perseverence.
@Stan Galat posted:Hardly.
I spent the entire day on the couch yesterday, back brace on and TENS machine running continuously. L1-L5 discs are all bad, and about 2-4 times a year, some routine motion will pop one to the side and I'm down for the count. Yesterday it was from rolling over in bed Saturday night.
My hands take at least 15 minutes of clenching and opening my fists before the fingers are limber enough to keyboard. I have what I'd estimate to be about 25% bloodflow and feeling in the right index finger. They are a mess.
My left triceps tendon was reattached twice, and I've got about half the push strength on that side, as compared to the other. My knees creak when I walk. My musculature long since overpowered my framework, so lifting/pushing/moving heavy objects is something I can do, but the acts of doing them will wreck me (sometimes for weeks) if I do them wrong. I'm often in the position of lifting in some contorted position with the full knowledge that I'll likely be laid up for some indeterminate period of time afterward.
I need to get out of this business, but it pays the bills and it's all I know how to do and it keeps me productive. I've been poor, and I'd rather hurt.
I take a pill to help me get to sleep, use a CPAP machine to help me breathe once I get there, have hearing aids to help me understand normal conversation, and eat a fistful of supplements every morning and night. I'm on BP, cholesterol, and blood sugar medication (along with a couple of other scripts I'd rather not divulge). My Dr. tells me I have the cardiovascular system of an 85 year old man. She's super-encouraging like that. Stress may have something to do with most of the things in this paragraph.
Lots of days I feel like freaking Frankenstein- made upright and ambulatory by use of crude medicine and willpower. The struggle is with that willpower- everything hurts all the time.
Vulnerability: I has plenty of it.
Stan, two things:
Do you stretch before you work? I have a hard time forcing myself to do it, but it makes the difference as to whether I can walk after an afternoon of working on the car or a bike.
I have something going on with the tendons in my hands. Can't remember the medical name for it, but my tendon sheaths dry out which, in turns, causes my tendons to swell, before you know it, I can't open and close my fingers without extreme pain. Good news, there's a shot for that! A steroid injected in the palm side of my fingers right at the finger/Palm joint and I'm good to go. So far, the one I had in my right hand is still working after 18 months and I just had one in my left hand last summer, although it didn't work quite as well.
Gentleman, thanks for your suggestions. I ordered the "C" that Satco linked.
FYI,
Super glue(Cyanoacrylate) works very well if you are aware on how to use it.
It is activated by moisture (the reason it sticks to your finger is because it's activated by the moisture in your skin). If you use a small amount and lightly spritz the items you want stuck together. It will work very well for you.
BT
So sorry to hear of all your ailments, Stan. I think many of us have niggling little complaints as we move on through life, but you seem to have been hit hard. 
@bt posted:Gentleman, thanks for your suggestions. I ordered the "C" that Satco linked.
FYI,
Super glue(Cyanoacrylate) works very well if you are aware on how to use it.
It is activated by moisture (the reason it sticks to your finger is because it's activated by the moisture in your skin). If you use a small amount and lightly spritz the items you want stuck together. It will work very well for you.
BT
I'll have to try that out. Wondered why it stuck so well to my skin and nothing else. Lol
@Bob: IM S6 posted:So sorry to hear of all your ailments, Stan. I think many of us have niggling little complaints as we move on through life, but you seem to have been hit hard.
I'm 100% good with my life, Bob. If I knew I was going to be around this long, I'd have taken more care along the way-- but I don't regret very much of the stuff that has beat me up.
It just turns out I'm not indestructible, much to my astonishment. Eventually, it all catches up.
.
Stan, not to worry.
Your maladies sound no worse than the list of possible side effects from most over the counter hay fever meds.
.
Stan, between the medical community coming to your aid, and your steely resolve you are gonna outlive us all, just knowing you have that little piece of plastic pleasure in the garage is enough to keep ya going til spring hits..