That Point in Life
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121715)
Gainesville, Florida
November 21, 2021 9:11am CST
At some point in your life, your body starts to behave in different ways. Or react to things in ways it hadn't before. I guess it's called getting old.
I work out religiously, I play a professional sport that requires my body to do things it would never think of doing on its own, and I consider myself in great shape.
Which is why it blows my mind that I wake up one morning after doing absolutely nothing in particular, and I throw out my back. Like seriously? I can run around like a madman on the paintball field bending and twisting my back in positions that it was never meant to go, and not get hurt, but then I sleep wrong one night and my back is toast. How in the world does that even happen?
The other day at work I sneezed, and I swear I felt a disc pop in my neck.
Maybe it's time I took up yoga.
Wait...can you get hurt practicing yoga?
31 people like this
33 responses
@LadyDuck (472114)
• Switzerland
21 Nov 21
@moffittjc 
Just for sleeping it is possible.
Sometimes I sleep in very weird positions and in the morning I cannot even move my neck.
Just for sleeping it is possible.
Sometimes I sleep in very weird positions and in the morning I cannot even move my neck.2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Nov 21
@LadyDuck It would be interesting to set up a video camera and video record myself sleeping at night. I already know I toss and turn at night, but I would love to see what my body actually does throughout the night.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Nov 21
So I've been hearing from many myLotters that yoga is more dangerous than I think. I guess I'll stay away from it then!
Yes, sneezing can be harmful as we get older. Just like any other type of sudden or unexpected movement.
But did you ever think that you could actually hurt yourself just from sleeping? haha
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137636)
• United States
21 Nov 21
Sometimes it isn't even age that gets you... For 15 years I've had to be careful what I did and where I go because I'll start having allergy symptoms and end up in the hospital if I'm not careful. Now that I'm taking thyroid meds, I've gotten a new lease on life. I still have allergies, but now they are teal allergies and I don't have to fear everything under the sun. If Covid would go away, I could start doing the things I used to do...
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137636)
• United States
21 Nov 21
@moffittjc Dust and pet dander are two of the things I'm genuinely allergic to, so Pretty still gets to clean the house and we still can't have furry pets... Thank goodness! (Pretty would adopt every furry creature and let them live in the house if they didn't send me to the hospital if they get too close... 
)
)2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Nov 21
@DaddyEvil I'm going to be in trouble soon, I'm allergic to dogs, and my daughter is going to bring her dog from my ex's house over to my house to live. My ex is moving out of town, which is why I'm now going to have a dog living with me. I'm not looking forward to 24/7 allergies.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Nov 21
I was helping my daughter do a "spring cleaning" in her room this weekend, and we hauled out all kinds of stuff that had accumulated over the years. It also kicked up a lot of dust, and my eyes have been swollen and puffy all weekend long.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
Would you laugh at me if I was crying in pain, or console me?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
@sol_cee I’m not sure I’d feel better if you called my gf. The two of you would probably talk on the phone all night and ignore me! Haha
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
22 Nov 21
@moffittjc I’ll call your gf to make you feel better
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Nov 21
Ouch! That is not a good thing to experience. Happened to hubby when he woke up the next morning and then had back pain or a very stiff neck, etc. And he was fine the night before. Could it be that you need a new mattress?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
I’m sure a big part of it is my need of a new mattress. I’m giving serious consideration to adding it to my Christmas list! Lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Nov 21
@lovebuglena My mattress is not quite that old, I think I bought it in 2006 or 2007, but it's seen a lot of action over the years.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
24 Nov 21
@moffittjc The mattress hubby and I are sleeping in may very well be since the 90s. 
We are sleeping in the same bedroom set that was here when parents bought the house in 1998. I don't think the mattress was ever updated. We need to get a new one. I don't want to do that though thinking that if we move out to another place I will want new furniture and will just get a new mattress then. However, I doubt we will move out anytime soon.
We are sleeping in the same bedroom set that was here when parents bought the house in 1998. I don't think the mattress was ever updated. We need to get a new one. I don't want to do that though thinking that if we move out to another place I will want new furniture and will just get a new mattress then. However, I doubt we will move out anytime soon. 1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
21 Nov 21
Jay experienced this with his back also. Now, he does situps every morning(directed by a therapist) to build up his back and stomach muscles. These two muscles hold the lower back in place, he has been told. Who would ever believe, the stomach muscles strengthen the back? They do! lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Nov 21
I have a series of stretches and exercises that I was given after my last car accident a few years ago to strengthen my back. They worked like a charm back then, so I'm going to start doing them again. Even though I workout and do a lot of stretching, I haven't been too good about doing the ones that help my back. Silly me.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
21 Nov 21
@moffittjc My granddaughter's husband was hit by a truck, before she knew him. Brian suffers from back pain, every day of his life! Yes, it was definitely an accident but, that never helped his back!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Nov 21
@kobesbuddy Back injuries are one of those things that--despite the best efforts of medical science--can never be truly healed. Things can be done to minimize or reduce pain, but I think it's one of those things that once the damage is done, it's damaged forever. Maybe we don't feel it for decades, but it always seems to manifest itself again later in life.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Nov 21
Sometimes I'll just be on a leisurely stroll and hear something pop inside my body. I guess I'm starting to get to that age where I need to stretch before I do anything! lol
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 Nov 21
@moffittjc It happens to all of us.
2 people like this
@kareng (61749)
• United States
22 Nov 21
Welcome to the club!! I have done the same thing to my back. Once I bent over just as I would normally bend over and I couldn't stand back straight. I finally got it but it hurt like heck! Sounds like you may have to seek medical advice if it doesn't get better soon! I've thrown my out a couple of times and it is never fun.
1 person likes this
@kareng (61749)
• United States
23 Nov 21
@moffittjc Hope you feel better sooner than later!
How's the coaching job hunt going down there? We should be narrowing our list down here.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Nov 21
@kareng There's a lot of rumors going around that we are close to landing Billy Napier from Louisiana, who many say is the hottest coach in the land right now. I don't know much about him, but everyone seems to speak very highly of him. Initially, there were reports that we were going to go after Oregon's coach, but I haven't heard anything lately on that.
Any ideas of whom your team is after?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
I had a succession of back injuries a few years ago from a string of rear-end collisions, so I know how fragile our backs can be. You’re right, it’s never fun.
1 person likes this
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
21 Nov 21
@moffittjc Yes, that can be a good way for stretching ;-)
My back is definitly too old. Also some days my knees, but most of the time they seem the same age as the rest of me. Some of my friends have started making funny noises when they get up from the couch, I hope it's a long time before I do that.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
@Torunn Even before I got old my body made noises when I got up from the couch! Lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Nov 21
Haha, that's funny (but at the same time not funny). yes, my back seems much older than the rest of my body. I agree with you, we all need to stretch more, but it's so boring like you said. Unless I can talk my girlfriend into stretching with me. If that's the case, I'll just stand behind her while she stretches and watch and then all of a sudden stretching will be so much more fun.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Dec 21
@rebelann Yep, it's a macho thing I guess.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Dec 21
I'll be one of those dummies who tries a yoga pose my body has no chance of ever achieving, yet I'll do it anyway because I'd try to convince myself that I'm as young, nimble and flexible as the cute yoga instructor is. And then I'll have to be air-lifted to the hospital because of a spinal injury that leaves me half paralyzed. And the whole time I'll be smiling and nodding to the cute yoga instructor and saying, "yep, told you I could do that!"
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108144)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Nov 21
Yes you can.
Welcome to getting older
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108144)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Nov 21
@moffittjc It is better than the alternative
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Nov 21
@wolfgirl569 The alternative is not joining the club. I've been declining the membership offer for decades now, but I guess at some point I have to accept. But they're going to have to drag me kicking and screaming to the initiation ceremony! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
Thanks! It’s one club I wasn’t looking forward to joining.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67081)
• United States
22 Nov 21
No idea, I'm only 29 and been having back pain since I was about 20 from sleeping on an old couch futon
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
I’ve slept on an old couch futon before, so I can empathize with you on how you felt. Not a fun thing at all.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Nov 21
@Courtlynn Somebody should figure out how to design better futons that are more comfortable to sleep on. Do you think we can file a class action lawsuit against the futon industry for all the back problems they have caused us? lol
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67081)
• United States
23 Nov 21
@moffittjc nope. And i did it for 8+ hours a day for days-2 weeks at a time every other week or so the first 5 years of my relationship 
fiance and i have both had back problems since.
fiance and i have both had back problems since.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
It’s slowly getting better with each passing day. I have stretching exercises that I do to help. I’ve had back injuries before from a string of vehicle accidents, so I know what needs to be done to help my back. And if those stretches don’t work, then I know it’s time to seek medical help. But so far so good.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Nov 21
@RubyHawk It's funny, my entire life I have gone without significant injuries, and it is something I have always prided myself on. But I guess fate is catching up with me, and all the injuries that were foregone in my younger days are manifesting themselves now in my older age. lol
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
22 Nov 21
@moffittjc You’ve had a lot of injuries. Hopefully you’ll know if you need to see a doctor. but take care.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181670)
• United States
22 Nov 21
I'm sorry about your back; but I'm very glad to see you here. I hope you feel better soon.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
Hey, no matter how hurt I am, I will always find a way to crawl my way over to myLot.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Nov 21
@LindaOHio I miss me when I’m gone too. Lol
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181670)
• United States
23 Nov 21
@moffittjc That's good. You're missed when you're gone!
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
22 Nov 21
Aging is not fun. I have put out my back many times in the last few years.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
Hi Laurel! Good to hear from you. Haven’t talked to you in quite a while! Glad you’re still here in this site!
Yes, aging is not fun. But I guess we have to try and navigate it as gracefully as we can.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Nov 21
@Happy2BeMe I'm glad you decided to come back! Yes, this place just seems to have such a welcoming feel to it, it's hard to stay away for too long. So many wonderful people here.
Of course, you and I are friends on Facebook, so I would be able to keep in touch with you outside of myLot, but unfortunately these days I don't use FB very much. But at least the option is there.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
22 Nov 21
@moffittjc HI Jeff. I just came back last week. Was gone for quite sometime and realized I missed this place and all the great people on here so here I am again. Nice to see you are still here too.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47064)
• India
22 Nov 21
Too much practicing plus exercising could cause back pains.
Also some Yoga postures- if done too much can also cause a lot of pain. May be you need to divide your training sessions and not strain the body.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47064)
• India
23 Nov 21
@moffittjc
There are some simple Yoga breathing exercises too that are helpful.
I also do them.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47064)
• India
29 Nov 21
@moffittjc
Yes -that is quite important too.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
There have been enough comments on here about yoga to scare me away from it. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing (exercising and stretching).
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30452)
• Corsham, England
28 Nov 21
Welcome to my world Jeff! Things definitely start to deteriorate no matter how well you look after yourself. I once got a sharp pain across my back while I was on my computer and the reason was not moving about often enough. You can't win!
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30452)
• Corsham, England
28 Nov 21
@moffittjc I notice I have more aches and pains as I age but if you have any old injuries you gained when you were younger they usually come back to get you later in life!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Nov 21
@sprite1950 I have a few injuries from my younger days, so it will be interesting to see if they rear their ugly head in the future.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Nov 21
So this is what I have to look forward to as I continue to get older? No thank you. I should have stayed 29 years old for much longer! haha
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (10109)
• United States
1 Dec 21
From some of those positions I see in yoga, it seems far more dangerous to do a pretzel vs laser tag. Seriously, I do light chair yoga, walk and what I can do. Getting ready for knee replacement surgery so hoping to do more this coming year.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Dec 21
I'm not looking forward to my knee replacement surgery, which is inevitable at this point, but I'm hoping my surgically repaired real knees can hold out at least another 10 years before I throw in the towel and head down that road to becoming the bionic man. In the meantime, I think I'll avoid yoga altogether and just lay on the couch and hope I don't pull any muscles in my fingers when I'm pushing the buttons on tv remote.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (10109)
• United States
7 Dec 21
@moffittjc I'm anxious about the knee surgery. I should have a date this coming week. I decided not to do any kind of yoga myself. Laying on the couch sounds like a good idea for you.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (10109)
• United States
9 Dec 21
@moffittjc That is great advice for the food. I called today to see if they got word yet and the lady who was to submit, didn't do it until yesterday. I know I'll be up and walking the same day. He said I'll be kept in the hospital over night and have to climb a step before he'll release me.
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
I guess I will stay away from yoga then. Does flipping channels with a remote control count as exercise?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Nov 21
@DianneN Yay! We have a sport in common that we play!
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (20046)
• United States
30 Nov 21
lol Yoga can be dangerous if you pull your body too much or not in alignment.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Nov 21
Yeah I determined yoga isn’t for me. I need to find a safer form of exercise, like laying on the couch watching tv.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Dec 21
@JESSY3236 Doesn't putting things up count as exercise? It does in my book. In fact, laying on the couch and pushing the buttons on the tv remote control counts as exercise. Don't underestimate the amount of calories burned daily by simply existing.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (20046)
• United States
30 Nov 21
@moffittjc lol My mother keeps fussing about me not exercising, but she also fussing about me not putting things up. So I have been putting things up instead of exercising. Thursday I'm going to continue putting my books up in my uncle's bookcase.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
22 Nov 21
@moffittjc
I have had weird things happen to me too that I have no idea what happened. Things happen that we cannot explain. I do not do yoga. I either walk outside or walk to something online and enjoy it. Exercises I do inside or walking outside can do something to me too. I am sorry cannot help you about yoga and getting hurt while doing it. Maybe if you do a position in it wrong something could happen.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Nov 21
I seem to get hurt doing the easiest tasks. I could roll my eyes at a snarky comment someone makes and somehow injure my eyelid. Lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Nov 21
@Hannihar That's pretty much the story of my life now. Despite all the exercising and stretching that I do, I still find that if I turn just the wrong way, I end up pulling a muscle or something.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
23 Nov 21
@moffittjc
I agree. We can turn the wrong way and something could happen.
1 person likes this
