My body is letting me down...

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:56 am

Since losing my job, a few weeks ago... I have been forced to go out and do landscaping jobs. Gardening is gentle.... Landscaping is altering a piece of ground in some way. Pulling shrubs out... putting shrubs in... its quite brutal.

Satisfying, but rough on the body. I was away from it for 2 years.....

Yesterday, I had to spread 5 tons of stone,that a dump truck delivered, around a patio. I looked at that pile, and I wanted to cry. " One shovel at a time.." I tell myself. The profession is a love/hate thing for me. I love it, but the writing is on the wall... I physically cant do it anymore. Last night I was up every hour because everything hurts. That cant be good. Acknowledging this is a tough pill to swallow. Where did that 30 something or even 40 something person go?? Life is like being in an underground train being catapulted forward... I would have gotten off at 40, but the ride isnt stopping, and it is causing me tremendous anxiety. Should a person keep fighting the changes brought on with age? Or give in, and give up? These thoughts are why we tend to relate to others experiencing the same life passages. We can share with each other, how we feel visiting the same train stop. Just thought Id tell you whats going on in my life. The Weeder living update.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:02 am

weeder wrote: Since losing my job, a few weeks ago... I have been forced to go out and do landscaping jobs. Gardening is gentle.... Landscaping is altering a piece of ground in some way. Pulling shrubs out... putting shrubs in... its quite brutal.

Satisfying, but rough on the body. I was away from it for 2 years.....

Yesterday, I had to spread 5 tons of stone,that a dump truck delivered, around a patio. I looked at that pile, and I wanted to cry. " One shovel at a time.." I tell myself. The profession is a love/hate thing for me. I love it, but the writing is on the wall... I physically cant do it anymore. Last night I was up every hour because everything hurts. That cant be good. Acknowledging this is a tough pill to swallow. Where did that 30 something or even 40 something person go?? Life is like being in an underground train being catapulted forward... I would have gotten off at 40, but the ride isnt stopping, and it is causing me tremendous anxiety. Should a person keep fighting the changes brought on with age? Or give in, and give up? These thoughts are why we tend to relate to others experiencing the same life passages. We can share with each other, how we feel visiting the same train stop. Just thought Id tell you whats going on in my life. The Weeder living update.

I wish I had the answer. Im getting near a crossroads myself. I hurt all the time and theres no end in sight. The dilemma is do I keep the machine going or do I opt out for something easier so I can actually enjoy my life ?

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:13 am

Come 'ere, Weeder. I'll give you a back rub while soaking my sore feet, as we wait for someone to give us an answer. :yh_hugs

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:23 am

The ONLY thing I miss living alone... Is not having someone to beg for a massage. Feet, shoulders.. hands... Picture me trying to do it myself.. Its pretty funny. The thing is.. when you say do something easier and enjoy life... I think about that every day. Easier, for me, means less compensation,

and being locked indoors. I cannott be locked indoors. and I cannott live on 10.00 per hour. 10.00 if your lucky... in my area. So, I go out there and I think... Ok Ill take this job, and get a crew to do the physical part... but that means " being in business again" I am going to go on my big adventure trip next week. When I get back... I have to make some serious decisions. Thinking about the " serious decisions" gives me that anxious feeling in my stomach.

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:33 am

I wish I had the answers for you Weeder. Do you think it'll get less painful as your body gets used to it again? Maybe your trip will give you a fresh outlook and make your decisions easier. Until then, soak in a hot bubble bath and take something for the pain.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:00 am

Peg wrote: .... and take something for the pain.A nice shardonet - um - charnonay - er - ... a couple of shots oughta do it.

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:24 am

My plan exactly.... Relax for the week, have a great time... when I get back, I will decide.. take a regular job.. or put people on to do the physical part. Im really just giving us something to talk about... you know 50 something issues..My thread probably should be in the retirement section. Only thing is that I will never be able to retire........Ill fall into a hole on someones lawn one day and hopefully someone will come along and fill in the dirt. I just hope they check my pulse first:wah:

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:31 am

What about teaching? You have a wealth of experience and tips other gardeners and would-be landscapers might never find out about otherwise. You could market yourself to all the local garden centers and do weekly workshops.

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:58 am

Accountable wrote: What about teaching? You have a wealth of experience and tips other gardeners and would-be landscapers might never find out about otherwise. You could market yourself to all the local garden centers and do weekly workshops.
That is a great idea. When I was in Georgia.. the community college hired me to teach 2 semesters of floral design. The hindrance here is that There are celebrity type landscape designers with horticultual degrees. I am one of those old timers who learned on the job. Started thirty years ago. In many cases the dgree is useless without work experience.. But it wows the public.

Six years .. your smart to learn something new... before its too late. A friend of mine who was a lifetime bartender, went to school 10 years ago to become an x ray tech. She makes about 40.00 an hour in New york. She was wise enough to look into the future.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 5:28 am

Nomad wrote: I wish I had the answer. Im getting near a crossroads myself. I hurt all the time and theres no end in sight. The dilemma is do I keep the machine going or do I opt out for something easier so I can actually enjoy my life ?

IF you can survive financially, do something you enjoy that you will look forward to every morning when you wake up.....In reality not many of us are blessed with this option because we are working to survive.

I made this big decision to retire in October despite the financial problems that go with the decision, but I'll be working a couple of days a week and get some pension...I won't be destitute. What I didn't want to do was work another 5 yrs and 'drop down dead' like my dad and my father-in -law did....I want to enjoy a bit of freedom.

I think that you would make a great teacher/tutor Weeder....I'm going to have a think about some options

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Mon May 01, 2006 3:34 am

The problem I found, is that what I chose as a career, is no longer something I do, it's something I am. It's become part of who I am as a person. How do you change that? I too, ache after a rough day. Cant run and rush about like I used to. Do nurses ever really retire anyway?

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Mon May 01, 2006 6:04 am

i guess it comes down to how much money you need, if you dont need a lot you could work in a garden centre, much easier on the back, bones ect

also wanted to pick up on re-training that was mentioned earlier, when i was training there was a woman of 62 in my class

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Mon May 01, 2006 1:30 pm

Yes, Im single... But that doesnt mean that i dont have companions at night....

Their names are... BEN GAY, MOTRIN,TYLENOL PM, TIGER BALM,and Jamesons with tea:wah:

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Mon May 01, 2006 1:39 pm

Well I got out into my garden today for the first time this year. Hundreds of weeds needed pulling up and I must admit to aching a little now. Luckily it had just rained which made it easier but I'm feeling my age tonight. Fine specimen of a man aint I? Guess I was the biggest weed in the garden :wah:

Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be.........Weeder

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Mon May 01, 2006 1:48 pm

Weeder, first let me say that until you have your adventure in London, STOP worrying about what comes next. You deserve this break and if you're all stressed about what you will do when you come back, you won't enjoy yourself as much.

Second, how much do you prepare for your day of physical labor? Shoveling a ton of gravel isn't an easy job, obviously, and you need to stretch beforehand. Deep knee bends, stretching side to side, bend as far as you can and try to touch your toes. Bounce while you're doing that, to stretch those lower back muscles. Do waist twists, sit on the floor and spread your legs as wide as you can and reach for your feet, hold a few seconds and then switch to the other foot.

I have to stretch before a night of tending bar, and I'm only 35. It helps IMMENSELY. Head twists, knee bends, legs stretched...I work every part of my body before I go in. And staying hydrated is important for your muscles, too. You can't drink too much water.

When you do get back, if you find you just don't want to go back to the landscaping thing, I fully agree that you would be a wonderful teacher. Probably in more things than landscape design. You're not only smart, you're wise, too. You'll find what's right for you. Good things do happen to good people, and you will excell at anything you attempt.

Jives · Post by **Jives** » Mon May 01, 2006 2:09 pm

I know exactly how you feel, Weeder. I had to clear out three truckloads of bushes this weekend. Big 6 foot Chimesa bushes that I had to slowly carve through with a chainsaw. Worse yet, they were growing on a 30 foot 45 degree slope with no trails. One misstep and I tumble all the way to the bottom.

I was convered from head to toe with dirt after that, and every muscle in my body still hurt all night, even with Advil. Between my arthritus and the vibration of the chainsaw, I could barely use my hands.

I have a pretty yard, my parents planted 23 kinds of trees, but all that seems to do is make the yard work brutal, infinite, and never-ending.

The only advice I can give you is to "pace" yourself. Do a litlle, rest a while, do a little, rest a while, drink some water, do a little. Also I seem to work better listening to music on my MP3 player.

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Mon May 01, 2006 6:30 pm

Im actually getting better. I think it was the shock of finding myself " Doing it all again" I am actually very grateful to be able to do what I do. And I would much rather deal with some aches and pains than to over wind up with a giant ass. Who mentioned the drier weather,,, Its true warm dry weather... less aches and pains.

BR... I am not worrying about one little thing when I am away. Although I am not a tradionally religious person... There are some beautiful scriptures that have made an impression on me over the years and stay imbedded in my mind.

One is... ( and I have pretty much led my life living by it) God feeds the birds, and he clothes the lillies of the fields in the most beautiful coats... they dont worry about tomorrow........

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Mon May 01, 2006 6:35 pm

weeder wrote: BR... I am not worrying about one little thing when I am away
GOOD!! :-6 :-4 :yh_bigsmi

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Tue May 02, 2006 2:39 pm

ArnoldLayne wrote: I've been in construction for 25 years and a soldier before that. My body is shot to pieces. Keeping going in the job I do, is probably the best thing for my body. If I stopped, my joints would rust and I'd sieze up for good. I notice that, if I have long periods from work. I've been lifting, carrying, pushing, moving large, heavy objects, half my life

What does help, is my daily cod liver oil tablet. This seriously, is the single most important thing I've done for my joints since considering surgically attaching grease nipples to my knees. For the first couple of weeks I didnt feel much change, now that early morning transition from prone to standing is much, much less painful.

There was a time when I could shin the scaffold like a funky gibbon. I now realise that I cant, so I dont try. I am begining to realise my limits but I do forget and think I can do what I did when I was 25. I am built for comfort, not for speed

I noticed a difference in my energy level after a couple of weeks of beginning vitamins again. Cod liver oil tablet huh ? Ok Ill try it, couldnt hurt right ? A guy at work was telling me he freezes the parts that hurt, a spray freeze I guess.

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Tue May 02, 2006 2:43 pm

deep heat / deep freeze either are just ignoring your body crying out for attention, listen to those signs & get all your bones cracked out - Alternative Therapies Chiropractic Treatments

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Tue May 02, 2006 2:46 pm

buttercup wrote: deep heat / deep freeze either are just ignoring your body crying out for attention, listen to those signs & get all your bones cracked out - Alternative Therapies Chiropractic Treatments

Last time I had my bones cracked out 4 guys were standing over me and I was bleeding on the sidewalk.

No thanks butter.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:33 am

Glucosamine is good for joints...combined with good old Cod liver oil (which is also good for Nails and Hair)

I had a steroid injection into my thumb joint which they said would lat 6 months but has lasted 2 years.

My biggest problem is sore neck and shoulder due to sitting at a computer too much...(work and play)

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Wed May 03, 2006 6:08 am

I cant complain really. I'm still standing upright and I go forward when I move my legs!:wah:

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:39 am

buttercup wrote: deep heat / deep freeze either are just ignoring your body crying out for attention, listen to those signs & get all your bones cracked out - Alternative Therapies Chiropractic Treatments

A word of warning based on my experience. After using Deep Heat or any other embrocation, always wash your hands before scratching your dangly bits

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:53 am

Nomad wrote: I noticed a difference in my energy level after a couple of weeks of beginning vitamins again. Cod liver oil tablet huh ? Ok Ill try it, couldnt hurt right ? A guy at work was telling me he freezes the parts that hurt, a spray freeze I guess.

Know what else works? Anbesol. Yep, that stuff you put on your tooth when it hurts. I use it on my knee during work, and it numbs it right up.

Also, if you're having energy problems, vitamin B12.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Wed May 03, 2006 10:08 am

sixyearsleft wrote: A few time's now Cod Liver Oil as been mentioned:)

me thinks it's time to try it:-6

Yes try it six...you'll have lovely shiny hair and strong finger nails as a bonus...

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Wed May 03, 2006 11:52 am

ArnoldLayne wrote: Mmmm ! Shiny hair

What about a shiny head ? Mine ain't long enough to get shiny

Shiny head's cool...