Moparts

When Did You Start To Hurt?

Posted By: parksr5

When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 02:58 AM

While reading the "How Many More Years Of Racing You Got In Ya?" thread, it made me think, at what age did some of you start hurting or noticing your bodies starting to tell you that you were aging or that you've worked too hard for too long?

I'm about half the age as some of you on here but, I'm starting to feel stuff already and it concerns me a little. My index finger has been hurting me the last 6 or so months and I finally had a Dr. look at it, arthritis. What, I'm in my 30's, [censored]?

I worked manual labor jobs for about 8 or so years of my working life but, I've had a desk job for the past 16-17. I tinker with stuff all the time though, I'm re-doing my kitchen right now. I really think the arthritis in my finger is related to all the siding I cut by hand for my garage a few years ago.

There are a lot of guys that don't talk about stuff like this, so: I'm surprised when people do talk about it how many have issues.

So, when did your body start to let you ......?
Posted By: rickraw

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 03:13 AM

I’m 66, build Allison transmission’s for 22yrs, so things started aching when I was around 45. Right now my hands don’t work right when I get out of bed. About 15 mins their good to go, lol.
Posted By: Diplomat360

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 03:42 AM

You know...the stuff I still need each day works fine...maybe a little "creaky" (LOL), but things work.

However, I did have one of these "oh geez, this ain't no 20's or 30's anymore" days about 2 years ago, and I just turned 50 a month ago, so I was just shy of 48 at that time.

Each year my daughter and I do several good backcountry canoe trips...northern Ontario, lots of time in the water, but we do not shy from taking on a good portage, or doing a day-long climb/excursion off the beaten path, etc. Always an awesome time, and given that I have been doing this all my life I was only too happy to see my daughter take a liking to it on her own - meaning once the kids grew up and were no longer totally dependent on us for their vacations!

Well, we planned an awesome Lake Superior coastline trip, a week worth of backpacking actually, so no canoeing, all stuff on our backs. Like I said, given my experience doing this, we packed accordingly (light) and after an overnight stay at the Park campground we hit the trail. We knew this was going to be a tough walk, rocky, very un-even, uphill and downhil mix, all steep. Where things hit me like a boulder was when about 3/4 way there my knees just started to refuse to "obey the owner instructions"!!!

Umm...I say "go", but my legs don't want to, unless I am willing to put up with a [censored]-load of pain. I mean this felt serious, I could not walk, could not extend my leg in order to walk to be precise. So on the trail, we literally went from moving to me standing still in a matter of about 15-30 mins.

Luckily, a couple passed us on their way out of the park as they ran into equipment problems, they grabbed the site that was a mid-way point for us. I literally had NO choice but to crash at that location. Long story short (damn, already long as-is, sorry...), we had the Park Rangers run a patrol boat over to our location, they grabbed our packs and my daugher and I hobbled back to the Park campground. That was the longest walk OUT of the park.

My knees recovered over the next couple of weeks, but never got back to feeling "like new" ever since.

I may have hurt something, but no obvious damage that shows up. Still, I am extra careful in the garage now to make sure I don't get caught in a weird twisty stand where I put way too much pressure on my knees!

So yeah, that's my experience in "getting old".

BTW: as the Park Rangers saved my butt we came to discover that this particular trail is apparently in the Top-5 of All Canada Difficult Trails...not much consolation when you are all broken, but I'd be damned if I didn't do my research first into this and NOWHERE was there a warning anywhere to that effect. Anyways, for what it's worth, if it weren't for "old man knees" attack we would have been quite alright...everything else was moving along!
Posted By: jwb123

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 04:30 AM

Originally Posted by Diplomat360
You know...the stuff I still need each day works fine...maybe a little "creaky" (LOL), but things work.

However, I did have one of these "oh geez, this ain't no 20's or 30's anymore" days about 2 years ago, and I just turned 50 a month ago, so I was just shy of 48 at that time.

Each year my daughter and I do several good backcountry canoe trips...northern Ontario, lots of time in the water, but we do not shy from taking on a good portage, or doing a day-long climb/excursion off the beaten path, etc. Always an awesome time, and given that I have been doing this all my life I was only too happy to see my daughter take a liking to it on her own - meaning once the kids grew up and were no longer totally dependent on us for their vacations!

Well, we planned an awesome Lake Superior coastline trip, a week worth of backpacking actually, so no canoeing, all stuff on our backs. Like I said, given my experience doing this, we packed accordingly (light) and after an overnight stay at the Park campground we hit the trail. We knew this was going to be a tough walk, rocky, very un-even, uphill and downhil mix, all steep. Where things hit me like a boulder was when about 3/4 way there my knees just started to refuse to "obey the owner instructions"!!!

Umm...I say "go", but my legs don't want to, unless I am willing to put up with a [censored]-load of pain. I mean this felt serious, I could not walk, could not extend my leg in order to walk to be precise. So on the trail, we literally went from moving to me standing still in a matter of about 15-30 mins.

Luckily, a couple passed us on their way out of the park as they ran into equipment problems, they grabbed the site that was a mid-way point for us. I literally had NO choice but to crash at that location. Long story short (damn, already long as-is, sorry...), we had the Park Rangers run a patrol boat over to our location, they grabbed our packs and my daugher and I hobbled back to the Park campground. That was the longest walk OUT of the park.

My knees recovered over the next couple of weeks, but never got back to feeling "like new" ever since.

I may have hurt something, but no obvious damage that shows up. Still, I am extra careful in the garage now to make sure I don't get caught in a weird twisty stand where I put way too much pressure on my knees!

So yeah, that's my experience in "getting old".

BTW: as the Park Rangers saved my butt we came to discover that this particular trail is apparently in the Top-5 of All Canada Difficult Trails...not much consolation when you are all broken, but I'd be damned if I didn't do my research first into this and NOWHERE was there a warning anywhere to that effect. Anyways, for what it's worth, if it weren't for "old man knees" attack we would have been quite alright...everything else was moving along!


I am 65, worked as a mechanic, all my life, taught tech school for last 26 years and worked on the side the whole time. Got arthritis in my hands, neck, back, and feet. I still go to the boundary waters every summer with my son. And I still do portages, son carries the canoe, I carry a couple packs. Yes I have pain, but seems if I keep busy, I forget about it. I hurt a lot worse when I sit around. On vacation after several hours driving, I actually have a hard time getting out of the car. Last canoe trip we had to paddle against 20mph winds to get out. Three other canoes with us, I was the oldest, it was ruff, but my son and I kept up with all of the younger guys. Four hours to make it to the take out. Yes getting old sucks, but it beats the only other thing.
Posted By: dvw

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 04:55 AM

Was employed in the auto repair business from 1974 until this past Spring. What is pain? To me, it’s my body lying to me. I ignore it. Treat it like an itchy mosquito bite. It bugs you but forget about it. Fortunately at 67 I can still go out to my home shop and work on cars nearly everyday. Why? Because I like to.
Doug
Posted By: mgoblue9798

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 05:24 AM

Mine started at 23 due to a bad car accident. Fractured vertebraes and herniated disks. Followed by something called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) after I fell an broke my wrist at 38. That was hell on earth. That relapsed but was immediately followed by fibromyalgia that still persists. Another bad car wreck in 2017 with more back fractures and disc issues. Currently aggravated one of the discs and have nerve pain shooting down both arms. Gonna have to chill for a while and let that calm down. F*** it all.

I can't work all day like I used to, but am still able to do physical work for 2 to 4 hrs about half the time. I enjoy working with my hands, on the house and cars and am not going to stop. I do have to do things a little differently than I used to and use tools or help for the heavy lifting, but at least I am still able to do most things one way or another.

No matter how bad someone has it, someone out there is dealing with worse. Just have to go one day at a time and deal with the hand you are dealt in life.

Posted By: madscientist

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by parksr5
While reading the "How Many More Years Of Racing You Got In Ya?" thread, it made me think, at what age did some of you start hurting or noticing your bodies starting to tell you that you were aging or that you've worked too hard for too long?

I'm about half the age as some of you on here but, I'm starting to feel stuff already and it concerns me a little. My index finger has been hurting me the last 6 or so months and I finally had a Dr. look at it, arthritis. What, I'm in my 30's, [censored]?

I worked manual labor jobs for about 8 or so years of my working life but, I've had a desk job for the past 16-17. I tinker with stuff all the time though, I'm re-doing my kitchen right now. I really think the arthritis in my finger is related to all the siding I cut by hand for my garage a few years ago.

There are a lot of guys that don't talk about stuff like this, so: I'm surprised when people do talk about it how many have issues.

So, when did your body start to let you ......?



At your age (I’m assuming you were told you have osteoarthritis in the finger) I would do everything possible to rule out Rhumatoid arthritis. That stupid blood test they use (that was developed between the world wars) is wrong at least 50% of the time. You can be easily blood negative RA and still have it. And the longer it’s missed, the more damage it does. If you are fatigued a lot, if you get out of bed and have stiffness at all, if you get unexplained rashes, weird body temperature changes...stuff like that you can almost bet you have RA.

I know this because in 1982 I went into the Army and I had some fatigue and joint pain issues. And they just missed it. The funny thing is you can go for months or even years and you won’t have any symptoms and then out of nowhere you just have a bunch of bad days and you’re like [censored]?? Then one day, you just feel like crap and it doesn’t go away. I wasn’t actually diagnosed with RA until 2006. It never occurred to me until several years after the diagnosis that I had symptoms in the Army, so my doctor suggested I get a copy of all my medical records from them. Sure enough, when I looked at the, I said yep, sure did hit every indicator that I had RA, but like everyone else, they relied solely on that blood test and didn’t bother to stop and clinically diagnose it. All it takes is a short time on prednisone. If you get better you know it’s RA. If you don’t it’s something else. There are other ways to clinically diagnose it, but that’s a simple one.

By 2006 I couldn’t walk, drive or much anything else. Damn sure couldn’t hardly work. A 3 day week was good for me. And in that time I was doing about 40% of what I would regularly do. I had a buddy come pick me up and take me to the ER. That was the ONLY time I’ve ever been blood positive for RA.

If you do have it, you are much better off knowing it now and getting after it. It won’t go away and it won’t get better. And pray like hell you don’t have it.

Just my thoughts.
Posted By: 6PakBee

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 01:39 PM

I can't pick a spot on the calendar and say "yup, that's when it all went to hell". It creeps up on you. One day you find your self looking for a hand cart because you can't just carry something any more. You are digging out the engine hoist to lift something that used to be child's play. You buy one of those really big lighted magnifiers because you can't see. You can only sand so long before your hands ache. You find yourself taking more breaks to the point of falling asleep in a chair.

It just creeps up on you like age itself.
Posted By: mopar dave

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 01:49 PM

I would say at about 50 i started feeling some pain. Been in a big truck for 31 years now. First 11 years delivered milk and had to unload the whole 45' trailer 5 days a week. That's hard on your back. 4 more years til retirement, hope to skate right thru.
Posted By: mopars4ever

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 02:52 PM

Don`t really remember when was the last time I really felt good. Had to be some 30 years ago or so.
Posted By: gch

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 03:34 PM

Ruptured disc at 20, surgery. Ruptured same disc at 24, surgery with spinal fusion. 20 years of repetitive motion destroyed my right shoulder. It has been hard to throw a baseball or football overhanded since I was 40. I STILL DO IT ANYWAY ANYTIME MY KIDS WANT TO. Motorcycle wreck when I was 45 took the left shoulder for a ride. Car wreck when I was 50 took my hips out (especially my right one). Mad arthritis in my neck, shoulders, hips, and back.2019 I cut my left hand into the muscle of my palm and through the webbing around my thumb. Still have only partial use of my left thumb. I am 56 now and I am slower than I want to be and everything hurts every day but it doesn't matter. I get up and go to work and come home and play with my kids. I will deal with the pain tomorrow.
I can't lean over the fender and change spark plugs anymore but I know people who can lol.
Posted By: parksr5

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 03:49 PM

I appreciate everyone sharing their wisdom!

I take the same approach as some above, I try to take care of myself but, I ignore a lot of things when I'm working on stuff.

I've had type 1 diabetes for almost 30 years now and MS for 12-13. I'm thankful I don't have the same issues as many with MS. Most don't know I have any health issues unless I tell them; I can still run circles around some normal folk.

I know I most likely will not die an old man but, want to enjoy what I like to do as long as I can.

The RA comments may be something to look into. For my MS, I was on a drug that was really intended for RA but, I've been off of it for 2 years now. Maybe RA is a concern and the medication was just masking larger problems.

My body appears to like collecting auto immune diseases so; wouldn't shock me.
Posted By: polyspheric

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 04:07 PM

If you're planning a big project for "when you get the time", DON'T.
I thought the deterioration of strength, flexibility, coordination, etc. would be something like linear: after 50, lose 1% every year.
It's not.
There's a cliff just ahead of you, and you're going to fade away sharply sometime before 70.
I can't see, even up close, can't pick up an aspirin without flipping it across the room, can't carry a jack stand more than 50 feet. No, there's nothing wrong with me, just born 1945.

Do it while you still can.
Posted By: lancer493

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 04:59 PM

Polyspheric explained it well. It's a little more than linear. At 68 yrs old I can appreciate his words. Am working on my core muscles issue right now. It's an uphill battle but it is working. As you get older and you try to lift or carry heavy things like we always USED to, we start to compensate with other muscles and the body mechanics are wrong. Then comes stiffness and PAIN. Use it or lose it is so true. Just use it correctly. Exercise and eat well. I backslid and am paying for it now. Working on it as we speak, I just had to own up to not having an 8hr workday anymore. Make 2022 a different year! Good health to y'all!!! Bill
Posted By: cudaman1969

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by madscientist
Originally Posted by parksr5
While reading the "How Many More Years Of Racing You Got In Ya?" thread, it made me think, at what age did some of you start hurting or noticing your bodies starting to tell you that you were aging or that you've worked too hard for too long?

I'm about half the age as some of you on here but, I'm starting to feel stuff already and it concerns me a little. My index finger has been hurting me the last 6 or so months and I finally had a Dr. look at it, arthritis. What, I'm in my 30's, [censored]?

I worked manual labor jobs for about 8 or so years of my working life but, I've had a desk job for the past 16-17. I tinker with stuff all the time though, I'm re-doing my kitchen right now. I really think the arthritis in my finger is related to all the siding I cut by hand for my garage a few years ago.

There are a lot of guys that don't talk about stuff like this, so: I'm surprised when people do talk about it how many have issues.

So, when did your body start to let you ......?



At your age (I’m assuming you were told you have osteoarthritis in the finger) I would do everything possible to rule out Rhumatoid arthritis. That stupid blood test they use (that was developed between the world wars) is wrong at least 50% of the time. You can be easily blood negative RA and still have it. And the longer it’s missed, the more damage it does. If you are fatigued a lot, if you get out of bed and have stiffness at all, if you get unexplained rashes, weird body temperature changes...stuff like that you can almost bet you have RA.

I know this because in 1982 I went into the Army and I had some fatigue and joint pain issues. And they just missed it. The funny thing is you can go for months or even years and you won’t have any symptoms and then out of nowhere you just have a bunch of bad days and you’re like [censored]?? Then one day, you just feel like crap and it doesn’t go away. I wasn’t actually diagnosed with RA until 2006. It never occurred to me until several years after the diagnosis that I had symptoms in the Army, so my doctor suggested I get a copy of all my medical records from them. Sure enough, when I looked at the, I said yep, sure did hit every indicator that I had RA, but like everyone else, they relied solely on that blood test and didn’t bother to stop and clinically diagnose it. All it takes is a short time on prednisone. If you get better you know it’s RA. If you don’t it’s something else. There are other ways to clinically diagnose it, but that’s a simple one.

By 2006 I couldn’t walk, drive or much anything else. Damn sure couldn’t hardly work. A 3 day week was good for me. And in that time I was doing about 40% of what I would regularly do. I had a buddy come pick me up and take me to the ER. That was the ONLY time I’ve ever been blood positive for RA.

If you do have it, you are much better off knowing it now and getting after it. It won’t go away and it won’t get better. And pray like hell you don’t have it.

Just my thoughts.

I’m thinking you hit the nail on the head for me, all those symptoms I have for maybe 6-8 years now. I’ve burned up the internet looking for a cause always thinking vascular problems but with tests they all cleared.(did have a stent put in the lower aorta 4 years ago). Some days I feel like a tuck run over me, my legs are the worst can’t pick my feet up and stumble over lent and I’ve fell 3-4 times this year alone. First of the week I’ll call to get checked with my primary doc. Thanks in a way, btw I’m 72 and still working but getting slower
Where did you get the prednisone?
Update, found some in my cabinet stash (2004 but looks good)
Posted By: Al_Alguire

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 05:27 PM

In high school smile Injuries from sports then are probably my biggest issue now at 57. In addition to being diabetic. But my years of sports and military injuries as well as the nature of my working career certainly have me a bit creaky in the morning. I have a few things that require surgery to fix but I prefer to stay as far from the OR as possible. The downfall of being married to someone who is in there daily I suppose.
Posted By: 451Mopar

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 06:02 PM

Depends how much damage you did earlier in life.
For me I was still pretty active at 50, but by 55, I slowed down quite a bit.
I think it was more mental than physical because of all my wifes health problems and taking care of her.
Did physical therapy this year for the arthritis in my shoulder that I broke back when I was 20. That helped alot.
Presbyopia (old age eyes) make it harder to focus on items close up.
Posted By: moparx

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 06:30 PM

i started to have pain in my 20's, and after MANY years and many doctor visits later, with nothing concrete diagnosed, mr. "tough guy" [me grin] just gave up and learned to live with it.
after i got married, my wife talked me into doctor visits to figure out what was REALLY wrong with me [don't start..... laugh2].
after many years, i was finally diagnosed with MS, and apparently, it had started WAY earlier in my life, but i just ignored it.
so being old now, pain is just something i look forward to every day. no big deal anymore.
it has also been noted by someone else's response, my motto for years has been : "no matter how bad i have it, there is someone out there that has it worse !"
i just play the cards that were dealt, and hope i can get my junk to at least run around the block before i croak !
someone stopped by this past summer and asked what i was doing. i told him : "i'm getting ready for the estate sale !" biggrin
beer
Posted By: CMcAllister

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 06:38 PM

If it wasn't for Move Free Ultra, I'd be in bad (worse?) shape
Posted By: moparx

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 06:54 PM

my old man always said : "get a bag fulla' quarters and back up next to the a$$ kickin' machine !"
i almost need to do that every day, just to get started ! laugh2 [although he had other meaning[s] for that remark. whistling]
beer
Posted By: J_BODY

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 06:57 PM

Haven’t skated or snow boarded in 12 years….. adulting sucks! My dad hung up the car thing back in 2012 at 68. Was just getting too hard for him to crawl around the car. I’ve been an auto tech like forever and my biggest downfall the last 3 years has been my addiction to laziness. I REALLY need to get back on an exercise regiment, and scale back my all natural diet of craft beer and hot wings smile. I just flipped the 55 card so I gotta take care of the best tool I’ve got for making $$$, my well being. Easier said than done… happy new year!
Posted By: bobby66

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 07:13 PM

61 year old industrial mechanic. I can still do a hard days work but I don't want to do anything when I get home. Moving from 12 hour shifts to 8's soon, that should help. wrench
Posted By: mgoblue9798

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 12/31/21 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by J_BODY
Haven’t skated or snow boarded in 12 years….. adulting sucks! My dad hung up the car thing back in 2012 at 68. Was just getting too hard for him to crawl around the car. I’ve been an auto tech like forever and my biggest downfall the last 3 years has been my addiction to laziness. I REALLY need to get back on an exercise regiment, and scale back my all natural diet of craft beer and hot wings smile. I just flipped the 55 card so I gotta take care of the best tool I’ve got for making $$$, my well being. Easier said than done… happy new year!


I just bought an I beam with a trolley and winch to put in my shop. My joke (kinda) is that it is there to help me pull my [censored] up off the shop floor when needed.
Posted By: 6PakBee

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/01/22 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by mgoblue9798
Originally Posted by J_BODY
Haven’t skated or snow boarded in 12 years….. adulting sucks! My dad hung up the car thing back in 2012 at 68. Was just getting too hard for him to crawl around the car. I’ve been an auto tech like forever and my biggest downfall the last 3 years has been my addiction to laziness. I REALLY need to get back on an exercise regiment, and scale back my all natural diet of craft beer and hot wings smile. I just flipped the 55 card so I gotta take care of the best tool I’ve got for making $$$, my well being. Easier said than done… happy new year!


I just bought an I beam with a trolley and winch to put in my shop. My joke (kinda) is that it is there to help me pull my [censored] up off the shop floor when needed.


LOL! I put a one ton jib crane with an electric hoist in my shop for the same reason!
Posted By: slantzilla

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/01/22 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by bobby66
61 year old industrial mechanic. I can still do a hard days work but I don't want to do anything when I get home. Moving from 12 hour shifts to 8's soon, that should help. wrench


I'm 63 and did the 12 hour days 6 days a week for 15 years, the last 10 as an industrial mechanic. Dec. 1 I started a 40 hour a week job working on little robots. I never realized how bad that 12 hour stuff was killing me. 40 hours is like being retired.

Hope it works for you too.
Posted By: KD800X

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/01/22 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by parksr5
While reading the "How Many More Years Of Racing You Got In Ya?" thread, it made me think, at what age did some of you start hurting or noticing your bodies starting to tell you that you were aging or that you've worked too hard for too long?

I'm about half the age as some of you on here but, I'm starting to feel stuff already and it concerns me a little. My index finger has been hurting me the last 6 or so months and I finally had a Dr. look at it, arthritis. What, I'm in my 30's, [censored]?

I worked manual labor jobs for about 8 or so years of my working life but, I've had a desk job for the past 16-17. I tinker with stuff all the time though, I'm re-doing my kitchen right now. I really think the arthritis in my finger is related to all the siding I cut by hand for my garage a few years ago.

There are a lot of guys that don't talk about stuff like this, so: I'm surprised when people do talk about it how many have issues.

So, when did your body start to let you ......?



I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis when I was 31. All I can tell you don't stop searching until you find an answer, Hurting at 30 is not normal!
Posted By: MarkZ

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/01/22 02:19 AM

Posted By: bobby66

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/01/22 03:41 AM

Originally Posted by slantzilla
Originally Posted by bobby66
61 year old industrial mechanic. I can still do a hard days work but I don't want to do anything when I get home. Moving from 12 hour shifts to 8's soon, that should help. wrench


I'm 63 and did the 12 hour days 6 days a week for 15 years, the last 10 as an industrial mechanic. Dec. 1 I started a 40 hour a week job working on little robots. I never realized how bad that 12 hour stuff was killing me. 40 hours is like being retired.

Hope it works for you too.


up
Posted By: madscientist

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/01/22 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by cudaman1969
Originally Posted by madscientist
Originally Posted by parksr5
While reading the "How Many More Years Of Racing You Got In Ya?" thread, it made me think, at what age did some of you start hurting or noticing your bodies starting to tell you that you were aging or that you've worked too hard for too long?

I'm about half the age as some of you on here but, I'm starting to feel stuff already and it concerns me a little. My index finger has been hurting me the last 6 or so months and I finally had a Dr. look at it, arthritis. What, I'm in my 30's, [censored]?

I worked manual labor jobs for about 8 or so years of my working life but, I've had a desk job for the past 16-17. I tinker with stuff all the time though, I'm re-doing my kitchen right now. I really think the arthritis in my finger is related to all the siding I cut by hand for my garage a few years ago.

There are a lot of guys that don't talk about stuff like this, so: I'm surprised when people do talk about it how many have issues.

So, when did your body start to let you ......?



At your age (I’m assuming you were told you have osteoarthritis in the finger) I would do everything possible to rule out Rhumatoid arthritis. That stupid blood test they use (that was developed between the world wars) is wrong at least 50% of the time. You can be easily blood negative RA and still have it. And the longer it’s missed, the more damage it does. If you are fatigued a lot, if you get out of bed and have stiffness at all, if you get unexplained rashes, weird body temperature changes...stuff like that you can almost bet you have RA.

I know this because in 1982 I went into the Army and I had some fatigue and joint pain issues. And they just missed it. The funny thing is you can go for months or even years and you won’t have any symptoms and then out of nowhere you just have a bunch of bad days and you’re like [censored]?? Then one day, you just feel like crap and it doesn’t go away. I wasn’t actually diagnosed with RA until 2006. It never occurred to me until several years after the diagnosis that I had symptoms in the Army, so my doctor suggested I get a copy of all my medical records from them. Sure enough, when I looked at the, I said yep, sure did hit every indicator that I had RA, but like everyone else, they relied solely on that blood test and didn’t bother to stop and clinically diagnose it. All it takes is a short time on prednisone. If you get better you know it’s RA. If you don’t it’s something else. There are other ways to clinically diagnose it, but that’s a simple one.

By 2006 I couldn’t walk, drive or much anything else. Damn sure couldn’t hardly work. A 3 day week was good for me. And in that time I was doing about 40% of what I would regularly do. I had a buddy come pick me up and take me to the ER. That was the ONLY time I’ve ever been blood positive for RA.

If you do have it, you are much better off knowing it now and getting after it. It won’t go away and it won’t get better. And pray like hell you don’t have it.

Just my thoughts.

I’m thinking you hit the nail on the head for me, all those symptoms I have for maybe 6-8 years now. I’ve burned up the internet looking for a cause always thinking vascular problems but with tests they all cleared.(did have a stent put in the lower aorta 4 years ago). Some days I feel like a tuck run over me, my legs are the worst can’t pick my feet up and stumble over lent and I’ve fell 3-4 times this year alone. First of the week I’ll call to get checked with my primary doc. Thanks in a way, btw I’m 72 and still working but getting slower
Where did you get the prednisone?
Update, found some in my cabinet stash (2004 but looks good)



Be careful with prednisone. Since you already have some you probably already know the side affects of it but for anyone else reading this I’ll outline a few. Number ONE for me is it made me a cranky [censored]. Everything set me off. Another one was eating. It made me eat anything that I could find. And with that comes weight gain. The pounds went on so fast I couldn’t believe it. I was 210 when I started on it and 242 six weeks later. That’s how long I was on it. Then my doctor said ok, let’s start some other treatments and by the way, that weight HAS to come off and I want you to get to 200. I can tell you that that was 2006 and I’m still not to 200 yet. I hover at 208-215. Going from 242 back down to 220 was a real PITA. It took 16 months to lose that weight. Went on quick, came off slow. And I worked at it.

There are a couple of other side effects with any steroid like that that I can’t think of, but those were the two worst for me. So I’d see your doctor before you went back on it. And don’t let any doctor tell you that you are blood negative for RA so you don’t have it. That test is pretty much junk.

One last thing. If you do have RA and you start getting treated for it you’ll very quickly learn how many people actually have every RA symptom but don’t know they have it. I have correctly diagnosed 5 different people I know with RA just by looking at them and hearing their symptoms. Also, many doctors who believe the blood test when it comes up negative will call what is really RA fibromyalgia. And it’s not. In my opinion, very few people have fibromyalgia. There is a form of RA (I forget what it’s called because there are many types of RA including ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis and many others) where the immune system attacks the thin lining between the muscle and the bone. And that gets called fibromyalgia when it’s not. People think the pain is in the muscle but it’s in that thin lining.

To wrap up this long post, it’s borderline criminal how far behind medicine is on RA and it’s related diseases. It’s almost borderline criminal how often it’s misdiagnosed. So if you have joints that hum (I can tell you there are times when my joints hurt so bad it feels like my joints are tuning forks that vibrate), hot joints, swollen joints or when you hurt everywhere but you know it’s not muscle pain because you know what that feels like it’s almost always some form of RA. The sooner it gets treated the less joint damage you’ll have, plus you get ahead of all the ancillary stuff you get with RA like heart disease, rapid eye sight changes (I literally got up one day, went to work and couldn’t read my micrometers and it was over night...I had to run to the Dollar Store and buy a pair of readers and that pissed me off because I hadn’t been diagnosed yet and had no idea why that happened) and organ damage.

RA is a horrible disease and I’m pretty passionate about getting the word out there any chance I get because of how long I went undiagnosed and misdiagnosed.
Posted By: moparacer

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/01/22 03:29 PM

Right around 45 things started going downhill for me.....Started out aching here and there, then got to be an everyday thing and I started to realize old age might not be very kind to me. Just the hour drive to the track gimps me up bad enough I hobble around for 10 minutes getting loosened up again. Eyesight started going to crap too. Really great trying to cut a light with eye floaters bothering you too I might add. hammer

Here about 3 or 4 years ago I had enough of feeling like crap and hurting all the time so I decided I would eat healthy lose weight and get back in shape. I went from a 245 lbs. unhealthy mess to 180 lbs and felt 100 percent better, and a lot of the back and leg pain went away. I know its hard to do but losing weight and eating right is 100 percent guaranteed to make a difference. Needless to say I got away from it and gained some weight back and right on cue I am gimped up and sickly again.

Have to get back on track here and Ill try something like that again before I start popping pills.
Posted By: cudaman1969

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/01/22 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by madscientist
Originally Posted by cudaman1969
Originally Posted by madscientist
Originally Posted by parksr5
While reading the "How Many More Years Of Racing You Got In Ya?" thread, it made me think, at what age did some of you start hurting or noticing your bodies starting to tell you that you were aging or that you've worked too hard for too long?

I'm about half the age as some of you on here but, I'm starting to feel stuff already and it concerns me a little. My index finger has been hurting me the last 6 or so months and I finally had a Dr. look at it, arthritis. What, I'm in my 30's, [censored]?

I worked manual labor jobs for about 8 or so years of my working life but, I've had a desk job for the past 16-17. I tinker with stuff all the time though, I'm re-doing my kitchen right now. I really think the arthritis in my finger is related to all the siding I cut by hand for my garage a few years ago.

There are a lot of guys that don't talk about stuff like this, so: I'm surprised when people do talk about it how many have issues.

So, when did your body start to let you ......?



At your age (I’m assuming you were told you have osteoarthritis in the finger) I would do everything possible to rule out Rhumatoid arthritis. That stupid blood test they use (that was developed between the world wars) is wrong at least 50% of the time. You can be easily blood negative RA and still have it. And the longer it’s missed, the more damage it does. If you are fatigued a lot, if you get out of bed and have stiffness at all, if you get unexplained rashes, weird body temperature changes...stuff like that you can almost bet you have RA.

I know this because in 1982 I went into the Army and I had some fatigue and joint pain issues. And they just missed it. The funny thing is you can go for months or even years and you won’t have any symptoms and then out of nowhere you just have a bunch of bad days and you’re like [censored]?? Then one day, you just feel like crap and it doesn’t go away. I wasn’t actually diagnosed with RA until 2006. It never occurred to me until several years after the diagnosis that I had symptoms in the Army, so my doctor suggested I get a copy of all my medical records from them. Sure enough, when I looked at the, I said yep, sure did hit every indicator that I had RA, but like everyone else, they relied solely on that blood test and didn’t bother to stop and clinically diagnose it. All it takes is a short time on prednisone. If you get better you know it’s RA. If you don’t it’s something else. There are other ways to clinically diagnose it, but that’s a simple one.

By 2006 I couldn’t walk, drive or much anything else. Damn sure couldn’t hardly work. A 3 day week was good for me. And in that time I was doing about 40% of what I would regularly do. I had a buddy come pick me up and take me to the ER. That was the ONLY time I’ve ever been blood positive for RA.

If you do have it, you are much better off knowing it now and getting after it. It won’t go away and it won’t get better. And pray like hell you don’t have it.

Just my thoughts.

I’m thinking you hit the nail on the head for me, all those symptoms I have for maybe 6-8 years now. I’ve burned up the internet looking for a cause always thinking vascular problems but with tests they all cleared.(did have a stent put in the lower aorta 4 years ago). Some days I feel like a tuck run over me, my legs are the worst can’t pick my feet up and stumble over lent and I’ve fell 3-4 times this year alone. First of the week I’ll call to get checked with my primary doc. Thanks in a way, btw I’m 72 and still working but getting slower
Where did you get the prednisone?
Update, found some in my cabinet stash (2004 but looks good)



Be careful with prednisone. Since you already have some you probably already know the side affects of it but for anyone else reading this I’ll outline a few. Number ONE for me is it made me a cranky [censored]. Everything set me off. Another one was eating. It made me eat anything that I could find. And with that comes weight gain. The pounds went on so fast I couldn’t believe it. I was 210 when I started on it and 242 six weeks later. That’s how long I was on it. Then my doctor said ok, let’s start some other treatments and by the way, that weight HAS to come off and I want you to get to 200. I can tell you that that was 2006 and I’m still not to 200 yet. I hover at 208-215. Going from 242 back down to 220 was a real PITA. It took 16 months to lose that weight. Went on quick, came off slow. And I worked at it.

There are a couple of other side effects with any steroid like that that I can’t think of, but those were the two worst for me. So I’d see your doctor before you went back on it. And don’t let any doctor tell you that you are blood negative for RA so you don’t have it. That test is pretty much junk.

One last thing. If you do have RA and you start getting treated for it you’ll very quickly learn how many people actually have every RA symptom but don’t know they have it. I have correctly diagnosed 5 different people I know with RA just by looking at them and hearing their symptoms. Also, many doctors who believe the blood test when it comes up negative will call what is really RA fibromyalgia. And it’s not. In my opinion, very few people have fibromyalgia. There is a form of RA (I forget what it’s called because there are many types of RA including ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis and many others) where the immune system attacks the thin lining between the muscle and the bone. And that gets called fibromyalgia when it’s not. People think the pain is in the muscle but it’s in that thin lining.

To wrap up this long post, it’s borderline criminal how far behind medicine is on RA and it’s related diseases. It’s almost borderline criminal how often it’s misdiagnosed. So if you have joints that hum (I can tell you there are times when my joints hurt so bad it feels like my joints are tuning forks that vibrate), hot joints, swollen joints or when you hurt everywhere but you know it’s not muscle pain because you know what that feels like it’s almost always some form of RA. The sooner it gets treated the less joint damage you’ll have, plus you get ahead of all the ancillary stuff you get with RA like heart disease, rapid eye sight changes (I literally got up one day, went to work and couldn’t read my micrometers and it was over night...I had to run to the Dollar Store and buy a pair of readers and that pissed me off because I hadn’t been diagnosed yet and had no idea why that happened) and organ damage.

RA is a horrible disease and I’m pretty passionate about getting the word out there any chance I get because of how long I went undiagnosed and misdiagnosed.

I’m hearing you, making appointment Monday. My older sister has the psoriasis bad now for 8-10 years she can hardly walk at times. I have that tingly thing you described too, like something moving just under the skin at the upper leg-gorin spot in left leg and pain in same spot on the right side (can’t cross my leg). I got the pills for poison ivy iirr. I feel a little better this morning but had heartburn and couldn’t sleep to good but I can handle that if I get back to moving around better, btw I did read up on side affects, always do on all drugs prescribed to me.
Posted By: mgoblue9798

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/01/22 06:52 PM

This is my mentality for dealing with it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmInkxbvlCs
black knight
Posted By: 1990A

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/02/22 03:42 AM

I made it to my mid 30's before racking up the hard miles caught up with me and i had a hip replacement at 37 but hey i feel great now that i have some replacement parts and back to full speed still dong stupid things
Posted By: Dabee

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/02/22 05:15 AM

Things started going down hill at 72 for me. Sold the race are thee years ago because I wasn’t consistent on the tree anymore. That didn’t stop me I’ve built three street rods since then. I started a fourth one last month. Almost have the new frame fabrication completed. Finished the engine assembly two days ago. I’m 77 now. The secret is don’t stop, keep doing what you enjoy but at a slower pace. I still spend at least six hours a day in my shop.
Posted By: dart games

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/02/22 10:16 AM

at 62 i been a truck mechanic all my life.for the most part in good shape.walk everyday 2 miles.lift weights.keep active.but my hands had corpal tunnel bad.so another gig came up at work.less money all i do is pick up and deliver truck.my corpal tunnel went way down.still there but in a small amount.i love drag racing.but with everything gone up.im only can do it once or twice a year.i have a street car which i take out everyday.its like bring back my youth and fills the void of the drag car
Posted By: gregsdart

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/02/22 03:04 PM

Knees replaced in 04 and 05, heart surgery in 04. Operation on my back in 17, took over six months to recover. Carpel tunnel both wrists in the late 90s. PTSD since 1970, agent orange a big part of health issues. The God Lord has kept me sober for 41 years, which has kept me alive and somewhat functional.
Posted By: merpar

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/02/22 03:58 PM

Dabee, You nailed it. Don't stop, keep working , stay very active. At 78 I try to put 5-6 hrs a day out in the shop and still enjoy it. Except crawling around on the floor had the floor painted before I moved into it best thing I've done to any of my shops. Have a good friend's 68' satelite station wagon in my shop right now. Built a 457" - 383 for it and rebuilt a torque flite for it. My son put a Holly sniper on it. Great car. Now building a 390" 318 for a Dodge Dakota. Would love to tear all the computer junk out of it. But I may not have time left to finish it. Moral of the story! Use what you have. God has blessed me with good health and I try to glorify him every day by staying active and staying in the Word. As for old age, Try to look at it as entertaining.
Posted By: Kiddart

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/02/22 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by dvw
Was employed in the auto repair business from 1974 until this past Spring. What is pain? To me, it’s my body lying to me. I ignore it. Treat it like an itchy mosquito bite. It bugs you but forget about it. Fortunately at 67 I can still go out to my home shop and work on cars nearly everyday. Why? Because I like to.
Doug


I agree with DVW, that's how i take my aches and pains. I was a program manager and traveled around the country and other countries installing body shops for all the big three. I have since left that profession behind me and slowed way down and entered the sales side of the business. I just get up every morning thank god to be alive, stretch and go about my day. still can roll around on the garage floor or be under my lift working on something. I am doing good at 54. My aches all started in my early 20's.

Pain is just weakness leaving the body!!

Happy New year everyone!!
Posted By: CSK

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/02/22 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by moparx
i started to have pain in my 20's, and after MANY years and many doctor visits later, with nothing concrete diagnosed, mr. "tough guy" [me grin] just gave up and learned to live with it.
after i got married, my wife talked me into doctor visits to figure out what was REALLY wrong with me [don't start..... laugh2].
after many years, i was finally diagnosed with MS, and apparently, it had started WAY earlier in my life, but i just ignored it.
so being old now, pain is just something i look forward to every day. no big deal anymore.
it has also been noted by someone else's response, my motto for years has been : "no matter how bad i have it, there is someone out there that has it worse !"
i just play the cards that were dealt, and hope i can get my junk to at least run around the block before i croak !
someone stopped by this past summer and asked what i was doing. i told him : "i'm getting ready for the estate sale !" biggrin
beer



As you know we both struggle with Multiple Sclerosis , it all started in my 20's also, took till 49 to find out what was really wrong with me, I worked my a$$ off as a mechanic until I was 50, had to retire early, building my 68 Charger has kept me going, giving me a purpose to keep going, am very slow getting things done on it , some days I can work for a couple of hours some days I cant even move, it is what it is, LOL, all that said I am very grateful for my life & the things I have gotten to do,,,, NOT done yet smile
Posted By: moparx

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/02/22 07:57 PM

yes sir Charlie, it always feels good to get stuff done, even if it takes forever !
a couple of days ago, my hip doc said i had gotten more than my money's worth out of my left hip, and if i didn't get that thing replaced as soon as he can get me in, i will REALLY be in deep sh$t !!!
it seems the socket is totally gone, and ball portion is just like a pencil point.
he said he can fix it with a little more effort than it normally takes, but if i go too much longer, when it IS fixed, my left leg may be an inch or so shorter because he will have to cut off more bone than necessary.
so now i'm waiting for the hospital to call with the date. i'm sure it will be a few weeks or next month, but i'm in the process of making a roll around engine dolly that will have my 446 supported by the oil pan rail. i know that's not necessarily the best, but it's going to be WAY better than the shopping cart it is now on.
i have four 5" heavy duty swivel casters to put on the bottom of this thing, so it will travel much better than the shopping cart wheels.
i'll post a pic when i'm done, and have my engine on it.
i will be able to bolt on the transmission, so it won't be any trouble to fab up a support for it to supplement the engine dolly.
as you said, i as well, am grateful for the things i can still do, and i as well, "ain't done yet !! " wrench penguin boogie up
beer
Posted By: cudaman1969

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/02/22 08:04 PM

And once one thing goes other things follow. Before Medicare I had one doc, 7 years later, 9 and looking at more, they pass you around like a party ‘lady’
Posted By: Al_Alguire

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/03/22 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by cudaman1969
Before Medicare I had one doc, 7 years later, 9 and looking at more, they pass you around like a party ‘lady’


Sounds just like military medicine, which just gets worse as a retiree. Why we have a "concierge" Doc. We pay him a cash fee monthly and have all the access anyone could ever want. Anything we need a text, email, or call gets it handled. When we see him we get an hour block of time and spend as much time talking sports and families as we do medical issues. We of course have TONS of insurance. Military and private but we prefer to use him as its a better experience for everyone. I don't even use insurance for most tests, its amazing how cheap some stuff can be in the medical field if you pay cash.
Posted By: 69dart

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/04/22 05:10 PM

Diet is a huge part of how you feel and American diets are among the worst in the world. If your body is aching I would suggest doing some research to learn how to eat healthier for a week or a month and see how you feel. My wife and I both got health coaches thru a program at work and we both learned so much. She was on the verge of knee surgery and my shoulder was wrecked. Adjusting your diet to fight inflammation can have amazing results. Stay away from ibuprofen unless its absolutely needed. Long term it just makes pain worse.

Lots of green veggies, avoid starches (taters &rice), avoid sugars, avoid DIET drinks and most of all avoid PROCESSED FOOD. Its amazing what small changes like this can do.

I have a sweet tooth so its hard for me to cut out sugars but I just try to better today than yesterday.
Posted By: hysteric

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 01/04/22 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by 69dart
Diet is a huge part of how you feel and American diets are among the worst in the world. If your body is aching I would suggest doing some research to learn how to eat healthier for a week or a month and see how you feel. My wife and I both got health coaches thru a program at work and we both learned so much. She was on the verge of knee surgery and my shoulder was wrecked. Adjusting your diet to fight inflammation can have amazing results. Stay away from ibuprofen unless its absolutely needed. Long term it just makes pain worse.

Lots of green veggies, avoid starches (taters &rice), avoid sugars, avoid DIET drinks and most of all avoid PROCESSED FOOD. Its amazing what small changes like this can do.

I have a sweet tooth so its hard for me to cut out sugars but I just try to better today than yesterday.



This! Look up a guy by the name of Ray Peat. He's been talking about this stuff for decades and knows the science better than anyone I've come across. Processed foods contain a lot of vegetable oils known as "PUFA "(Poly Unsaturated fatty Acids) that create inflammation in the body and ruin your metabolism which clearly explains the obesity problem in your country. It also ruins sugar metabolism which is your bodies preferred energy source and not the enemy like the main stream media makes it out to be.

The 3 big killers in the US today are Cancer, Heart Disease and Mal Practice. Yes that 3rd one is doctors.........Think about that one. Malpractice 3rd biggest killer

Take aspirin as it works systemically not only to lower inflammation but it also improves metabolism and has broad based positive health affects. Its cheap and very effective with no side effects. There's a reason it prolongs life.

Aspirin prolongs life
Posted By: cudaman1969

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 02/08/22 05:40 PM

Went last Thursday to the RA doc, he listened well then said since the Predisone worked good he gave me two shots of Cimzia in the stomach. Getting two more in 14 days then 2 more in 14 days after that. We’ll see how that works.
Posted By: 11secdart

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 02/08/22 05:53 PM

I have been fighting arthritis for many years now and am getting nowhere with pain management doctors, physical therapy isn't helping. I just got out of the hospital yesterday after an overnight stay for groin pain and low blood pressure. Groin pain turned out to be an infection and another kidney stone coming out and the low blood pressure was due to my blood pressure medicine. Being treated with anti -biotics and hoping the stone dislodges itself soon.
Posted By: moparx

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 02/08/22 06:30 PM

like the saying goes : "getting old ain't for pu$$ies ! " ......... biggrin
april 7th i go in for a hip replacement. that thing hurts so bad now, and has been for years, i told the doc the worse he could do to me was kill me.
i think i got my money's worth out of it. laugh2
beer
Posted By: rickraw

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 02/08/22 09:54 PM

Bottom line, we are wearing out.
Posted By: cudaman1969

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 02/08/22 11:22 PM

That’s in the design, I read or heard our DNA turns us off after so many cycles of regeneration when we were cloned a long time ago.
Posted By: CSK

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 02/09/22 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by rickraw
Bottom line, we are wearing out.


WORN out LOL
Posted By: dart games

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 02/09/22 01:30 AM

at 61,was a mechanic up untill a year ago.all my life since age 16.i choosed a driving job at my work.for half the pay of picking up and delivering trucks at a truck dealership.had corppel tunnel real bad in hands,now after a year dont feel it as muck,i walk 2 miles a day for 15 years now and lift weight.never been sick dont smoke or drink.feel good but have days not so good
Posted By: actionange

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 02/09/22 02:50 PM

Arthritis started 20 years ago. Hands especially. Some parts removed- gall bladder, melanoma tumor in my back. Had a knee replaced 8 years ago. Pain in the ass taking off a Dsuz fastened fiberglass hood and trunk on my Coronet, not to mention climing over the roll cage.
Still want to race so a new Dart with swingout bar and a hinged hood and trunk. Should be easier and more fun again.
I’m 67 years old.
Posted By: moparx

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 02/09/22 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by csk
Originally Posted by rickraw
Bottom line, we are wearing out.


WORN out LOL


HAHAHA ! i asked my doc if i could get a grease zerk added to my hip replacement so i could lube it when needed.
he looked at me like i had 5 eyes.......... realcrazy
add in other health issues, and it's truly amazing CSK and i can even get around. laugh2
however, no matter how bad i have it, someone else out there is WORSE off than i. THAT is the guy i pray for, not ME.
beer
Posted By: tubtar

Re: When Did You Start To Hurt? - 02/09/22 06:49 PM

63 years young.
Some mornings I feel north of 80 , but once I get moving that can drop to as low as 40.
Given the years of abuse I have put this meat machine through , I am probably doing as well as can be expected.
But the decline has been noticeable for the last five or so , and it isn't that rapid.
It is the mental battle that is the toughest.
You go your whole life with a cape gently blowing in the breeze behind you , as you stand on the mountain top........sun setting behind you.
Then.............. POW ..............someone sides up to you with a bag of kryptonite.
Still beats the alternative.
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