A Shot, No Dark

It was by appointment.

How to avoid this if you’re younger and smarter

Seriously, we old guys have managed to learn a few things over the years when it comes to long term health:

• Quit screwing around. Get health insurance now, no matter how good you feel.

• Find a doctor you like.

• Get a check-up at least annually.

• Listen to the doc’s advice

• Watch your diet, exercise and get the rest your body needs.

I don’t mean you have to give up the athletic things that make you happy. Be an Ultra runner and an Iron man like my daughter. Play tennis whenever you can. Engage in team sports. Climb rocks and mountains like my friend Chris. Do what you love but treat your body with the respect it deserves.

One day you will wish you had.

I’ve never forgotten telling my wife that I had to turn back a half mile into a short hike on Mt. Hood. The pain from the tattered meniscus in both my knees was just too much.

I’ve lived in pain for years. On a scale of 1 to 10 I’ve gotten used to living with a 7 or 8 most days. There are times when I couldn’t sleep because of it. There were days when I considered consuming vast quantities of 90 proof liquid pain relievers. But I just suffered through because I didn’t really want to have knee replacement surgery. I put it off for years after having the meniscus in both knees removed.

An x-ray wedding photographer

The pain finally got so bad I got my doctor to refer me to a surgeon. The x-ray technician had to be wedding photographer in another life. She got exposures of my knees standing, sitting, laying down and you name it. It all came down to the same diagnosis: Bone on bone plus bone spurs and arthritis. Other than that they were in great shape!

Better late than never

Like most things when it comes to my health I put it off way too long. I didn’t have a personal doctor until I was 65. The first thing he suggested was a colonoscopy.

Because of that one suggestion I’m alive today.

Because I learned to listen to him I could get help when I found myself running out of gas about two hours into any work I was doing. He and my oncologist diagnosed a thyroid problem and prescribed the pill that got me back to normal.

Because I listened to the knee surgeon he referred me to I got shot yesterday.

You need surgery, but…

Dr. Feinblatt clicked on the computer screen and showed me the x-rays. He pointed out the bone spurs and where the arthritis was having its impact. He told me that both knees needed replacement. And then he said, “Have you thought about having injections to minimize the pain?”

We agreed that his suggestion would be good as I would need support after surgery and my daughter was not available until October. He agreed to have staff clear it with my insurance company.

So I got shot yesterday.

The physician assistant told me I’d know if it was working within two days. Either it was the placebo effect or swift reaction but I had the best nights sleep I’ve had in months last night. As I write this I not hurting. It is a wonder!

Take care of yourself

You only get one body to live your life. Yes, you can get some repairs done but the spare parts are never as good as the originals. Take the time to see someone to keep you “in tune.” When the years start to add up you’ll thank me.

And so it goes. 

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His consulting practice, founded in 1990, is known for on and off-line Trust-based Consultant Marketing and Brand development advice that builds businesses, careers and lives of joy.

Consulting: www.JerryFletcher.com
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