Before I was diagnosed with PMR I considered myself quite healthy for a woman over 90. Then came the pains and the doctor put me on 15mg of prednisone. Because of the auto immune disease or the effect of prednisone, I realized I had lost my strenght and started walking with a cane. About 10 days ago I fell in my house and broke my left shoulder and was taken to the hospital where I spent 4 days because of also another infection. After that I have been sent to a rehabbing facility where I am now. The team is working hard to get me back some of my strength but what can you expect from a woman who will be 91 the 15th of April. I know that this is the beginning of the end and I am getting resigned to it. I live alone on 10 wooded acres among a lot of wild life which I love. I do not have any family left, only a few friends that were younger and still are living. Unfortunately when my husband and myself retired we moved from the suburbs of Chicago to the country. My husband died 16 years ago and I have always been able to manage by myself till now. I would like to know if there are some PMR people as old as I am that we’re able to overcome the weekness and go back to live back home by themselves.
Most of the time I believe I will n ever see my home and my faithful golden retriever again, but did anyone recovered some of the strength with the help of physical therapy? I am so depressed which does not help at all.
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Graziella
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I only know I believe in physical therapy helping everyone for pretty much anything. My husband had a knee replacement right knee , then sometime during the next 24 hours a stroke on the left side that was not picked up on . Long story . Just that he is fine now and he did have tremendous help from the physio girls . Wishing you well . Carol
Hi and welcome - so much for the theory than anyone over 80 doesn't "do" social media!!
I know one nonogenarian with PMR but she moved from her large town house to a specially built granny studio at her daughter's house. I know an octogenarian who lives on a smaller version of your property who has got through PMR twice and still lives at home but has changed the outside layout to make it easier to manage. She still stacks wood (which, I might add I couldn't do at 15 years less!!!). She no longer has her own dogs - but I know she loves dog-sitting for the neighbours.
Would there be any chance of you finding someone who would live with you so you were at least not alone in an isolated place? I knew long before we retired that whatever I wanted it wasn't a big house and garden - I had seen my mother struggle with what she was convinced she wanted. I miss the countryside - but the view from my balcony is of mountains and on the other side of the house the hospital is very conveniently placed! I have the best of both worlds.
I wondered the same thing on getting a “roommate”. There was a news segment that I saw recently of two women that were helping each other with housing concerns. One was a woman in her 80s or 90s and the other was a college student. If I remember right, the college student lived there free and in return did light housekeeping and was support that allowed her roommate to stay in her home. They established a really wonderful friendship. Best wishes to you, Graziella. I’m betting my money on you!
You describe your life so vividly. There is a great deal to strive for and get back to. The worst thing is the depression that so saps the strength and motivation. I hope someone in your age group notices your post, there have been a number since I first joined 2 years ago. Everyone here is routing for you. Never give up. My hunch is that you will get over this blow just like you have got over everything else that life threw at you. You will be back in the woods with your lovely golden retriever . Please carry on letting us know how you are doing.
Rooting for you I mean. I am sure that if one compromise was to have a live in companion, there would be no shortage of applicants. I’d apply myself if I was free.
From my experience of working in a rehab centre, improvements and regain depended very little on age, but on will power, determination and memory and cognitive abilities. You clearly have the latter in abundance. Get stubborn and set your goals! The therapists should be working to that.
I’ll bet that fall was not PMR/pred related, but infection.
Good luck Graziella. You can do it!
I don't know if any pmr people but I know if two women in their early 90s who have 3 broken hips, a shoulder and an arm break between them as well as other health issues. You have a wonderful life to get back to and with changes can enjoy your beautiful home. As sheffieldjane says we are all rooting for you and hope you feel better soon. Best wishes. 🌻🌻
Agree with the above especially the advice to get stubborn. Physio will help enormously and you will be back home looking after your dog hopefully very soon. We all get depressed from time to time, you have come to the right place to have a good rant, you will always get support here. Do let us know how you get on. All good wishes. 🙂
Graziella, as far as "physical therapy" is concerned, it can help as long as it is carried out by someone who understands PMR. The usual manual techniques of physiotherapy should be avoided, but gentle massage, ultrasound and heat treatment can really help.
Hopefully, once your 15mg of steroids get complete control over the inflammation (about 4-6 weeks), you will be able to start reducing the dose but the smaller the dose reduction, the better.
You sound an amazing lady and, as such, you are sure to be back with your beloved golden retriever again - we have had two of this loving and happy breed of dog. We are all rooting for you to be back home again soon - I love SheffieldJane's suggestion for a live-in companion.
You sound my kind of lady, and with your normal outlook on life I’m sure you will come through this time of feeling depressed. It’s only temporary, and once you get over the shock of the fall/operation and begin to get some physio you will begin to see things in a brighter light.
But as suggest, I might be an idea to think about a companion, I’m sure there will be plenty of people interested.
I think you WILL see your home and beloved golden retriever (my favorite pup) sooner than you think. In the meantime, let us be your companions everyday! 91 is not old......it’s not the years in your life, but the life in you years! Don’t give up! ❤️
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