Fritzy 22's Journal, 12 May 22

I have pain in that same area, and it’s usually worse after I walk for several days in a row. It’s particularly frustrating because yes, the pain in made worse by being overweight, but to lose weight, you try to walk, and then you have more pain. No wonder you’re grouchy.  

Always a good idea to vent on grouchy days. 

I feel for you! Always a good thing to get it all out..hope tomorrow is a better day for you! 💜💜💜 

I'm hoping for a better tomorrow for you, but hey you got a 20 min walk so today's good too! 

Cheer up!!! It's all part of aging and partly due to the weather too. My husband and I are in the same boat as you are. I too feed BlueJay(s) & SquirLEE(s) peanuts. Lately, though, w/our 7 cats, I have to wait until they are all somewhere else b4 I set out the peanuts on the fence for the critters. Otherwise, the cats scare them off! BlueJay used to take the peanut(s) from my fingers. I haven't tried it anymore bc the cats, that were kittens, have all turned 1 year old last month and Mr. Bunny just turned 1 year yesterday. I love all of the animals that come around:racoons, skunks, possums... 

Pain sucks, pure and simple. Can’t hit it, can’t walk or drive away from it, can’t throw it down on the floor, cussing it doesn’t help. I hope you feel better soon! 

But you can go to the doc and get evaluated as to cause. For many older adults some of the aches and pains you describe Fritzy are related to lack of use, lack of stretching and/or doing targeted exercise to promote flexibility. Go see the doc and then ask for a physical therapy evaluation if you are otherwise structurally sound.  

Thanks Broccoli! I really need to be able to go on walks - it's the best exercise (and usually the only) I get. I could live with the pain except the pain that happens when I try to put my socks on. I need to figure out how to get that to stop. I am going to buy a new pair of walking shoes with good support and hope that helps. The walking shoes I have now are at least 5 years old. Thanks SF16 and Harmony! Thanks Diana and Brianna - I'm not grouch today but didn't get out for a walk for a mixed bag. Thanks Slow Meta - 7 cats is alot! I have 3 and keep them inside. There is a young cat hanging around my yard and I've found feathers from 2 birds that either were killed by the cat or by a hawk that is always flying around. I often get a skunk on my deck or porch looking for bird food at night. Once in awhile there are racoons, but not often. I have lots of wild turkeys. One hen was on my deck a week or so ago with 2 babies. Now there is just one baby, that also upsets me. Last year there were 2 hens, each with 16 babies and all the babies survived. But so far only one baby turkey. I went out back today to put out some sunflower seeds for the birds and squirrels and a deer came out from under my deck. They like to sleep under there in the summer. Thanks Tom. It doesn't hurt if I don't move! But that may be part of the problem. THanks Kenna - I did go to my doctor last Friday and had xrays taken of my hip and pelvis. The xrays came back showing no abnormalties other than arthritis. The doctor told me he thought I had arthritis and bursitis and showed me some stretches he did when he had a similar problem. He also referred me to physical therapy again. I just finished in March when I had sciatic nerve and back pain. Now it's the hip and upper thigh area. I think you are right that I need to do more stretching and exercise. My doctor told me my muscles are all really tight in the areas around my thigh and hips. He knew exactly where to poke and it hurt everywhere.  

Yes definitely sounds like “lack of use” issues. It becomes a vicious circle. Things hurt so people don’t MOVE, which in turn makes things and places hurt. I’m glad you went to the doc and now know that structurally you are good to go. I wish you had access to a warm water pool and jacuzzi. What a difference that would make for you. 

I have the same issue: pain that wakes me up in the feet and hip and sometimes back too. My fear is that losing weight won't stop this pain so I think I have an underlying self sabotage that says forget about losing weight because it won't help. I don't know if losing weight will help but I do know that I will feel better overall when I do so I press on. I hope you feel better soon! 

Thanks Kenna - I go back to the doctor in a month. I think he wants to see if physical therapy helps. I know xrays wouldn't show if I hurt a muscle (strained, sprained, pulled?) but I am beginning to think the pain in my left upper thigh muscle may be caused by an injury, not a tight muscle. Hopefully I'll start physical therapy next week.  

Abba - the weight may not be a big issue for you. But I weigh too much for being only 5'4" so it's hard on my bones and everything else. My doctor has told me losing weight will help with pinched nerves and also the inflammation I suffer from. It is funny how pain seems so much worse in the middle of the night. I take prescription Ibuprofen for the pain. I try not to take it during the day when I don't notice the pain as much. But sometimes I have to take it to be able to get back to sleep. My feet don't hurt at night, but sometimes my knees do. 

Don’t you wish there was a way to make younger people see and feel the road ahead of them personally and come to understand just how awful it is for many people. No way to live your GOLDEN YEARS.  

Kenna - yes, I've thought that exactly. Before I retired I used to hike all the time. I had a group of 3 or 4 people that would hike with me most weekends. I also joined a Meetup group for hiking and am actually still an organizer for them although I haven't hiked with them for 4 or 5 years. I knew I would have trouble with my diet once I retired because I ate poorly on weekends and vacation weeks. But I ate very healthy during the week and kept weight off with the hiking. As soon as I retired I gained 30 pounds and the weight kept creeping up. I thought I would spend retirement hiking all the time. Now I can barely walk a mile in my neighborhood. But being able to hike again is motivating when I get together with the friends I used to hike with. 

Oh Fritzy— I want you to be able to get back to that life too. You KNOW then of the magic it can bring into your life.  

Thanks Kenna.