comments

  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi nick it does change the way you see the world every time i am up to walking some where i enjoy every step with the thought in a few years i might not be able to so enjoy what i have now then will not look back with any regrets
    val
  • nick55
    nick55 Member Posts: 119
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    that however 'depressing' osteo is, one is brought much closer to the things that matter. How often do we walk less far nowadays, and pause more often, yet in doing so, notice the lichen on a tree, or a mossy bank, lit, in shades of green, in bright sunlight, or a running stream.
    No more swiftly walking past as in a race.

    valval wrote:
    hi nick it does change the way you see the world every time i am up to walking some where i enjoy every step with the thought in a few years i might not be able to so enjoy what i have now then will not look back with any regrets
  • sharmaine
    sharmaine Member Posts: 1,638
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Nick

    With OA in both knees I can't even enjoy a good walk anymore. My walks tend to be with hubby pushing me in the wheelchair. My first TKR is on 15 February providing tomorrow's pre-op goes well. I'm looking forward to one day being ale to go for a long walk unaided by wheelchair or crutches! I'm 54 and I know the operation is scary but I'm looking forward to a better quality of life than I have now.

    It does make you feel slow when you see others walking effortlessly ....... especially if they're a lot older!! I get around the house with my walking stick or crutches - it's not easy but I remain positive that my forthcoming operations will make my life easier.

    I enjoy the great outdoors and miss pottering about in my garden. I can only look at it these days.

    It's good that you can still walk such distances considering that you have a problem hip. One thing I've learnt from having arthur is to listen to your body and when those joints start throbbing or locking ...l you have to rest.

    Have a good weekend.

    Regards

    Sharmaine

    The winter is nearing completion. Roll on spring and summer!!

    nick55 wrote:
    it is by way of reflection that even at the young age of 56, one wonders if nature is making a point of slowing us down, perhaps in some way making us think more about things, instead of mad rushing about. one certainly notices nature more and the coming of spring, as we has to rest far more on walks.

    also it does impart a certain humility. when I see others steaming past on walks whilst my knee is aching, telling me it is perhaps unwise to walk any further, and head back to the car, instead, it certainly makes you aware of your limitations.
    I am sorry to here of Mellmans post about the patella, and hope it gets better for you. it will stabilize, so long as you balance rest with more gentle exercise though many people I meet tell me how wonderful their knee/hip replacements have been. I can still do six or eight miles but only at odd intervals now.

    I will not go down this route however, of knee replacements, and stick to what nature now allows me to do. at least after a few days relative rest one is able to get jobs done around the garden, go shopping, and always with plenty of tramdol in the wallet, as one never knows when the hip will go and it can be so embarrassing gasping every five minutes in the supermarket when the hip is jolted.

    I have learned over the past few years now, to have a sense of humour, about all this, never ever get depressed, and if things are bad, simply sit down make some tea, and let the joints settle down. for me it always works though it may take a few days sometimes.

    I have had it easy this last winter , the last two were dreadful at times often quite painful. Maybe things are settling down or my routine is better now.
    Spring is here now, almost, so we have the summer yet to welcome, and I hope it all goes well for you all, if walking about is limited at any time then I hope there is the garden for you to enjoy.

    Nick
  • mellman01
    mellman01 Member Posts: 5,306
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Nick yeah I hope your patella arn't as wayward as mine are, riht now very calm so lets hope they are stabalising, I don't think they are though as las night I got the old swollen painful and red knees just before I went to bed so something is going on with them.
    I know what you mean about slowing you down, by heck it's really robbed me of so much I don't know where to start, so I wont!? :?
  • nick55
    nick55 Member Posts: 119
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My heart reaches out to you, hearing of your problems. I meet so many who are worse than me, many barely mobile, osteo can be dreadful for some. I keep active, and even though my right knee aches most of the time I walk and it is making me disconsolate at times, seeing as i have so much energy, some days, but, I keep going.
    I hope all goes well for you, the operation, if they advise you to have it, go for it. what a joy if you became more active again,

    best wishes,

    Nick


    sharmaine wrote:
    Hi Nick

    With OA in both knees I can't even enjoy a good walk anymore. My walks tend to be with hubby pushing me in the wheelchair. My first TKR is on 15 February providing tomorrow's pre-op goes well. I'm looking forward to one day being ale to go for a long walk unaided by wheelchair or crutches! I'm 54 and I know the operation is scary but I'm looking forward to a better quality of life than I have now.

    It does make you feel slow when you see others walking effortlessly ....... especially if they're a lot older!! I get around the house with my walking stick or crutches - it's not easy but I remain positive that my forthcoming operations will make my life easier.

    I enjoy the great outdoors and miss pottering about in my garden. I can only look at it these days.

    It's good that you can still walk such distances considering that you have a problem hip. One thing I've learnt from having arthur is to listen to your body and when those joints start throbbing or locking ...l you have to rest.

    Have a good weekend.

    Regards

    Sharmaine

    The winter is nearing completion. Roll on spring and summer!!

    nick55 wrote:
    it is by way of reflection that even at the young age of 56, one wonders if nature is making a point of slowing us down, perhaps in some way making us think more about things, instead of mad rushing about. one certainly notices nature more and the coming of spring, as we has to rest far more on walks.

    also it does impart a certain humility. when I see others steaming past on walks whilst my knee is aching, telling me it is perhaps unwise to walk any further, and head back to the car, instead, it certainly makes you aware of your limitations.
    I am sorry to here of Mellmans post about the patella, and hope it gets better for you. it will stabilize, so long as you balance rest with more gentle exercise though many people I meet tell me how wonderful their knee/hip replacements have been. I can still do six or eight miles but only at odd intervals now.

    I will not go down this route however, of knee replacements, and stick to what nature now allows me to do. at least after a few days relative rest one is able to get jobs done around the garden, go shopping, and always with plenty of tramdol in the wallet, as one never knows when the hip will go and it can be so embarrassing gasping every five minutes in the supermarket when the hip is jolted.

    I have learned over the past few years now, to have a sense of humour, about all this, never ever get depressed, and if things are bad, simply sit down make some tea, and let the joints settle down. for me it always works though it may take a few days sometimes.

    I have had it easy this last winter , the last two were dreadful at times often quite painful. Maybe things are settling down or my routine is better now.
    Spring is here now, almost, so we have the summer yet to welcome, and I hope it all goes well for you all, if walking about is limited at any time then I hope there is the garden for you to enjoy.

    Nick
  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,398
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Is 56 young then? :?

    Luv Legs who's in the autumn of her life at 51 :|
    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'
  • tanith
    tanith Member Posts: 175
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It would be good to think my second hip will never get to the place I was at when I decided surgery was the way to go but I am sure sometime I will be at that place again.. when every movement and step was agony , I couldn't even turn myself in bed and had no sleep because of constant pain I'd love to be able to just let it slow me down but I know the constant drip drip drip of pain will eventually make me wonder why I continue to suffer when I can steel myself for the surgery and then be painfree once again for many more years.
    Our worst times are always our best lessons.
  • nick55
    nick55 Member Posts: 119
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    glad to see someone younger than me even, well, lets pretend. as they say keep taking the pills, for me the vitamin pills......


    lindalegs wrote:
    Is 56 young then? :?

    Luv Legs who's in the autumn of her life at 51 :|
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    pain slowed me right down and having to be ultra careful not to fall.The funniest thing was pre hip op I couldnt even step over a piece of rope lying flat on the ground...a bit like those monty python characters at the sports day.Ministry of silly walks had nothing on me!
    Elizabeth(46 and better now).
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • sharmaine
    sharmaine Member Posts: 1,638
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Linda

    My mum is 79 and she says she's young. So I guess being 56 means you're a spring chicken! Everything can be lifted these days - not that I'm going to have anything done..... all that botox; false boobies; face lifts and chemical peels are for the rich, brave and famous. The youth of today will never know what old folk look like at this rate. Researchers have found what makes us grow old and if they can discover how to stop the aging process we can all stay youthful looking for longer. Apparently the reproduction system in our bodies never age - I found this fact rather interesting. Mind you at 54 I don't fancy reproducing again. :lol::lol:

    Sharmaine




    lindalegs wrote:
    Is 56 young then? :?

    Luv Legs who's in the autumn of her life at 51 :|
  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,398
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    sharmaine wrote:
    Hi Linda

    My mum is 79 and she says she's young. So I guess being 56 means you're a spring chicken! Everything can be lifted these days - not that I'm going to have anything done..... all that botox; false boobies; face lifts and chemical peels are for the rich, brave and famous. The youth of today will never know what old folk look like at this rate. Researchers have found what makes us grow old and if they can discover how to stop the aging process we can all stay youthful looking for longer. Apparently the reproduction system in our bodies never age - I found this fact rather interesting. Mind you at 54 I don't fancy reproducing again. :lol::lol:

    Sharmaine




    lindalegs wrote:
    Is 56 young then? :?

    Luv Legs who's in the autumn of her life at 51 :|

    I know Sharmaine ....age is a state of mind .....but there're many people on here in their 20's and 30's and I'm sure anyone above the age of 40 is ancient to them. :roll: I have a very dear friend who's 92 and he talks about the old girl upstairs who's 70 :shock: .....now where's his logic :?

    .....and I, too, have finished adding to the population :wink:

    Luv Legs :D
    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'