Monday's dahlia and marigold bouquet.
These days 74 is not that old, but someone should tell my body that. Or more specifically, my right leg.
I have been dealing with arthritis in my knee for a long time. Then it settled in my hip, making me very inflexible on my right side. I have had x-rays of both several times, and the verdict? Yep, you have arthritis. I have been fortunate not to have much pain and have been able to walk, keep up my physical therapy exercises, and garden relatively easily, but the deterioration is definitely progressing.
Now my right ankle seems to be under attack too. That is a recent development, and I am monitoring it for now. Also new, spasms in my right shin, just under my knee, that cause my leg to buckle. That's not a comfortable feeling when I'm going up or down stairs, so I hold on tight to railings.
We have not been going for our three mile exercise walks for a while now, because it has been so hot, and other things get in the way for early mornings. Besides, we are not early risers. With the heat, we stay up late to give the box fans time to cool off the upstairs bedroom. Monday I decided to go for it, so we got up, grabbed a glass of orange juice and were out walking by 7:00. It was cool enough, but after doing 2.25 miles, Tom's ankle hurt ( he aggravated it standing on ladders), and my foot and ankle ached for much of the rest of the day. Not good. So, we'll see.
This weekend Tom added grab bars in the upstairs bathroom. I have been asking for them for a while, because when I do my health inventory before my annual Medicare Wellness Check, that's one of the questions they ask "old people". Now I can check that off, and besides, with my leg issues, I feel a lot safer now.
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aging now there's a topic that can't be avoided if you continue the journey here on earth...
ReplyDeleteThis getting older stuff isn't easy, but I do hope you can find some treatment for that right leg of yours. You are both so very busy all the time, and you spend much of your days on your feet. My left knee is mostly recovered from having overdone it a couple weeks back. And I think we are through the worst of the latest heat wave. I love your pretty bouquet, BTW. You are very talented. :-)
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ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about these issues. I suffer arthritis in my knee and degenerative disks. Not to mention my weight is bad for both. I got a new knee two years ago. Best medical choice I ever made. I can do more again and the absence of pain cannot be described. I hope the best for you and that there is a solution to keep your a tive lifstyke.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of your issues.
ReplyDeleteThe bouquet of flowers is gorgeous!
Blessings~
I'm the same age with many of the same problems - especially in the legs. A year ago I could barely walk and finally went to the doctor. His first choice was to put me on Prednizone (which I refused) and I went home to "just live with it". We had friends over for cards, and he suggested I try Krill oil. I got the Kirkland brand at Costco, and started with a couple pills in the morning and a couple in the evening, and in about two weeks, I could walk again. I still have an occasional twinge in my legs, but I can't sing the praises of Krill oil enough. BTW, your flowers are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear your arthritis is so bad. I'm glad Tom put grab bars in the bathroom, that's a good idea. I hesitate to ask the doctor about my aching hands. I figure it's probably arthritis, but I don't think they can do much for it.
ReplyDeleteChronic ailments are frustrating. we have the will to go but are limited. I'm in the process of changing my arthritis prescription. It's not fun.
ReplyDeleteI wish you the best, Linda! Aging is not fun.
ReplyDeleteLovely bouquets!
I’ve been fortunate to have escaped both arthritis and osteoporosis to this point but I willsooon be 76, and who knows what the future holds. I always use you as an example when talking to people who want to give in to arthritis. I admire your approach and that you’ve made the necessary exercises a part of your daily life while continuing to push o to do the things you enjoy in life.
ReplyDeleteYour arrangements are as beautiful as your arthritis is aggravating! Chronic pain can rob life of so much joy. I'm glad that you have grab bars now to make the bathroom safer.
ReplyDeleteHave you thought about chiropractor? I had a lot of your symptoms hip, knee, and ankle which I thought was arthritis. My cardiologist sent me to a chiropractor and in 6 sessions over 3 weeks, I am a new person and out of pain. It was covered by medicare with a co-pay of $7.50 per visit and each visit only lasted 10 minutes. Part of my problem was the way I was walking to compensate for the hip pain. Can't hurt to look into it.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your arthritis. My sister (74 also) has arthritis and takes several drugs and infusion therapies from her medical doctors. It helps her and she functions well, but the side effects of some of those drugs worry me, especially as time goes on.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes would feel the stiffness and pain in my hands but I take curcumin every evening, which worked beautifully. I also "roll" my body with a hard covered pvc pipe, called TheFascianator.com. A young couple here in Hawaii developed the theory and therapy after attending prestigious conferences on the fascia (i.e. Harvard Medical School) and I believe everyone should be rolling. It hurts like the dickens the first few times, drinking a lot of water is key to help purge the wastes that are released, but I feel confident that I will be in great shape and good health well into my older years.
I try to keep moving but not overdo. I am finding, though, that the things I can no longer do (like walk 10 miles) are things I'm no longer interested in doing. That's a blessing.
ReplyDeleteLet me just say I can totally identify with you. I also hang on to the railing when going down stairs, especially now with my eye sight so messed up.
ReplyDeleteLove those gorgeous Calla Lilies!
Yes I agree Linda---my body tells me no no while my mind says yes you can. I will tell you one funny thing---maybe you have noticed--when I have to use the rest room say in the grocery store I usually use the handicap stall because of the hand bars and because toilets in stores are so low my knees complain if they have to do all the work.
ReplyDeleteMB
Your vase is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI am all too aware of the break down of the body. It is good that you are taking steps to make yourself and Tom safer. You gotta do what you gotta do. Maybe 1-2 mile hikes are best now especially during summer when you are doing so much more activity anyway.
So can I relate. I am on arthritis medication. In fact, I saw my doctor last week because of a swollen finger. Today Poppy and I bought groceries. When we got back to the car someone had parked really close to us. When I opened my car door my swollen finger got pinched between the mirror on our car and the other car. It actually brought tears to my eyes. It hurt. Arthritic is very painful! Hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteMe too! Me too! You KNOW I can relate to everything you’re saying. I’m still recuperating and Art is now sick. We just left Maryland after tending to our sick grandchildren and are now trying to get healthy again. I feel like I’m not as steady on my feet anymore and .... gee... like they say....”Growing older is not for sissies.”
ReplyDeleteI hear ya. Oh the aches and pains. I have struggled with hip pain for years and when I go to the doctor he says he can give me a new hip. I ask, “Do I need one?” His answer, “I’m not the one complaining. You are. You tell me if you need a new hip.” I say no to the new hip. I function most of the time, but I know it gets scary once in a while when going up and down stairs. Grab bars are good. I have them in my showers. I don’t think we should be taking chances with falling. Take care.
ReplyDeleteLove the dahlias. They are among my favorite flowers. They grow so beautifully in the Pacific northwest. Your’s are great specimens. I often wonder how you keep up with all your gardening.