It’s not hard for me to locate where stress lands in my musculature. Most of the time it settles into the right side of my upper back in an area adjacent to the pinched nerve in my neck. I had my neck are X rayed twenty years ago and the pad between two discs bulges, occasionally causing the muscles to knot. The proscribed treatment has been 12 week stretches of physical therapy which usually lessens the pain. No one has ever suggested surgery. I’ve done the p.t. every two years.
Mostly this affects my ability to find a good position for sleeping. Interrupted sleep seems to come with the territory of being 78.
Compared to most people my age, I have no life-threatening ailments and I am grateful for that. I try not to lament the minor ailments (arthritis in my thumbs) that flare up from time to time. This past year two friends died who were close to my age.
I’ve lived past my mother’s age at death and take few medications. Fourteen years ago I quit drinking alcohol which exacerbated my tendency towards depression.
I dislike hearing others complain about their health and try to avoid describing my own. That's something I need to think about more.
Having the pain in the neck is something I try to live with and have been thinking of finding the exercises recommended by the physical therapists.
— Oxnard15
Mostly this affects my ability to find a good position for sleeping. Interrupted sleep seems to come with the territory of being 78.
Compared to most people my age, I have no life-threatening ailments and I am grateful for that. I try not to lament the minor ailments (arthritis in my thumbs) that flare up from time to time. This past year two friends died who were close to my age.
I’ve lived past my mother’s age at death and take few medications. Fourteen years ago I quit drinking alcohol which exacerbated my tendency towards depression.
I dislike hearing others complain about their health and try to avoid describing my own. That's something I need to think about more.
Having the pain in the neck is something I try to live with and have been thinking of finding the exercises recommended by the physical therapists.
— Oxnard15
I can relate. Whenever I gather with folks my age I request that the organ recital be limited to 5 minutes.
ReplyDelete"organ recital" is great, a great phrase with a plays on words for the litany of ailments, the musical instrument, and the male anatomy. Playing with words is so much fun!
Delete"Pain in the neck" is a common phrase, but in your case, it is a physical arena where interesting (if you can call it that) changes take place and recur. I love that you are in good shape overall. I have friends my age (a few years younger than you) and have been shocked to discover that they take up to a dozen medications daily! I can relate to not being able to find a good position for sleeping, but I cannot find a particular cause for my own tossing and turning. This was a very focused and honest piece of writing, revealing just what you wanted to reveal, no more and no less. (Macoff)
ReplyDelete