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Getting Older causes changes!!!

J

JD Seller

Well-known Member
Tomorrow I am having a hydraulic valve replaced on my combine. This the first time I have ever had to hire someone else to do this type of repair. I used to be able to do all of this myself. Usually I can get one of my son's to help me get through the rough stuff I have trouble with. With the terrible weather we have had this fall, a day of harvesting is just more important. So I will have the Local JD mechanic change the reel speed valve on my combine. That way my son's can keep the larger combines rolling.

I tired to get some of the lines lose this afternoon and my wrists just do not have the strength to do it in the position you have to be in. I over did it as it is. My wife made Chile for supper and I had a heck of a time working a spoon with my right hand/wrist. Hopefully it will be better by morning. Sometimes it is worse. A few weeks ago I over did it and I could not write for a few days. I could not grip a pen/pencil without it causing cramps in my fingers.

Funny thing, The fellow coming over is the same age as my oldest son. He used to hang out at my shop all the time as teenager. I showed him how to weld and a bunch of other shop skills. He is actually kind of excited about doing something for me for a change. LOL

The joys of aging.
 
Man I hear ya. I too am hiring dealer to do things I did myself few years ago. As we speak they are rebuilding the hydro on combine. Now I never would have done that myself even years ago but I would have pulled hydro box off combine and delivered it to their shop but this time I told them to come out and do the job from start to finish. I used to have more time then money. Now I have nether. I still work as hard as I ever did but I don't get as much done anymore.
 
Know what you're going thru. Lost my wrenching strength several years ago & now things just sit til I can figure out a work around, if one is possible. 50 year old guy I depended on died in early July & there is just no one to take his place. He'd been sick & hadn't worked for a year so I'm really behind.
 
I don?t often pay anybody to do any mechanic 👩‍🔧 work one because I don?t trust most people who are doing the work and two because I paid a lot of money 💰 for an ed ya ma kation to learn how to fix things . Now there are things I?ll hire out tire work , and interior work on cars and trucks also r&r off automotive components like transmissions and engines I?ll rebuild em but I?d rather pay someone to pull and reinstall . If I?m supper busy I?ll pay for work done as well
 
Well understood here. At 81, I'm now feeling those same pains and lose of strength. Yesterday I tested the antifreeze in the 13 tractors at Farmamerica where I volunteer and I couldn't get the radiator caps off of some of them without gentle help from a pipe wrench.

I also have a struggle carrying my heavy amp for my bass guitar.

But have to keep going, no fun to just sit.
 
Have to agree it is great to have those young strong guys around for some of the jobs that arthritic joints don't handle too well anymore. My little nephews that used to fall asleep riding on the shelf behind the seat of my Massey 510 combine are now a huge help whenever I need assistance on anything on the farm.

cvphoto393.jpg
 
At 72 I now get bursitis in my shoulders if I work with my hands over my head. I had to get my bro to hang a couple ceiling lights and a plumber to sweat a fitting for me in the crawlspace. Back when I worked for a living I ran a lot of cat5 in ceilings. Can't do any of that overhead stuff anymore.
 
I'm 69 and retired four years. The shoulder replacement last January turned out better than I expected but what strength I had is about gone and the other shoulder is getting worse. My hands are shot, too. Very little grip strength and the motion is limited. Can't turn a wrench over in one hand and I have trouble just starting a nut. Very frustrating. Some days just walking is a chore.
 
I am starting to get the feeling that this ageing thing is catching up with me too. Getting into the dark end of my 50?s, and that might not sound oldto some, but the relentless 7 day a week life of 38 years of dairy farming is starting to drain me. I shouldn?t complain, as I have no chronic pain , no arthritis, or joint , or back trouble. Just can?t work more than 12 hours without feeling beat. Never realized that I had started to even look like a old man till clerks started giving me senior discounts on purchases automatically, without my asking. Happened again yesterday, so I guess it must be so. Just remember Ronny, you probably do more work most days then most fellas half your age will.
 
You got that right,,was doing some cleaning up at the old farm,,picked up and old chimney block,,to move it took almost all I had . I used to pick them up and lay them in mortar,,extending the block out in front of you to lay it,,now I can hardly move it?
 
I once complained about a minor pain to an older buddy he responds "Get used to it old age aint for sissys" lol

John T
 
I think I am a few years behind you but know well just what you are experiencing. However I have yet to hire anyone as both of my sons are heavy equipment mechanics and close by and when pa needs some help, strong arms and trucks full of tools are a phone call away.

Truthfully I have had less problems working on my equipment than I have in the house trying to open the dang canned food jars, LOL. Wife has never been able to do it. Guess we may have to investigate one of the many crutches out there that are made to assist with that?
 
My biggest obstacle was coming to grips with the fact. Once getting through that wicket the rest has been much easier. I find that it's ok to take a nap. It's ok to get tired and stop. It's ok to put it off till tomorrow....it will be there waiting for you.......The world won't stop rotating.
 
Aint Dat Da Tooth! Fell two weeks ago and had ex rays on my left shoulder Friday that the doctor ordered Monday. Not much sleep all week but still had stuff that needed to be done. Weekends I have to work with horses and try to repair a thing or two. I got the plug out of the pan on old ugly and the oil drained out. Thar it sets. I needed to tie the five stallions out to keep them obeying commands. I had skipped a couple weeks so didn't think I should skip another. Rained Saturday so went out Sunday about noon. The horses were mud balls Sunday from Saturday rain and I wanted to try the new settings on my new camera. Still not correct I found out. The tractor tire tube I had the tire shop patch was down. I pulled the tube back out to take back for them to find out why. I think I will still follow some advise and pick up a new tube. Got a little more sleep last night. Only had to set on the edge of the bed twice in the night to let the pain level to get to where I could lay back down. I have a mold at the factory on the mill that I should get at today. Doctor is suppose to call on my shoulder today for the next step. Old just sucks! Any way here is what video I took yesterday of the horses coming up to the fence to get tied. I have to have them all tied or they can push by when the gate is open with me in the wheelchair.
Here
 
I think that getting older and realizing you cant do what you use to do is one of the hardest things for a man to do mentally. the old song no when to hold them, no when to fold them is very true. I to has always did everything around the house that needed to be done. whether just replaced water line to roofing. always worked on my tractors, vehicle, etc, By all means though never quit. just try to realize what you can do and realize some times its actually better to have some one else do it. you have just aged to the point its better sometimes to just set back and watch the younger generation do things for you. if your like me its sort of fun to give them some hints to make it better for them. go to the doctor regularly, get your check ups and enjoy life as it comes. good luck to you.
 
Like DieselBob Said:"My mind is writing checks my body can't cash"
I sometimes think I can accomplish what I've done in the past. Just like the rest of you my body has rebelled. But my mind says I know how to do things just do it, and then I have another project I can't finish without help.
I could just complain but I know I'm preaching to the choir.
Simply put it stinks. I haven't got to Texasmark1's point of acceptance yet.
Well I gotta go have a dr. appt. in an hour. First of 3 this week.
 
Yep, that all sounds familiar. I just turned 70. My shoulders hurt, my knees hurt, and I have neuropathy in both feet. One thing I have to be really careful about is getting down on the ground to crawl under something. Yes, gravity will get me down there, but when I get done, will I be able to get back up? Had to learn this the hard way a couple of times. Hope your harvest is going well. I have 115 acres of beans left to cut, and I'll be done.
 

I'm 69. A few weeks ago I was up on a garage roof tearing off shingles and replacing roof boards when my back tightened up. I didn't know for a minute how I was going to get down from there! I ate lunch and loaded up on Ibuprofen and later that day went back up there again!
I resisted the urge to go to the chiropractor this time, and over the next couple weeks it gradually straightened itself out. I eventually got the roof re-shingled.
 
Wife was complaining the other day about getting old. I told her she should've died when she was 35 and felt good.
 
Glad you know the mechanic. Seems like anytime I try to give in and hire somebody I get an idiot who tears something up and I have to run them off.

George: You'd have to be there.
 
JD.. mine is in my elbows.. working the hands where your turning a ratchet or wrench.. I think its refered to as tennis elbow.. It gets better in time then I do something to irritate it.. Im not that old either.. early 50's.. I just bought a extra long braker bar at the h.f. store just for the shed use.. LOL I also have various pipes around that will fit on diff ratchets and wrenches to extend the handles for more force..LOL.. life is fun.. better then the alternative though..
 
Yes, same here. I used to be THE mechanic around here. At 68 I am finding I am now quite content to leave the primary repairs to my sons as I assist. Do almost no automotive repairs anymore. Never liked working on them anyway. Sure make you wince when you get the bill, though.
 
I too,like most everyone here,hate to hire anyone to work for me,when I am/should be-able to do it myself.Or even hiring help for a big job.But as I age I know I must give in.
On the other hand,I recommend you,and everyone in this thread, check out CBD oil. Read up on it.I take it,and it has really helped with a lot of pain issues. My left hand could hardly grip anything without aching-the other day at work,I reached down and picked up a 6x6 block of wood without thinking,and no pain and good grip!Mark.
 
dr sportster: I never did any thing like that when I was young. It is just wearing my body out. When I was 13 I started working 5-6 hours after school bagging feed at the local mill. Then all day Sat. I would bag 10-15 ton every night during the week, Then do 15-20 ton on Sat. I did this until I was about eighteen. Then from 1970s to 1990s we put up 40-50K small square bales each year. I touched each bale at least once, usually twice.

Then mechanical work on top of that. My body has been a good one but is showing wear and tear. LOL
 
hey Bruce,

That year or so before 60 years old, Mother Nature seems to walk right up to you out of nowhere and smack you right up side the head with a big heavy club to remind you that you are not 45 anymore. It takes a few years to adjust to the fact that Hey, I can't DO that anymore! The back and shoulders just can't do it. You also have to adjust to the fact that it just plain takes LONGER to do things. Drives you nuts for a couple of years. Wife and I used to think nothing of cutting, splitting, and stacking 4 pickup loads of firewood a day. Now by the time we do two loads, the body sez, "Okay I'm done! Aint gonna play no more!" Once you get past and become accustomed to that initial "senior citizen slump" you just accept that, I ain't what I used to be, and ain't never again gonna be what I used to be, you sorta get comfortable with the idea "I'm getting old" and do what you are comfortable with, be darned glad you can do what you are doing, and let the kids do the rest. (chuckle) Actually, it's kinda entertaining watching the kids do the pinched fingers, dropped bolts, blue language over tight spaces, IF I EVER GET MY HANDS ON THE JACK>>> DESIGNED THIS PIECE OF CRAP!, etc,............................................. (double chuckle)
 
Mark,
June 1 2018 Indiana made CBD legal. I'm a believer in rubbing CBD on my arthritis and tendonitis. I no longer have tendonitis in my arms.

I gave my sister from Florida an ounce of CBD when she visited me this summer. Now she wants more.

CBD is only legal in 30 states. Does anyone know if CBD is legal in Florida or do you have a link to buy it on the internet? The feds may not consider it legal, so it may not be legal to buy off internet or ship. Hope someone can tell me.

Caster oil from Wal-Mart works and unlike there brands, Wal-mart oil doesn't smell like rotten meat.
 
I have no real health or physical problems other than poor circulation in my calves. It is most annoying in that I have always walked a LOT (4 years ago I would go 2.5 Kms. and back to the mailbox), now walking to the farthest reaches of the grocery store to get milk (why do they do that?), my legs ache and get worse until I get in the truck. Driving to the pub takes the right amount of time for everything to get back to normal. Hence, I have taken up Procrastination as an art form. . Retired and have all sorts of time to plan stuff out, ie; "tomorrow I will....". When I get up in the morning, I remember the upcoming project and say "don't feel like it - later". Works for me.
 
If you can stand the upset stomach, Aleve (generic) fixes the back. I realized long ago that my back problems, which I had most of my life, were caused by "spastic muscle" seizures responding to
back exposure to something stressful. Stop those and you solve your back problems before they become a problem or if reactionary, with medication, to mitigate an existing problem.

My son suggested I try it and I did and it works. I used to have them so bad they'd put me on the floor. No more and I can ride a tractor seat day in and day out and get up the next morning ready
to go.

Different folks have different reactions to NSaids. Aleve warns of the possibility. Mine is just a tightness in the area of my breast bone, in the center, just above my stomach. No real pain, just a
presence. Only happens if I take 1 (200mg 12 hr.) daily. If I take it ever so often no side effects or skip a few days, no problem.

On fingers that quit bending try Swanson.com product number A 232990.....GLUCOSAMINE, CHONDROITIN & MSM. This number is the small pill variety and the dosage is 6 per day...they have
other pill sizes requiring fewer per day. $11.89 for a 360 mini-tablet bottle. Buy several bottles and give it time to work....maybe a month...I had hands that wouldn't close all the way, fingers that
would bend part way and then "snap" to finish closing, pain and all....... couldn't grip a wrench or a screwdriver, no strength....... no more.....work perfect. Been on it for years now.
 
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