Damned if you do, damned if you don't. 2018 Edition

[cherimac]

My healthy, active, fit grandparents died at 68 and 70(cancer, stroke). The stroke, honestly, was my grandad grieving himself to death. My obese, inactive grandparents died at 88 and 92.

I do Pilates and walk because, at 53, I love them and they keep me pain-free. I have no illusions that they will keep me alive forever.

[Lexy]

I've always believed and said you can't judge someone until you're the same age, had the same number of kids, or basically, walked in their shoes. Well, you CAN judge but you might very well be wrong. I think people LIKE to judge because it makes them feel better. "Oh, they did this." "I'd never do that." "I'm not like that." But if you don't know their story or been handed the same genetics, you only know that you've been lucky....so far. There is no one answer for all people. And there are definitely no guarantees.

But here's the thing, I say that I'm healthy and more fit than most 68yos. Yet I have 2 cervical fusions with a titanium plate (15 years ago), a replaced right hip (7 years ago), and in need of a left knee replacement (when it hurts enough I'll get it.) Arthritis is rampant in my family. I am healthy! I just happen to have a few replaced body parts.

I think living well with what you've been handed is the key to growing old with grace, dignity, and humor. Lots of humor.

ETA: I recently read an article that said instead of saying "I have to do this or that," try saying "I can do this." It makes me feel quite lucky when I make that small change in self-talk.

[Vintage VFer]

What I forgot to mention in my first post is that, for those who have tried to maintain health and fitness, the recovery from assorted joint surgeries is often more rapid and long lasting.

Still, there are no guarantees in this life.

[superfit41]

This is a timely thread. I am 55, and have recently been diagnosed with moderate arthritis in my left hip, mild arthritis in my lower spine. I am pretty sure I have it in my right knee as well. I don't know if joint replacements are in my future or not...I have had a regular exercise routine for over 20 years. There are some family members who are sure that I have caused this by wearing my joints out Maybe so, but I would rather be active than not. My weight is good, and I have no other real health issues, so I am thankful. It could always be worse

Sherry

[Eibhinn]

I have a congenital defect to my ankle ligaments that causes instability. It's limiting and painful, but it's all I've ever known. You just do what you can with what you have, and make the best choices you can without kidding yourself into thinking you're ever in complete control.

[kat999]

This is a fascinating and scary thread. I'm in my early 40s and the only significant injury I've ever had was breaking some teeth out as a kid. I jog sometimes upwards of 20 miles a week, and while I've had some dumb minor injuries (like sprained ankles and wrists from super minor stuff), I have never broken a bone (knock on wood). But a pal of mine who's only a few years older and just as active recently broke her hip in a very silly way and was temporarily wheelchair-bound. My very active mother has had random falls that have resulted in instability problems and permanent scars. One of her best friends broke a hip. A broken hip completely sidelined my grandmother-in-law and led to a whole-health decline. A former colleague who ran marathons had to get a double knee replacement, but then learned he had cancer and died in his early 50s.

My fitness efforts leave me feeling fulfilled and energized, but I will admit that I wake up more mornings than not with DOMS, mild PF pain, and a sore neck, and while the creakiness subsides as I get on with my day and do my workout, I am not too stoked if this is just sort of to be expected now. *sigh* On the other hand, when I've had more sedentary periods of my life and been completely out of shape and at a higher weight, I had pain in my joints, including a frozen feeling in one leg almost all the time and a thoroughly messed up rotator cuff from sleeping on my side and being heavier. I guess I'd rather fall apart fit!

[LynnO]

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[Lori_Michigan]

I now have a pinched nerve in my shoulder from doing too much plank/bodyweight work over the past year to deal with my perimenopot. Now back to square one, but I can't do anything with shoulder work or even mow the lawn without pain...

[yogapam]

Originally Posted by cherimac

I do Pilates and walk because, at 53, I love them and they keep me pain-free. I have no illusions that they will keep me alive forever.

This!

I am closing in on 61. I do Essentrics, barre, gentle yoga, & walking for the same reasons. And also because I love running around & playing with my granddaughters. I want to maintain that ability.

[Nuggie's Auntie]

Certainly this idea of exercise as a panacea for everything is not true, or helpful. I do wonder, however, about single joint replacement. When someone says, 'I had my hip replaced because of normal wear and tear' I scratch my head. If it's just 'normal wear and tear,' then what about the other hip? Surely if it's just a normal facet of aging, the other one should wear out at the same time! So clearly there are some movement/mechanic issues at play if we're having problems with just one joint.

I have issues on the right side of my body. I have a bunion on my right foot, my right hip gives me grief if I'm not careful, and I have a wonky right shoulder--a hangover from my rotator cuff tear of a few years ago. I worked with a muscle activation specialist and have had to be really diligent about MELT rolling, proper warm ups, learning when to stop, rest, etc.

So I don't think, with these joint issues anyway, that it's necessarily a function of overuse or under use, but clearly something is going on if it's only affecting one side. Muscle imbalances, insufficient rest, soft tissue stuff.... I think we need to dig a little deeper and figure out what is at the root of these injuries.