Back injury in late teens started restricting what I could do physically. I’m 72 now. Gradual decline over the years, back and knee surgeries.

Still go to gym. Mental still seems ok.

Balance has gone to hell.

When did I notice? Well it was creeping up on me for a year or two and I just disregarded it... until:

The three EMTs pushing the gurney through the ER doors got me to the back in the hall and a guy with the world's sharpest pair of sizers cut all my clothes off in less than 20 seconds... after that (released and sent home 5 days later)... I was an old man.

The poll assumes that I had any abilities to begin with. But I noticed a gradual decline in physical abilities starting in my 50's. I'm approaching mid-seventies now, and I'm still active, and still exercise, but sore muscles or joints take longer to recover. Gotta stay moving though!

This year. 52. I have officially stopped running 4x week to give my feet, knees and hips a well needed break.

Doing some HIT work on the stationary bike and added another strength day in the gym.

This all started 3 weeks ago and my lifts have already gone up 5-10%. (and my waistline is still the same)

Now as long as my shoulders and elbows hold up.....

In the latter half of the fifties and my refusal to acknowledge any diminishing of abilities occasionally bites me in the rear. I’m still sticking with the same program I have been forever though - “I may get older, but I refuse to grow up.”

Every once in awhile my job has me in the field. Three years ago at age 57 was when it hit me hard on an August day. Later that week during a personal bathroom remodel I was setting a bathtub. After that was the first time I experienced back spasms. Like a cattle prod to the side. I didn't know what was going on. Occasional pains are now everyday pain. Nothing debilitating but even low grade everyday pain can wear you down. Strength and endurance down significantly. Things that now hurt daily are thumb tendons, lower back, and umbilical hernia. The new on again off again pains are shoulder and knee pain. Shoulder pain increases when I have to control weight away from my body. I'd like to last another 7 years of work. Hope I can make it, but I'll be happy with 5.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: goose5,

My dad was a farmer who did hard physical labor all his life. He said a man's physical peak for strength and endurance was from 45 to 55. But he also had some surgeries after that age that might have impacted his thoughts.

I'm 60 and (knock on wood) haven't experienced a decline physically or mentally. I had lower back pain as a teenager. It's better now than it was then. My knees hurt less, too.

I'm not as quick as I was but I'm stronger now. That reflects my workouts and the physical work that I do. It's a change, not a decline. Not that I was ever a physical specimen, you understand.

I think my brain is probably better than ever. Again, not that I was brilliant to begin with.

quote:

Originally posted by murphman:
He said a man's physical peak for strength and endurance was from 45 to 55.

I'd say it is 37. Depends on the trade or the person, maybe.

I'd say aright around 52 or 53 - I noticed it first

little things like stamina, walking a golf course and sore joints

my kneed have always been bad, but now I have restricted motion in both arms

my ability to tolerate stupidity has gone into sharp decline in the last two years and my tolerance for crap I'd just forget about in the past is now just about zero

I did not plan to make it to 30, was surprised to get there, and had no idea what to do. Zero plans for 40, completely lost with no plan, and then 50...well, shit.

In the meantime, I was forgetting my own birthday before I was 20. Somewhere in there, weight gain, teeth and hair fell out, what was left turned gray, and one day I found out I was a grandpa. I aged about eighteen years upon receipt of the news, and couldn't remember my way home.

Still looking.

quote:

Originally posted by murphman:
My dad was a farmer who did hard physical labor all his life. He said a man's physical peak for strength and endurance was from 45 to 55.

As a farmer who still does a lot of physical work past that age, I dunno if I agree the peak is that late. It is definitely clear that one gets a *lot* smarter about how one does things. Much less “brute force and ignorance”, much more “work smarter, not harder.” There are still times when maximum physical effort is required, but there is no more doing it that way “just to show you can”. You do what you gotta do, but if there is a smarter/easier/safer way todo it, you’re there...

31. But that's when I was formally diagnosed with lupus. After beginning management treatment (there is no cure), things improved. Quite a bit. But it was still not like before, because of the intermittent joint and nerve pain. But at least the discomfort was manageable. Next notable drop-off was with my hearing, around my mid-40s. That's when I first noticed that I couldn't hear high frequencies as well as I once did. Sucked listening to older, well-recorded music, like my library of Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab LPs. The mind's ear was particularly cruel to me. But it did stop my expensive habit of buying esoteric and premium stereo gear, so I suppose that was a plus...at least to my wife.

Physically I'd say I really started noticing issues with muscle strength in my early to mid 50s, which I suppose is no surprise given my more relaxed mindset at exercise and activity in these latter years. Joint pain and the ever present spectre of my lupus plays into that. I can still somewhat comfortably hoist a 1000rd case of 230gr 45AUTO around so all is not lost. At least yet.

Right around 30, the lifetime limited powertrain warranty on my ass expired.

I'm still physically fit but a night on the town with the fellas is unpleasant in the morning, I don't recover from a strenuous workout as quickly.

Oh yeah and I screwed up a disc in my back last month, to add to my ongoing back troubles. I've had chronic pain for years but nothing like that was when it first happened.

Memory doesn't really seem to be affected but I've always had enough "SQUIRREL" that if I didn't write the shit down in my leaderbook, it never happened.

One thing is certain. I feel better knowing I'm not the only one in this boat.

Both physically and mentally with in the past 2 years I'd say.
Deep vein thrombosis that I now take blood thinners for because of risk of stroke. My up close vision sucks so I have to wear readers to see anything fine print. I take CBD gummies for the arthritis in my shoulder. That's the physical.
Mentally, I'm forgetting more than I should. Names especially, numbers too. I set reminders on my phone for ALOT of things now. Sticky notes help also.
I live alone and my 2 younger brothers have been instructed that if I'm not at work by 9am, they're to come out to the house to check on me.
I'm only 53 but who the Hell knows what could happen and even though I'm not hobbling or using a cane, shit could happen and I could fall down the stairs or something.

Literally the day I woke up and turned 40 everything hurt. What was the other question?