Hate to tell you Beancooker, but 45 isn't all that old and it doesn't get better with age.

I spent most of my young adult life as an active duty Marine and it was drilled into me that pain was good and what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. Well guess what @ the age of 61 now it has come to my attention it was all a crock of shit. I live with pain every day most of it is minor but I still have to deal with it.

Then at the other end of the spectrum, I know four farmers over the age of 75 that never complain about anything physical or mental.

And I know 6 sixty year olds that can keep up with more than a few 50 year olds w/o complaint.

All seem to be running at around 70% of their prime peak.


Most are active to more active than most, of the same age group.

An inversion table might help your neck, your arm/finger issues sound like a pinched nerve in your neck. Try before you buy if possible.
I've also used a Contour Pillow for years. The old fashioned egg crate foam, memory foam isnt supportive enough for me.

quote:

I know four farmers over the age of 75 that never complain about anything physical or mental.

^^^^^^^^^^^
When I lived in rural Wisconsin I became friends with a number of dairy farmers. By the age of 75 they realize complaining will not help a thing. However, they do complain about minimal government subsidies,and the lack of parts for their equipment, but most say little about aches and pains. They are the most active bunch I have ever seen.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
Let's see. You damaged your wrists by overdoing a repetitive activity. Maybe stop doing what causes the damage?

Wow, that’s awesome advice. Thank you so much!

If you had read the posts, the wrists aren’t the issue. But I also suspect you won’t read this, so fuck it. I won’t waste our time typing anymore of a reply.

quote:

An inversion table might help your neck, your arm/finger issues sound like a pinched nerve in your neck. Try before you buy if possible.
I've also used a Contour Pillow for years. The old fashioned egg crate foam, memory foam isnt supportive enough for me.

I have one in the garage. I may give it a try. It makes my head feel hot and like my temples will pop, but it may be a good tradeoff.

Today was so much better than any day in the last month. If it doesn’t start to get progressively better, off to the doctor again.

You guys are making me feel better. I'm 72, but not feeling all that bad. My wife is younger and she's stiff every time she gets off the couch. My buddy Joe just turned 79 and he's starting to complain. Don't know why, it doesn't do him any good.

rburg, you crack me up. Always so jaded and saying it how you see it.

That left index finger numbness is classic C6 or C7 radiculopathy. Get an x-ray and/or MRI to determine cause (stenosis, bulging disc, etc.). I am doing PT for this exact issue. Thought it was my shoulder (both have problems), but it was my neck, and they are unrelated).

And not exactly common at this age, but not unheard of either. I had arthritis and stenosis in my 40s.

Almost 30 years ago (when turning 40) a guy advised me "You'll never have more hair, more teeth, more major organs or be in better shape than you are right now". He was right.

quote:

Originally posted by SSgt USMC/Vet:
I spent most of my young adult life as an active duty Marine and it was drilled into me that pain was good and what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. Well guess what @ the age of 61 now it has come to my attention it was all a crock of shit. I live with pain every day most of it is minor but I still have to deal with it.

"Pain is weakness leaving your body."

Horse. Shit.

Pain is your body telling you you've just done something stupid.

Like most folks, at 70 a good morning is when nothing new hurts.

In late 2007 at the healthy age of 55yrs and healthy as a horse, I had surgery to repair a totally unexpected ruptured brain aneurysm and subsequent stroke during surgery. My life has since changed dealing with stroke deficits, loss of my job of 25yrs, yadda, yadda, yadda, and no different than so many others who have and are undergoing health issues. At one point from extreme neurological pain developed in my left eye and seeing many doctors and various treatments, I was advised by one of the leading neuro-opthalomoligist at Bask and Palmer Eye Center here in Miami, to try pain management. I was relegated to a pain management clinic at Baptist Hospital and after 2yrs of opioid use, I could no longer tolerate the side effects and went cold turkey. The withdrawals were horrendous during that month of breaking free of the addiction. I would just caution anybody thinking about going down that road to use good judgement.

I understanding the point of turning in that direction being one of desperation. Lord knows I tried so many various treatments and therapies before resorting to management using opioids to include prescription medications and alternative medicine like acupuncture/pressure at one point. But living on opioids is a slippery slope as many know. I had 24hr doses of various opioids/morphines for 2yrs to just manage to pain. Please use caution, I know I'm preaching to the choir here but I'm just relating my experience only, yours may vary.

In the 13yrs post surgery my life has been altered dramatically not to mention a heart event a couple years ago on top of things.

I've never drawn so close to my relationship with my faith and prayer, for both myself and others. My life today is one of appreciation for a great life lived well, and my greater respect and compassion for those who suffer from age related health issues, disease, illnesses and/or injuries. I'm thankful to be here still at 68, and in my new found appreciation for those who may suffer or have health difficulties, I offer prayer. Enjoy your good days!

Pain especially in the morning reminds you that your still above ground.

quote:

Originally posted by john1:
Almost 30 years ago (when turning 40) a guy advised me "You'll never have more hair, more teeth, more major organs or be in better shape than you are right now". He was right.

He lied to you, with this Covid crap, I now have, with my beard and long hair, I look like a damn Wookie.

Turning 60 in a couple of months. I do have minor pain issues. Not all the time. It comes and goes. Mostly goes. I've noticed a distinct lose of strength especially leg strength. Plan on working as long as I can. The farmer thing is accurate. My uncle is 85 and still going. They'll find up tits up in a field some day.

I would suggest giving up all sugar, grains and seed oils oils for a month and see if inflammation reduces. Folks have gone carnivore (elimination diet) to isolate the main culprits. A lot of veggies have evolved to discourage someone or something from eating them. Just a thought.

Just to keep things interesting, besides pain, you'll notice more hair growing out of your nose and ears and wonder if you've become a walking advert for Chia Pet..

you need to get off the standard American diet (sad).

so, short answer:

No Sugar, No Starch [ Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, Duke University Medical Center ]

^ this was used in the first long answer below:

long answer:

Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It, Gary Taubes 2010

The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet, Nina Teicholz 2014

The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss, Jason Fung 2016

Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Rood of Most Chronic Disease and How to Fight It, Benjamin Bikman 2020

Some pretty good advice here.
I too just turned 45, and a lifetime of "active fun" called to cash in.
To make things more interesting, I developed a pretty bad case of fibromyalgia over the past couple of years. Obviously ignored it and tried to "power through it" until I found myself having to crawl up the stairs on hands and knees a couple of months ago because I simply couldn't climb them normally.

Diet is an important part of things - avoid refined sugars etc - I'm mostly eating lean protein and it seems to help. It has the added plus point of shedding pounds FAST - the less weight you carry, the less strain.
I also took up pilates and regular swimming - whatever happens, don't stop moving!

Some really good advice here. I'm 73 and I can still keep up with the farm it's just that it takes me a lot longer to do something now than it did 10 years ago.

As far as pain goes, for me, minor scrapes are much more painful now than they used to be. Just the other day I was cleaning up the injectors on my tractor and banged my knuckles on a bolt. Damn that hurt. Ten years ago I would have cussed, walked around a bit and then go back to work. Now I had to actually take a break back to the house, get some coffee and put a damn bandaid on it. Oh yeah, you bleed much more easily than you ever used to as well.

I could go on, but won't...you will be fine.