We all have an expiration date

Ten days ago, I underwent shoulder surgery for some chronic pain and inflammation I've had for about a year.

The pain was mild to moderate—not debilitating or dramatic, but definitely there. That said, it was limiting my ability to work out and continue to do resistance training, specifically any activities involving chest and shoulder work were becoming more and more painful. In addition, I was having more pain at night especially turning to lay on my left side.

After trying several holistic treatments including chiropractic therapy, massage therapy, and various stretches the pain was only getting worse. I finally went to see an orthopedic surgeon.

I had several injections of my shoulder which temporarily relieved the discomfort but by no means solved the problem. After failing physical therapy, in fact worsening the pain, an MRI was done which showed significant inflammation at my acromioclavicular joint which is at the point of your shoulder where the clavicle (collarbone) connects with the tip of the scapula (shoulder blade).

Based on my ongoing and worsening symptoms, we decided it was time for arthroscopic surgery.

This would involve the removal of part of my distal clavicle where the joint was severely inflamed and repairing any significant injuries found during the surgery. My biceps tendon was partially detached due to the chronic inflammation in a different area as well as one of the small muscles where the biceps tendon was moving through. The surgeon took care of everything—cleaned it out, reattached what needed reattaching, and put me in a sling for a week. Thankful for modern medicine!

The pain was pretty intense for several days—I definitely needed the strong pain meds. I also had quite a bit of difficulty sleeping due to significant discomfort when I was moving my shoulder, which is to be expected post this type of surgery.

It was also a humbling reminder that we all depend on others, and that physical limitations are part of getting older. When you look at all of the literature that you see on social media and talk of extending life expectancy and being able to do all the things that you want to do as long as possible (healthspan), some of the things I actually talk about in my lectures and with my patients, we also need to acknowledge that we all have an expiration date.

There will be a point in time when we all need someone else to help us whether that be a family member, friend or service we pay to do so. I have had my wonderful wife Amy to take care of me for the last week; driving me around and generally picking up more of the daily burden then she had already done prior to this. No amount of good lifestyle, supplements, cold plunges, specific infusions of whatever antiaging cocktail will change the reality that at some point we're all going to walk along the path where we will end up with more physical limitations and not being able to do all we want to do. 

You can be fatalistic about this and say, "Well then all of that stuff about living a good life—eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep—doesn't really matter since we'll all end up in the same place."

Well we do all end up in the same place, but the rate and the speed at which we approach that final descent can be greatly influenced by how we live our lives on a day-to-day basis. In my case I'm 60 years old still very healthy, which means I'm able to do all the things that I want to do like taking 20 or 30 mile bike rides, skiing down single black trails in the winter or hiking in this area as well as hopefully across the country in the future. 

This is not the case for many Americans who continue to struggle with chronic medical issues starting in their 40s and 50s. By the time they are in their 60s being significantly diminished regarding what you’re capable of doing. The balance to that is we shouldn't chase, using our precious time and/or dollars, that magic pill or fountain of youth to prevent all these things from happening because eventually they will all happen to each one of us.

I will continue to talk about what I've learned over the last 10 to 15 years as they really do have a huge impact on what the last quarter of your life will look like. It does make a difference to eat primarily whole foods and minimize processed foods. It does matter that you find a way to move 30 minutes a day in whatever chosen activity you intentionally or unintentionally do. It does matter to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep at night. And it does matter to maintain some level of balance, stress relief, tribe and a spiritual practice throughout your life. These things make a difference.

These last 10 days have taught me important lessons about my personal expiration date. While I’m hoping it is long in the future the reality is there is one. Becoming more aware of that as we continue to get older is actually a gift, if you use it as such. It'll cause you to reflect on your personal mortality in a useful way. Another reminder that you should try and savor the years that you have. 

 What I'm suggesting is being cognizant of where you are in your life. Enjoy whatever stage you are in your life, whether you're chasing around your small children, taking care of your elderly parents, needing some help yourself and any place in between. It really does make a difference how you choose to live those years and how/when that eventually and inevitable decline will occur.