Am I just an old git?

We don't wear sunblock ... but then we don't sit in the sun. Most of my garden is shaded now by my large trees/shrubs. You should have 20-30 minutes of direct sun on your skin at least three times a week to get what is required absorbed in your body.

 

Years ago I'd lie naked in the garden to get my quota. Until one day my lady neighbour informed me that if she stood on her wc and used binoculars she could see everything.
Obviously i was appalled and from then on i always wear my Y fronts and a wide brim hat.

 

I am bringing this back up as today is the fourth anniversary of subluxing my left knee slipping on sloping cobblestone, It was 2 October 2017 and I hobbled around till the 13th (a Friday) when we decided to go to the ER. I was using a walker I had from my hip replacement in December 2014 when I tripped up a step in our lounge ... I went to the ER in an Ambulance!

Since then I have had a knee replacement, my hip removed for five months and another hip replacement, all on the left leg. I have a 30cm stem in my leg which goes within cms of my replacement knee so metal from hip to below knee.

I have lost my sense of balance which makes gardening near on impossible except for pottering and deadheading using a walker for balance.

I exercise and practice walking unaided daily and I will get there.

As my long-time friend of 58 years in Tennessee tells me often "getting old sucks"

 

It definitely does Vicky
Keep it up m'dear you've come so very far. I'm in awe of your perseverance and determination...you're doing brilliantly .

 

You are my rock too Upsy, thanks for being there. Vxx

Pic of the implants ...

 

Always and forever

Gosh! That's some metal work!!!!

It's amazing what can be done these days.

What people sometimes don't realise is that the actual surgery is just the start of the treatment and healing process....they don't get to see the strength building exercises /physio and the silent pain the patient has to go through to reach the ultimate goal of regaining their mobility....
The surgeon can only provide us with the required framework..the battle of recovery is down to each individual.
You justly deserve and will achieve your recovery Vicky.

 

Yes, @Upsydaisy is right on. I have helped many people (some multiple times) on their journey through healing and physio sessions and their aftermath. Very alarming and not for the "faint of heart".

It sounds like an extremely long journey for you @Victoria and I too admire your determination.

 

Well done with your recovery so far Victoria. Many don't realise the mental effect it has too, I think the first thing being the loss of confidence.

I shattered my ankle back in 2001 which also contains a fair bit of metal now. Physio was a great help in not only getting me back on my feet but regaining the confidence I lost. Although the accident I had wasn't related, my biggest hurdle was getting back behind the wheel of a car and driving again. The first few times I drove around a disused air field and then progressed to quiet roads.

I wish you well and hope you find your feet fully soon.

 

I'm sorry to hear of your trouble. My knee gives way often and I may need replacements one day.
But old age does not always 'suck' (I never understood where that word came from)
Age brings more experience and more self confidence. I am happier now than I've ever been. I would never want to go back to being young. That 'sucked' too ...

 

I can understand what you are saying Michael but I still think without the freedom of your mobility....life sucks!

True with age comes confidence but not, as I have discovered for myself during the last two years, true happiness.
In my mind I can still walk, run ,skip and dance but in the grey reality I can't even do the simplest of things without my lovely Hubs. It shook me the other day when I realised I would most definitely not cope without him! If I run out of bread/ milk... how could I get some ? I use to walk into town almost daily but now I can't make it to my post box let alone to the nearest bus stop to enable me to reach not just the nearest town but even my little local shop!

I haven't driven for many, many years , witnessing a fatal accident evolving children made up my mind that I would never drive with children in the car, so after having our brood and then changing careers to work with young children and their families I stopped driving. I know I couldn't cope with today's roads....for the sake of everyones safety.

I only have one set of lovely neighbours who would undoubtedly help it I asked but I wouldn't dream to they have busy lives and a young family. We have no family close by who could help, both my sister and brother have their own serious immobility issues and our sons , who would unquestionably help if at all possible , all live 70+ miles away. Yes we have great friends but again they are ageing too and I wouldn't think of seeking their help on such mundane tasks.
I really get depressed at not being able to do things for myself...even to the extent of deciding suddenly to do the laundry....if Hubs is out or in his workshop I have to wait to ask him to carry the laundry basket down the stairs.....how feeble of me!!!

When I see people walking up and down our lane who are older, in their 70s +, I just feel so sad as we were great walkers too and enjoyed nothing better than a good hike, Hubs still does but goes alone now.

I am working on getting my dodgy leg back up and fully functioning believe me, but all I ask is for a diagnosis of what the issues are.

So yes at the moment getting old sucks!

But I fully get what you are saying Michael and I'm very happy for you that life is treating you well.

 

Upsy, you took the words right out of my mouth. xx

 

When I was young @Upsydaisy and @Victoria I endured bullies both in school (children and teachers) and family, and in places where I worked. I was incredibly shy, and because of all them I became worse and almost a recluse, enduring severe panic attacks and agoraphobia. I couldn't sleep, couldn't get out of bed, couldn't talk to anyone, couldn't leave the house, couldn't even make a cup of tea sometimes. The fear and anxiety were absolutely overwhelming and in a way paralyzing, and I wished I was dead. Life was really not worth living. It was much worse than any pain I've ever had, even with my knees IBS and ruptured disc in my spine etc.
I have also spent my life looking after people, putting them first and not really living my own life, what a waste of time, and most of them were ungrateful basxxxxs too. I don't know why I did it.
Anyway they are all dead now and I am free, even when I am in pain I am free to be myself and that is worth everything to me, and I can stand up to bullies. In fact I have learnt their tricks and am quite capable of giving them a taste of their own medicine. So old age, although the pain and inability to be totally independent 'sucks' I am stronger inside and more determined to carry on and survive, even with pain and on my own, and I would never go back to being young. It 'sucked'

Where does that word come from ???? it sounds daft

 

By the way I should also say I am sorry to hear of all your disabilities and I can understand how you both feel. My late partner Beryl became wheelchair bound and was unable to do anything by the end, could hardly even eat her own food. That sucked too. She's dead now and out of pain, and I think she is better off.

And some young people are disabled, and get on with their lives in spite of it, many compete in the paralympics etc.

And not all old people are disabled. A previous neighbour of mine, Diana her name was, was in her 90s and mowed the lawn and did her own shopping.

It's about how we deal with it.

 

Michael, so sorry to learn you had a rather unpleasant earlier life but that it is now improving.

There are many definitions for that phrase but politely it means a disappointment.

I have had a productive and happy life having lived in four countries and a satisfying career in law one way or the other and enjoyed good health. That changed in 2013 when it was discovered I had cancer and was operated on with subsequent treatment. Then in 2014 I fell breaking my femur in two completely and had a hip replacement. I recovered fully from both. In 2017 I slipped and fell as detailed above. I didn't mention on the way to my pre-ops we were in a car accident and I spent three weeks in hospital, a total of 42 days confined in one year having three major ops. plus 18 months bed//wheelchair bound. Now that sucks!

I was dealt a raw deal in latter years, as was my friend who makes this comment as she has had many ops on her back and she is 76 now about to have another so this is where the old age sucks comes into play. Compreendo?

As I mentioned, I have not given up, I am not in pain physically (although my knees hurt when I stand as I am bone-on-bone with my other knee). it is just when I stand I have no balance. I recently found exercises for people who have had a stroke and they fit my requirements just now. I cycle (static) and exercise daily.

Every day is a new day and I am walking on sunshine ... just taking baby steps.

 

It's about our circumstances and how we deal with them. Some cope better than others.