How do you live with your disability?

Kaila said:
Due to disability, I try to figure out a different way to do some of the tasks that I most want or need to do.

Or I substitute a different activity for one that I love but cannot do.

I prioritize to an extreme, doing what is most important.
And not doing multiple ones on the same day as something else that's important.

I set a smaller doable goal, and focus on what i did do.

I look for different sort of tools or methods.

I also divide a task into many tiny parts, that i would prefer to do all at once.!

I settle for doing it not nearly as well or as completely as I wish.

Doing less of it is usually better than doing none of it. When those are the only 2 options.
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I have been doing some of this and it seems it will become more the norm. I find it difficult, though. Mentally and emotionally. It makes me feel like such a failure.
 

@GoodEnuff you should never feel like a failure for having to change your normal routine to fit your health needs. It's important to modify where needed as we age so that we can keep going for as long as possible without assistance.

The more we can do for ourselves the better. Eventually we won't be able to anymore and that's no surprise. Try not to be down about it. It's a good thing that you're still mobile even if it's more limited. It will keep you outta the nursing home a bit longer for sure.

Hang in there!!
 
Fritz said:
@GoodEnuff you should never feel like a failure for having to change your normal routine to fit your health needs. It's important to modify where needed as we age so that we can keep going for as long as possible without assistance.

The more we can do for ourselves the better. Eventually we won't be able to anymore and that's no surprise. Try not to be down about it. It's a good thing that you're still mobile even if it's more limited. It will keep you outta the nursing home a bit longer for sure.

Hang in there!!
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I'm trying.
 

NP at the doctor's office said the degenerate disc disease is probably what is causing my pain and weakness while walking. Possible it is a combination of that and the vascular disease. Will see the vascular doc in August. She said an MRI would give more detailed and definite info. Even with that, the treatment for DDD is PT, NSAIDS, cautious living (no lifting, etc.) There is no good fix. I have opted to postpone an MRI and go with the PT for now. Info on the 'net says about the same thing and that most everybody has this as they age. I will just have to work at the PT and reduce the hard physical labor. Damn.

I hope to widen the bridge across the creek and paths around the property so when I do need a scooter or ?? to get back there, it will be ready. I figure that day is coming. I hope to make it until next year, at least.
 
Fritz said:
@GoodEnuff you should never feel like a failure for having to change your normal routine to fit your health needs. It's important to modify where needed as we age so that we can keep going for as long as possible without assistance.

The more we can do for ourselves the better. Eventually we won't be able to anymore and that's no surprise. Try not to be down about it. It's a good thing that you're still mobile even if it's more limited. It will keep you outta the nursing home a bit longer for sure.

Hang in there!!
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Fantastic advice!

For any of us!
 
Fritz said:
@GoodEnuff you should never feel like a failure for having to change your normal routine to fit your health needs. It's important to modify where needed as we age so that we can keep going for as long as possible without assistance.

The more we can do for ourselves the better. Eventually we won't be able to anymore and that's no surprise. Try not to be down about it. It's a good thing that you're still mobile even if it's more limited. It will keep you outta the nursing home a bit longer for sure.

Hang in there!!
Click to expand...

Fighting off those feelings of failure, repeatedly... is important. Very difficult to do but we can practice it. We can work at changing our self talk about it.
 
Using alternate methods including a mobility aid, in order to do something,
it's not giving up.

If we can accomplish a few extra tasks we want or need to do that way, it's a smart decision.
 
The less you do the less mobile you become. Which is going to affect how you live. It's always best to keep moving as much as you're able without overdoing it. I think as we age we just have to adjust how much and how often. Modification is key in trying to keep your mobility.
 
You sound sort of similar to me. I have a severely damaged spine that makes walking difficult & very painful, even standing for more than a very short time & have been warned about heavy lifting.
I too have a large garden to look after & over the last five years since the accident that caused my problem I’ve learned to adapt how I do things, I refuse to give up, I love my garden too much.
I don’t carry the tools you mention, I load them in a wheelbarrow & use it like a walking frame to take them to where needed. I don’t drag the heavy hoses to water. I’ve set them up permanently & just need to link up each part to the main hose that comes from the outside tap to the nearest part of the garden, then I use sprinklers if needed, also set in various parts.
Things like tree pruning that are now beyond me I get help, paid if needed.
Around the house I can manage mostly,( taking things slowly with short breaks, ) as you seem able to do, with painkillers. Outside, garden or round the village I use a stick as tripping is a real hazard I don’t want to repeat, last time I ventured down the garden without it I fell flat on my face on the stone slabs & broke my nose…..copious blood & looked like I’d gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson for weeks.
 
Now this is what I've been looking for! I've suddenly gotten to be 77 and my mind isn't keeping up! I've face most of the same issues talked about above and honestly, it's driving me crazy! I've always been active and do my own repair, building, digging, whatever! Lately, with what the medico's insist is my back, my leg creates pain even when I think about doing something physical. Too....my hands aren't quite as steady and, being an avid woodworker, I've altered some tool choices to keep myself out of the ER (LOL) like a CNC machine to cut out wood pieces instead of a 3 horsepower saw with uncaring, but very sharp cutting teeth.

Pain killers don't seem to make much difference so I wait, and keep adapting until the surgeons finally get all the data they need to operate and maybe (big word maybe....) fix it. Meanwhile I have lots of free time to sit around and notice any little tick, pain, or other unusual bodily event and wonder if this is the day. Damn pain this aging stuff....guess folks were right...it ain't for sissies? But darned if I'm gonna give up. I got work waiting for me!
 

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