Pat Riot Posted January 3 Posted January 3 When I joined the Navy I was 5’ 11 1/2” barefoot. A few years ago I was measured at 5’ 10 1/2”. My Doc said it was because of my fractured T6 vertebra and disc degeneration from L1-L5. Now I find that I am 5’ 9 1/2” in my sneakers, so I am guessing I am actually 5’9” now. I turn 64 in a couple of weeks. When I was a kid I was fascinated by the movie “The Incredible Shrinking Man”. I think I am going to plan to place some safety pins and twine in strategic spots around the home for future use…just in case. 2 1 6 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted January 3 Posted January 3 Yeh, I just had a "Wellness" check up and I've lost 1 3/4"! That's a lot!! She said it was due to spinal compression. 3 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted January 3 Posted January 3 Apparently it is "normal" to lose up to 2" as you age. Happened to me as well. 1 1 Quote
Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 Posted January 3 Posted January 3 You kids. I just turned 81. Can you imagine how much I've shrunk? And the weight I've gained? 3 4 Quote
Pat Riot Posted January 3 Author Posted January 3 I went to an Orthopedic Surgeon this morning about my left knee. I have a Mako half knee replacement that was installed in 2010. I was concerned I was going to need a full knee replacement, but as it turns out I have arthritis behind my knee cap. The actual joint looks good. I’ll be doing some physical therapy. If my knee was in bad shape and needed replacing I was going to jokingly ask the doctor if when doing knee and hip replacements if it would be possible to add height to a person. I decided not to ask. Except for joint and back pain I am in pretty good health. I am grateful for that. I got a picture, if you’re interested in what a half knee replacement looks like. 2 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted January 3 Posted January 3 I think it was Jim Clark "If nothing hurts in the morning, I wonder if I haven't died quietly in the night." The residue of an active life. 2 2 Quote
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted January 3 Posted January 3 I am 83 and at my last physical a was 5'9'. When I was playing college football I was measured numerous times and I was always 6' 1/4" tall. I have had one back surgery and several back issues and my surgeon said it was normal, especially with my back the way it is. I weigh 215, which is about what I weighed in college. I was up to 270 several years ago and I decided to take my Dr's advice and lose some weight. Want to get down to 200#. 2 1 Quote
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted January 3 Posted January 3 Yeah, I’ve lost about 4”. With my recent compression fracture, there’s a few things I can’t reach anymore. Trump still insists that he’s 6’3” 230. I saw a picture of him standing beside 6’3” Prince William. 1 1 Quote
Trailrider #896 Posted January 3 Posted January 3 82-1/2. Used to be 5' 10-1/2". Now they've got me 5' 8-1/2" or so! Some spinal arthritis, etc. Just compression with age. Now if I went to the International Space Station, I might get some of that back. Not likely to happen, of course.,.. 1 Quote
WOLFY Posted January 3 Posted January 3 That’s almost 4”, Pat. I was 5’10 in the 80s… I believe I’m 5’8.5 now (5’9 in sneakers). 1 Quote
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted January 4 Posted January 4 10 hours ago, Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life said: I am 83 and at my last physical a was 5'9'. When I was playing college football I was measured numerous times and I was always 6' 1/4" tall. I have had one back surgery and several back issues and my surgeon said it was normal, especially with my back the way it is. I weigh 215, which is about what I weighed in college. I was up to 270 several years ago and I decided to take my Dr's advice and lose some weight. Want to get down to 200#. I'm the same age, never had any back surgery and am now 5"9, down from 5'11". 283 pounds to 201 pounds in 16 months, but I don't think I'll ever unshrink! 3 1 Quote
Pat Riot Posted January 4 Author Posted January 4 Wow! Thank you all very much! I was wondering if I might be an anomaly. You all made me feel a lot better about this. I am in good company, 1 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted January 4 Posted January 4 10 minutes ago, Pat Riot said: Wow! Thank you all very much! I was wondering if I might be an anomaly. You all made me feel a lot better about this. I am in good company, Me too! I thought an inch and three quarters was a lot!!! So long as we can still reach the pedals, we're good. 3 Quote
Rye Miles #13621 Posted January 4 Posted January 4 I was 5'7" in high school and at 77 I am now a towering 5"5", not bad 2" in 60 years! 2 Quote
Nickle Posted January 4 Posted January 4 We also lose the arch in out feet which contributes. But yeah I've gone from 6 foot 4 to 6 foot2 and muscle mass under my bellybutton has increased. Haha I'm going to refer to it as core strength. 6 Quote
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted January 4 Posted January 4 3 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said: I was 5'7" in high school and at 77 I am now a towering 5"5", not bad 2" in 60 years! It’s all downhill from now on. 3 Quote
watab kid Posted January 5 Posted January 5 yup , me too , and i think my 40+ daughter is still growing or shes wearing heals every time i see her , she towers over me now , i always called her "short stiff" when she was a kid cause she was short ....about 6 foot now tho , i was 5-10 now feel a lot shorter - not sure exactly what 2 Quote
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted January 5 Posted January 5 6’3” Donald and 6’3” Prince William 3 Quote
Rye Miles #13621 Posted January 5 Posted January 5 Trump is officially listed as 6’3” but reports question that and put him at more like 5’11, looks like even presidents shrink 😂 Quote
Pat Riot Posted January 5 Author Posted January 5 Just now, Rye Miles #13621 said: Trump is officially listed as 6’3” but reports question that and put him at more like 5’11, looks like even presidents shrink 😂 His tailor would know…or maybe he or she agrees, but uses the special Donald Measuring Tape. An uncalibrated Chinese measuring tape. 1 Quote
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted January 5 Posted January 5 7 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said: Trump is officially listed as 6’3” but reports question that and put him at more like 5’11, looks like even presidents shrink 😂 It’s less exclusive. Even billionaires shrink. 1 Quote
Rye Miles #13621 Posted January 5 Posted January 5 9 minutes ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said: It’s less exclusive. Even billionaires shrink. Everyone shrinks even the homeless! 1 Quote
bgavin Posted January 5 Posted January 5 (edited) Pat: don't worry about it in your 60s... It gets worse. Edited January 5 by bgavin 4 Quote
TN Mongo, SASS #61450 Posted January 6 Posted January 6 I've had both knees replaced last year. My knees were so worn out and I was so bowlegged, that I gained back an inch I lost with my new knees. 3 1 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted January 6 Posted January 6 31 minutes ago, TN Mongo, SASS #61450 said: I've had both knees replaced last year. My knees were so worn out and I was so bowlegged, that I gained back an inch I lost with my new knees. How did that work out for you? Right knee awful, left knee not great. Some folks I know have not done too well, of course a couple of them are much bigger than I am. Really tired of surgery / recovery. Procrastinating, I suppose. 2 Quote
DeaconKC Posted January 7 Posted January 7 My knee replacement was one of the smarter things I have done. I too am a big man and it is much better getting around since the surgery. And in answer to the OP of shrinking now, at 63, I have gone from 6'3" to just under 6'2". 3 Quote
TN Mongo, SASS #61450 Posted January 8 Posted January 8 College football and wrestling didn't do my knees any favors. My mid-thirties year-old surgeon told me, after looking at the x-rays, that I had the worst knees he had ever seen. He uses robotic surgery for a precise fit. My knees feel better than they have in 15 years. I did my physical therapy religiously at the PT center and at home. Since completing PT, I have been averaging 2-3 days a week at the gym. It was not easy, but my balance has returned, and my knee pain is gone. In retrospect, I wish I would have done it sooner. I know a number of people who have had knees done and have not fared as well. Most of them did not do the rehab as directed. I also had the good fortune of having a son who is a physician and former students who are physical therapists. They helped me find the best surgeon in our area. A good surgeon can make all the difference, but the patient must do their part to insure the best outcome. 1 2 Quote
Finagler 6853 Life Posted January 8 Posted January 8 Getting old isn't for the timid. Graduating from high school, I was 5'10" and 145 pounds. Probably the best shape of my life. Gradiated from Collage (yes I dun did it) I was still 5'10" but I weighed 165 pounds. Still wore the same size clothes as I did in high school. I turned 65 I weighed 200 pounds and my 36" waist pants are getting "snug". I had to get new britches to go to EOT last year. Last September I tipped the scales at 205. That's it. Either I loose some weight or buy an entirely new wardrobe. Changed my diet, stopped drinking alcohol altogether last November and last Monday I was down to 188 even without any other changes to my life style. My long range target is 170. My health is good other than my Fibrillation that I'm on medication for. I hope I can cut those meds back too. I have arthritis in my knees, my right shoulder is shot (my rotator cuff is gone and the muscles have atrophied) but I am determined to avoid surgery as I fear I won't be able to shoot anymore. I have full range of motion, I'm not supposed to have but have developed bursitis in my shoulder so it gets aggravated from time to time. My arteries are clear, my lungs are clear (what I wouldn't do for a good cigar) but at my last couple appointments I measured in at 5'8". Must be my age and the damage I did to my back and pelvis years ago. For being a physical wreck, I'm in pretty good shape. 4 Quote
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted January 10 Posted January 10 On 1/5/2025 at 4:22 AM, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said: It’s less exclusive. Even billionaires shrink. Too bad their bank accounts don't follow suit!! 1 Quote
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted January 10 Posted January 10 On 1/8/2025 at 8:39 AM, TN Mongo, SASS #61450 said: College football and wrestling didn't do my knees any favors. My mid-thirties year-old surgeon told me, after looking at the x-rays, that I had the worst knees he had ever seen. He uses robotic surgery for a precise fit. My knees feel better than they have in 15 years. I did my physical therapy religiously at the PT center and at home. Since completing PT, I have been averaging 2-3 days a week at the gym. It was not easy, but my balance has returned, and my knee pain is gone. In retrospect, I wish I would have done it sooner. I know a number of people who have had knees done and have not fared as well. Most of them did not do the rehab as directed. I also had the good fortune of having a son who is a physician and former students who are physical therapists. They helped me find the best surgeon in our area. A good surgeon can make all the difference, but the patient must do their part to insure the best outcome. I have 5 replacement joints! 2 knees, 2 shoulders and an ankle. One of my knees I had done in 2002 and it's is still in great shape. 1 Quote
TN Mongo, SASS #61450 Posted January 10 Posted January 10 Big Sage you sound like the bionic man! I'm hoping not to have anything else replaced if I can help it. 1 Quote
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