When I was young, I thought I was strong and to a certain extent, invincible. But now that I'm older, I see that how you treat your body has a huge impact on how well it can serve you in the long run.
When we are young, we have a tendency to take our health for granted. We seem to think we are invincible. We are so busy with our careers, chasing money and fame. We tend to ignore any aches or pain.
But when we get older, health problems come knocking at our doorsteps. A lot of these health problems are related to our lifestyles such as improper diet, overeating, or lack of exercise.
This was what happen to me after I retired last year. Initially, I was just experiencing backache. The back pain intensified, especially when I tried to get up after sitting for a while. Eventually, the pain spread to my leg and I felt weak when I walked. I went to see the doctor and he said it was most probably due to nerve impingement and gave me some medication. However, the pain did not subside. Even while I was lying down on the bed, if I shifted my body, I felt that a sword was piercing through my body. I went for MRI as suggested by the doctor and I discovered that I was suffering from slipped disc. The solution was to insert two screws in my spine.
As I was in constant pain, I almost agreed. My mobility was restricted and I spent most of my time in my room or in the bed. I was getting depressed. Is this what retirement was about, I thought to myself. I also recalled that I had always taken my body for granted. I never imagined that performing simple activities like walking, sitting, or changing my position in bed would bring me back. The fact is I had been suffering from backache for a number of years. But the pain was bearable, I did not bother to consult the doctor. I always pushed this aside and reassured myself that it is only a slight pain and I should be okay. This is something that I now regretted and I am now paying for it.
Fortunately, a friend suggested trying acupuncture first before going for the operation which is expected to set me back by 50,000 ringgit. Over a period of a few months, my pain gradually become better and better. I was able to walk without using my walking stick.
After I had finished with my acupuncture sessions, I followed up with a chiropratic and a physiotherapist. Now I performed my break strengtening excercise without fail every day. I also make sure that a do sufficient low impact exercises and these consist of walking and swimming. I had learned my lesson, I will not take my health for granted.
Earlier this year, I found out that my sugar level was high, in fact, the doctor said that it was pre-diabetic level. This time I took swift action. I cut off carbohydrates completely from my diet. Most Chinese can't live without rice and I was no exception. However for the sake of my health, this was taken off my diet together with noodles, bread, "kueh tiaw" and "bee hoon". I also ate fruits sparingly. The good news is that my latest blood test showed that my blood sugar level is normal. I even shed off a few kilos in the process.
It is ironic that when we are young, we are too busy chasing money to take good care of our health. When we are older, we need to use this hard-earned money to restore our health.
It doesn't have to be this way! If you're still young enough and healthy enough, it's not too late to change your ways. Eat right, exercise more often, and get those aches and pains checked out before they become real problems. Your future self will thank you for the trouble and effort you put in today to take good care of your health.! So remember that health is wealth, and so never sacrifice your health for wealth.
