A favor to ask members

[billeau2]

I have always tried, when someone has a crisis to be helpful. I always try to help a posting brother in need... Thats the way I roll. I don't care who it is...though its obviously nice to help a posting friend lol.

Whether you like me, or don't care for me... you could be of assistance, I will explain. basically if you do not like me? this is your chance to catch me lacking!

Since around 1999 I have had a crippling leg injury. It was supposed to be crippling, I was told I would not walk again, much less teach martial arts. I proved them wrong, and for most of the time up until around 2005 or so, I did so med free. I was younger, stronger, and just kept up my conditioning with the teaching, raising my youngest etc. Of course I paid dearly for it with pain induced high blood pressure, teeth ground down... I still have to sleep in a reclining chair lol. I was able for the most part to just deal at a great cost.

Around 2005 I chose to use pain meds. I have no regrets...It allowed me a much better quality of life, I had to be productive and raise my family... And have been on them, slowly increasing my dose now and then, when absolutely necessary... My doctor in Maryland who has since become a dear friend, recommended using Methadone, because you can use the same dose without going up all the time. At first I was like "what?" but actually this medicine does let you use a dose without constantly increasing, so I took the meds.

Over the years it worked well, certain things about it ******...But it allowed me to raise my boys, and take care of my family without having other medical issues...I kept in strong physical condition throughout so while I weigh a good bit, I usually am strong physically. This is important because you gain weight on pain meds and blood pressure meds...and While I could not get down too far with weight, I could remain strong physically...and that is what I always did.

Well, My second son is graduating High School, we will have an empty nest, so I do not have to be there for him. We are moving to Nevada, and I have a new business to run along with selling and developing lots, designing a home we are building... Its too much for anyone lol but I had to push it farther.

I decided to go off the meds. I will explain why if anyone cares, but this is a long post to begin with. My doctor gave me a slow taper and I pushed it way way faster...I am almost off... I have been in incredible pain, but I wanted to get ahead of this problem a bit. Again if anyone wants to know the dose, I will post it, I am at this point? at about 5% of that dose.

Point being I got that taken care of, as I am on a very very small dose and adjusting, just going to take a knee for a month at this dose, then will complete the taper.

The withdrawal has essentially destroyed my body, I gained weight, my blood sugar blasted into diabetic range, It is a struggle to just rise from a chair... I walk the dogs at night and every step is a major effort, it is excrutiating. I am dealing with pain from the original injury and the withdrawal... I have not slept more than a few hours/night for around a month and a half... my legs shoot around all night like they are plugged into a socket. I basically go downstairs and moan, roll around nodding in and out of sleep every few minutes...It is torture.

I just started to feel a little better today and immediately hit the bag a bit, the elliptical for five minutes at a time trying to pump hard at the highest resistance.... This is for a reason, I am not looking for compliments, or sympathy... read on and you will understand why I did this.

Simply put: If I do not find a way to get my body back in shape I will die. No the doctor did not say this, but I know it, trust me... I know my body. I feel like I am at death's door if I cannot rehab my health and resistance to pain. I have no problem with this by the way. But it would suck for my wife and dogs who still need me. My sons and extended family and friends love me, but they do not need me. I raised my boys to be independent. I have some incentive to be around at least a bit longer but Its going to take a real effort. Im going to have to try to work out while in pain, and still in a long withdrawal, etc... While moving cross country, and hit the ground running.

Heres my problem and where I could use some assistance:
Im a tough guy and I seldom ask for anything...But if once in a while, you could call me out... yeah seriously, like "Did you hit that Eliptical? Haters? catch me in biatch mode...Call me a Beta if I did not do what I was supposed to and want some sympathy... IFC? you there?

This would give me some social pressure to deal with... if I am called on it, it gives me just a bit of incentive, knowing I am being watched. Forget my doctor lol, he is amazed at what I have done...He is not going to give me grief if I do not jump to save my body from being destroyed! lol, he means well.

Some of you guys might understand... I hope I am conveying the right message. Im not looking for compliments, or sympathy. I just need ball breakers to create some social pressure so I know eyes are watching if I don't do what I have to do to save myself. Trust me...I have accomplished alot as far as my goals and just to stay alive is not incentive. i should also say, its not an issue of willpower with the meds. I am fortunate to have no problem stopping. Thats not where I will slip up here. I just have to find a way to get my body back on track so this process does not destroy me and make me a cripple.

I got myself through most of this with a great doctor and friend, my family etc, I just have to gear up for round two.

[Vlad_]

Stay alive motherfucker!

[JohnCastellanos]

Damn you sound tuff as nails. Count on me for anything

[Richard]

Sorry to hear your going through so much.Keep fighting and never quit.

[Larry the boss]

Man that sounds horrible, if i may suggest if you are not already doing it..get you some good quality weed and it helps with the pain and will help you sleep. I do not know why they prescribe stuff that will make you worse as it makes your body depend on it and changes its make up....

[4truth]

What are you doing about your diet? Definitely exercise is good but diet more than exercise will make the difference.

Pain? try these two rhizome cousins. I rely on them and buy them in bulk but I'm not going to start preaching diet and natural remedies cause I don't know when to stop.

[KING MEAT]

Man that sounds horrible, if i may suggest if you are not already doing it..get you some good quality weed and it helps with the pain and will help you sleep. I do not know why they prescribe stuff that will make you worse as it makes your body depend on it and changes its make up....

^^^^


at least youre not like larry whos on welfare basically his entire life and ask for handouts

[r2rsoto]

I have always tried, when someone has a crisis to be helpful. I always try to help a posting brother in need... Thats the way I roll. I don't care who it is...though its obviously nice to help a posting friend lol.

Whether you like me, or don't care for me... you could be of assistance, I will explain. basically if you do not like me? this is your chance to catch me lacking!

Since around 1999 I have had a crippling leg injury. It was supposed to be crippling, I was told I would not walk again, much less teach martial arts. I proved them wrong, and for most of the time up until around 2005 or so, I did so med free. I was younger, stronger, and just kept up my conditioning with the teaching, raising my youngest etc. Of course I paid dearly for it with pain induced high blood pressure, teeth ground down... I still have to sleep in a reclining chair lol. I was able for the most part to just deal at a great cost.

Around 2005 I chose to use pain meds. I have no regrets...It allowed me a much better quality of life, I had to be productive and raise my family... And have been on them, slowly increasing my dose now and then, when absolutely necessary... My doctor in Maryland who has since become a dear friend, recommended using Methadone, because you can use the same dose without going up all the time. At first I was like "what?" but actually this medicine does let you use a dose without constantly increasing, so I took the meds.

Over the years it worked well, certain things about it ******...But it allowed me to raise my boys, and take care of my family without having other medical issues...I kept in strong physical condition throughout so while I weigh a good bit, I usually am strong physically. This is important because you gain weight on pain meds and blood pressure meds...and While I could not get down too far with weight, I could remain strong physically...and that is what I always did.

Well, My second son is graduating High School, we will have an empty nest, so I do not have to be there for him. We are moving to Nevada, and I have a new business to run along with selling and developing lots, designing a home we are building... Its too much for anyone lol but I had to push it farther.

I decided to go off the meds. I will explain why if anyone cares, but this is a long post to begin with. My doctor gave me a slow taper and I pushed it way way faster...I am almost off... I have been in incredible pain, but I wanted to get ahead of this problem a bit. Again if anyone wants to know the dose, I will post it, I am at this point? at about 5% of that dose.

Point being I got that taken care of, as I am on a very very small dose and adjusting, just going to take a knee for a month at this dose, then will complete the taper.

The withdrawal has essentially destroyed my body, I gained weight, my blood sugar blasted into diabetic range, It is a struggle to just rise from a chair... I walk the dogs at night and every step is a major effort, it is excrutiating. I am dealing with pain from the original injury and the withdrawal... I have not slept more than a few hours/night for around a month and a half... my legs shoot around all night like they are plugged into a socket. I basically go downstairs and moan, roll around nodding in and out of sleep every few minutes...It is torture.

I just started to feel a little better today and immediately hit the bag a bit, the elliptical for five minutes at a time trying to pump hard at the highest resistance.... This is for a reason, I am not looking for compliments, or sympathy... read on and you will understand why I did this.

Simply put: If I do not find a way to get my body back in shape I will die. No the doctor did not say this, but I know it, trust me... I know my body. I feel like I am at death's door if I cannot rehab my health and resistance to pain. I have no problem with this by the way. But it would suck for my wife and dogs who still need me. My sons and extended family and friends love me, but they do not need me. I raised my boys to be independent. I have some incentive to be around at least a bit longer but Its going to take a real effort. Im going to have to try to work out while in pain, and still in a long withdrawal, etc... While moving cross country, and hit the ground running.

Heres my problem and where I could use some assistance:
Im a tough guy and I seldom ask for anything...But if once in a while, you could call me out... yeah seriously, like "Did you hit that Eliptical? Haters? catch me in biatch mode...Call me a Beta if I did not do what I was supposed to and want some sympathy... IFC? you there?

This would give me some social pressure to deal with... if I am called on it, it gives me just a bit of incentive, knowing I am being watched. Forget my doctor lol, he is amazed at what I have done...He is not going to give me grief if I do not jump to save my body from being destroyed! lol, he means well.

Some of you guys might understand... I hope I am conveying the right message. Im not looking for compliments, or sympathy. I just need ball breakers to create some social pressure so I know eyes are watching if I don't do what I have to do to save myself. Trust me...I have accomplished alot as far as my goals and just to stay alive is not incentive. i should also say, its not an issue of willpower with the meds. I am fortunate to have no problem stopping. Thats not where I will slip up here. I just have to find a way to get my body back on track so this process does not destroy me and make me a cripple.

I got myself through most of this with a great doctor and friend, my family etc, I just have to gear up for round two.

It's great that you are having the balls and brains to do something on your own. I had a friend Gary who died at 70y/o maybe 4-5 years ago. I'm in my late 30s right now but Gary was somebody that you could always enjoy the talk, so on most of our family vacations he was coming with us.
The last vacation we were on our way to Salt Lake City all the way from Phoenix, and he start complaining about me driving too fast and making his balls hurt, my wife and kids were with us so we waited a until the next stop to talk a little bit more about it. There he said something like this to me: "Wait until you are my age and you'll see your balls growing as cantaloupes".
I didn't think that was normal of course, I let him know that no one in my family has been saying that happening to them. But Gary have been severe overweight for the last 20 years, so of course I was open for him having a lot more complications.
So, to make the story short, I did my research, the symptons that he was describing was or kidney problems , or fatty liver. In the next few days he got really sick and had to go to ICU, when he recover a little bit that let him know that had to lose 60-80 pounds ASAP, hid body was breaking down badly. They recommend him coffee to lose weight and restricted his diet on sodium; he lost like 40 pounds in a few weeks, but his body couldn't deal with all the sudden changes. He had to start this process a few years before but he didn't like hospitals and doctors...
The last talk I had with him, he knew what he was coming, he was talking about maybe a liver transplant but that same day the kidney also fail. He make his wife promise him that his life won't be depending on machines when doctors were just expecting a "miracle" soy they disconnect him the same night with the kidney failure.
Hopefully you have enought time, if Gary would know all his suffering he said that he would started it 20 years before. We hardly appreciate life when everything runs smooth, it's our nature, we appreciate it more when there is more problems. I didn't mean to hijack your thread but I wanted it to make a point of the importance of doing the right thing with enough time. You can do it buddy.

[Marchegiano]

****

I really appreciate Bill, this is ****ty news. I had to scroll up a few times to make sure the post was by him...****.


Without going too into it, personally, I hate death. I hate everything is stands for and all the BS philosophical cyclical nonsense we spin to make it easier to accept. It's the worst. In an infinite universe a finite life is cruel....what I mean to say is though my heart felt a shadow walk across it as I read this thread, I am of little use.


edit- I should say, in the future, yeah, I can call you a *****, proud to. Not now though.

[GhostofDempsey]

Getting older sucks, and it sucks even more with pre-existing conditions carried up from youth. If you are able to, start off with exercises that are easy on your joints. This is especially important for middle aged and older folks. Low impact but still getting in your cardio and strength. Be sure and stretch before any activity.

Are you able to ride a bicycle? A good form of exercise that is easier on the joints and good for your balance. There are also recumbent bikes that allow you to sit in a more reclined position.

Swimming is another good one if you can get to a pool. Walking is always great, start off as much as you can and increase in small increments over time. Plug in a podcast or some tunes if it starts getting stale.

If you are still hitting the heavy bag, consider bigger gloves with better padding. Go up to 16 ounce and invest in a good pair of Winning or Cleto Reyes "extra padding" gloves. Your knuckles, wrists, elbows and shoulders will thank you for it. Make sure your heavy bag isn't too hard, maybe even switch to a water-filled bag which will cut down on trauma to the joints. I notice a difference myself.

I would suggest you keep a watch on your diet. Particularly inflammatory foods that will increase your pain. Sugars, trans fats, refined carbs, and processed meats can all trigger inflammation and pain. Sometimes eliminating a few foods from your diet can work wonders for pain. Also adding some anti-inflammatory foods as well.

Your mattress and pillow will also go a long way in overall comfort and recuperation.

If you're feeling sluggish, watch some videos of your favorite fights or workouts for inspiration or motivation. Then get up and get at it. If you need more inspiration, search up some videos of senior citizens working out in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, and see what they are capable of despite their own physical ailments and advanced age.