Is this just getting older?

Absolutely not gloating BUT I’m 75 and have only occasional aches and pains - not enough to need pain relief. I’m feeling pretty chipper with myself now. I’m a carer for my husband
so rarely sit down before the News at 6pm. Maybe that’s why? Alternatively it’s my genes !

Pollyj
You have to start laughing at the memory mishaps.
We all had a fit of the giggles yesterday in the shop where I volunteer.
One of the young girls is having a colonoscopy. She wanted to know what happens.
I told her they put a bum up your camera
Just laugh at them.

Unfortunately our bodies start to wear out and more things ache and creak, and get more difficult to start. I think the secret is to get your mind to accept it whilst still doing all you can to keep as fit and healthy as possible.

I’m impressed you can get up off the floor tbh! I can’t and I’m 62. Everyone get aches I wouldn’t worry about that and also when you are thinking about more than one thing at once is quite normal to do silly things like putting your knife in the fridge instead of the draw. I also have lost count of how often I find half a cup of coffee in the microwave

My husband has been referred to a consultant by a specialist memory nurse. She recommended that at this stage in the diagnosis he should apply for Lasting Power of Attorney for health. (We both already have one for finance) DH doesn’t seem keen and I don’t want to push him into it. Doe anyone have experience of LPAs being useful, or not useful. TIA

After I had cancer and chemotherapy I started to get pains all over my body and was left with pain in both feet making it difficult to walk around.
I have seen doctors had examinations and scans and they just shrug their shoulders, I am left to struggle.

It will be getting down to older but if you suspect arthritis at all I can recommend turmeric and black pepper tablets widely available online . If I hadn't taken it myself I wouldn't believe just one tiny tablet a day could make such a difference!

They never tell you the side affects of cancer medication be it chemo or otherwise but there are side affects. I take magnesium.

I too find aches and pains, stiffness etc. part of growing older. I am 73 now. However, I have found a easy and cheap remedy for some of the stiffness in the morning. Drinking more water!

Two or three large glasses of cold water, by large I mean I use a glass with a capacity of just under 5dl in addition to the other fluids I drink in the course of the day, makes a very great difference and may actually also improve short-term memory!

I find it most convenient to drink the extra water fairly early in the day, unless I intend to go shopping or out anywhere else in the forenoon, On the days, I do go out to places were I know it will be difficult to find a toilet, or one that is clean enough for me to want to use it, I take my glasses of water in the early afternoon.

Don't postpone them until late evening! You will be trotting all night if you do, unless an even more unfortunate result occurs!

As you can still sit on the floor, as can I, may I suggest a little PT? Nothing too strenuous, but stretching and flexing exercises do help too.

Are you on statins?

I find I get stiff after sitting in a hard chair or sleeping on a hard mattress.
Could you have the same problem?
Buying a softer settee and a new mattress has made a big difference.

Gille

My husband has been referred to a consultant by a specialist memory nurse. She recommended that at this stage in the diagnosis he should apply for Lasting Power of Attorney for health. (We both already have one for finance) DH doesn’t seem keen and I don’t want to push him into it. Doe anyone have experience of LPAs being useful, or not useful. TIA

It is not just useful It is essential. without it you could run into dificulties if there are decisions to be made that he is not capable of. With a Lasting Power of Attorney there is no question that you can decide for him. The point to know is that someone cannot appoint anyone to have LPA over their affairs (financial or medical) if they have dementia - so yourhusband should get it done NOW in case his memory problems turn into dementia. The PLA is registered straight away, but is only officially activated when and if it is needed, so he doesn't need to worry about you taking decisions against his will while he is still capable of making them for himself. (That is what puts people off doing it until it is too late for it to be accepted)

Although I’m 76 I can’t really relate to aches and pains. I do lots of walking, hills sometimes.
Just occasionally I do feel very tired but most days I have plenty of energy.
Maybe I’m just lucky!

Well said, missdeke!

mum2three

I find I get stiff after sitting in a hard chair or sleeping on a hard mattress.
Could you have the same problem?
Buying a softer settee and a new mattress has made a big difference.

Yes, I find my aches increase when I sit on chairs I'm not used to, same for beds and pillows.

Having a good mattress is also essential to counteract the aches and pains.

Also check your shoes are supportive too- bad shoes have serious impacts in later life.

I recommend some yoga or pilates classes. I have done them all my life and at 68 can still get up from the floor without using my hands, and am very flexible. I started doing weight and cardio training to maintain muscle mass a couple of years ago too for strength and balance. I think if you don't use it you lose it.
I can't say I don't have aches and pains, but no arthritis or joint trouble. I think my pains are probably due to my gym work.
My priorities, having cared for 5 90 year old parents, are you maintain balance, flexibility, bone strength and muscle mass.

Polly
Don’t know much about cancer but I gather it affects people differently. BUT. I imagine you might have been less active than you previously were as you said you had been fit and flexible. My point is that I had serious health issues 3/4 years ago , vasculitis dissected aorta ( open heart surgery ) and two replacement hips. Was out of action for about two years
I was on high dose prednisolone which knackered my muscles also were knackered
I think some cancer treatment includes steroid treatment and although off steroids for three years now it is only recently (6 months ) that I have not woken up in the night in an agitated state. At first it was every night then it lessened to occasionally. Likewise when thinking about what to say did I realise I had not felt tearful for a good while
Treatments whether steroids or not can take a long time to recover from and unfortunately the medics don’t tend to tell you. When I brought this up with my GP he just nodded in agreement. I know I thought I was the odd one
Now about aches and pains. It is possible to improve your fitness Here in Wales the leisure centre run rehab schemes. Your GP and others can refer you
And me I lost balance and muscle strength. Last year I got quite upset cos I couldn’t do things I wanted to in my garden. This year I can do considerable more and only get the odd ache. My balance has improved considerably no youngster will be 76 in a few weeks.
Don’t give up you can improve muscle strength at any age Have you discussed things with a physio. I know we are all getting older and all that entails but we want to be the best we can
Take care

RillaofIngleside

Totally agree wish I could still get up without using my hands for assistance.

There is nothing "just" about getting older. It is crap.

Clever Luckygirl and so true

You could try health food shop supplements for aches and pains. I have had 2 osteopathy sessions since December and they have made an enormous difference, could try that too?

Yes lots of great tips in case you read this. I appreciate what you're saying. I'm going to try the two paracetamol but I must say I also get on well with CBD as it relaxes but not in a bad way! But I think it's true that something in it that if you have anx inside it's the way your body reacts to the tension give it a go. I open the capsule and put it in food. I think this is nature's way for pain relief.

I'm in recovery from the big C too. I found before and afyer diagnosis my bones hurt, joints hurt, I was dehydrated , had low blood pressure before and after, and had to have 2 blood infusions before surgery, as I was so depleted. My bed frame is metal. I have a good mattress but couldn't bear to sleep with the frame after surgery. I was like the princess and the pea and felt everything through my mattress. I also found my memory suffered and I became even more anxious before I found put I had cancer. It doesn't only affect the part of the body that is cancerous, it affects your mind and other parts too, as well as complete exhaustion. Good luck with your recovery. Xx

Pre pandemic we had a friend staying with us and we both had to laugh at the way we now went ‘ooh’ every time we got up. I’ve often said that, if the twenty year old me was suddenly put into my 73 year old body I’d go ‘ how can anyone live like this…’

A few have mentioned vitamin levels, low vitamin d can make y feel sad . B12 deficiency can affect memory. Anemia can make u very tired . If your illness has affected your diet u may need some guidance on how to get the levels up again. Ur emotional health will have been battered about because you have been battling hard . You are allowed to feel what u feel .