Not as young as I used to be!

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littlebookworm

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My bad back had been feeling pretty good after the last set of epidural steroid injections, so I thought nothing of starting to get the boat ready for the season. I spent a few hours the other day putting in batteries and making connections. The bruises on my chest are 'normal' from lying on the engines for a while working down below. The sharp pain in my lower back, however, is my body's way of telling me that I'm not as young as I used to be. Luckily (???), I have no time to work on the boat until next Tuesday. That will give things time to calm down again. The marina's crew are very busy so I have to wait a few weeks until they can get to check out everything on the boat. It wasn't used last season because of my health problems, so it's been sitting for over a year and a half. I have to balance what I can do with what I have to wait and pay someone to do. With the weather warming, that's not easy. Hy
 
At my age .....I've come to realize that there are things that I WANT to do.........then...... there are things I CAN do. The CAN DO list gets smaller every year.........sad but true.
 
I'm slowing down a bit too. Had some surgery a few months ago, spent January, February, and most of March unable to lift things or move around a whole lot. Getting back in to the swing of things pretty well, better than expected, but some days and tasks are a struggle.
My son just turned 14 last week and is gaining strength faster than I'm losing it so I've been getting him to do lots of stuff with me this year. He is strictly a laborer though because he doesn't know what he is doing with most things yet. Hopefully he'll learn and I can sit back on my lazy butt and give orders.
 
I remember the days when our sons were growing and I could ask them to do things. Usually they complained, but helped. Nowadays, they're busy with their own lives and their families. One lives in Manahattan, one in Fishkill, and one in Philadelphia. Our daughter's up in New Rochelle. When something really important happens and help is needed, they're here to help. When it comes to the boat, I'm on my own. Such is life. The boat will be launched when it's ready; I'll do what I can and pay for help with the rest. Then the Admiral and I plan on enjoying it, even if it's just to have a romantic dinner anchored on the bay. What could be bad about that! Hy
 
I have been dealing with lower back pain since my middle thirties. The one thing I have learned is, stretching is very important and the older I get the more important it gets. I used to only stretch before skiing and running. Now I try to stretch before any physical activity, including working on the boat. It helps a great deal in reducing the pain, but it also protects me from additional back injury.
 
Most of my siblings (6) and I inherited bad backs from dad. I further aggravated it in 1993 when I was T-boned leaving my school to get some lunch. I try not to let it stop me or limit me too much. I find that on a bad day, I can't even walk one block without severe pain leaving me bent forward like an old man. On a good day, I can do an hour or two of physical work. I used to be able to do construction, and even added a room on our home basically by myself. I used to do engine swaps and lift transmissions. That probably added to my present problems. But you know, being on the water makes me sort of forget all the problems. Drifting along or anchored, trying to catch some fish, is very soothing and relaxing. I guess that's what it's all about, this boating thing. Hy
 
Its something I see here all the time with the Christmas Boat Parade.

Every year we lose one or more boats because:

I'm loosing my night vision

Sold the boat

Had a stroke

Downsized to a smaller boat

wife died

Husband died

can't do it anymore, just not up to the task.

I just turned 57.

I've had my share of bangs, bruises slips, falls and other "boat bites"

I am far more careful now than 10 years ago

but still,

I ponder what it will be like as the physical ability ultimately declines.

RWS
 
RWS: Enjoy each day the best you can. I'll be 70 next November, but in my mind I'm still 40. In many ways that's great; but, boy, does it cause me aches and pains and sleepless nights. My pain management doctor tells me to balance the physical activity with what my body tells me. The problem is it and I don't speak the same language! I'm going to limit myself to 2 hours of work on the boat, with rest periods, maximum on any given day. At that rate, launching in 2 weeks is possible.

No, not really. Our daughter-in-law is due in 5 days, so that could happen at any time, which is great. We've been there (in the hospitals, not the delivery rooms) for the labor and births of all seven of our grandchildren. We won't miss this one. Then, unfortunately, my wife has to have some surgery on the 9th. She'll be in the hospital for two days and at home for a week or so. She comes first, way before the boat. She's been there for me through each of my surgeries and my cancer treatment. She's a doll. I can't do any less for her. Meanwhile, this weekend has been gorgeous and we got to spend some time outdoors, which is also great. Stay safe, my friends. Hy
 
This is one of the reasons why I am glad I stuck with the small boat. Less work, easier to handle by yourself, easier to trailer etc. I think when I hit my next milestone I am going to upgrade to late model boat same size with outboard power. Less work, easier to winterize, more fun for me.
 
You people are scaring me. I am 65 and still able to do most anything although slower. I am lucky although I do work hard at keep in shape. Weights three times a week and running/bicycling on the non weight work out days.

For those with back pain, it is remarkable what the doctors can do now days. If you haven't checked recently it may be worth while. About a year ago my wife had a discectomy to repair a ruptured disk that was pushing on the sciatic nerve. She couldn't stand or sit comfortably. A One inch incision and a few months recovery with PT and she was back to normal. It was out patient surgery.
 
Padraig: I appreciate your concern and am glad for you that you can do all you do. I wish i could. As to treatment, I've had chiropractic, repeated physical therapy, inverted stretch relaxation, a "MILD -Minimally Invasive Lumbar Discectamy", 17 or 18 sets of epidural lumbar nerve block and/or steroid injections, back brace, and mild pain relief meds. I refuse to go the opiate route, Vicadin or Oxy of one sort or another.

I have developed a fairly high tolerance for pain; my static level would usually be labeled a '5' on the scale of 1-10. I have developed a 'strong backbone', (which is ironic since I have a weak back!)and refuse to allow my physical handicap to stop me from life. I do have a Handicapped Parking pendant and do use it on bad days. However, I do mow the lawn, with a variable speed self-drive mower. My pain management doctor believes that's good exercise since I'm not really pushing it, can lean on it as I walk, and can slow or stop it at will. Life is too short to miss out on things because of physical limitations. Whenever possible, accomadations should be made.

Last August we went on a cruise to Alaska, One of the side excursions was a multi-station zip line over some Alaskan forest. At the insistance of my wife and daughter, and the fine print in the description, I give give up on that idea! However, we had a great time on the cruise and the excursions we did take. Highly recommened vacation. Stay well, my friends. Hy

PS. Just remembered. I also have had accupuncture and accupuncture with electrical stimulation. Both worked for a little while and then things returned to my 'normal.'
 
Hy, believe me, I am counting my blessings.

I admire that you don't let it get to you and you keep doing the things you love.

Stay well my friend,

Padraig
 
While I'm still in my 40's, starting to feel it too. I finally figured out about 6 years ago that taking 1/24th of everyday, minimum, and exercising/working out does wonders. I find that I can eat/do anything anytime. Yeah, I ache a little more from time to time but I see guys my age turning that corner to letting things go to pot.....gotta just keep moving until you "can't" I suppose....
 
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