From How It All Began by Penelope Lively:
Old age is not for wimps. Broken hip is definitely not for wimps. We are crutch-mobile now. Up and down the ward. Ouch. Sessions with delightful six-foot new Zealand physiotherapist. Seriously ouch.
Of course before the hip there was the knee, and the back, but that was mere degeneration, not malign external interference. The knee. The back. And the cataracts. And those twinges in the left shoulder and the varicose veins and the phlebitis and having to get up at least once every night to pee and the fits of irritation at people who leave inaudible messages on the answerphone. Time was, long ago, pain occasionally struck – toothache, ear infection, cricked neck – and one made a great fuss, affronted. For years now, pain had been a constant companion, cozily there in bed with one in the morning, keeping pace all day, coyly retreating perhaps for a while only to come romping back: here I am, remember me? Ah, old age. The twilight years – that delicate phrase. Twilight my foot – roaring dawn of a new life, more like, the one you didn’t know about. We all avert our eyes, and then- wham! you’re in there too, wondering how the hell this can have happened, and maybe it is an early circle of hell and her come the gleeful devils with their pitchforks, stabbing and prodding. (pg. 7)
Reflections from the Hinterland 
Love the language…but the images? Too close to home!
Too true…
great post
Varicose veins refer to the enlarged veins which mostly occur on the leg even though they can also occur in other areas of the body. Veins are used to return the blood back to the heart which is normally against the gravity effects. Veins have the valves called leaflets which help in preventing the blood from flowing back, a process commonly known as reflux. When the veins are varicose the valves are enable to function well allowing the blood to flow backwards hence enlarging the veins further. This can cause pain when standing or walking and sometimes one can feel itchy. Varicose vein symptoms are swelling, tiredness, pain walking and standing, heaviness and muscle cramp. Other symptoms are spider veins seen in the leg, discoloration of the skin normally shiny bluish and many others. ,
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