One good thing about old age: you learn new vocabulary, much of it in the three or four-syllable variety.
In the past year, I've learned to pronounce budesomide and collagenous colitis, and because of Foster's two vertigo experiences, I can spit out "canine vestibular disease" with ease.
Spelling the above and other new vocabulary words associated with old age has it challenges, but as one who became an English major because I was a good speller, the effort is worth it.
Plus, learning and teaching Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes for decades as a student and as a teacher helps.
I've picked up a couple of new words to work on lately: notalgia paresthetica.
Spit that one out on the first try!
I've learned the term because of a four-letter irritation of late called "itch."
My back started itching about a month ago. At first, I thought it was because of our winter-time wood heat and my tendency to not drink enough water to avoid dehydration.
So, I concentrated on making sure the iron pot on the stove was always full of water and made every effort to increase my water intake, even if it meant more trips to the bathroom.
That didn't seem to help much.
A friend of the same vintage told me about a back scratcher designed to apply lotion.
So, I ordered one and started slathering Vaseline moisturizing lotion on my back.
It took some practice, but I've perfected my technique and, nowadays, most of the goop lands where it's supposed on the area between my shoulder blades instead of on the floor or countertop.
As time went on, however, the lotion wasn't doing the a very effective job of stopping the itch, so I asked some more questions, mostly from my panel of fellow 78-year-old experts.
A nurse from my medical practice also told me to use good moisturizers, avoid soap and wear cotton.
Later, Kendall, the helpful pharmacist at Yoke's told me about Cera Ve and Sarna. One's a soothing moisturizer cream, while the latter works on itches with a little menthol kick to it.
I started that regimen, holding off on the anti-itch lotion until I couldn't stand the itch any more, and, happily, the Sarna gave me some relief.
Still, as days rolled by, the itch persisted. Nevertheless, during that time I began to notice that it seemed more localized. It actually felt like worms were crawling between the shoulder blades.
Then, an "aha" moment happened once and then again and then often enough that I started noticing a pattern, which included the restless worms, some burning sensation and even some tingling.
It was soon becoming more apparent that the itch was not my skin but maybe something under my skin.
I started to notice the sensation occurring when I'd be tapping on my cell phone. Then, one day at the stable where my horses stay, I noticed it happened while I was using my fingers to undo straps from a horse blanket. I also really experienced the connection on another day while threading a needle.
During those occurrences, I would often announce to Bill that "it was happening" right on schedule as I would put my fingers to work on some normally mindless task.
While making these observations, I was also researching AI and whatever else would tell me about itches around the spine connected with manual activities.
Almost every time, the unfamiliar term "notalgia paresthetica" would pop up. Other times, a simpler, easier, less glamorous term would get me to thinking seriously about my daily habits.
It's called "tech neck."
Tech neck happens when we iPhone obsessors spend way too much time every single day looking at our phones, not giving one second of thought to how our bodies are reacting to all those minutes and hours of our head bent over with eyes fixated on what we're holding with our hands and tapping with our fingers.
In my case, I had another "aha" moment when I read the tech neck information and realized that for more than a year, I've been sitting here at this desk looking down at my laptop screen rather than at eye level.
In late 2024 I had replaced my desktop computer for the laptop, but, fortunately, had not discarded the big screen from the desktop.
So, soon after reading the material about tech necks, I hooked up the laptop to the bigger screen at eye level and covered up the laptop screen.
That's how I operate now while doing my daily reading and researching and creating my blog post.
It seems much more comfortable than looking down to a smaller screen. Plus, the rest of my anatomy probably doesn't mind the change.
Back to notalgia paresthetica.
This involves nerve pain and itching caused by something happening to the spine, like an injury or arthritis, or poor posture, etc.
Somehow, after all my reading and observing, things seemed to add up, but I still felt unsure about the exact answers.
So, I scheduled an appointment with my medical provider Paige. I also wrote and dropped off a story for Paige about my itch, complete with observations from the previous month and with some conclusions I had drawn from the ready.
In the meantime, I became more selective about looking at my cell phone, which I use for gleaning information and texting as well as taking and editing pictures.
Less time on the cell phone translated into less time with worms crawling under the skin in my back. It was very noticeable, to say the least.
Yesterday I went to the appointment, feeling very nervous. I'm always nervous for doctors' appointments, and it shows when they take my blood pressure. Yesterday it was high but not nearly as high as it's been in the past.
Chloe, the nurse, came in later, took the pressure and reported that it was just fine.
When Paige came through the door, she said she had two things to tell me. "Good job on the blood pressure," and "you nailed it."
We talked about the nerve-related itching, she checked the skin on my back, and we agreed that this is something not easy to treat because it's nerves, but it's manageable in a number of ways.
One of which, I've already begun with the computer screen change and less time looking at the phone. I can also use a more specific lotion, and, if I choose, can do some physical therapy.
Talk about a happy ending to an extremely frustrating month.
Actually, I credit Paige with other happy endings to my medical mysteries. She has guided me through my knee pain, my colitis diagnosis and now this thing call notalgia peristhetica.
For the first time in several weeks, I feel optimistic this morning and grateful to have a better hold on such a daily nuisance.
Speaking of optimism, when I came home yesterday to tell Bill about the results of my appointment, it was just 10 a.m., AND steady rain had set in for the day.
So, we both agreed it would be much more fun to take the dogs and go for a drive than to sit in the house and watch it rain.
So, we drove to Canada with plans to go to Cranbrook. When the snowflakes started getting bigger and more frequent while passing through Yahk, the town of the "two pumps" and "two scoops," we turned around and drove west to Creston for a late lunch at Jimmy's Greek Restaurant.
The rain continued and even got worse as we were getting close to home, but we didn't care. We had thoroughly enjoyed the day, and I'm sure that the dogs did too.
This morning there's standing water and lush green grass growing. The sun is shining. The birds are singing louder than ever, even the deer are playing. I saw two in Meserve's field frolicking on their hind legs.
So, it's a good day in the neighborhood, and now that I know what causes my back to itch, I can do something about it with confidence.
As for big words, I'm not too excited to learn any new ones---especially if they're medical terms---any time soon. Thank you.
It's time to really enjoy life and forget the vocabulary.
Happy Wednesday. Enjoy the photos of a clean earth.
💚💜💛💙💓
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