Dear LPG,

Until recently I decided that getting old was something that I was going to do gracefully as they say, but I am learning a bit about one particular aspect of the aging adventure that I am not enjoying that much. 

We have all heard our older relatives talk about it and if you happen to live in the same house you either get used to the repeated references to it or find it irritating to keep hearing them go on about it, it can become quite painful to your ears.  I am talking about the aches and pains that come with the territory, if you know what I mean.  However, it is not until you start to experience the odd feelings of discomfort yourself that the reality of what is to come kicks in.

I am now beginning to learn just a little about what my aunt has been going through for years and I have to say that although I realise that what I am experiencing is just the warning signs of much more to come, I am beginning to mention it more and more.

I found myself visiting the GP, all be it via telephone appointments.  Not because of the severity of what I am feeling, but because I live in the hope that if it is treated now, something can be done to keep it to a minimum for longer.  But I think that because I don’t have real pain and, perhaps because the pain I feel is causing me the sort of discomfort that is not stopping me from doing anything I want to now, although sympathetic, the doctor does not share my concerns.  There is no doubt that I am in a bit more pain than I was even a couple of months ago, but I also know that, in comparison with my aunt, I have not begun to know what pain really is.  I feel guilty for mentioning mine as much as I do and understand her repeated references to what she has been feeling over the past few years a lot more than I did.  

While we all have to accept it to a certain extent, while it has been on my mind I have put a little effort into researching the different sorts of pain we can all look forward to.  It is easy to work out where it hurts, but why it hurts might also be worth a little investigation.  I have asked LPG to share what I found in case it is of any help to anyone…

GA, Mottingham

GA offers some information about the different types of pain we can all look forward to…

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