topic Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ... in Community Chat

You Know You're Getting Older When ...

Moonchilde — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:48:16 GMT

I just ordered a HurryCane 🙀

I've had a cane since I had a very bad fall several years ago. When I was recuperating, I bought a cane that I used when I was still unsteady on my feet, but it didn't have the quad or tri-tip and didn't fold up - and after I went back to work I stopped using it.

I'm just permanently slightly unsteady and my mobility/limberness is permanently affected by arthritis. I decided there were times I'd rather be walking with a quad or tri-tip cane so that I won't have to walk soooo slowly and soooo carefully on uneven ground. It will make me less paranoid of falling.

What has happened in your life that has made you "feel old" - whether it has had a major effect on your life or it's just little things you've noticed over time?

For me it's been largely physical. It was like after I hit 50 I started to physically have crumbling body parts :-( that I'd never had before. But I'm also experiencing times where something I've done, say annually or nearly, that I've always loved to do, is now sometimes 'meh' - it doesn't have the magic it once did. I have a lot of bt;dt moments and very few to no 'blow me away' moments. I'm jaded. Physical comfort trumps almost everything in terms of aches and pains vs fashion or endurance.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

Noel7 — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:53:33 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
I just ordered a HurryCane 🙀

I've had a cane since I had a very bad fall several years ago. When I was recuperating, I bought a cane that I used when I was still unsteady on my feet, but it didn't have the quad or tri-tip and didn't fold up - and after I went back to work I stopped using it.

I'm just permanently slightly unsteady and my mobility/limberness is permanently affected by arthritis. I decided there were times I'd rather be walking with a quad or tri-tip cane so that I won't have to walk soooo slowly and soooo carefully on uneven ground. It will make me less paranoid of falling.

What has happened in your life that has made you "feel old" - whether it has had a major effect on your life or it's just little things you've noticed over time?

For me it's been largely physical. It was like after I hit 50 I started to physically have crumbling body parts :-( that I'd never had before. But I'm also experiencing times where something I've done, say annually or nearly, that I've always loved to do, is now sometimes 'meh' - it doesn't have the magic it once did. I have a lot of bt;dt moments and very few to no 'blow me away' moments. I'm jaded. Physical comfort trumps almost everything in terms of aches and pains vs fashion or endurance.

@Moonchilde

Welcome to the club. My Dr. told me to get one because Lupus hits joints at times. I love that HurryCane because it's so stable. I got the light weight one for around the house when I need it and the heavier red one for the holidays.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

Allegheny — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:07:42 GMT

This year has been tough. Though I have had arthritis for many, many years it hasn't bother me till this year. I am 65. I wake up in the morning and before arising almost every single joint aches, toes, ankles, knees, hips, wrists, fingers, and so forth. It seems like it just started overnight and I am not happy about it.

I started noticing a gradual loss of strength and stamina somewhere in my early 60s. Much of this is my own fault because I have let myself slow down, so I am making an effort to change this. For some reason my brain doesn't want to accept the fact I am as old as I am. I think that is a good thing.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

Moonchilde — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:10:48 GMT

@Noel7, on their website currently they only have two canes - one that isn't collapsible and has a slightly less comfortable handle and only comes in black, and the collapsible one with a better handle that comes in black, blue, red & purple. They don't mention a weight difference that I could find (there might well be one, I just couldn't see it). I imagine that over the years they've tried different designs out and some might not be available any more.

I came across it channel surfing past HSN - they're having a safe home living for senior citizens day on HSN. That's not what they're calling it lol, but that's what it is - the canes, alarm systems, 9-1-1 wearables, etc. Their deal of the day is a one-time fee 9-1-1 wearable that has no monthly fee.

The cane seems to be the same price everywhere unless you buy a used one on ebay, and free shipping, so I just bought it from HSN instead of Amazon or the hurrycane website.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

Cakers3 — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:14:12 GMT

I don't have a Hurry Cane but I do use a cane sometimes. It's pretty with flowers on it-as pretty as a cane can be, I guess.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

Moonchilde — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:18:06 GMT

@Allegheny wrote:
This year has been tough. Though I have had arthritis for many, many years it hasn't bother me till this year. I am 65. I wake up in the morning and before arising almost every single joint aches, toes, ankles, knees, hips, wrists, fingers, and so forth. It seems like it just started overnight and I am not happy about it.

I started noticing a gradual loss of strength and stamina somewhere in my early 60s. Much of this is my own fault because I have let myself slow down, so I am making an effort to change this. For some reason my brain doesn't want to accept the fact I am as old as I am. I think that is a good thing.

I hear you, @Allegheny. I've noticed some loss of strength as well, and definite loss of stamina. With all my musculoskeletal issues and aches and pains, I can't "go exercise" or "go take a walk" and that compounds the issue.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

Moonchilde — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:25:06 GMT

@Cakers3 wrote:

I don't have a Hurry Cane but I do use a cane sometimes. It's pretty with flowers on it-as pretty as a cane can be, I guess.

The one I have that I stopped using is blue flowered, I think. The Hurry Cane only has four solid colors so I couldn't get any wilder & crazier than purple. I will not wear red with it, though. I won't do the Red Hat thing. More power to 'em, but it's not me.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

q-girl — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:27:56 GMT

Ahh, yes, the cane. I've needed one for seven or eight years now. I am 60 yrs. old, 61 in November. I use it for numbness/weakness secondary to bilateral chronic and acute lower extremity radiculopathy. Don't have the HurriCane, but am considering because I am becoming less stable on a regular cane as the numbness progresses. I've even considered a rollator, but the thought of THAT really makes me feel old.

I think the one thing that really makes me feel old is the fact that I can no longer wear my beloved heels. I always loved heels - high, higher, and even higher heels were my obsession. My flats were 2 to 3 inch wedges or platforms. I LOVED MY HEELS!!! When my body refused to wear even most low heels without pain, and I had to trade them in for flat, low to the ground, COMFORT and SUPPORTIVE shoes, well. . . . .I really felt old.

Hugs. . .

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

arrabella — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:52:23 GMT

@q-girl wrote:
Ahh, yes, the cane. I've needed one for seven or eight years now. I am 60 yrs. old, 61 in November. I use it for numbness/weakness secondary to bilateral chronic and acute lower extremity radiculopathy. Don't have the HurriCane, but am considering because I am becoming less stable on a regular cane as the numbness progresses. I've even considered a rollator, but the thought of THAT really makes me feel old.

I think the one thing that really makes me feel old is the fact that I can no longer wear my beloved heels. I always loved heels - high, higher, and even higher heels were my obsession. My flats were 2 to 3 inch wedges or platforms. I LOVED MY HEELS!!! When my body refused to wear even most low heels without pain, and I had to trade them in for flat, low to the ground, COMFORT and SUPPORTIVE shoes, well. . . . .I really felt old.

Hugs. . .

I feel your pain on the wedges and heels issue! I think that's when I first felt old, not being able to wear beautiful high heeled shoes!

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

Moonchilde — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:57:08 GMT

@q-girl, I wouldn't want to deal with a rollator every day either, but I think they're great for certain situations. I need to sit frequently. A while back I bought one of the shopping carts QVC sells (or did sell) that also has a seat, but when it came it was IMO very heavy for what it was, heavy to lug around, and I never used it.

I have a great lightweight folding stool that I love that's just slightly heavier than I'm happy about, re having to carry it over my shoulder or in a bag. I'm going to get one of the wheeled duffle-type shopping bag carts with the sturdy wheels and I can put my purse, the stool and small purchases in it - for swap meets, craft shows, fairs, etc.

I had to give up cute heels decades ago. Even in my 30s my feet were protesting those. And then came Achilles problems and plantar fasciitis and arthritis, so that's a no-go for me.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

Kachina624 — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 02:01:06 GMT

I have several old ordinary adjustable canes left over from various surgeries so I bought the rubber quad bottoms and retrofitted them with new "feet" for very little cost. I don't like the folding canes... Don't trust them.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

noodleann — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 02:07:04 GMT

I love my HurryCane, and it's great to be old enough that it doesn't occasion stares when I use it. I got a red one at a spectacular discount at Walgreens online. One thing to bear in mind if you're a new HurryCane user: The flexibility of the cane at the base takes time to develop and only happens with use. It won't have much flex when you first get it, so it'll be more like a regular cane, but as the elastics are used, it'll develop play.

And if you thought a cane was a treat, you're going to be over the moon when you get your first Rollator! I love mine. I got a big one by ProBasics with a gorgeous blue flame design, very snazzy. It's wonderful for taking walks because it helps with uneven pavement and I always have a place to sit. It folds and I throw it in the car when I'm going to the walking park. I'd recommend sizing up for comfort and getting one that doesn't require you to remove a wire basket under the seat to fold it. Mine has a black vinyl or nylon basket that I think is better than the wire baskets because it protects your items from view and can hold small, loose things. My model is currently about $85 in blue on Amazon, where I bought it.

Go speed racer, go!

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

Moonchilde — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 02:32:31 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I have several old ordinary adjustable canes left over from various surgeries so I bought the rubber quad bottoms and retrofitted them with new "feet" for very little cost. I don't like the folding canes... Don't trust them.

I know lots of people do that with regular canes. But that wouldn't give the pivot movements the Hurry Cane has. I never thought much about folding canes until I used the cane after my accident and found that figuring out what to do with it/where to put it out in public (restaurant, booth or table) made me nuts; folding started to get more attractive.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

qualitygal — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 09:20:36 GMT

I kept a cane, and a walker that my folks had to use.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

travelin grandma — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 12:18:02 GMT

I am so glad I saw this thread. I just ordered the 911 pendant because of you nice people. I didn't want a monthly charge and put off getting something; now I saw this and immediately purchased it. I live alone and had a fall the other day, so I'm cognizant of what could happen. Thank you for posting this!!!!

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

Noel7 — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 12:54:36 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I have several old ordinary adjustable canes left over from various surgeries so I bought the rubber quad bottoms and retrofitted them with new "feet" for very little cost. I don't like the folding canes... Don't trust them.

@Kachina624

I see the possibility of pinching your finger when breaking it down, I just don't do it. On the other hand, it's a real benefit to be able to set the right length or height of the cane for yourself.

It's sturdy and the foot is wonderful for stability.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

software — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 13:05:40 GMT

There are times when I could use a cane.

But I just won't break down and do it.

Too much pride, I guess.

I rarely go anywhere without one of my kids, I lean on them if I need to!

I always plan my walking with an escape in mind if I feel like I'm unsteady.

It changes your life.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

BornToShop — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 13:41:39 GMT

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

IMW — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 14:29:40 GMT

I first felt old with menopause at 46. Accepted this until 4 years ago at 61 when everything seemed to go and keep going.

Arthritis everywhere, I creak more than an old door hinge. Chronic anemia, I get ferritin infusions regularly, every 2-5 months, diabetic neuropathy , 5 pinched nerves in neck, stenosis in spine etc.

I feel decrepit, then I look in mirror after makeup, jewelry, wig, clothes and I am shocked at how good I look.

My husband still thinks I'm beautiful and sexy, I'm blessed.

Re: You Know You're Getting Older When ...

ALRATIBA — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 01:57:37 GMT

I don't feel old, and I don't think I look older. My friends range from 60s to 90s ... we are all involved in various charity and church activities.

I think the key for us is that we keep active. My "mentor" just turned 94! (I'm 75)