The Health Concerns of Older Americans
After a hiatus of four years, caused by an inability to think of anything I had to say that would be worth anyone's time to read it, I've decided that yes, there are still a few topics waiting to be explored.
Today I give a little personal revelation and urge my older friends to take care of themselves.
Back in January, I began experiencing a lot of pain in my legs. Especially after being seated for a time, or when first getting up in the morning, it was very difficult. Consequently, I became a kind of couch potato, which in turn meant I was not burning off many calories, which in turn meant I was doing a lot of reading, and watching a lot of television. Who can sit for long periods of time without something to nosh on? Certainly not me, so all that sedentary time caused a weight gain. Ugh! Pants are tighter, belly is rounder, and I feel tired much of the time.
My personal care physician thought at first I might have a bulging disc in my back and put me on a short-time prescription of Prednisone, along with OTC Aleve. There was some pain relief, but the steroid caused moodiness as well as even greater appetite and weight gain. A second visit made him think it might be a fibromyalgia rheumatica, whatever that might be. He recommended anti-inflammatories, which also didn't help much. The third appointment had him sending me for an MRI and a meeting with a spinal specialist. After consultation and review of the MRI pictures he recommended an epidural shot of cortisone into the difficult disc, and physical therapy.
Yesterday I had the shot. It was no big deal, despite the appointment secretary asking me if I wanted to be sedated for it, which threw me into a bit of a tizzy. And now for the good news. This morning I seem to be pain free! Hurrah for modern medicine!
Now, I'm telling you all this, because you might be in a similar situation. And if you're in a situation like that, there's only one thing you can do. (Thank you, Arlo Guthrie, for the quote.) For heaven's sake, see your doctor. You don't have to spend the latter years of life in pain and enforced social isolation. Be well and be happy.
Back in January, I began experiencing a lot of pain in my legs. Especially after being seated for a time, or when first getting up in the morning, it was very difficult. Consequently, I became a kind of couch potato, which in turn meant I was not burning off many calories, which in turn meant I was doing a lot of reading, and watching a lot of television. Who can sit for long periods of time without something to nosh on? Certainly not me, so all that sedentary time caused a weight gain. Ugh! Pants are tighter, belly is rounder, and I feel tired much of the time.
My personal care physician thought at first I might have a bulging disc in my back and put me on a short-time prescription of Prednisone, along with OTC Aleve. There was some pain relief, but the steroid caused moodiness as well as even greater appetite and weight gain. A second visit made him think it might be a fibromyalgia rheumatica, whatever that might be. He recommended anti-inflammatories, which also didn't help much. The third appointment had him sending me for an MRI and a meeting with a spinal specialist. After consultation and review of the MRI pictures he recommended an epidural shot of cortisone into the difficult disc, and physical therapy.
Yesterday I had the shot. It was no big deal, despite the appointment secretary asking me if I wanted to be sedated for it, which threw me into a bit of a tizzy. And now for the good news. This morning I seem to be pain free! Hurrah for modern medicine!
Now, I'm telling you all this, because you might be in a similar situation. And if you're in a situation like that, there's only one thing you can do. (Thank you, Arlo Guthrie, for the quote.) For heaven's sake, see your doctor. You don't have to spend the latter years of life in pain and enforced social isolation. Be well and be happy.
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