The toughest strongest man I've ever met, my dad, was diagnosed with this back in 2017. The prednisone has been rough on him, he has lost ambition more and more as its gone on, moreso the last year or two than prior. His strength has wained, he used to have one of the strongest hand grips that I've known and he has alot more trouble wrenching on things now. He used to throw up a shotgun and be able to hit anything on the move, now he's good throw up the shotgun. Also what hasn't helped is the agent orange issues from Vietnam. Maybe that brought the PMR on, maybe it didn't. He's 77 now so it is expected he isn't as strong or as nimble as he once was but I sure would like to see how he would have aged and him not have dealt with this the last 7 years....
What has gone well more recently. Last year the guy who had rented our farm scaled back and we started our own hay operation from what had been row crop. Doing the tillage work and seedbed prep gave him a job. He may not run 7-8 hours on the job but he'd run a few hours, take a break, run a few hours later. He's retired and enjoyed it. Running his D 15 II with that AC square blaer behind it gave him alot of extra pep in his step. He was eager (often times too eager) to start baling, he would have the tractor and baler in the shade greasing it and checking over everything, he woudl wipe to dust off of the tractor so the pictures looked better. He had something to do, he had alot of pride that it was something he could do that was meaningful, helpful and productive. He watched me and my son work our butts off in the sun and heat and he was apart of it as well, it was a mental and emotional pick me up for dad.... he watched his son, grandson, grandaughter and even his daughter work the crop like he did on the same farm he worked as a kid. He sits at his kitchen table where he can see my house and has a pride that its all here and his family is doing well, he gets on his side by side and checks the hay growth daily. Often gives me a report when I get home from work. When baling this summer, well somebody has to run the tractor and surpervise. If he got too hot he got on his side by side and I ran the tractor. My oldest uncle that 84 said the hay operation probably added 5 years to him just in what it gave him a purpose. For a few days after running a baler he may be sore and hurting, but next cut he'd be ready to do it again. The D 15 rides rather smooth, my Mahindra tractor does not. He won't run mine anymore unless he has to use the loader, he won't climb in and out of a bobcat anymore, (heck there are days I don't want to), he'll ride his side by side but not a 4 wheeler (too hard to climb over the seat and off of). He doesn't do ladders anymore, heavier recoil shotguns or fifles he won't shoot, he has always shot a 20 gauge and he can still shoot a 30-30. The hand strength to work the charge handle on an AR-15 is too cumbersome, he doesn't like his 9mm semi-auto and carries a Kel Tec PMR 30 22mag (30 round mag or 22 magnum, and he is GOOD with it). He picked up one 50 lbs bale of hay off the ground this summer and placed it on the wagon just to say he did. He rode on the front of a well stacked loaded hay wagon while my daughter drove the tractor in from the field just to say he did.
Recently he was doing light yard work and somehow ended up with an L1 compression fracture. Likely weakened bones by age, the years of prednisone, agent orange and the desire to work. He's not getting around well at all, but I still don't want to throw down with him, and he has a fighting spirit still at least. I will ask "how you doin today dad" and he might respond 'wanna fight and find out, you'll probably win but you'll be working for it' (probably the hydrocodone speaking).
My opinion (and strictly opinion not based on advice from your doctor) as the 44 year old son of a 77 year old father that has watched this the last 7-8 years.
STAY ACTIVE!!!!!!! The activity will probably make you hurt, but the physical decline will be more linear and less plunging downward. I want to say my dad could have been more active, but again I don't want to throw down with him so that says something. Stretch. In my dad it attacked his shoulders and hips the worst. Dad doesn't do cold or heat as well, but I worked dang hard to build a deer blind he can heat and be comfortable in. He has still trout fished many times, a hog hunt trip 5 years ago, even an antelope hunt to Wyoming 4 years ago. Helping me on the farm years ago turned into 'all you have to do is run a tractor, place a pin, hold a wrench, etc etc etc.' Nowadays it is often I'll ask him to advise, supervise or whatever light work I may need, often he is the best at keeping fresh coffee and good grub at deer camp.
STAY MENTALLY ENGAGED.... don't mope and nap, keep the mind sharp. Don't sit around and develop brain rot. KEEP that sucker engaged, when your body fails at least you got your wits. My dad has as sharp a mind as any 77 year old.. though his stories might be more embelished these days. Often I will find parts or equipment 70-100 miles away and I will get him to go with a truck, trailer and payment and he'll run the task for me. Since my son got his learners permit he has been driving my dad alot and on these trips learned how to drive with a trailer. My dad can navigate a map with his phone like a champ and can tell you everything ahead to stop or watch out for.
MINDSET..... my son has Hemophilia A severe factor VIII defieincy. Learning about that from the day he was born and treating it the last 15 years I have come to the conclusion (and have often told my son) 'You have Hemophilia but it doesn't have you' and he is kicking ass at life beyond his peers that do not have that bleeding disorder. With PMR it will have you, and if you let it have you it will have more of you. Somedays your body will say it can't and your mind will agree, but do something don't give up.
If you think your doctor is half worthless or is feeding you a line, seek a different specialist. I haven't been impressed with dads doctor but he has stuck with him. I can't stand the arrogant prick.
As it is I feel for ya. Typing this out maybe I should have pressed dad differently to be more active, again that is strictly my thought and I haven't suffered it. As it is I saw the man who is my hero hurting too much to move, couldn't disagree too hard with him.
I seriously don't wish it on anyone.
Edited by RP Farms - 07 Nov 2024 at 11:19am
Topic Options
Post Options
Thanks(0)
