This article is a continuation of last week’s thoughts on physical frustrations and maintenance challenges as we age.
Inflammation/Wear and Tear- If you do some research, you will find that many ailments and diseases are accompanied by inflammation which is a wake-up call for practicing better health related behaviors. What I have often heard called Vitamin I…Ibuprofen, has become my best friend for managing pain caused by inflammation and is best taken before not after partaking in any kind of physical activity. Of course, overuse use of anti-inflammatories causes stomach problems so be careful. There are all kinds of supplements that supposedly help reduce inflammation but I find research in this area just takes me down a circuitous rabbit hole and leads to further overfilling my health product bin.
A few years ago, I had to start using my fists instead of my palms to get in and out of bed due to arthritis in my thumbs. This condition is also a handicap in my numerous hobbies requiring use of my hands. As such, it forces me into pacing which is probably not a bad thing. All I know is that a week without Ibuprofen is a good week but it probably means I have been sitting around too much. I also think I have some arthritis in my hips which hurt during my hikes/walks but hip replacement seems to be working wonders for folks these days. I haven’t had any knee problems yet, but did notice some pain the other day getting on and off my gardening pad. Did you know there is a blood test that measures inflammation in the body (CRP-C-reactive protein) that provides medical providers a heads up in screening for more serious diseases conditions?
Immune System-We all know our immune systems don’t work as well as we age which has been reinforced during the covid-19 pandemic. During my earlier adult life I got sick once a year, usually in December, and don’t remember more than a week of misery. Over the past five years, I think I have gotten sick more often than I did in my entire prior adult life and each time it now lasts for at least a month. I am eating and sleeping better than ever and have little stress but, I will blame some of this on increased exposure when we travel. I am also no longer constantly exposed to bugs as I was while working the healthcare industry which probably protected me. I have tried all manner of preventive measures (pills and potions) and haven’t found a magic bullet yet but, I do think regular exercise helps keep my immune system robust. My recent experiences along with what we have learned during the current pandemic have helped me decide that wearing a mask when flying and going out in public, especially during cold and flu season, will be my new normal. I now better understand why seniors try to stay clear of the sick and have found it helps to “stay home,” imagine that!
Movement & Balance-I read a quote that said: If you want to know how old you are, get down on the floor and try to get up again.” I had my first brush with this challenge about 10 years ago when I fell down on my cross country ski’s and had a heck of a time getting back up. I sure don’t remember having that problem in my younger years. During construction of my lake house, I fell down at the site three separate times and even had to have my knee x-rayed. I used to be able to bend down on my hunches and maintain that position for a while; doesn’t work at all now. Paul and I routinely trip over my lovely hand woven rugs lying all over the house. He says “they gotta go” and I say “over my dead body,” which could happen at the rate I am going. Last week, I literally fell out my front door and hobbled around on a sprained ankle for days. I think this is also tied to diminishing eye sight which is a whole different topic. This weekend, I was going to get down on my knees and spread new mulch in my perennial flower beds but swapped that method out for using my foot while standing. It’s all pathetic but a nod to slowing down, being more careful and doing stretching and bending exercises for life. I also now understand why the words “trip and fall hazards” are used when discussing geriatric care.