I had a birthday last week and I am really starting to feel every one of the years I have lived so far. I am currently suffering with a mysterious back injury, I don't seem to be able to reach behind my back any more and I make old person noises every time I get out of bed or up from a chair.
My shoulder is the biggest issue. It's been a problem since my late teens when occasionally it would freeze with pain radiating from my shoulder to my neck. I would usually end up taking a few days to a week off work but being young and apparently stupid I never sought help beyond the pain meds from the local supermarket. My doctor now suspects I've developed arthritis and has recommended I see a physiotherapist.
I work from home and home educate my youngest child so time is tight. I don't know what your local NHS physiotherapist is like but when I went I drove 15 minutes, sat for over an hour in the waiting room, discovered I'd been sitting in the wrong spot (given incorrect guidance from staff) and had missed my appointment and had to do it all again three weeks later - the earliest I could get an appointment and that only after I burst into tears of frustration.
I did not realise then that there are physiotherapists who come to your home or work place. Imagine that! pretty much anywhere in the UK, if you need help, the physio comes to you.
Time is money they say and when I was working long hours as a journalist for a busy newspaper group I would have struggled to find time to go to a physiotherapist's premises. In fact that's probably why I ignored my shoulder problem for so long - between work and raising a bigger than average family finding time for myself has not been a priority for a long time.
Now it's become a real issue. I even have trouble getting dressed in the morning and I suspect it's going to take a lot longer to sort out. This has led me to heavily encourage my son to see someone privately to sort out a back injury he sustained in a car accident which wasn't his fault. I am concerned that leaving it could result in severe disability down the line.
Your health is one of the most important things in your life. If you are younger than me and haven't yet got to the point where you groan when you move enjoy it. But at the first sign of trouble take my advice and don't ignore it - seek help from a qualified professional.