I am also on the Osteo Highway.For over 8 years, and I'm 51 now. All my years of working in jobs with repeated movements has just speeded up my illness.I was injured in my shoulder,then in my low back, at two different jobs, both very physically demanding.I'm still managing to work, but I live on Hydrocodone, and Methadone to control my pain. I have had to give up doing anything after I get home from work. Its a good night when i feel up to making dinner. Good thing my sons are grown and fend for themselves.The bone spurs in my spine, low back, and hips have made sleeping in ( over 5 hrs. a night) for me pretty hard to come by. Hey, I'm always up well before 6 am,cause it hurts to even lay down for very long, so hang in there knowing a friend in California is up saying a prayer for you.No matter how many times soc. security/SSI turns you down, just keep appealing. I applied about 5 years ago, even had a lawyer,but I was beginning to lose everything, filed bankruptcy. At that time I was unable to work due to the severity of my pain,sitting, standing, heck, just no matter what  or how many times I changed positions I was in horrible pain.Back then, I had to wait awhile before my doctor would prescribe anything for pain, because I ended up in the hospital with bleeding intestines from all the ibuprofen I had been self treating with.I was getting some relief with chiropractic therapeutic massages, some physical therapy.When its cold outside,or damp my joints ache worse.Also used a cane for a short stint due to my hips-trochanteric bursitis, but that has improved some with gentle stretching.When I do shop, I park my car farther away so I make myself get the excercise I need, whether I feel like it or not. I want to keep fighting, never give up.There is always hope.God knows what we can bear.Stay strong, keep up the fight.

chuckm11

11/24/07 10:23am

Hi Laura,

 Thanks for the reply.

I hope you and yours had a great thnksgiving.

 We did both of my kids(24 & 25) were home

for the first time in a couple of years.

 My daughter has moved back home for a

while it's good to have her around.

 I'm really fourtunate in a lot of ways,

some days it's hard to remember that

 So we continue on.

It got to the point where I had to get off

of the ibuprofen, just short of the probelms

thankfully.

 I still walk/shuffle for 30 mins a day and

it does help some and it gets me out of

the house! Which in itself it's great!

 I love the fall here in the mountains even

though it doesn't like me so much but,

sometimes we go and just deal with it..

Chuck

ps..I was in Willows and Reding back in

the 70's are you any where near there??