Back Problems

Last summer/fall I had sciatica; it lasted for about four months.  Thanks to my physiotherapist, it was quite a bit better by Christmas.  I described what it was like in my post called Helplessness.  It was a terrible experience.  Since we returned from our trip to Malawi, my back has been relatively good.  I began working with a trainer upon my return and all was going well until we pushed the exercises a little too far and I had to stop doing them.  My back was acting up.  Now that I have a puppy, I think that all the playing and picking puppy up and bending down to pet him has aggravated my back as well.

It is hard to accept that as we age, even with the best of intentions regarding our health, it is quite a challenge to keep really fit.  Great care must be exercised in carrying out a fitness regime.  Too little and it isn't that helpful; too much and we may injure ourselves.  And then those activities we really want to take on in retirement, like finally getting the dog we always wanted, may bring with it physical challenges that may affect our health negatively as well.

This does not mean that we shouldn't work out or shouldn't get involved in exciting new activities, like getting a puppy, but it does mean that we have to take care to ensure that we take into account our age and our  health in the process.

What they don't tell you about aging

I'm starting to get really annoyed about the impact of aging on my body. Just as I've been inspired by the Olympics to get fit, I develop a very sore spot in the ball of my right foot after walking or standing for any length of time. The good news is that these days you can diagnose your own health issues, at least to some degree. I've determined that I've got Morton's neuroma. Morton's what?, you ask. Well, its a nerve in the ball of your foot that may start to thicken with age (they don't really know why) and as it does and as you walk on it, it hurts.

Now, I'm always reading about heart disease, stroke, cancer and dementia as health issues to be concerned about as we age - and well we should. BUT, no one ever tells you about all the little weird things that may go wrong with your body as you hit your 50s, 60s and beyond. Here's my list:

Teeth: I've had two teeth pulled out (after having had root canals and/or crowns put on them); both teeth had developed fine hairline hard-to-see cracks that led my dentist to say, out with the teeth!

Skin: My skin has started sprouting tag moles, especially anywhere that my clothes rub against my skin, like around my neck. Hardly life threatening but really not all that nice to look at. I've also started getting little flat moles on my face. I'm not really a big fan of plastic surgery and don't intend to ever have anything major ever done, but these moles really bug me.

Tongue: About 2 years ago, I noticed that after eating anything with a vinaigrette on it or drinking wine, especially red wine, my tongue would be quite sensitive. A specialist diagnosed it as geographic tongue! They don't know why you get it and they don't really know how to treat it.

Are you getting the picture? Now I could go on and on about my lower back aches, and the twinge in my knee, etc. but enough is enough.

I have to say I feel most grateful that I haven't had to cope with the acute health issues, at least not yet, that strike some of our age, but I would like someone out there to spend a little more research money on all of these minor, aggravating, chronic little problems that can really affect the quality of our day to day lives. I'm sure many of us suffer in silence since these minor health issues are really just that, minor; thanks for letting me get it off my chest!

Helplessness is NOT Fun

This summer I made the mistake of carrying a pair of stone urns that I had purchased at a garage sale to my car. What a bargain at $5 for the pair, I thought at the time. Of course by that evening, I realized that I had really hurt my back and within a few days I was barely able to walk. Fortunately we were spending alot of time at our cottage but it meant that I had to spend most days flat on my back, and basically at my husband's mercy. The first week or so, after he got up, I would lie there waiting for my coffee to arrive. It didn't. Normally we get our own breakfast but now I was stuck in bed and I needed it but it just wasn't appearing.

The weird thing was that I didn't want to call out to him - "Bring me my coffee". It would be so simple to just ask for it. I knew if I did he would be more than happy to do so. I just hated the feeling of not being able to do it myself. One morning I actually decided that I would get up and stay upright long enough to make myself a cup. Well......if you have ever had sciatica you know that you've got about 3 minutes standing before the pain runs down your leg and it's excrutiating. So....I lasted about 3 minutes, not quite enough time to get it made. Fortunately for me, my husband realized that I really needed a coffee first thing and he began bringing my coffee to me, unbidden. What a lovely treat.

The whole experience made me think alot about what it must be like to grow old and more vulnerable, in need of the help of others. And how much I dreaded the thought. Most people really don't like having to admit they need help and don't want to have to ask for it. If you have elderly relatives who are in this situation, don't wait for them to ask; find out how you can be of help before they ask. And if you find yourself in a helpless situation, just hope that you have someone around who gets it. If you don't, then just ask. Sometimes people don't know what we want until we tell them.