Lessons in Anatomy

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One thing about getting older: I'm getting free lessons in anatomy. Ha, and the doctors giving me those lessons had to pay big bucks to learn what I'm learning for nothing! Yesterday I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in my neck. That's not exactly the best news I could've received; however, it's certainly not the worst thing that could've happened. I mentioned that on my Facebook wall, and someone replied about chronic pain being far more serious than people give it credit for. I'm nearly 56 years old; and, like many people enjoying the benefits of discounts at Golden Corral because of age, I have my share of aches and pains. Arthritis seems to be taking up residence in my knees. I've had sponylolisthesis for several years (that's more or less the same thing as spinal stenosis...just with a more difficult-to-spell name ). The broken ankle earlier this year also introduced me to a new level of pain. It really could have been worse: something like cancer or MS could have been found. Instead, it's a narrowing of the spinal cord (which may or may not be caused by arthritis), which puts pressure on the nerve endings in the spine. The relatively minor issues it's causing -- numbness and tingling in my arm, pain (of course), etc. -- are just more things to add to the list of "getting older." As Warren Zevon once sang, "I'd rather feel bad than feel nothing at all." Pain's a sign of getting older...and of a life that's been lived.