OK, I know it's silly, but I didn't feel like I was getting older...before.
I find time is catching up with me now though. Names and words don't come quickly to me or at all. Mom started her sad progression to dementia about 2-3 years ago. She's 95. I feel like I'm starting early.
My energy level is going down too. Granted, Art is 5 years older and has twice the energy level I do. Sigh... He also remembers things a lot better.
Anyway... here's the latest darn irritating thing.
My left wrist started hurting right up into my baby finger. I can't wear my watch on my left wrist anymore. I'm using it on my right wrist which isn't as practical because it gets wet more and banged as I'm doing chores around the house.
I remembered my sister-in-law wearing a brace on her right wrist when she was doing a lot of Braille work for my nephew and ended up with carpal tunnel several years back.
So... I wondered if a brace could help me even though you don't get carpal tunnel on your baby finger. I saw this on the AI Overview:
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) usually affects the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger, and doesn't affect the little finger. If the little finger is affected, it could be due to ulnar tunnel syndrome, which compresses the ulnar nerve in the wrist.
If it's that Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome, wrist support could help supposedly. So anyway, I bought a brace and wearing it now for several days. It does seem to help. I think. I looked at reviews and some people commented that there was some rough irritation on the inside of the brace. I couldn't detect it at first but eventually found that the bottom of the brace toward the elbow was irritating me. Sigh... old skin? Sigh...
Sooo... I got an old sock, cut the toes off and put it on under the brace. 😄
It's quite comfortable now.
I wonder how long I should wear the brace. 😏
And I wonder what else is going to go wrong? 😬
Our body parts are wearing down, including the part that we think with. Energy also dissipates much more quickly.
ReplyDeleteKay, I've had my wrist hurt on occasion... not lately, thank goodness. I just put it off to arthritis that acts up once in a while. At almost 80, I guess I figure these things happen. But if the brace helps, use it. I did. I have a strange thing that I get too... my ring finger on my right hand goes numb (or tingly) a lot (just that finger!). Don't know why. But it goes away eventually... so I haven't worried about it.
ReplyDeleteI have used braces on my knees, pre replacement surgery, and found that if I left them on for several days after the joint stopped hurting and was not swollen, the effect lasted longer. ... affect? ... Anyway, make sure the brace is not impeding circulation.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, I watched my mother drift into dementia and am terrified that I will do the same. My husband is very comforting when he tells me I am like my father, not my mother. HIS mother lived to be 99; now that is a record, hmm?
Do you take a statin? If so, that can cause all sorts of aches and pains. Even though I cut back to bare minimum, my hands still hurt due to the statin I started taking last year when they found that piece of plague wandering around in my heart. Taking a CoQ10 capsule every day helps a bit, but not enough to make me happy.
ReplyDeleteOh gee... yes. I do take Atorvastatin. Sigh... if it's not one medication, it's another. Unfortunately, I need that pill. Sigh...
DeleteTalk with your cardiologist. There are some newer statins out there. I have to be forceful with my doctors or they would make me into an invalid.
DeleteMaybe two or three years ago, I did something that caused the area around the ulnar nerves to swell and the outside two fingers of my left hand were numb for awhile. I don't recall, but perhaps for a week or so. I really concentrated on keeping that hand in proper position for typing and taking anti swelling medication and it eventually went away and never came back. But it had me worried about not being able to feel my pinky and ring finger again. You don't miss them until you can't feel them.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like more places on our bodies wear out due to overuse or elderly fragility. I'm finding my colds lasting longer and being harder to shake. I'm glad that you found the brace to help and have adapted it for better comfort.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed odd, quirky little aches and pains. Luckily, except for the knee and now the hip, most of them seem to come and go. My question, though: why do they seem to come in the night and wake me out of a sound sleep???
ReplyDeleteAh Kay. What is happening to us. One thing after another. More supplements needed. I have found a device that I bought just because it had many applications for various body problems. I am a sucker for good sales pitches. It can diagnose the points of inflammation and then treat them with microcurrent. It even has a protocol for dementia. The basic principle of it is opening up blood circulation because that is how we get nutrients and healing going. It is called Avazzia and there are different models by cost and capability.
ReplyDeleteI use it for my Vagus nerve stimulation on my left side which helps to relieve stress and reaches everywhere. And mitochondrial recharge for energy. There are videos that explain the device and briefly touch on protocols. I saw one case of a welder who had 3rd degree burns on his face and hands (he looked burnt to a crisp) and a week later, his skin came back. Just a week!
I was impressed but not a full believer yet even though I have the device. In my exercise class, I asked fellow classmate Patrick why he had a huge foot brace on his right side. He said he had a hole on the bottom of his heel that wasn't closing up due to diabetes- and he tried everything that insurance would cover but 15 months have gone by without improvement. He was already desperate and when I told him about the burn victim healing in a week, he agreed to try the Avazzia. It was a 2 part treatment lasting about 15 minutes per day. The last time I saw him was this Tuesday and he said the hole was almost gone after 10 days. He was going to see his doctor that day. I will see Patrick again on Tuesday.
Sorry this is such a long comment. One more protocol - I was suckered into those places (they are at shopping centers) when they pass out free samples of products and lure me into sitting and getting my face plastered with stuff. I can't say no - but I did have time that day. Anywho, they are super super good salespeople and pressured me into buying a product that comes with so much free stuff that I said okay even though I am too lazy to use it. Well, the product I bought was a red light machine that supposedly does wonders for the skin. It gets pretty hot but I put the silicone cover on it. I tried it but really didn't like the process and instead put it on my left hand which was feeling very weak and sore. I couldn't even turn the water bib on or off because of the pain. The redlight would heat up and I could even see through my hand when I had it on. The heat felt wonderful. And after a few days, the pain went away!
So, long story short - Kay, do you want to try the redlight thing I have? I don't use it anymore. It might help. Let me know.
Kay of Musings: Thanks so much, Aunty! Actually you got me remembering. We picked up something from China many years ago. One of our tour guides was an amazing English speaking Chinese doctor. He really knew a lot and recommended a device sort of like what you mentioned for any pain. My son-in-law liked it so much he ordered his own online. I totally forgot about it and will try it tonight. Thank you for jogging my memory.
DeleteFrom BB: Scam stuff, same snake oil different marketing. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19t38KXwJC/
DeleteDarn! I can't see that, BB because I no longer have Facebook. I killed my account a long time ago.
DeleteThat link was to someone named Sunday Roast. Supposedly all about science and debunking buying hyped up products such as the newest iPhone. Didn't mention the Avazzia or red light therapy.
DeleteSunday Roast sounds like my son. When I would bring up natural remedies, herbal, etc. and how it worked, he would say that is only anecdotal and not proven scientifically. He is currently into longevity research and when I do go into his delving (longevitypapers.com), it is all science. But very little that would apply to me. I tend to believe anecdotal proof. And usually it is for therapies and products that are not produced by Big Pharma with their scientific proof. Anecdotal to me means it did work for this person or that person and I am willing to give it a try because of their success. I tend to not trust drugs or medications that "science" has proved effective because rather than cure, it masks symptoms. Unfortunately our medical insurance like them and so they are inexpensive to us.
I looked up the Avazzia. Sounds like the little machine I got from China. I have it out and was going to do it but got distracted with stuff to do around the house. I'll need to make time for it. My son-in-law liked it and thought it helped him.
DeleteI guess you know about my parts wearing out. I have decided this is my last trip to the spare parts department and getting chopped up and put back together.
ReplyDeleteI hope the brace helps.
So sorry Kay -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI am still recovering from that bad fall and wonder if I will ever be back to what I consider "normal." As time takes its toll, we will always have others going through the same journey. Somehow it helps, doesn't it? Hope your pain goes away soon
ReplyDeleteI had carpal and ulnar problems in both hands. And did the release surgery. And wore braces, especially over night. It resolved when I used my hands less. Now it's arthritis. Old is not for sissies.
ReplyDeleteI always admired you and Art for being so spry while I'm basically a lump. I do have diabetes II, and didn't think I was bad (controlled with Metformin only) but I would get really painful sharp pains on my hands and legs out of nowhere when resting. Asked my doctor and yup neuropathy. Dang. Energy levels are so low too. Appetite fluctuates along with sleep patterns. It's like my body is changing and I don't like it!!! Every new thing happens and I wonder what the heck is this NOW?? I am grateful to be alive though. -BB
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, how annoying! Maybe ask your doc and/or get a PT appointment? A little CT scan might help them help you. Bet there's a daily time limit for the wrist brace, or maybe wearing it at night. Let the doc know about your aches and pains since they may be able to change your statin.
ReplyDeleteFunny story: When I was breast and bottle feeding my son, I held him real tight, with a crooked angle to my left wrist. The wrist really started hurting. Yep, I'd strained it and some tendons. Had a special formed brace made from my thumb to forearm. The ortho doc had seen it before; my OB-Gyn dad had never heard of that happening. Hopefully you're not doing a repetitive bend or movement on your wrist. Linda in Kansas
As the number in our age increases, so does the number of aches and pains. Sometimes faster.
ReplyDeleteSorry to read this Kay ...
ReplyDeleteI always remember an old Aunt of mine saying each ten years she aged seemed to bring other aches and pains!
Sending my good wishes.
All the best Jan
I love that you thought of using that cut up sock for comfort! See, your brain is doing a great job! Be GOOD to yourself! I read something recently that asked women the ways that they honored themselves. One woman said that every time she passed a window and saw herself she bowed and said, "My Lady". That made me smile!
ReplyDelete