Pain in your life is a battle. You may have to fight more than once to win war.

So thru my 20’s, I battled with Juvenile Arthritis until it finally went into remission. Through

my 30’s, I was blessed with raising my two boys with minimal pain, then the 40’s hit. Spent

ten years battling severe migraines often landing me in the hospital. Then my knees and hips

started to bother me again, but not as bad as when I was 20. My 50’s saw a relief from my

migraines, but now I began struggling with my weight which contributed to the pain in my

knees and hips.

That is when I joined the gym and got a personal trainer who was experienced with the older

generation. Although I still had pain, I was able to keep my mobility and reduce the pain to a

tolerable level.

Toward the end of my 50’s and early 60s, my pain got progressively worse. I kept up on my

exercises and decided to try stem cell. My diagnosis was that it may help, but I was already

bone on bone in my right knee. I can say that it did reduce the pain for about 3-4 years to

again tolerable.

Then during a relay at the end of my boot camp, I was pitted against a 35 year old man and I

was sure I could keep up with him. Now my quads were very strong, but when I went to

sprint, I went down in excruciating pain. Diagnosis: I tore a piece of bone out of my hip.

Luckily I didn’t need to have surgery, just physical therapy. Once I healed went to a new boot

camp and tried to keep up with 25 year old. Again, not a great decision on my part.

Tore a muscle in the same leg. Same physical therapist who remembered me and told me, he applauded my efforts, but my body was not keeping up with my mind. The end of Boot

Camps.

I did find my old trainer, who was offering special classes to seniors, where I went until he

retired. I struggled trying to find a source for senior training. Everywhere I went, they said it

was a good idea, but nothing was available.

Then I ran across Grow Young Fitness. What a blessing. As long as I keep up my routines, I feel pretty good with minimal pain. Last fall, I was walking down the stairs and pulled a

muscle in the same leg. I quit exercising and have been reduced to severe pain in the left hip

and right knee where I am now dependent on pain pills and a scooter if I have to walk too

long. But I have started bed stretches and

back on therapy with Grow Young fitness.

Today is the first day I woke up and haven’t had to have my pain meds.

Once I lose 40 #, I can get a knee replacement, but by then with exercise, I am hoping I won’t have to have it.

"For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for." 2 CORINTHIANS 13:9