Builds My '78 FJ40 "44" (1 Viewer)

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Pity our bodies aren't so easily repaired as our cruisers Danny..

Fingers crossed that both of them are truly on the mend for you now..

Kia kaha from Aotearoa...
 
SuperBuickGuy said:
sounds like you have traveling pain - if there's ever a good excuse to get a massage, there it is....
Click to expand...

Been there, done that... I've found some great fingers... The best are on the hands of my sports med Doctor... He's an OD, so he is not adverse to manipulating my crooked pelvis and lengthening my short left leg... Quasimodo, methinks... :rolleyes:

Age is accompanied by every pain you've ever earned... And I've earned a lot... But, mine has never been debilitating until the past 6 months. I've had it for most of that time... I had two weeks pain free, until I sat on the garage floor last weekend. Now I can walk about 30-50' and then need to squat until it subsides. I can't stand in place for more than about a minute.

We have a split-King sleep number bed and I can raise and lower my head and feet, independent of Dianna's side. My sleep number is 100 right now (as firm as it gets) ... I sleep, only on my back, with my body shaped like a lazy 'S'... And can't sleep for more than a couple of hours... Then I sleep a bit more in my recliner.

The good news, in the short term, I can already tell the injections are working... I hope they, coupled with my next two appointments, resolve this, so that Dianna will not worry about me taking some trips in 44... I just have to modify my methods for coping with the restricted storage space, in 44, while ensuring I can sleep in there with my dogs, when I need to... This is when being 2'6" comes in handy ;)
 
let me convince you. I used to do giant slalom when I was in my teens, I raced dirt bikes in the summer, and for exercise I was a CAT 2 amateur road bike racer. I fished in Alaska for money for college and did construction work for nearly 20 years. Right now I sound like my grandpa did in his 80s when I walk (I'm under 50).... then there was the cancer and alcohol abuse stuff.... as I said, I've got some earn benefits coming. Ah well, at least my story doesn't start with "when I was a CPA...."
 
SuperBuickGuy said:
let me convince you. I used to do giant slalom when I was in my teens, I raced dirt bikes in the summer, and for exercise I was a CAT 2 amateur road bike racer. I fished in Alaska for money for college and did construction work for nearly 20 years. Right now I sound like my grandpa did in his 80s when I walk (I'm under 50).... then there was the cancer and alcohol abuse stuff.... as I said, I've got some earn benefits coming. Ah well, at least my story doesn't start with "when I was a CPA...."
Click to expand...

We have a lot in common... We both had a grandpa, both had cancer and a relationship with alcohol abuse... But, I left that to my Father.

As I said, age is accompanied by every pain you've earned... Enjoy everything you can, while you can.

But, be ready...

A holier-than-thou orthopedist once told me "you shouldn't lift anything heavier than 30lbs". I asked how I was supposed to do that. He said, "You should be smart enough to find someone to do it for you". I told him all my neighbors are older than me and in much worse shape, give me your number and I'll call you every time I need help. I moved on to the next specialist.

I know to be careful what I do and how I do it... But, it never occurred to me that sitting cross-legged on the garage floor, for about 20 minutes would cause the sort of pain I've had this past week.

I won't do it again...
 
Bambi Girl said:
Hi Danny
Some photos of the proud moment she comes home.
Cheers Peter


...via IH8MUD app
Click to expand...

Will do, Old Mate!

She's like a fair little Aussie battler, but she's been sitting outdoors for 3.5 months and even her thongs are dirty!

I need to give her a fair go, by getting her bathed first and I'm not sure I can do that Monday.

Cheers Mate!
 
I can share that misery - been hit by cars at work quite a few times (think-clipped , hard) , but the hit from a 7/8" chain across both legs in Oct./'06 did the most damage - got thrown end over end 20' feet and landed (I think) on my head . Hard hat helped , but both knees took the brunt of the impact across the major front tendon - they both have permanent dents in them . This bent the joints backwards about 30* and damaged most of the miniscus on the inside of both knees . It was cut out , knee caps had to be ground/polished and generally clean out all the garbage from the injury and wear over time . Was off work for nearly 4yrs and Work Comp generously destroyed my credit rating . Had a cancer screening scan done last year to set a baseline for several "spots" that are growing in various organs - they managed to find 4 and most of L1-4 are severely worn at an angle with L2/3 nearly missing the disks completely . Well , that explains some of the gnarly grinding and cracking when I move....lol . Been to so many orthopedists I can't remember them all - only 1 has done two of the 4 knee scopes that actually helped . Still working (Union Laborer) and doing what little I can (highway traffic control target) . The worst part of all is the arthritis accelerating - this last year it has gotten a lot worse . Takes a good 2hrs in the morning before I can move around and navigate stairs , so I get up pretty early when I'm working just to get there on time . No such thing as "light duty" in my profession and I'm kind of stuck with retirement age being moved up to 58 - over 7yrs to go and not getting credits now since I have to be quite "choosy" on what work I take from the Hall .

I did figure out one thing - wife and I decided at the rate I'm falling apart we're going fishing , dammit .I've fished more this year than in the last dozen years combined - gotta enjoy life while you can , by the time you think you'll be retired and can have fun far too many of us never make it that far . I look around at fellow retired Laborers - most of them can barely walk or move and most die shortly after retirement . I figure screw it - doing the things I want to do now , it's just not going to happen later .

Good luck with the Orthopedist game - it's very hard to find a good one that listens and cares about results . I've had 2 that were awesome , but the best one being out of reach due to insurance costs - that needs to change . Currently don't even have an MD - third one just retired but I hear they are getting a replacement - interested to see how that goes end of the month on getting meds renewed , which usually ends up in an infuriating office visit . Somewhat interested in the injections - some have great results but I've had zero luck so far , maybe something better will come around .

Sarge
 
My issues are nowhere near as bad as yours, @Weber Sarge !

But, they are mine and when I hurt, no one hurts more :rolleyes: I always relate to Frank Burns (MASH)... A hemorrhoid puts me into a coma!

I was getting nowhere with the orthopedists... Drove me nuts when they would order something, like an MRI, and when I returned for the results, they would ask, "why are you here today?". This after I had already told at least two other people... Read a chart!! I started feeling they suspected dementia...

Then the orthopedist would look at the MRI and say, "that looks really painful"... I'd say, "I already know how it feels, what can you do to mitigate the pain?". He'd say, "Well, comparing to your last MRI, it looks like it hasn't gotten any worse.". I'd say, "I came to you for help and you see success as maintaining the status quo. It's debilitating... If I didn't already hurt, that would be great, but I wouldn't need you either... And you wouldn't see me anyway.". They always wanted me to,go to a pain management clinic. I'm gonna have to get a lot worse before I'm willing to get involved in a new potential habit.

My Wife goes to Weight a Watchers and her WW leader had bad back issues and she recommended this Sports Medicine Doctor (DO)... Turns out he is mid-50s and has taught and been practicing for years. He no longer runs a general practice. Only 'manipulative therapy' and such. He's very sparing on the injections, but uses them when he deems them necessary. The injections have two kinds of steroids and two pain killers (lidocaine for 'now' and something else that works over a two week period. I had them before we went on our two week vacation with our 40-something kids and I actually felt well enough to fly fish!

Each visit, he asks how it went since the last visit. Then he manipulates my skeleton and sends me on my way. I hurt the next day, but mitigate it with frequent hot tub visits... 20 minutes each of various stretches. It would be nice to get the injections each week, but steroid injections break down tissue and can actually make it worse, in the long term...

I'm 66, I don't have the luxury of waiting either... I'm going to do what I enjoy, as long as I can do it... But, this is really cutting into my hiking... Especially rough country... And I haven't been able to get any cardiac or aerobic activity, to speak of, for about 6 months now... Need to teach my dogs CPR...

I was hoping to,take my inflatable pontoon out and see how well I could row/kick it around a lake. Using fins is hard on the lower back and rowing is good for it, but not if you have problems that need correcting first...

Anyway, I'm bringing 44 home Monday! I want to get her set up again and hit the road.... The weather is finally turning cooler and the boys are ready to see the Big Empty! I'll pack her so I can get to things (camping/food/etc.), as I need them and not be lifting heavy boxes, etc.

I hope you are catching lots of fish Sarge!!

:cheers:
 
SuperBuickGuy said:
if the hot tube works to mitigate the pain, then maybe celebrex would help? if it works, it's non-habit forming, it does destroy your intestines, and it reduces swelling (which is what hot tubs do when there isn't a lady involved).
Click to expand...

Didn't help... Cymbalta helps a bit... As do zorvolex and flexoril... For a while... Then I quit them for a couple of weeks before starting them again.

It's not the hot tub as much as the various stretches and contortions I perform in the hot water.
 
Tech?
 
Aren't we a fine bunch... I was as skeptical as can be, but hypnotherapy helped me learn how to manage the pain in my "95 year old" knee. And that was 13 years ago... Does that mean its now 108?

The MYO clinic here injects saline solution into muscle bodies to release the spasms... Not pleasant but it produces immediate results.

As for meds... Been there and tried them all.

I too wish I could fix my body as easily as my equally old truck. :D
 
bikersmurf said:
Aren't we a fine bunch... I was as skeptical as can be, but hypnotherapy helped me learn how to manage the pain in my "95 year old" knee. And that was 13 years ago... Does that mean its now 108?

The MYO clinic here injects saline solution into muscle bodies to release the spasms... Not pleasant but it produces immediate results.

As for meds... Been there and tried them all.

I too wish I could fix my body as easily as my equally old truck. :D
Click to expand...


Yep... The over the hill bunch...

Technically speaking (@Mace ;)),

  1. I should have asked the mechanics to get compression numbers... Frankly, it never occurred to me. So, assuming I can lean over and pull the plugs, I'll try to report compression this week.
  2. I disconnected my hood lock before it took 44 in for her transplant... I need to reconnect that.
  3. I disconnected my hand throttle before I took her in... I need to reconnect that also.
  4. I also need to crawl under and replace my fuel filter elements for both tanks.
I only need to perform 1 & 4 before I hit the road, I can do the other two while camping.

Fall is in the air! Just get up early and carpe diem!!
 
Hi Webber and Danny
Old age is a bitch and don't I know it.
I have got to the stage in life were my love of engineering a 45 year passion is slipping away.
Gone are the days were I got a high from working the lathe and making a piece of steel into a piece of beauty.
The years of lifting , bending and working to close tolerances have taken its toll.
Eyes,legs and joints just don't work the same as they did a few years ago.

But all changed and only if for a little while on the Fraser Island trip Nat and I did a few weeks ago.
The thrill and the adrenaline of driving the Forty on the island .
Let me tell you I felt 20 years younger during the day . Nights were another thing but a good Scotch helped there.
China tomorrow for 10 days and on our return I'm planning a trip to a mining town called Lighting Ridge never been there before so time to explore.
It quite amazing how my staff can adapt when there job is on the line and the boss is away .
So we're is this heading?
I'm doing as much as I can while I can .
The over the hill gang strike back.
Cheers Peter


...via IH8MUD app
 
This is what I love about this forum. Threads about real world living, back trouble, aches and pains, and finances that all affect the speed of our builds and how much we get to enjoy them. God bless you all!
 
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