Age is catching up

Madeleine45 what a sensible and pragmatic attitude you have in a very dificult and debilating situation.

Congratulations LaCrepescule- that is a wonderful achievement.
And Michaelegl applause for you, also, on being inspired by the posters.
I take lots of good things away from GN, too.

What age it says you are on a paper is not really what counts, its how you feel that really matters. I have various problems but my back is the major one as it stops me doing various things and is something that affects me every day. So I pas on what I have learnt the hard way! I hate giving in and have kept trying to do things which made things worse and me miserable. So the really helpful thing is swimming, which I now try to do 2 or 3 times a week. At my pool they have a chair to put me in and get me out of the pool, which reduces pain levels especially getting out. The great thing about the pool is that you can move about much easier in water, so can try exercises and they often hurt less in water and also it allows me to move about and gently move and revolve wrists and knees etc . Over time I have built up to about 20-25 lengths but only do about 4 at a time. When I am in the deep end I drop down and raise my arms above my head. This lets me stretch in a way that I could not do now on land. So I see swimming as a good idea as you will loosen off painful muscles and get some freedom of movement. You can choose the amount of swimming you do, and also you will naturally get to know other swimmers over the time you go swimming. Then I make it into a treat by going for a coffee afterwards. As I dont sleep well I often am at the pool by about 6.45am and the pool opens at 7am. I might as well go swimming as sit here in pain. I come back feeling physically and mentally a bit better. Then for something totally different do you enjoy playing cards or dominoes? I have found a group and go once a week to a whist drive. It is enjoyable in itself but I have made it a habit, so that if I am in quite a lot of pain I still go , whereas without having that habit I would probably just stay at home. It can help put the pain to the back of your mind and you have the company and using your brain. So even i I dont feel great setting off, I am nearly always pleased that I went. If you have constant pain that you dont recognise where it has come from then I think it would be good to visit your doctor to rule out if there is anything that might be causing problems for you. I found that I was making things worse by thinking what might happen in the future and it is better to just think how to get the present moment improved and let the future take care of itself. Good luck and try whatever seems to be worth looking at to ou, and keep coming on here and everyone will be helpful to you . All the best

Hi Michealegl, like others have said you're still young really, I think 50 is the new 40, or maybe even 60 is? Backs can be an issue for a lot of people, many younger than you, I hear yoga and pilates are particularly helpful, maybe give them a go?
I'm 72 and healthy but not fit, I still work part time and haven't seen a GP in about 10 years. Started having a few problems and now 3 weeks on from a telephone consultation (with a GP I've never met as my previous one retired about 8 years ago) I've had blood tests, an ECG, heart scan and seen a Cardiologist. I've been diagnosed with AF and an irregular heartbeat and on 3 lots of medication - I feel like a drug addict!
It's quite a wake up call, especially as it's possible I may also have heart failure. So I've cut down on the wine, started some gentle exercise with an on line cardio rehab physio's app and will stop taking life and health for granted. I have 3 AC and 5 DGC, 17, 15, 13,11 and 4 months, plus my lovely hubby, sisters etc. I'm a bit taken aback that my travel insurer of many years won't cover me for anything to do with my heart condition so will have to look around as I'm far too young to give up on foreign travel - and besides my DD and family live in Spain! As they say old age isn't for wimps. not that I'm old yet you understand

By reading you comments I've realized even more then before, that someone is young in their 80s and someone is old at their 40s

You guys have such a young soul I'm now inspired to be way more active!

Please share the app name, im searching for something like that

Walking is good but cycling is better for you as you are putting pressure on your leg muscles strenthening them hopefully avoiding the getting up from sitting problem, climbing stairs, even getting in and out of a car. Keep cycling or for bad weather a home cycle or a visit to a gym. All exercise exerting pressure on your frame, especially muscles is good. Sitting for long periods and with a back problem you should seek expert advice, sure you will know this. A physio will be able to give advice, or even a gym instructor. Being involved with grandchildren can be exhausting but it does keep you stimulated mentally and physically. My GC are 12 and 13 now but I still take them places, attend their activities when I can ( they don't live nearby) and have them stay a while during holidays and I can add 20 years to your age!
They may seem hard work but just keep in mind they will grow away from you sooner than you think.

LaCrepescule well done you for making it through a whole year! That is a milestone... every day is a new milestone though as you well know!

You should be proud of yourself. I hope you have many more years of good health, peace and sobriety!

That's a really interesting article Llysfamgu - thanks for posting.
To have an aging process which mirrors the "growth spurts" of youth seems obvious when you think about it and definitely rings bells.

Get fit ready for your 80s if you aren't already!

Yes 57 is the prime of life. I’m 67 and feel very good, physically and mentally. I have an enquiring mind, so am always reading, listening to music, learning and walking in nature. I also have a good number of friends and spending time with them is very enjoyable ( although I’m selective now and avoid negative people.)

Not enough hours in the day for me (I’m retired after a lifetime of hard work) and have never been happier. I’m a recovering alcoholic and got sober a year ago and am now living a life beyond my wildest dreams. Peace of mind and fortunately a body that serves me well, despite the years of pouring poison down my throat. I know that illness and death are never far away but try to live in the day. My brother had aggressive cancer in his early fifties but recovered and gets so much from life. He’s an inspiration.

Get an electric bike for hills.

www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/14/scientists-find-humans-age-dramatically-in-two-bursts-at-44-then-60-aging-not-slow-and-steady?fbclid=IwY2xjawErRVFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVGWMW3pEs5TugUDjbdQS9xy5rjjuB88AbxNcokJQDCxlhUyd4H09bp9Rw_aem_cxyag-8U1l6mo4DhuROWMQ

im 68 have had a bad back for 45 years. in 2014 after suffering 2 years of severe pain, i had enough, in desperation i turned to pilates and chi gong, result, apart from the odd twinge im ok. i exercise ,walk. kettle bells and now eat healthily, im not in bad shape.

Listen to your body, perhaps you are run down and need some time out.

I’m almost 78 don’t feel it and do lots of things to keep fit. Watch what I eat but enjoy a few glasses of wine n even go to belly dancing classes. My mother is 104 and very alert. Keep doing things don’t be sitting around get out as much as you can n meet people have a laugh it keeps you young

I don't think we are competing with each other are we re.fitness. I have chronic back trouble due to medical negligence.

I try to keep active, yoga is good.

mabon1

I'm 83 (woman) just scraped the paint off the eaves of my home (downstairs) and then painted them. I cut the lawn which is 80ft x 25 ft. I dread to think what you will be like if you are complaining at 57.

That will probably be me at that age 😂 I’m 78 and still doing much the same as you.
Keep going 👏👏👏

My DH and I use a personal trainer. We are in our 60s and are fitter than we were in our 50s. We do weight training, cardio and pilates type stretches and balance which maintains our muscle mass, stability and flexibility. It's hard work at the time, but we feel so much better for it. At 57.you have time to prevent a lot of issues.

Good post I think, Madmeg.

I think he's trying to be healthier in future than he feels now.
I assumed he wasn't complaining, mabon1 just looking for a way forward - like many of us.

And some who have had ill health, very physical (or conversely sedentary) lives are not in your fortunate position.

Well, rather than criticising Michael for feeling old I say Good On You for recognising early that things are slowing you down and considering how to ensure that doesn't continue while you are young enough and keen enough to do something about it.

My hubby is now 78 and never taken any notice of his body since he was about 20 and as a result his mobility is only a stone's throw away from being in a wheelchair. His posture is grossly stooped, he cannot bend his joints, has less strength than me (a 5-foot-three weakling), and simply doesn't care. Everything is too much effort/bother. Whilst I am not a lover of exercise, I am a member of a walking group (he stopped going cos he couldn't keep up with the 90-year-old leader), I deliver political leaflets regularly, and use a treadmill at home. I keep my brain exercised too, with daily puzzles of different kinds, quizzes, a cryptic crossword class, the household finances (he has never been interested in our 52 years of marriage), and as a retired accountant am Treasurer of local charities as well as auditor for a couple of others. Indeed, at 72 I've just landed a part-time job marking accounting exam papers. I'm also on the committee of three other local bodies.

I have suffered with scoliosis for 35 years but keep on top of it with floor exercises (getting up and down is a tad difficult now!) and eat healthily.

I have a close friend who has suffered RA for donkeys years and am impressed by her perseverance with keeping as fit as possible.

I might not live a long life cos nobody knows what might come along, but I am doing what I can to make the best of it while hubby does bu%%er all. I resent the likelihood that before long he will be totally immobile and I will be the one having to do everything for him.

So, Michael, good on you for recognising that old age is not something to be approached willy nilly and being prepared to ensure that you enjoy it as best you can.

Depending on what exctly is wrong with your back, walking or swimming is probably the best exercise you can take and you certainly should not start anything else without consulting your GP. or a specialist first.

Yes, I too remember the feeling of slowing down in my late 50s and from then on, I am 72 now ,at regular intervals I have been forced to realise that this or that has become surprisingly more tiring or harder to do.

At 57 you can still follow the advice to walk rather than drive all the time (if that is what you would normally do) as walking regularly for a short time per week , about 20 minutes I believe, is now said to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's later on. You might also want to consider if there are other things in your lifestyle that it would be wise to reconsider.

Nor is it too early to decide what you really want to do when you retire, when it will be possible to retire, etc. and start planning. And, as we never know when we will need them, a valid will and funeral plans discussed with family is advisable too, a provisional power of attorney, which hopefully never will be needed is a wise precaution as well.

Life does sometimes thow googlies, you know.

My daughter used Fit with Frank for a while. After a long period of chronic illness, she struggled even to do the warm up to begin with but stuck with it. Sometimes her RA is too bad to permit exercise at all, but she does what she can when she can. She also likes couch to 5K, because you can just do as much as you are able and repeat sections as often as you like. Who knows you might even get to 5K!
My husband manages long term back problems with pilates. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth going without other things to keep moving. There was a time when he couldn’t walk a mile, but we’ve done several long-distance footpaths now. Slowly, of course - definitely don’t have the speed and stamina we have when we were younger!

At 74 my back is finally playing up. I know I've been very lucky so far. Started Pilates a few months ago and the stretching exercises really help.

I'm 83 (woman) just scraped the paint off the eaves of my home (downstairs) and then painted them. I cut the lawn which is 80ft x 25 ft. I dread to think what you will be like if you are complaining at 57.

Oh my goodness! You are just a youngster! I am 78 and wish I was 57 again.