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Home / Thoughts / Getting old, or what?

Getting old, or what?

Written by Sean on Wednesday, May 17, 2006

I’ve been getting stiffer and sorer in these last few weeks. The weather has turned for the worse, full blown winter weeks, almost months, before time. That’s always hit my hands hard, somewhat arthritic fellow I am. But I don’t think it’s the cold and the weather that’s hitting other parts of my body now. My hips, in particular the left one, is rather stiff.

I’ve often said that I don’t think it’s possible for someone NOT to cheat at some point when "pretending" for any lengths of time. The body is designed to move, and sends signals so you do move. I’m sure that these latest things are such signs, body (probably knows better) says gotta move, mate.

So, what am I experiencing, which is probably directly due to sitting in the chair so long? Let’s see.

• Stiff hip, a little tender even when not moving now.
• My butt gets sore easier, if I don’t do pressure relief, I really feel it.
• My skin seems to be more sensitive to pressure, particularly from seams or waded undies.
• My lower back aches
• My left thigh, on the back of it, is sore.
• Sciaticca attack?

So, a small shopping list of ills and pains. Not whinging, just noticing the facts.

The thing is, when I go to the toilet at work, I actually stand up to pee (more info than you wanted? Tough…). I stand up because it’s one way to get a stretch during the day. But, after putting my feet on the ground, I actually use the grab bars to pull myself up. Oh, I could do it without, but heck, it does make it very much easier, particularly with the hip acting up the way it is now.

And yes, as someone said to me, I should pay real close attention to that and not let it degenerate, as I don’t know what can happen from there. I should be concerned, body deteriorating. I’m not. Sign of pain coming, I know that, and I don’t like pain, but heck, it may give me more reason to use the chair legitimately (well, you know, with a legitimate physical reason anyway). Probably won’t, not with my luck. But I can’t help thinking that if it leads to me having a "genuine physical" need for the chair, all the better. But even that would likely not be enough, I need to be paralysed, not just to have a medically recognised reason to use the chair.

So, are those things signs of getting old? I mean, many people get sciaticca problems as they age (not that I’m *that* old…) Or are they sign of wheelchair overuse? Does it really matter? No, it doesn’t.

The thing is, as I’m finding these rather minor impairments, it makes me lust for the "real thing" (and I use lust, but not in a sexual way, I remind one and all that I don’t have sexual interest in being a para). And so finding a few small things going "wrong" with myself, I rejoice in a way. <sigh>

The show must go on.