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Running out of gas

1STMP

1STMP

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
6:51 AM
Joined
Feb 22, 2021
Messages
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Location
Roswell, New Mexico
I've spent pretty much my entire adult life
designing mechanical systems, parts, welded
assemblies, for mostly heavy truck and bus.
Everything from suspensions, power train,
steering, fuel, heating systems, and
sheetmetal. More than 150,000 hours
on various CAD systems over 46 years.
I'm getting old. It's become a major effort
just getting up from a creeper. What
magnifies this, is I broke my neck at 17
and am paralyzed on my left side.
Over compensation for this malady has
created other problems on my right side,
and arthritis is rearing it's ugly head.
I've literally spent three days on the couch
(passing in a bottle) because I can't walk.
The pain becomes unbearable to the point
of tears. Short of being doped up, I put up
with the pain, and wait for it to subside.
I'm not after pity, but encouragement.
Are any members here going thru similar
circumstance, and how do you deal with it?
I really do want to finish my grand finalie.
 
Last edited:
It sounds like you're doing just fine!

Whenever I'm feeling like **** because of some injury or another, I always imagine the people worse off than me, and how they would probably love to trade places and take on my ailments.

I was riding my bike one day, knee was hurting, neck was hurting, when I passed a guy out jogging. He had no arms. Suddenly I didn't feel so bad.

I hope you're feeling better soon, keep the passion, live for the good days and tolerate the bad days, knowing they won't win, that you will never give in to them.
 
I know your pain i have repairing those trucks and busses for 30plus years and i can't wait till i can hang it up. You need to get or make a padded creeper. What works for me is like above i thank god i can still walk, talk and do for myself because that would be the worst thing ever not to be able too. I have my days and sometimes weeks that movement is very poor at best. So i tell myself to keep going because I'm not done yet. You can do this and you can continue on because nobody does it better than you.
 
You are not alone. Aging is part of life and we all experience it if we are lucky enough to live a full life. Not everyone has your physical maladies and like said above, many are worse off. It does sound like your head is on straight so enjoy the rest of your time here on earth and play with your car/s while you can!
Mike
PS. I believe a electric creeper is made with automatic raising, to ease mounting and dismounting.
 
I feel that knowing you still have the ability to function is a major plus. I have seen those with injuries so huge I can’t imagine them succeeding but yet they do it and celebrate their wins. I think it’s those personal triumphs that keep those of us who live with physical or other liabilities pushing for the finish line.
We all know those liabilities but yet we push forward as if spitting in the eye of defeat hoping that we can rack up another win. You will know when you have run your last race and it will be on your terms but until then take the breaks you need to survive, to enjoy family and friends and most of all to live.
 
Getting old is a blessing - there are many who haven't been fortunate enough to get old.

Having said that, living with constant, debilitating pain is no fun. I assume you are having nerve pain, but regardless, do some research and get some help from some doctors. They have some amazing procedures nowadays that can really help.

Good luck and hang in there!
 
This sounds stupid, but the older I get, the more I realize it's not fair to work your whole life and retire when you can't work anymore and sometimes you hurt to much to have the fun you worked your whole live for, makes no sense. Check out pain management, it might help.
 
Keep pushing through it and get help from your medical professional when you need it. My Dad used to say, the only thing golden about your golden years is your urine! He lived til he was 89 and was doing things right up to the end. Albeit, he was slower but he just kept on doing the things he loved. Keep after it and when you need a break take one. Best of luck! 440'
 
66 Sat said:
It sounds like you're doing just fine!

Whenever I'm feeling like **** because of some injury or another, I always imagine the people worse off than me, and how they would probably love to trade places and take on my ailments.

I was riding my bike one day, knee was hurting, neck was hurting, when I passed a guy out jogging. He had no arms. Suddenly I didn't feel so bad.

I hope you're feeling better soon, keep the passion, live for the good days and tolerate the bad days, knowing they won't win, that you will never give in to them.
Click to expand...
Well said. All of us, at any point in life, live in pain. It may by physical pain, which alot of use here share with you. It may be emotional pain, caused by circumstances beyond our control. Somehow, someway, the instinct to survive, one way or another, comes out in us. It usually is different for each of us. Keep the optimism ahead in the race, always. And keep in the back of your mind, you got others, like us, cheering you on.
 
A good physical therapist might be able to help.
I've had minor knee problems the past few years and injured my back this fall.
The back is almost all the way healed but it took about 12 weeks.

I found it doesn't take much to make me grouchy.
Hope you find some relief even some improvement will help your mental state.
 
I hear the pain from here 1STMP. I ache every day and thanks to a building that fell on me when I was 18 I go paralyzed from the waist down from time to time and fall on the floor without notice. My hands barely work after millions of rivet installations, building airplanes, but I just trudge through it. When I'm feeling like I'm done, I watch an inspirational video or 10 of my daughters until I stop feeling sorry for myself, to remind myself that at least I'm on the right side of the grass...
buildingcollapse2.jpg


 
dadsbee said:
I hear the pain from here 1STMP. I ache every day and thanks to a building that fell on me when I was 18 I go paralyzed from the waist down from time to time and fall on the floor without notice. My hands barely work after millions of rivet installations, building airplanes, but I just trudge through it. When I'm feeling like I'm done, I watch an inspirational video or 10 of my daughters until I stop feeling sorry for myself, to remind myself that at least I'm on the right side of the grass...
View attachment 1233527

Click to expand...

There will always be things in life I don't understand. I get it.
 
1STMP said:
I've spent pretty much my entire adult life
designing mechanical systems, parts, welded
assemblies, for mostly heavy truck and bus.
Everything from suspensions, power train,
steering, fuel, heating systems, and
sheetmetal. More than 150,000 hours
on various CAD systems over 46 years.
I'm getting old. It's become a major effort
just getting up from a creeper. What
magnifies this, is I broke my neck at 17
and am paralyzed on my left side.
Over compensation for this malady has
created other problems on my right side,
and arthritis is rearing it's ugly head.
I've literally spent three days on the couch
(passing in a bottle) because I can't walk.
The pain becomes unbearable to the point
of tears. Short of being doped up, I put up
with the pain, and wait for it to subside.
I'm not after pity, but encouragement.
Are any members here going thru similar
circumstance, and how do you deal with it?
I really do want to finish my grand finalie.
Click to expand...

Look into QC Kinetix maybe they can help.
I Googled to see if they are in Arizona and yes..I have horrible shoulder pain. And I'm going. I'm trying to avoid surgery .
 
Arthritis here too along with a good bit of that in my back and picking up anything that's around 25-30 lbs can make my back hurt for several days especially if not picked up just right. Also dizziness when I go from standing to getting on a creeper. Got to wait a bit for my head to quit spinning and the the same thing happens when I get up off of the creeper. Odd that I can lay down in bed and get up just fine. I guess that extra couple of feet makes a difference. Been dealing with the dizziness for about 20 years now....and yup, getting old isn't for pansies.
 
Cranky said:
Arthritis here too along with a good bit of that in my back and picking up anything that's around 25-30 lbs can make my back hurt for several days especially if not picked up just right. Also dizziness when I go from standing to getting on a creeper. Got to wait a bit for my head to quit spinning and the the same thing happens when I get up off of the creeper. Odd that I can lay down in bed and get up just fine. I guess that extra couple of feet makes a difference. Been dealing with the dizziness for about 20 years now....and yup, getting old isn't for pansies.
Click to expand...

Yup! Getting old sucks!
 
At 63 I know I am starting to wear out.
Most mornings I feel like a crash test dummy.
Arthur has now came to live with me also.
I know better than to stop working. Just got to keep going. I know many folks far worse off than.me.
1stmp, hang in there
 
Yeah my brother it sounds like your road has been long difficult. It sounds to me like you’ve done amazing things in your life despite being dealt an early tough hand. I’ve well known both sides of the ball too. Had a Dr I’d grown close to once ask me which is more difficult the physical pain or the emotional? I thought for a moment and said that’s a difficult question because one will bring you the other - But ultimately I thought the emotional pain was worse. In my early 30’s I went on dual sided journey due to misdiagnosis that put me in hell for over 10 years. If I hadn’t been that young I’m not at all sure I would have made it to the other side. Still have the remnants to this day. I’ve been to too many drs and too many pain clinics to count. Some very clinical and some really cared. I’ve tried a million different things - some many thought I was crazy to do. Some far more painful than the pain I was seeking relief from. In the end I want to make it home with with the Lord there saying “Well done my good and faithful servant”. That’s all most of us want and I hope we’re all so rewarded.
 
Mike,
"I believe a electric creeper is made with automatic raising, to ease mounting and dismounting."
Would you happen to have a source for these?
Thanks!
 
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