Yes, I turned 30 a few weeks ago, and while some (if not most) of you are older than I am, I am now paying for my youthful sins.
Since that day my back has “gone out” twice, requiring copious amounts of drugs to counter the pain. I’m talking really serious pain, as in can’t-stand-up-straight-fall-to-my-knees-God-this-really-sucks pain. A few years ago I might not even have noticed, now it’s outright debilitating.
Come Monday I’m making an appointment with the doctor. With my luck it’ll be a slipped disc or something crazy like that. Dammit, this would never have happened when I was a kid. And to top it off, Aaron thinks it’s a lot of fun to jump on me, so I was enduring dive bombs all afternoon. The little punk kid doesn’t understand that it hurts like a bitch.
God, it sucks. And I have years and years of this to look forward to? No friggin’ thanks. Get me off this train and pass the morphine, if you please.
Hah. Get used to it sonny. You’re on the downhill slide now. Geez, thirty?? Have you arranged your Funeral Plan yet?? I’d type more but my eyes are gibing me griwf…
I’m 35, and am developing arthritis in my left ankle and right knee. I can’t pop out of my chair at work like I used to–it takes a good 5-10 seconds for all the creaking and joint twinges to stop so I can stand up straight. Getting into a catcher squat so I can look my kid in the eye sounds like someone is making popcorn. Chronic ower back pain is something I’ve gotten used to.
Yeah, welcome to this year for me. Well, at least the last week. Earlier in the year, it was just occasional stiffness and pain. Like it wouldn’t let me stand up. Then came the spasms last weekend that sent me to the hospital. After that, add on the fact that I couldn’t stand straight for a week. My legs would be straight, but my upper body either leaned hard to the left or the right, depending on the time of day.
Just a strained back. Nothing else. That was enough to knock me out for a week. I’m 33. Sigh.
If it’s any consolation, I hurt my back pretty bad when I was in my early 30s - maybe 32. I took it easy and it got better eventually. Then last year, at 51, I started getting spasms that quite literally buckled my knees, but it got better. Right now, my lower back is a bit achy. So I’ll take it easy. It should get better.
In other words, um, hell, there are no other words. You ain’t a kid anymore, scooter - and soon your child will be a teenager with a driver’s license.
I had a back that was that bad when I was about 25, as well as a knee that occasionally buckled. When I started weightlifting my back pains entirely disapeared, and my knee pains pretty much did so too.
Of course, when I walk down some stairs, it is pouring milk into a bowl of rice crispies next to a microphone, and I am only 28.
Step aside while us younger fellas take care of things. You know what they say: “War is a younger man’s enterprise to entertain. . .” [sub]said by a CMSgt, no less. Wise words, from a wise man.[/sub]
I had an MRI and spoke with a neuro doc recently. We discussed options, and I told him I wasn’t interested in any spinal surgery until I was reduced to crawling. His response: “Good plan.”
Airman, I wish you well. At least my back didn’t start really aching until I was past forty.
At 42, I know I’m supposed to out creek, cripple and hobble you.
But I keep wishing I could meet myself at the age of 21 and challenge myself to some physical challenges. I may not be able to outsprint my younger self but I for damn sure can out endurance and outpace my whipper snaper self on a long distance ride or run.
Get if fixed and then get in the gym. It doesn’t have to be “downhill from 30”. I was layed up with a back injury (and 60+ lbs) in my early 30’s as well. Unless it’s chronic and persistant, it’s just a temporary set back. Consider it your body’s early warning system.
By all means, see a doctor, but I would also highly reccomend you see a physical therapist, too. In my experience, most GPs are kinda clueless about back problems, and if muscle relaxers can’t fix it, they don’t have much else to offer.
Knowing this, when my beloved Bluesman had a bout with back pain last year, I insisted his primary care doc put in a PT consult for him, and within two sessions, he was completely pain-free.
I’ll be 44 in a couple of months and the only problem I’ve noticed so far is a little stiffness getting out of the car after driving for three or four hours.
As someone once said, “It’s not the age, it’s the miles.” Is it time for your 100,000 mile cerebro-spinal fluid change, Airman?
