This is my last year in my 60’s and I have to say, I’m feeling every one of those years. Today, I’ll give you an update on my two hip surgeries, where I am now and how hard it is to navigate health as we get older. Whew, it’s a full time job, isn’t it? That’s how it feels to me. Overall, I’m healing up fine, but I’ll get into more particulars below and maybe we can commiserate together in this aging journey we are all on. I’m grateful for the life I have, but the aging body is no joke!
{Really loving these (affiliate link) workout pants, I ordered Med Tall and they fit me perfectly. Not as tight as many spandex pants are & they are comfy!}
This is how I look a lot of days, as I’m usually trying to get in some exercise 5 days a week. I was on a good roll before my second surgery, going to the gym 3 days a week (lifting weights and riding the stationary bike) and walking 2 days a week. I’ve also got a yoga mat at home as well as 5 lb. weights, so if I’m at home and don’t get out, I can attempt to do some weight work and stretching. That plan doesn’t always happen, but I can do something. I’ve saved some simple step workouts too that I’ve found on Instagram and I’ve done those a few times. They show a full body working using stairs or moving my feet on a flat surface. I’m also trying to stretch every morning when I get up, for my back and hips. I’m walking about 3 miles when I walk, but haven’t gone too high on steps yet. I don’t adhere to the 10,000 steps a day routine, like we hear about all the time. I have no idea where that started, but if I go to the gym and work out and ride the bike or walk on the treadmill, I’m not going to worry about getting 10,000 steps in. I just do my thing and it is what it is.
I’m 4 months out from my 2nd hip surgery and it’s healing well, but I do have what seems to be sciatica in my lower back down into that buttocks. I’ve been working on it and hopefully it will calm down eventually. It’s been like this since January, although it doesn’t hurt all the time, but it eases up some and then comes back. That is definitely frustrating, as I try to keep up with my exercises and stay active. That’s important for my overall health and healing. I’ve gone back to the chiropractor, doing ice and heat, a heating/massage pad I bought to try, and got a massage last week. Epsom salts soak in the tub. Nothing has completely helped, but I won’t give up. I’m determined to get back to a mostly normal life again. Health issues can certainly take over at times and slow us down, but the healing process after surgery is definitely a thing. You can’t rush it and you just have to be patient and let it heal at its own pace.
So that’s an update on where I am now in my healing journey from hip surgeries. My doctor has told me it takes a year to completely heal from this surgery, so I can see I have a ways to go on the second one. It has taken a little longer to heal than the first. I can still feel little tweaks of pain in that leg and I can tell it’s still weaker, but I had that in the other leg too and it got much better at 6 months. Everyone is different in surgeries, so my journey might not be the same as yours or anyone else who has gone through this. If I can get this back issue feeling better, I’ll be so happy! I’ve had back issues for 30 years and it’s all been manageable for me to deal with and exercise has been key to just keep it moving and limber. I have scoliosis and also spondylolisthesis, a really long name that means lower vertebra slippage in the lumbar spine. I deal with it and I’m sure this will heal up and get better with time. I’ll go back to my doctor’s office in a few weeks and I’ll be talking to him about the sciatica. Some days I feel pretty darn good and other days it’s more painful. I’m thinking about getting a rebounder for home, as that is something I can jump on for 10 minutes when I can’t get outside or go to the gym and I’ve heard the benefits are really good for low impact on the joints. There’s also those vibration plates that are all the rage. Let me know if you use any of these and like them. There are so many gadgets out there now!
I’ve been focused on healing the last 8 months, so everything else has sort of taken a backseat. I still have high cholesterol and I’m taking supplements and eating foods to try to get that down again. I’ve done it before and I think I can do it again, but regardless, I’ll never take a statin. That is something I’ve landed on in the last few years after reading many articles from doctors who have studied it. Sometimes I wonder why I was chosen to have all these ailments, but I’m not anymore special than anyone else and God gives us trials and we have to trust that He will see us through. I’m sure this will turn out the same way. He brought me through 2 surgeries and He can help me with the rest of my health issues. I’m hypothyroid and take Synthroid to treat it, but I have no idea what that’s really doing either. I sure don’t feel like my energy is where it should be.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who is skeptical about supplements and claims for products for improved health these days. The last 5 years especially have brought so many things to the forefront that I have barely heard of, much less know what’s true or not. It’s so hard to get the whole truth these days. I mentioned that I went to a functional medicine doctor here in my town. I was still working through some issues that were found after my testings, actually 2 testings, but the many supplements I was taking and the fact that I didn’t really feel any better or different, I discontinued that plan when my surgeries happened. I still go for chiropractic treatments there at times, but I just didn’t get enough benefits from the other part to continue and it’s very expensive.
Sigh, it is really so hard to figure all this stuff out, isn’t it!? We’re supposed to drink 1/2 our body weight in water every day. My water intake has gone up tremendously in the last year, as I strive to stay hydrated. We sure didn’t talk about hydration growing up, but it sure is hawked now as a must for our health. We drank water when we were thirsty and certainly didn’t carry water bottles around with us all the time. I see kids carrying water bottles now. Not only do we need to drink water, but it needs to have electrolytes in it. I don’t know where all this surge of health information is coming from, but it’s overwhelming to me and it’s all over social media. Now we’re supposed to eat 100+ grams of protein a day and that could be a full time job too. I don’t even count my protein and I’m sure I don’t get enough, but I try to add more to my diet. Here are all the things I hear we are supposed to be looking at:
- Collagen
- Protein powder
- Creatine
- Magnesium
- Cortisol support
- Hormone support
Let me know if you take any of the things of the above and how do you know it works? I have taken Magnesium for sleep, I have protein powder I use in smoothies, and I just bought some Creatine to try, but I bet I don’t see any difference taking it. How in the world do we figure it all out without spending so much time at speciality doctor’s offices and so much money on these pricey supplements? That’s not how I want to live, I stay out of doctor’s offices as much as possible, so I’m trying to figure this all out by researching myself and talking to friends. I sure don’t have it all figured out and I bet none of you do either. I want to do all the right things for myself, but it’s so overwhelming to me. You too? What do we do? I don’t have all the answers to that, but I’ll continue to try my best to figure out what I need to take for myself, how to eat more healthy and take the supplements my body really needs.
My sleep isn’t that great either. I bought a Fitbit last year so I could track my sleep and I get between 6 and 8 hours a night. I think I’ve only hit 8 hours a couple of times in the last 9 months. Mostly it’s around 7, which I guess is adequate, but it would be nice to sleep all through the night. Sleep is illusive too with age and it’s so frustrating. I’m sure it has to do with hormone levels, cortisol, and other things. I’ve tried all sorts of sleep aids, from magnesium pills and gummies to other supplements I’ve tried. Nothing seems to work all the time. Any ideas?
That’s an update for me. This is pretty boring stuff and I don’t want to turn into the old lady who talks about her aches and pains all the time, but I think we are all in the same boat. I’ll tell you, if you don’t have joint pain, you are very blessed. Some of my friends say they don’t have much joint pain, but others tell me they do, so I know I’m not alone. Aging definitely brings changes and I wish my joints were in better shape, but I have to deal with what I have. My knees are hurting now too, not when I walk, just when I squat down and bend them. I hope this gets better too, it seems to be worse after my surgeries. See, aren’t I a joy to read? Don’t you feel better after stopping by today? Anyway, I know I like to know that I’m not alone, so if any of you relate to this, feel free to chime in.
From people I follow on Instagram, my age and even older, they seem to be flying through getting older with no problems at all, lifting those heavy weights and having the muscular bodies to show it’s working. They sure don’t seem to have joint pain. I don’t know how they got to that place, but I’ve been working out all my life and lifting weights and I sure don’t look that buff. I don’t spend hours in the gym and maybe that’s their secret. It’s hard work to get in shape. I’m trying so many things, but at this point I’m really skeptical about so much of it. I don’t believe things until I see it for myself. I see things all the time and wonder if they work, but I’m not willing to buy them all, so I try to do homework before I commit. Feel free to keep the conversation going in the comments. I know I’m not alone and maybe hearing all my issues makes you feel better about your issues! We’ve all got issues, that I know!
I’m praying for you 🙏🏻🩷. I get this and am glad you’re sharing your story to help all of us with aging. I agree with you that it’s so confusing. It’s overwhelming the new information in the last several years. The supplements I’ve done, I felt like you. I didn’t see any benefits from them. It’s stressful that we can’t just eat bread and food from the grocery store. I hear a lot about seed oils. I’ve cut most of that out but don’t notice any difference in my health. I also have scoliosis and hypothyroidism( thyroid removed) and on levothyroxine ( generic of synthroid). I wouldn’t worry about cholesterol. Studies show now, than our bodies need cholesterol for brain health and hormones. Unless you had blocked arteries you should be fine, from what I’ve learned recently. I take Ningxia Red from Young Living for joint support and overall health. I’ve also added Truvani collagen peptides. I’ll report back if it’s helping. You look great! Love to you 🩷
Hey, June, I hear you, I feel the same on all of this. I’m doing what I know to do. I’ll never take a statin, will work on getting it down more but I’ll probably never have a low score. I debate on whether I should get on collagen.
I have my husband & I on Gundry MD supplements; vitamin D, Mighty Flex Gummies (which are helping!), and a new gut gummy he just came out with. Dr Gundry has his own website, but is also on QVC shopping network. You can view him explaining the actual supplement on QVC. I had a total knee replacement in 2006, and a total left hip replacement last April..I also still feel a pinching when I make a wrong move! I still sleep with my original ice pack from the hospital because it brings me comfort & tones down the the warmth from that left hip surgery. Hope some of this helps!!
I follow Dr. Gundry on INstagram and he seems very knowledgeable. I just am such a skeptic with supplements since I’ve never really been able to tell a big difference with anything I’ve taken.
I pray the pain eases for you. I found osteopath works for my sciatica. I’m 57 and have had back and neck pain since my 20s, blame it on my office job. My mum is 92 and only the last few years she has started to have pain with her legs (her job was always standing and lifting heavy trays full of biscuits). I don’t believe in all these supplements that get pushed now. I do take vitamin D and sometimes magnesium to help with sleep – surprise, it doesn’t. My doctor told me many years ago as long as you are eating healthy you don’t need them. Sounds like you are doing everything right and I think you have very good genes on your side with both your parents living into their 90s.
It seems like it’s something new all of the time, doesn’t it?! I too have tried different supplements with no noticed improvement, collagen for joint pain and magnesium for sleep. I also suffered from sciatica and was told to try gently bouncing on one of those big exercise balls which wasn’t very expensive and did seem to offer some relief. I guess the idea is to open up the pelvic area. Seems like plain old walking when I was able offered the most relief over time. It took a while for it to resolve and does come back every once in a while, but I keep on moving and that seems to keep it away for the most part. Good luck to you, I hope you find something that helps, I know it can be very painful.
Thanks Sheila, yes it is always something. We all have things to deal with. I’ll continue walking, going to the gym, riding my bike and staying active. I know the consequences for stopping and that’s not an option.
Hi Rhoda……..You are not alone. I don’t have anything quite as bad as yours but was diagnosed with osteoporosis and taking Evenity shots in each arm every 30 days for a year to build new bone. Then I am waiting for a bone graft to harden with a oral surgeon. So multiple issues to deal with that I am not use to plus lifting weights at Healthplex in a class . Nutritionist at Healthplex gave me a list of calcium rich food and how much protein to eat also. Petites are the world’s worse for getting osteoporosis so the medical field says. I am so sorry about your two surgeries and hope you get back to normal soon. I haven’t slowed down, For joint pain , I was prescribed Meloxicam last year and that helped !!! Plus I went to water aerobics in heated pool till it got better and then back to my weight classes. You might want to try that for range of motion. Try not to overdo it………one class I took was from a wise lady that said rest & I took her advice & it helped.
Hey Bonnie, thanks for chiming in. It’s so hard to figure all this out and reading these comments, I know you all are trying as well. I have been on Meloxicam too, but didn’t want to take it long term. I use it when I feel like I really need it. I’m definitely not overdoing it and trying to keep things low impact. Riding my bike is great, I don’t hurt at all when I’m riding. I look forward to getting back in our pool and I’m going to start exercising in there some too.
Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
I am so glad you are doing so well with your surgery’s, for your hips.
I know that they are making changes now to recommendations regarding hormone replacement. For the last several years, I have not taken estrogen because of breast cancer in my family. I would very much like to get back on a low dose of estrogen. If nothing else, I would like to take it for bone health as my mom is in her 80s and struggling with bone fractures. I’m also wondering if it would help with sleep. My sleep is absolutely terrible and I’m up all hours of the night.
Do you take any HRT?
I agree with you about statins.
Aging isn’t easy, that is for sure!
Kathy, I don’t take HRT and I know they have changed the guidelines on that in recent years. I have no idea if we should all take them or not, but since I don’t have hot flashes, I haven’t worried much about taking them, but I know that hormones do help so much in our bodies.
Age 71+ here and aging is mostly a drag! I worked with cardiologists and heart surgeons for most of my employment years. ALL agreed that supplements are a waste of good money and simply pass out of your body with the elimination process. Genetics are the culprit to many health issues; you are born with these things lurking in your DNA affecting your blood, bones, eyes, joints, muscles, heart, etc. They can be enhanced by poor food choices, smoking, not exercising, etc. You know the drill. If you have hypertension and heart disease in your family history, then take all the precautions to keep those at bay. Stretching and moving every day are a major help (not cure) to those of us over 65. Having followed your blog all these years, I know you practice healthy eating habits and exercise, no smoking, no excessive alcohol. You could use a knee brace to use while walking. I have struggled for years with exercise related leg muscle injuries and strains, and this was prescribed for me by a non-surgical orthopedist. (I will say that most Medicare plans will pay for physician ordered therapy.) It’s a life long job of taking care of the body God blessed you with, and the result FOR EVERYONE is always the same: eternity. You have blessed my life over the years with your Bible-centered comments; have a great life!
I’m 60 and just had a calcium score done a few months ago and was shocked at the results since I exercise and eat healthy. My score was 281.6 in the 85th percentile. I was told it was due to genetics. I never thought I would take a statin but here I am trying to take them. I am feeling awful on them though so my cardiologist added ezetimibe and lowered the mg on the statin to see if it helps. There is so much conflicting information out there I’m not sure what to do. Becky, do all cardiologists recommend statins? My cholesterol has been borderline high for the last 10 years but nothing crazy. My good cholesterol is so good that I was told it negated the bad so I wasn’t at high risk for issues, but here we are.
For years, I also have had problems sleeping and have tried magnesium and a whole list of supplements and haven’t had success with any of them.
I’ve had back and hip problems since late 40’s to which I haven’t found much relief either. I lift weights, walk, stretch etc and I have never been able to build muscle like I see on some of these women that are much older than me.
Rhoda your story sounds so much like mine. I believe all of these supplements are a waste of money. I’ve spent a fortune trying different ones and I don’t see any difference other than at times they make me feel worse.
Hi Alli, our stories do sound similar. I hear you, it’s so frustrating. I’m only on a few supplements now and don’t think I’ll add much more. I can’t tell a difference either, but I’m trying some of them to work on my cholesterol. I’d like to get it back down some and I managed to do that in the past. I did a calcium CT scan too and expected all 0’s, but one showed a 73, which is still low risk. I don’t blame you for feeling frustrated. We exercise, try to eat healthy and do all the right things and still things don’t show the best outcome. I’m still refusing statins no matter what, since I’ve heard they do not lengthen life span and can do damage in so many other ways. Sleep is hard for me too. I’ll have a few good nights and a really bad one, so it’s up and down. Hang in there and don’t give up. The best things we can do is to keep moving and doing what we know to do.
Thank you, Becky, for your words of wisdom. I suspect your doctors are right in that supplements make little difference in outcomes. I have tried my best to do all the good things to keep on aging as best I can and I’ll continue to do them. Moving and exercise are definitely key, so that is always a priority for me to never give up on that. I see too many people give up and they suffer for it.
Rhoda – Thank you for sharing your personal journey. I read your thoughts on supplements, however, think that increased Vitamin E has helped my sciatica. I take it with magnesium, zinc and K. Recently, I ran late in replacing my E and my sciatica pain returned full force. Stretching and walking both help. Like all women, I have hypothyroidism, in addition to Addison’s Disease. Like you, I’m just trying my best to keep up the body the good Lord has blessed me with!
HI, Wanda,thanks for stopping by, that’s good to know. I haven’t taken Vit. E in awhile. There are so many to look at.