You know how they say 40 is the new 30? And 50 is the new 40? Well, I'm beginning to suspect that 50 is the same old 50.
Not that I'm 50 yet. I will be in about eight months' time. But I've taken some of that mental leap into my new age category. I regularly experiment with the idea that I'm in my 50s. Getting myself used to it.
My body, however, seems to be feeling its age. This year it's been one thing after another. Little things. Here are the latest: two weeks ago, I was lying in bed and the cat began miaowing to come into the room. I sat up to get out of bed to open the door - and promptly swayed dizzily and fell back down. It was a bit like being drunk. I noticed that I had a bit of a snuffly nose but otherwise felt fine.
For the next week, I had this balance problem every single time I went from prone to upright and even sometimes when i was lying down and turned over. Of course like any modern citizen I researched this on Google and discovered that such vertigo increases with advancing age (on some other sites, it stated frankly that's it a condition of being old).
It seems to be tapering off now, though I am going to see my GP about it this week.
Meanwhile, enter from stage left physical ailment number two, or it is number three, as I'm sure it is subsidiary to the swollen knee (another advanced age complaint) I've recently recovered from: severely painful electric-current-like tingling near my left ankle.
I've had something like this every now and again (like once a year) for the past few years and can always attribute it to wearing 'bad' shoes - not high heels, as I never wear them, but rubbery or soft soles which give no support. If I stop wearing those shoes, the sensation goes away.
This time it happened while I was wearing Birkenstock shoes (though I'd worn some rubbery shoes I ride my bike in earlier that day). And it lasted 10 seconds or more. And it happened a few times over the course of a couple of days. And the pain is so electrifying that I spontaneously cry out and one time had to stop driving immediately - pull in to the side of the road. It feels like I have a tapped nerve, like a dentist is drilling in my ankle. It isn't related to movement so there's no way of avoiding or predicting it.
Now, one of the other things that occurs as you approach the new 40 is that shoes and feet become a subject of great interest. You have long conversations at picnics with other 40-somethings of both sexes about orthotics and podiatrists. You realise that a great many new-40s develop fascinating problems like heel spurs and Achilles tendonitis. You want to walk up to 20-somethings in high heels and shake them and warn them what aging has in store for them. Not that I wore high heels in my 20s either - you see, I did nothing particularly damaging to my feet at any age and so I am forced to conclude that the body as it ages develops problems. That postural habits have a way of coming home to roost.
I don't know exactly what my foot problem is (another thing to discuss with my doctor) and it hasn't recurred for a few days now so it looks like the rubbery shoes were a contributory factor. Meanwhile, I've taped my left knee as it's become a little bit sore again (have I mentioned I've taken up running? I have a habit of doing this whenever a new decade approaches.) Looks like yet another round of visits to doctor, osteopaths and physiotherapists is in order - maybe this time I'll add podiatrists into the mix. I'm leaving chiropodists for my 60s - I'm sure I'll need them by then.
Ah, my own newly-aching elbow and recently-hurting feet have a lot of sympathy with yours! I hope the vertigo is solveable--that doesn't sound fun at all.
Posted by: Susan | Tuesday, November 22, 2005 at 02:00 PM
Going on the swings makes me feel sick these days. And don't mention the roundabouts.
Posted by: David | Wednesday, November 23, 2005 at 06:51 PM
I thought vertigo like that was due to low blood pressure. I had it regularly when I was in my late teens/20s, although it's rare for me now.
Hope your feet problems improve, and how's Olle?
Posted by: Morgan | Wednesday, November 23, 2005 at 07:49 PM
Morgan, no, it's not the low blood pressure type of dizziness (though I do have low-ish blood pressure - at least that's something that's okay!)It's more at the top and back of my head and is more like a swaying sensation, like being on a boat.
Actually, it's gone now. I think it must have been a viral infaction of the inner ears or sinuses.
The ankle pain hasn't recurred for a few days either.
Which leaves me with a badly swollen knee.
Olle's fine now - eating and sleeping a lot to make up for lost time. He remembers offering you jelly beans when you came to visit - the important things stick in his mind!
Posted by: susoz | Thursday, November 24, 2005 at 04:42 PM
I'm still hoping it's all a matter of mind of matter...
Posted by: elsewhere | Friday, November 25, 2005 at 11:12 AM
A few years ago, my podiatrist told me I had "the feet of a 55 year old" (I was 35 at the time) but I've been too embarrassed about them to ever have an actual barbecue conversation.
I think I'm just unlucky in my genes to get to that point so early - although I have worn court shoes occasionally, I've never worn high heels.
It's made me more appreciate of the fact that the rest of my body isn't ageing at quite such a rapid rate.
Posted by: Jennifer | Friday, November 25, 2005 at 09:06 PM
Foot repair would have to be industry just waiting for a big explosion. The orthopaedic nightmares that young girls are wearing, have to be causing a future epidemic of crippleness. Guide Olle now toward the big bucks career.
That sharp ankle pain you have could be 'referred pain' from spine? get well soon.xx
Posted by: brownie | Saturday, November 26, 2005 at 08:49 PM
Wow, that all sounds pretty miserable. Hope it is all subsiding by now, though the swollen knee sounds like it might take a while... good luck! (and ick to the inevitability of an aging body - shouldn't somebody do something about that?)
Posted by: Kay | Sunday, November 27, 2005 at 08:02 PM
Brownie, I had to laugh at your big bucks comment. My recent consultations have been my first ever visits to a physiotherapist. I go to a 'sports clinic' and it is full of young patients, many with knee problems. I admit it did cross my mind that becoming a physio would be a respectable career for my offspring!
Posted by: susoz | Monday, November 28, 2005 at 01:14 PM