Old Age, Catching Up to Me?

Summary

An elderly individual reflects on the sudden onset of age-related limitations and an injury that have disrupted their active lifestyle and sense of youthfulness.

Abstract

The author, approaching their 80th birthday, has been proud of maintaining an active lifestyle well into their 70s, including running, walking, biking, and weightlifting. However, a recent incident at the library where they experienced acute hip pain after walking has highlighted a significant and sudden decline in their physical capabilities. This event has led to introspection about the realities of aging, the potential for recovery, and the fear of further decline. Despite previous success in managing gradual aging, the author is now faced with the possibility of having to give up activities that contribute to their physical health and sense of youth.

Opinions

The author views aging as a process that had been gradual and manageable until recently.
They express pride in their past physical fitness and the ability to say "I'm 80".
The author is concerned about the mental implications of their physical decline, particularly the fear of not being able to recover and the potential for further decline.
There is a sense of nostalgia for the activities they once enjoyed, such as riding on the Potomac Trail and lifting heavier weights.
The author places importance on being able to dance on their 80th birthday as a symbol of maintaining youthfulness and vitality.
They offer advice to other seniors to be cautious and take care of themselves to avoid serious injury.

Old Age, Catching Up to Me?

I’ve been happy with my life, but this event is a warning for me.

I’ve been looking forward to my 80th birthday for a couple months now. It sounds so much more impressive to say, “I’m 80”, than just “I’m 79”. But this week, I was given a lesson on how old age can suddenly strike hard instead of approaching gradually.

I’ve handled gradual aging since I turned 70, way back in 2013. I kept my running, walking, and biking routine - we had ridden the Potomac Trail on our bikes just ten years ago. We were in excellent shape.

But then, age began to creep up on me. My doctor insisted that I start taking a blood pressure medication, and then after several failed attempts I started a cholesterol med. But I continued my walking, stretching, and weightlifting with light weights. I was in good shape. I was also losing those extra pounds by eliminating junk from my diet. I didn’t feel old.

But then we moved, to be closer to my stepson, and places for exercise weren’t quite as available. There wasn’t a good place to ride a bike. I stopped exercising for a few months. When I restarted, I wasn’t able to do all that I did in the previous year. I could no longer lift 30-pound weights above my head. I switched to ten-pound weights. I couldn’t run like I did before. But I could walk, as I do now.

Then, COVID hit. We pulled ourselves in and away from activities with other people, including going to the “Y”. When they reopened, late in 2020, they didn’t require masks, and we’re old and vulnerable, so we left. But we still walked, stretched, and lifted light weights, just to keep active. We felt that we were in good shape.

But this week, I had a surprise. I went to the library a few days ago, got my books and then walked the half mile path around the library. I did three vigorous laps. I felt great and did nothing that I hadn’t done before. But after I got home, my hip hurt. I started up the stairs and had to stop. My hip really hurt! Now what? That night I relaxed, and the next day I didn’t try (I couldn’t) to get my ten miles of walking. I felt a bit better, but suddenly I understood that I can no longer be as active as I had been just a few months ago. It’s like falling off a cliff.

This injury is different. Instead of gradual changes, as in the past, this appears to be quick and major. It gives me trouble, even with ordinary activity. So, I’ll visit the doctor and stop doing things that hurt. It’s also more than just the physical injury, it’s the mental anguish about whether I’ll recover or have to stop doing a lot of the things that keep me in shape and make me feel young. Will this lead to more decline? And most importantly, will I be able to dance on my 80th birthday?

If you’re a senior, watch for that big injury. Take care of yourself!