Save some for later

Beeman · #1 01/02/10, 08:18 AM

I'm not talking about money or food, I'm talking about the condition of your body.

I ran into an older friend during the holidays. He's in rough physical shape from years of physical labor. He was pretty depressed and just kept saying how he never thought at 61 how broke down and unable to do things he would be. I've done my share of damage to my body through the years doing physical labor. Also the I can do anything and lift anything mentality has worn down many of the working parts. After the damage is done it's never the same.

FarmerChick · #2 01/02/10, 08:32 AM

You are so right.

I have farmed (hard, very hard on my 120 acre working farm for income) and yes, I see it happening now. I am almost 50. I said to Tony that we must start to back off some hard work because when I retire, I want to travel and be in good enough shape to do so!!

I am thinking about all that right now. I want to not have back problems, not be torn down, I want to stand up straight and walk everywhere when I travel.

I am currently downgrading the chickens, goats, cattle, hogs, and all the produce etc we do....cutting business back big time in order to be sure that we do not get that bad physical shape that I don't want for retirement.

We are turning our sights on US now. Not the dollar, not anything else. We come first phsycially.....so yea I say, be smart, be wise, be careful. Tony has some back problems and feet problems and all I want to do is try to make those not worse..lol

I hear you loud and clear on this one..LOL

T

geo in mi · #3 01/02/10, 08:37 AM

I saved a lot over the years; now I have to give it back, a pound at a time.

Callieslamb · #4 01/02/10, 08:39 AM

I was so crippled up earlier this year - at 49- that I thought I was finished with outside work. My Dr put me on a routine of B vitamins. all the back and leg pain is gone. Not suggesting it for everyone, just a little head's up. It won't fix true damage, but it sure gave me my life back.

Mike in Ohio · #5 01/02/10, 08:51 AM

Now you tell me......

Alice In TX/MO · #6 01/02/10, 08:53 AM

YES! Look at the former football players, such as Earl Campbell. Crippled and in pain due to a sport.

We do the same things to ourselves lifting hay bales, tackling wild calves, etc etc.

TAKE CARE OF YOU. You are the only one you've got.

ronbre · #7 01/02/10, 08:54 AM

at 58 I say ..amen

Marilyn · #8 01/02/10, 08:57 AM

It sounds like you have found a good doctor, Callie. They are worth their weight in gold.
I think our bodies are designed to work hard - and play hard - and rest hard. We just have to find the balance, as well as nourish it well.

**Terri** · #9 01/02/10, 09:02 AM

Everyone, no matter what they do, has to come to term with the idea that they cannot do at 60 what they did at 20. None of us can.

My own solution was to get a bigger wrench, to buy weed barrier for the vegetable garden, and to drive more and walk less so that I have more energy for the things that COUNT!

Young folk have wonderfull bodies that they do not appreciate, but, I am SMARTER, I dare say! And I get more done than they can, creaky bod or not!

7thswan · #10 01/02/10, 09:14 AM

Well, I've taken excellent care of my body, but Fate stepped in. But you do have to try your best.

rowan57 · #11 01/02/10, 09:43 AM

One of the most important things to do, in order to protect your body, is to learn how to lift properly. At the age of 22, I have had 5 jobs, all of which have involved heavy lifting, and all of which have trained me properly on how to lift. That training is now ingrained in my mind, and reduces the risk of a bad back as I get older significantly.

Lift with your legs - not your back. Keep your back straight, bend your knees. This puts all the pressure into your knees, thighs and calves, which are stronger than your back by a long way.

Im a slim build, but I know for a fact I can push over 100kg with my legs at the gym, so if I'm lifting, I'm going to take advantage of that fact.

Cheers
Rowan

anniew · #12 01/02/10, 10:01 AM

I had back problems in 1975...flat on my back for 3 weeks...after it subsided, doc said to do exercises in bed before getting up in the morning. I've done it ever since except for two times when I got lazy...both times ended me back on my back...so now do it religiously.
Look at a cat or dog...when they wake up they first stretch before doing anything else...to flex the muscles first, before putting weight/stress on them.
5 minutes of exercise in the morning will help keep the muscles in the back in shape so that you can continue to function normally.
But, I also lift properly as another poster said, plus don't lift real heavy stuff...my 50 pound feed bags are opened in the truck and scooped into two buckets (about half the bag, then dumped...then I lift the remaining half bag to dump. I unload about 15 50 pound bags each time I go for feed.
Also, walking will help to keep you strong, takes away stress, and keeps thing "moving."
I still garden (even enough to sell), have about 70 various poultry to tend to, work part time, etc.
I'm 67.

**Terri** · #13 01/02/10, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7thswan

Well, I've taken excellent care of my body, but Fate stepped in. But you do have to try your best.

Yeah, me too. But it would have happened anyways, as I got older.

Beeman · #14 01/02/10, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike in Ohio

Now you tell me......

You know they told you, probably like me you didn't listen. Never thought about it until it was too late. Who would have known you can't regrow cartlidge? Arthur who? I don't know no Arthur Itis, is he from around here?

Next part is be very careful about medications, both prescription and OTC. The nagging pain will get releif from OTC medications. But I have seen this lead to severe bleeding ulcers. Have a friend with terrible back and leg problems. He had to go to rehab to get off of the prescription pain killers.

65284 · #15 01/02/10, 12:31 PM

I agree Beeman. But, it was not always possible to take care of one's self. When I was younger with a young family I did whatever was needed to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads. I mostly worked in construction and if an employer said lift or push or whatever it was that needed doing, I did it, it was either that or go home jobless.

And yes I paid, and am still paying, the price. Too many surgical repairs, 3 to my back alone, and several others. But sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do and hope for the best.

Mike in Ohio · #16 01/02/10, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beeman

You know they told you, probably like me you didn't listen. Never thought about it until it was too late. Who would have known you can't regrow cartlidge? Arthur who? I don't know no Arthur Itis, is he from around here?

Next part is be very careful about medications, both prescription and OTC. The nagging pain will get releif from OTC medications. But I have seen this lead to severe bleeding ulcers. Have a friend with terrible back and leg problems. He had to go to rehab to get off of the prescription pain killers.

Of course I listened. But sometimes fate intervenes. Personally I've always been more of a work smart rather than work hard type person. The concepts of leverage, block and tackle, etc. have been around a lot longer than I have. I haven't come up with an improvement on the wheel so I guess I'll take advantage of those tried and true solutions.

Been around the block more than a few times.

Mike

tab · #17 01/02/10, 02:26 PM

I can chime in and that since my job had been in front of a computer it has done more damage to my back and neck than the heavy stuff, not that the heavy stuff has helped much mind you. In several conversations with my doc and chiro they agree that sittting is reeeaaaalllly bad. Now I am into the stretching excercises, they just feel good even for parts of the bod that aren't hurting. The joint supplement seems to really be helping one of the horses so I keep threatening to bring it in and start putting it in our people food. The doc that put the horse on it told me he takes the dogs meds. Much cheaper to but glucosomine in large quantity.

tinah · #18 01/03/10, 12:21 PM

Seemed an appropriate place to put this, since I am still young, relatively speaking, at 30.
I work at a horse boarding stable 5 days a week, mucking out 14 stalls, refilling water buckets, in charge of turning out and bringing in those same 14 horses. It not super hard work, but it is a steady pace of light lifting and walking for about 6 hours. I seem to do okay during the week, since I eat breakfast and stop about 11 for a snack of either a power bar or some cashews, drink plenty of water. As long as I remember to put on a jacket for the car ride home, I feel pretty good.
My first day off is another story. Muscle cramps, chills, achy joints. I try to get up and move around, lots of stretching, and maybe some advil. It helps some, but not quite enough. If I was a horse, I'd say I was tying up.
Second day off is a little better, but that first day off about kills me. I would volunteer to work 6 days a week, but I have a husband and two small children that would go crazy without mommy being home for at least a bit.
Any advice on ways to not completely burn myself out?

Beeman · #19 01/03/10, 12:29 PM

Sounds odd that you have these symptoms on your day off. I'd like to think at 30 you shouldn't need Advil unless there is something wrong. Achey joints might be the beginning of arthritis but I have no idea about muscle cramps and chills. I could see it if it was your first day or week but it sounds like you've been doing this for a while.

vancom · #20 01/03/10, 12:57 PM

<<Second day off is a little better, but that first day off about kills me. I would volunteer to work 6 days a week, but I have a husband and two small children that would go crazy without mommy being home for at least a bit.>>

stay active each day--walk, bike, stroller-jog. don't sit on the couch and veg as that's when it all sets in. Dance in the kitchen, swing it good! if you can stay active that 6th day and into the 7th, you can face the week ahead. And enjoy it now--it does get worse...I'm 50, with kids and animals and a sit-down job, and it's the toting wood, feeding hay and hiking with dogs that keeps things tolerable-ish.