Navigating senior years.

[Donstar]

On 9/1/2025 at 8:29 AM, diyer2 said:

Pretty sure carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand is coming, night pain increasing and numbness in fingers. Doc said it might be a problem. Waiting to see Doc.

 

Not looking forward to it of course but the problem with me is the left hand and arm are still giving me problems from my shoulder surgery on Sept. 6 of last year. Dexterity problems and pain. Pain is related to nerves they say. 

I feel your pain!  Both of my hands are also problematic.  Two years ago numbness and tingling in my right hand was diagnosed as resulting from a mini-stroke.  My left hand, was x-rayed two weeks ago because of pain in a couple of fingers.  Moderate osteoarthrosis  in my knuckles was determined to be the cause in this situation.  I was worried that this left hand issue may have been a side effect  from my recent shoulder surgery but it's not.  This age thing is determined to slow us down and will find many different ways to achieve its goal!  

[KARNUT]

I’m pretty convinced you can’t fix your genetic makeup. When I retired at 58 started visiting my father in law in his early 80s. I couldn’t match his ability to work around the yard. He spent his last 15 years selling lawnmowers at Sears. He did in spare time do lots of yard work. In contrast I walked pipe lines for miles, used tools like chain saws, sledge hammer’s weed eaters. Very manual work and exercise. Most of my life. His son is a carbon copy. Never much manual working, he ran plants. Other than weekend projects. Watching him bouncing across those bleachers while I’m holding hand rails going down stairs. Recently retired he’s remodeling his home for fun before he does his firebird. Genetics, there’s little you can do, we’re pre wired. 

[diyer2]

Try hanging 5/8 drywall on ceilings, carrying drywall sheets into a basement. Hauling wood sheeting up ladders for decking for a roof. Working with a 40 foot ladder all day. Digging post holes. 

I know physical  labor well. 

[txab]

7 hours ago, diyer2 said:

Try hanging 5/8 drywall on ceilings, carrying drywall sheets into a basement. Hauling wood sheeting up ladders for decking for a roof. Working with a 40 foot ladder all day. Digging post holes. 

I know physical  labor well. 

Yep. I know that abuse well. My back already lets me know every once in a while.

[diyer2]

Hanging drywall on ceilings requires using your head to hold up the sheet of drywall so your hands are free to start nails to hold it there. This is the reason my neck discs are bad, or deteriorated. Same with my back discs, abused by physical labor.

[diyer2]

 

[Donstar]

Today is 12 weeks since I had my left shoulder replaced.  I see my surgeon on Friday and hopefully he'll allow me to resume most normal activities.  I am now enjoying a greater range of motion with my left arm than I have in years.  I still experience some discomfort at times but the frequent painful episodes are gone.  Of course, my knee is reminding me at every opportunity that it is inline for replacement so I think getting back to normal after Friday won't last for long!  My knee is more problematic than my shoulder was but my surgeon wanted to fix my shoulder first so I could use a walker during knee surgery recovery.  Navigating through your senior years doesn't always follow a direct path!  

[Donstar]

Our neighbor has organized an 80th Birthday celebration for herself on Saturday.  I am reminded of the British sitcom, "Keeping up Appearances".   Hyacinth Bucket is hilarious because we are reminded of acquaintances, friends or loved ones.  This neighbour asked us to help out on Saturday by picking up the cake she ordered.   However, she "needs" to be there to hold the cake during transport and would prefer my wife to drive.  If you are familiar with my sitcom analogy, you will appreciate I feel like Onslow about this event!

[Donstar]

Yesterday my physiotherapist reported that I have made good progress with my shoulder replacement surgery and now have no restrictions.  Today I see my surgeon and will learn when I can expect my knee replacement!  It wasn't that long ago I was upset to know I need two major joints replaced.  Now I'm looking forward to my next surgery and hope it happens soon!  If you have been recommended for joint replacement, I recommend you say yes.  My shoulder replacement was a perfect example of short term pain for long term gain.  I have just been through 12 weeks of steady improvement and now have more pain free mobility in my "bad" shoulder than I've had in years.  As a bonus, it will continue to get better!  

[Donstar]

I met an older work colleague and her husband at a store yesterday.  I mentioned that I have a knee replacement coming up and she responded that she's had both of hers replaced and so has her husband.  He spoke up and said he is needing to have his both done again because he was pretty young when he had his first replacements!  I haven't seen this couple in awhile and we never were very close friends.  However, I was surprised that this was the first I heard about her having either surgery and by the casual  way we talked about joint replacement.    It is a dramatic, unreversible and artificial replacement of a major joint.  I saw a before and after x-ray of my shoulder replacement and the difference between a natural joint and artificial is definitely significant!  Of course it can't be seen and nobody cant tell!  We are fortunate to be getting old at a time when these medical procedures are so common!  Some of us classics make fine resto mods!    

[Donstar]

The last two times I've driven people to the airport, I've had to return them to their home as they forgot their shoes!  If it was the same person, I'd not be surprised but this involved two different people in the past month.  Both of these passengers joked about their forgetfulness. My most recent experience, yesterday, was with a female 80 years old travelling alone.  She was happy that she "remembered" her shoes before we drove too far because she saw that she was wearing her bedroom slippers.  I wonder what else she forgot or will forget when travelling?   Both of my recent forgetful passengers shared their concerns about forgetting things with me but neither have discussed this subject with their Doctors or even their adult children. Twenty years ago when my mum was showing frequent forgetfulness, I was proactive in getting her the care I thought she needed.  Now I appreciated why she resisted and I definitely won't be telling on my friends!

[Donstar]

I spent an enjoyable afternoon at our local GM dealership yesterday.  They had a special deal on a synthetic oil change which gave me a good excuse to go and kick some tires.  Sierra Denali's are my favorite.  Gas, Diesel, or EV would be the toughest part of choosing.  Fortunately, my income will never find me having to make such a choice! I will continue driving my 10 year old Sierra SLE.    My retirement "income" was planned for in a previous economic environment and vehicle prices didn't keep with my plan!.  I guess this is why old people typically drive older vehicles!

[Ianf]

37 minutes ago, Donstar said:

I spent an enjoyable afternoon at our local GM dealership yesterday.  They had a special deal on a synthetic oil change which gave me a good excuse to go and kick some tires.  Sierra Denali's are my favorite.  Gas, Diesel, or EV would be the toughest part of choosing.  Fortunately, my income will never find me having to make such a choice! I will continue driving my 10 year old Sierra SLE.    My retirement "income" was planned for in a previous economic environment and vehicle prices didn't keep with my plan!.  I guess this is why old people typically drive older vehicles!

I don't think that is why. I drive a 2010 silverado and consider it just broken in at 130K kms. When we retire like i did 11 years ago, we seem to drive a lot less. More then half the miles on my truck were put on commuting before i retired. Now i just don't drive as much and we have shrunk to one vehicle.

[KARNUT]

For personal vehicles it’s always been Certified Pre Owned or leftovers. We’ve always had three or more vehicles. I always had a company truck and a performance vehicle. My wife has her car and old daily driver that turned out to be a collector car. I always got tired of vehicles after two years. After retiring I had a new vehicle every two years finally ended with 2017 Camry. About the same time having a performance toy lost its appeal I sold it and bought the Avalanche. A little after my mother in law quit driving and gave us her very low mileage CRV. My daughter ended up with the Camry. About two years later my daughters Odyssey hit the expensive 100K maintenance event so I gave her the CRV and put 6K in the Odyssey. Plugs, timing belt, brakes, tires, add up. About two years later a friend from church brought a new Ridgeline. His 2010 only had 160K miles on it. About the same miles the Odyssey had. He remembered I had said ten years ago I would buy his truck if wanted to sell it. He gave me a killer deal. So as luck would have it circumstance still put me in a new ride every two years. My grandson now drives the Avalanche. In the old hotrod spot  sits the Odyssey. I haven’t had a chance to even consider a new vehicle. My new car spell was broken by the Odyssey that never seems to get old. It’s funny I’d never thought these words would ever pass my lips. I’ve owned about every brand. The Odyssey is the only one that I didn’t get tired of after two years. My wife is that way with her Genesis. That thing is quicker than most all my past hotrods. The mini van isn’t that far behind. My new car phobia was broken by a mini van. Who would have thought. 

Edited September 25, 2025 by KARNUT

[Donstar]

On 9/25/2025 at 3:59 AM, Ianf said:

I don't think that is why. I drive a 2010 silverado and consider it just broken in at 130K kms. When we retire like i did 11 years ago, we seem to drive a lot less. More then half the miles on my truck were put on commuting before i retired. Now i just don't drive as much and we have shrunk to one vehicle.

We've tried the one vehicle route a couple of times in our 50 years together but will hold off doing this again for as long as possible!  Her 2007 has 67k (kms) and a good portion of these were me using her car as a commuter from 07-10.  My truck will have similar mileage to yours in five years.  I agree with you that we don't need new vehicles like we did when we were younger and putting on the kilometers.  However, I still have the want!   (Without the need, my CFO wouldn't approve anyway! )