Much Too Young To Feel This Damned Old

All days but Saturday, 9.5 miles commute or errands
MONDAY 20.8 miles 1:21, 3+ TGP loops

Still doing PT with Lauren Weds and Frids, seeing Dr L once every two weeks now. Saw him yesterday and had to report a tight, sore lower back and awful hip and knee pain. My back regressed to 3" flat (2" once he was done), he thinks the deep knee/femur ache due to spinal issue in nerves, and that I should call orthopedics about hip as we've addressed what we can and are now left with the structure problems. If I understand correctly, his explanation was that I'm older than the typical patient with this issue.

So I'll call later today or tomorrow, right now don't want to tie up the phone while waiting for the vet to call. Sugar has been SLOW, like 1/8th speed SLOW, since last Thursday afternoon. She seemed OK in the morning, but different when I got home. SLOW. Hesitant. Molasses. I tried to encourage a walk but no go. Since then, she eats and drinks, follows me around a little but not much, will play if given a toy but doesn't bring them to me, won't do "sit up" trick. No acute distress, no apparent sore spots upon massage and movement, mood seems OK and she's bright-eyed. This morning she followed me around a bit more, but the dead battery smoke detector pushed that from her. A few days ago Pendino suggested trying her Tramadol, started that Monday afternoon and now at 4 doses out she's only nominally improved. Certainly less than ideal. Still a snail, but will bust out a few steps of a jog a few times. Still only walking around 1 block.

Today at PT got two new exercises -- band around ankle , move ankle against band medial then lateral, 10 times each with a 3 sec hold, keeping knee fixed. Will be harder to do at home. 2nd on is standing with one knee on swiveling chair or stool, 30 rotations each side. Also harder to do at home.

On the drive home, Garth Brooks prompted addition to songlist: Oh I'm much too young to feel this damned old.

For both me and the Shoogie