Imagine this scene: It is 1980, and a 64-year-old man goes into a doctor’s office complaining of knee pain. It hurts when he gets off the floor, and generally aches. What would you imagine the response would be? My guess is something like this: “You’re getting old; these sort of aches and pains are normal. Just down-shift your activities.” Last month, I went to my doctor with knee pain. His response was to order an MRI, which revealed a torn meniscus. He sent me to see the local knee specialist. At the end of this month, I will be having arthroscopic surgery on my left knee to repair the damage, known as a clean out; hopefully nothing more.
None of my doctors questioned me being 64 and wanting my knee fixed up so I could continue my sporty-spice lifestyle. When I mentioned to the knee specialist that I did the Masters Ski Racing program last year, he smiled and gave me a thumbs-up good-for-you, and assured me I’ll be fine doing any of my sports a few weeks after surgery. With my intention to live actively for a considerably long time, why would I not want my knee repaired? Forty years ago, 64 would probably not be thought of as a sensible age to be doing this sort of stuff. In fact, I probably would have been advised to take up a more sedentary hobby — canasta, anyone? Life was very different then, and the expectations of what one could or should be doing at this age were very different.
We are the first generation to understand the value of fitness, to have sworn off tobacco and the two-martini lunch, and to understand that we have considerable agency over our health outcomes. People my age were once considered beyond help with these surgeries. Why bother, as they were already not that mobile and maybe had one foot in the grave already. Sure, my physicality is different than it was forty years ago, but different is not the same as beyond help. We have considerable capacity at this age, partially because of medical advancements but also because of how we have taken care of ourselves. I may live longer, but my goal is to live healthier for as long as I can, live the life I aspire to, and be as useful as possible. Thankfully, my docs agree.
Onward and upward,
David
