|
Post by hikerjer on Mar 17, 2023 18:56:07 GMT -8
So here’s the situation which is probably familiar to a lot of our more mature members. I recently turned 74 and my age is catching up with me. Three weeks ago, I had my second knee replacement and this has been much more challenging than when I had the other one done seven years ago. The recovery is slower and seems more painful. Plus, there are some complications this time, as well, that I didn’t have to deal with last time. I guess, I’ve come to the point in my life where I realize that I’m just not going to be able to do the things I love - certainly not to the extent that I used to. My whole life has revolved around hiking, backpacking, skiing, biking and so forth. To have to give them up or seriously curtail them is a sobering and not so happy thought. I know it’s all part of the natural progression of life and I can’t complain because I’ve lead a good and full life. Still, what’s ahead is not a pleasant prospect.
I know many of you may be approaching a similar point in your lives and I’m wondering how you’re dealing with it. Sorry to come off as a little bit of a whiner, about something we all have to face but it is a bit difficult for me. I’d appreciate your insights.
Thank you.
|
|
|
Post by starwalker on Mar 17, 2023 19:29:36 GMT -8
I am 72 and my knee replacements were successful, but my endurance has never come back. I've been daydreaming about hikes I have taken, such as my first trip at Quivera Scout Ranch from main camp to Hell's Hollow, my furthest north (Black Hills), west (Zion Hop Valley), south (Ouachita Trail in Oklahoma), and east (Buffalo River). Other highlights such as three hikes on the Ouachita, one with my wife, one with Prosecuter (anybody remember him) and one with a group, and my last solo hike along the East Rim at the Grand Canyon.
I watch a few hiking videos, and study my many topographic maps which I use to relive my hikes and imagine others I'd like to take.
|
|
|
Post by hikerjer on Mar 17, 2023 19:52:51 GMT -8
Perhaps you’ve it summarized the best we can do at this point.
I remember the Pros and sort of miss him. He managed to keep things interesting.
|
|
BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
Posts: 12,948
|
Post by BigLoad on Mar 17, 2023 21:08:03 GMT -8
Despite being slightly less grizzled, I'm still old enough to know plenty of people who've had a second knee or hip replacement long after the first. Several had a slower and more difficult recovery the second time. Fortunately, they all did eventually get where they wanted to be, which in some cases was still very active, and others was just basically mobile.
I hope the day comes when you forget that you're recovering or not doing so fast enough, and find yourself just living your life.
|
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,890
|
Post by zeke on Mar 18, 2023 2:30:24 GMT -8
I'm 3 years behind you, but so far haven"t had any major surgery, and certainly haven't had any joints replaced. As I realized my long days hiking were closing, I began just doing shorter days. Now, I am also shortening the number of days out so the pack is lighter. I am fortunate in that being on the bike is still a pleasant experience.
We love getting out there, but I may be taking up more car camping in dispersed sites just so I can still wonder at Nature.
Our health determines how much we can do, for sure, but our mental approach to the reduced activity level will determine our happiness. I've always enjoyed reading, so there will be more time spent in that endeavor.
|
|
driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 15,004
|
Post by driftwoody on Mar 18, 2023 4:30:36 GMT -8
Age is catching up to me at 65. Arthritis in my right hip makes it very difficult for me to sleep on a flat surface. For the last few months I've been sleeping on a recliner at home, and I'm fine in a hammock. I'm still hiking OK, though not attempting long miles. Tomorrow I'm leaving on a trip to Savage Gulf in Tennesse, which will be a test. I anticipate I'll need a hip replacement soon.
Back in 2007 when I visited Isle Royale National Park I encountered an older man whose aging joints precluded long hikes or backpacking, so he took up canoeing and found he really loved it. Something to consider.
A lifelong friend my age who was never a backpaker but loved to travel and hike, can't walk more than 5 miles due to back and foot issues. He's taken up birding, which many are passionate about. I was always more into macro views, but the micro (not just birds) has a lot to offer lovers of the outdoors who have to scale back their miles and terrain.
|
|
|
Post by georgeofthej on Mar 18, 2023 8:40:11 GMT -8
I'm 66 and certainly slowing down. I hear you Jer, about a life that revolves around outdoor activity. I guess we just keep going with what we have left and count our blessings. I hope your knee recovery improves.
|
|
Travis
Trail Wise!
WYOMING NATIVE
Posts: 2,603
Member is Online
|
Post by Travis on Mar 18, 2023 9:04:30 GMT -8
I tell myself I’m an old man now. I have to remind myself because I forget. I spent decades learning my limits in the backcountry, and now those limits no longer apply. I’m 70 now. I need to revise. I’m healthier than I deserve to be. But I don’t have the energy I had before. If I forget, I may do something stupid based on old assumptions.
But that’s not entirely a bad thing. Before, if I didn’t burn that energy every week, I felt like a caged animal. Now I don’t have to find hills so high or routes so long as I needed before. I have more time to just walk away from civilization. Most any rock is still my easy chair and mat of pine needles still my mattress. I just don’t have to hike so far to enjoy them.
I still have memories of younger times and the crazy things I did to burn that energy. People around here would have locked me up for my own protection if they had known what I did in my spare time. Now I can sit down, back against a tree, no one else around, and chuckle that for those people, it may be too late. Somehow I’ve survived to become an old man.
That’s not entirely a bad thing.
|
|
desert dweller
Trail Wise!
Power to the Peaceful...Hate does not create.
Posts: 6,291
|
Post by desert dweller on Mar 18, 2023 10:22:56 GMT -8
I turn 68 next week. If I get the jeep to run right I'll be doing a 4 day road trip to some remote places. On at least one of those nights I'll hike an off trail overnight. The rest of the nights will be remote car camping. Somewhere.
The last backpacking was in 2021 when finishing the AzTrail. It's not because of any physical limitations, but mostly timing or weather events. I haven't had any joint or muscle pain and my last physical went so well that my doctor looked at the numbers and blood results that she said to not come back for a year. Maybe it's because I'm still commuting 1000 miles a year on the bike that I feel confident with putting on a 40 pound pack and hike up and down over 8000' ridges and into shadowy canyons.I hope to do it again soon.
But, the future of my outdoor escapades and nature induced ruminations will probably be in the form of remote truck camping. With days consisting of day hikes or piddling around camp. We'll see. I hope to retire in 2 years.
|
|
|
Post by trinity on Mar 18, 2023 10:42:20 GMT -8
hikerjer , yes, this is something we all go through (if we're fortunate enough to live long enough), but that does not make it easy, for you or anyone else. You are not, IMHO, whining at all; you are grieving, as is appropriate when suffering any loss. Only through grief can we come to peace and acceptance of a loss, IMHO. I am sorry you are going through this, but I have every confidence that you will thrive within the new limits your body is imposing on you. he took up canoeing and found he really loved it. This was one of my first thoughts as well. I don't know what options are available where you live, but I have gone on many longish canoe trips (up to 6 days) , both in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, and here on the rivers of Texas, and found them extremely rewarding. He's taken up birding, which many are passionate about. I've been birding since I was 11, and can highly recommend it, regardless of age. It provides many of the benefits of hiking, backpacking, etc, but with less physical exertion. The same can be said for fishing. Not that you asked for any suggestions. Finally, I want to say that at the tender age of 57, I am already experiencing many of these issues related to aging and physical decline, and I know that I am only at the front end of a long and unending curve. I am finding it extremely helpful to read some of y'all's reflections and your attitudes on aging. Thank you all so much.
|
|
|
Post by hikerjer on Mar 18, 2023 11:29:19 GMT -8
Thanks for all the encouraging and helpful comments. Trinity, you were were extremely eloquent in your response as we’re so many others. Like we all know. our physical decline is inevitable but did we ever really believe it would happen before it stared us in the face? I guess it’s just part of the unavoidable pathos of life. Thanks so much, again, to everyone. Nothing to do but carry on, look at one’s options and try to maintain a positive attitude.
|
|
gabby
Trail Wise!
Posts: 4,539
|
Post by gabby on Mar 18, 2023 12:26:39 GMT -8
I find that it's really difficult to talk about this aging stuff (too close to home for me) and it's also difficult to find anyone (or any place) with information about it. Doctors, who you'd think would be a prime source for this sort of information, are close-mouthed as hell, at least IME. I'm 78, and probably a lot luckier (though, how would you quantify/qualify that!?!) than many of you. My legs ache and cause problems a lot of the time, but, like zeke, I've never had surgery or any joint replacement. I recently read that, because ligaments and tendons have no blood vessels, it's important to work out more, not less. Moderate exercise (like walking) helps pump nutrients into ligaments and tendons. Not exercising is a recipe for bad results (or, so the article I read said).
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Mar 18, 2023 14:39:34 GMT -8
I’ll second gabby fitness that I took for granted when I was younger (ie under 70 😊) at 74 I now monitor and work at keeping up on. In part that’s an expectation damage I’d move past rapidly previously likely will hang around longer, so prevention gets to be more important. Plus my job used to take care of a certain level of fitness, as a bench bio researcher I was on my feet all day every day, once retired that activity wasn’t there.
|
|
|
Post by offtrail on Mar 18, 2023 15:00:30 GMT -8
Hikerjer,
Although I'm only 64, I do understand what you're experiencing. My trail name states what I lived for when hiking. Now I feel thankful just to get out and hike established trails. No physical issues, just so much harder than it used to be! A good friend that I've hiked hundreds of miles with turned 75 and he has slowed down a lot. Now we get out maybe for a 2-3 day backpack anymore. The key is to still get out there. Ride the bike, walk, short dayhike, whatever it takes. While doing a lot of hiking in the Winds many years ago, ok decades, I read a trail guide by Finis Mitchell. There was a quote in it that has always kind of stuck with me.
“We don't stop hiking because we grow old - we grow old because we stop hiking” ― Finis Mitchell.
offtrail
|
|
balzaccom
Trail Wise!
Waiting for spring...
Posts: 4,540
|
Post by balzaccom on Mar 18, 2023 16:28:26 GMT -8
At 45 I was still trying to play soccer more or less competitively. A groin injury, a knee injury and a snapped Achilles tendon, all in 18 months, was all it took to get the message through my thick skull that my body wasn't even close to being what it used to be.
Since then I took up cycling, and spent years doing that, until it did so much damage to my wrists that I couldn't type or play guitar. Time to change activities again!
These days I am hiking more than ever, but I know that won't last. And I am willing to accept that...I think.
I still have writing and painting and playing classical guitar. I just wonder for how long.
|
|