Ben Johnson at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

In 1988 sprinter Ben Johnson was caught using an Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid during the Seoul Summer Olympic games.
It was a massive story at the time.He didn't just win the race.He left them in the shadows.He blitzed them.
Most of these runners were probably doping.But he got caught.

He was stripped of his gold medal.
The fact is he physically won that race.That's what happened.
But he tested positive for a banned substance.History erased on paper.

This was a watershed moment in sports history.
Before;most people probably hadn't heard of steroids,after everyone had.
They were shocked,and became suspicious,and cynical.
People don't like to be made fools of and they felt like they had.They didn't know what was going on behind the scenes in high level sports.
The evidence of the East German doping program had been noticed by those following international sport.But before the fall of East Germany all the records,and revelations were yet to see the full light of day.
This was the time when people realized how much of a difference doping an athlete could make.At least that was the perception.That Ben Johnson was a kind of Stanozolol powered Superman.
Who knows how these athletes would have performed if they were all perfectly natural?
Ben Johnson might have still won.We'll never know.

Here's the Sports Illustrated covering the story at the time.
The loser

Here's the famous cover Busted.

I think it's worth looking at the history of the increased awareness of AAS use in sports.It has certainly effected the view of bodybuilding,weightlifting,and physiques in general.
People have become intensely suspicious of anyone with muscular size.
To be a muscular human now seems to attract accusations of being a 'cheater'.
I think too many people overreact ,and howl "Roids! You can't fool me!"
Clearly people have been fooled in the past over all kinds of subjects.They'll get fooled again by many more.
Better more informed opinions than jumping to conclusions if you ask me.

I'll post a few more stories of interest on this period.

Jackie Paisley - Dead at 54.Her burst boobs ruined her health.

Jackie Paisley died at the age of 54 on March 17,2017.She was a female bodybuilder who competed from the 1980's to her retirement in 1991.Her Wikipedia entry shows how successful she was too.I was watching bodybuilding at the time,and remember her.She was tall,and leggy,and a very expressive poser.
She really wasn't one of the athletes I followed closely at all.Not the body type I could identify with.
But she seemed like a nice positive person.She certainly had plenty of fans,and media coverage.
There's a large gallery of pictures of her on this 80's muscle blog.
You can see she was an impressive woman.
Women's bodybuilding was booming in the 80's,and it seems somebody spotted her natural gifts and told her she could make it onstage.She had a fast rise up the ranks,and competed at the highest level.She won the Ms International in 1989.She competed in three Ms Olympia's.
She retired in 1991 at the young age of 26.
Bodybuilding is a damn hard thing to do.It's sad but not surprising when people stop competing at a young age.It seems she didn't feel like the demands of competition were worth it anymore.

She went home to Arizona,and worked in training,and nutrition.She had been a music student,and posed for this statuesque photo.

Jackie Paisley playing the violin.

I do remember at the time seeing the progression of her career once she got on the national scene.The earliest photos show her before she got implants.She had a well developed but flat chest.It followed the usual trend with female bodybuilders.She started out with her real breasts,then boom,big hard implants were installed.Of course the drugs,and dieting reduce their breast tissue.But it was depressing to see how many women thought artificial breasts were a necessary addition.
At that time in the 1980's breast implants were becoming more generally popular.There's a sensationalistic but entertaining 1997 movie called Breast Men that portrays a fictional account of the rise of silicone breast implants.Silicone implants made by Dow Corning became the fake boob of choice.It was softer,and more pliable than saline.A lot of women got them.Many of them came to regret it horribly.They claimed it made them extremely ill.Dow Corning was sued into bankruptcy though the company survived.There is information about the whole controversy in this Wikipedia article on breast implants.Fair warning there are graphic pictures.
There were subsequent studies that claimed that the risk of silicone implants was exaggerated.That they weren't proven generally dangerous.
This 1997 story from the New York Times includes the following quote;

In recent years, tens of thousands of women have claimed that they suffered a host of health problems from silicone-filled breast implants, including hardening of the breast tissue, implant rupture and disabling disorders that resemble autoimmune disorders like lupus.

There is abundant evidence that silicone implants ruptured at rates far higher than initially suggested by manufacturers. But the vast majority of recent scientific studies has found that the rate of autoimmune diseases in women with implants is about the same as for the general population.

  This 2015 article from Forbes takes the other side of stating that the whole lawsuit onslaught was financially motivated,and a debacle of the real science.It reviews a book "Silicone on Trail;Breast Implants and the Politics of Risk" by Dr Jack Fisher.The article author Henry I. Miller takes a strong counter stance against the concerns over silicone implants,and places blame on FDA head David Kessler for overstepping his authority and using his power to suppress a safe medical device.

I do believe in healthy debate.And I understand the antipathy to David Kessler.He comes off as a self righteous crusader.But he may have been correct in his caution.
It's also clear we have a classic case of battling greed.Dow Corning didn't put enough research into how large bags of  soft silicone placed over the chest cavity would actually affect the patients health in the long run.When the lawyers got involved in this conflict.They had a field day with it.They hit the jackpot.Sick mutilated women against a cold corporation.It's one of the most notable recent cases of a major company being devastated by class action lawsuits.

I'm not a medical expert,or lawyer.But I can smell the bullshit.Silicone breast implants might not be statistically proven to cause a whole range of  common autoimmune disorders.But they can cause problems when they leak.And they can,and will leak in time.They can develop mold too.I've seen a number of images of capsules full of murky goo pulled out of women's bodies.I did enough online research to believe the women,and doctors who claim they can be damaging to women's health.

Jackie Paisley claimed to be suffering from silicone toxicity in this 2013 article in Iron Man magazine.
She had had surgery,and was asking for support.
She posted this YouTube video on December 9,2012,

I think you can see her health has deteriorated.
She's talking about her medical history with her silicone implants.
She had developed pain in her left chest,and shoulder.This would have been about 2005/6.
She had surgery to remove the old implants,and replace them with a new set.She claims this surgeon failed to notice,or inform her,that there was silicone leakage.He failed to clean out the silicone that had leaked.
She seems to have become distrustful of mainstream medicine as well,and started pursuing alternative therapy.Following Naturopathy , and Allopathic  healing ideas.
Which is in fact Pseudoscience.Sadly this melange of antiquated intuitive ideas is attractive to people.Though her disappointment with mainstream medicine's failures in her case are understandable.See Alternative Medicine for the bigger picture.
She continued feeling ill,and talked to other surgeons about having her current implants removed.Unsurprisingly she had problems with insurance coverage,and couldn't afford treatment.
She eventually had surgery in Atlanta by a breast implant specialist; Dr Susan Kolb.
Kolb is a legitimate surgeon.But she also has ideas that could be described as out there.She believes in all kinds of woo in addition to scientific medicine.Still Dr Kolb has been very involved in care for silicone leakage victims.
Jackie had the implants,and about 10 lymph nodes removed in 2011.
She had a mold infestation and went through a course of antifungal,and antibacterial treatment.She said she was treating herself with an antibacterial treatment.( more about that in a bit )
During this whole crisis she had become dependent on Benzodiazepines which she had been using for her insomnia problem.It's basically a tranquilizer.These drugs can cause dependence,and withdrawal problems.
Jackie went through a very difficult time during withdrawal.She had spells,and seizures which were very frightening to her.
Then she goes on to claim she had some unique genetic issues.She claimed she did research,and found she had some kind of vitamin D problem.She claimed she had found something she's calling "the genetic code"
Oh dear.It sounds like nonsense.No real idea about what she thought she had discovered.Gene polymorphism regarding vitamin D?
Some people do have such a condition.But I have no idea how this person with no medical education believed it effected her health issues.
She never published anything about these claims.
She mentions doing a podcast with Dave Palumbo.This would have been an episode of Heavy Muscle Radio.I tired to listen to it.But there's only a repeat of another show where that show was listed in the order.It's not available.

A friend of hers named Derwin White published an appeal on the Inside Edition Facebook page by Allison Pease.You can also read it here on Area Orion.
Pease is saying Jackie was helping her,and "used her knowledge to identify “The Genetic Code” to help others become healthy through herbal supplements rather than medication."
I'm afraid this is where she may have started taking some dangerous substances.
This is an interesting interview conducted by Derwin White  on the site Muscle Insider.Here she talks about the treatment for the fungal,and bacterial infections.

Q. Tell us about the progression of your health problem.

A. I was given two years for recovery. Ten lymph nodes were gone. I had steady recovery, but used antifungals, which made me feel horrible, and killed the mycoplasmic bacteria with Miracle Mineral Supplement, a natural but powerful bacteria-killing solution similar to bleach, for up to six months before and after surgery. My recovery has been slow but getting better. Tapering off the medicine I was on for sleep has almost been worse than the surgery! By this February 11, it will be two years, and I think I will be a new person.

That substance called Miracle Mineral Solution is poison.I don't know what else to call this horrible swill.It's either sodium chlorite, or chlorine dioxide solution.It's bleach.
People selling this as a medicine have been prosecuted. 
I certainly hope Dr Kolb wasn't recommending this noxious stuff.
I have no idea why Jackie would have thought this was a good idea.
I don't object to people taking supplements.I also don't object to people making their own informed decisions regarding their health.
But this is simply out of bounds.There is no conceivable benefit to this caustic solution.
I wish she had of had better medical advice. 
Clearly a part of the problem was she couldn't pay for it,and couldn't get insurance.We're back to  the American tragedy of proper health care being a luxury for the rich.
She went on about her ideas on gene receptors,and illness.Since she had no education in this area I could only call this her speculation.She also claimed to be treating her disabled son in some way.
( The question of silicone implants affecting babies has been examined.It's unlikely to contribute to health problems. )
She sounded hopeful at the end of this interview.It's sad things didn't turn out that way.

It does seem like the whole cascade of health problems started with the implant leakage.I don't have the information to say what actually caused her death in the end. ( The death certificate would have information if it ever becomes available ).
The damage from the implants? She may have succumbed to the impact of the bleach solution on her long term health.She may have suffered a relapse of her drug dependency.Though that seems unlikely.
It's awful the poor thing had to go through this misery.
I'm sorry for the melodramatic title about the burst boobs.
But it does seem like the implants were a kind of land mine she stepped on.
RIP Jackie.
  

Cedric McMillan winning the Arnold Classic - Arnold believes popularity matters.

The video is from the channel MAKAVELI*MOTIVATION.It celebrates Cedric McMillan's victory,and hard work.

Last month Cedric McMillan won the Arnold Classic Open Bodybuilding division.Most bodybuilding media was predicting he would.They called it.He won,and looked great doing it.It's a well received victory from a competitor who's paid his dues.
It's a popular victory with most fans,and certainly with Arnold Schwarzenegger.He's been pushing the point that awkward looking, bloat gutted bulk freaks are hurting the sport.Almost nobody enjoys looking at them.The general public flips out over the extremity.That's one thing.They dump on bodybuilders anyway.But most people who actually love muscle are weary of the meatball parade.
If you love bodybuilding you want to see the muscle displayed with graceful lines.Presence,and compelling posing.The look of a classic Herculean hero.
We can all get a kick out of the super freaks.But it's a cheap thrill.
The dream physique produces awe.

Arnold owes his famous life to bodybuilding.He may have become the mayor of Graz,but he wouldn't have become a star without his unique physique.It seems he's putting most of his energy back into bodybuilding now.He's still acting.But it looks like he's returned to his first love with enthusiasm,and concern.He's promoting his tour of shows now.It's becoming a kind of rival to the singular importance of the Olympia.
The business,and politics of the sport are complicated.But I think the big issue is the lasting legacy of the Weiders,and the fact that AMI bought a major interest in the sport.It feels like it can't grow independently.It's constrained by the business,and marketability concerns of the IFBB.You would think they'd want nothing more than to have bodybuilding,and fitness being more popular.And I can see that's a part of their approach.Particularly with the division expansions introduced in the last decade,or so.But what about the real fans? Are we being listened to?
Not much.They torpedoed the women's open class because they couldn't ( wouldn't ) address the judging issues,and gave up.How many new male potential champions are coming up too?
The bikini,and men's physique is earning entrant money.It's unthreatening to the mass market.But it clogs up a bodybuilding stage with fitness classes.
Not good for the heart of the pursuit.Real bodybuilding.

I wonder if Arnold is having an influence on the judging at his shows? I think he is.He was making noise about the bulging bellies in the past few years.
Cedric winning.The smiling Ahmad Ashkanani winning the 212's ( yes.his belly is too thick )
Oksana Grishina winning the fitness.
There could be a shift going on with the judging to reward the people who make a more positive impression on viewers.Outgoing,energetic people are what Arnold wants representing the sport.
The fact is it's getting stale at the top.
Why even bother to watch the Olympia anymore if Phil Heath just shows up to collect his yearly trophy?
I hope Arnold can pump in some enthusiasm,and excitement into the scene.I can't help but wonder what would happen if he could get even more power in the sport?
He brings far more to the whole picture than Eric Weider ever could.

Notes;
Just damn,Cedric! Dragging a chain,and weights down the road in the rain.That has to be some of the more bad ass cardio I've seen.A human dray horse.That's what I love about bodybuilders.

I'll admit I didn't sit down,and watch the whole Arnold show.Sigh.My attention span isn't what it was when I was a young fan.I don't ever watch the bikini,figure,fitness events.I can't even pretend to care.

It's very hard to get an actual sport out of bodybuilding isn't it?
It's just an excuse to show off hard work.
That's another article.

Google needs to change the one sign in problem.

I think most people who use a Gmail account for YouTube,and Blogger,and just having an email address don't like the system.
We need to be able to keep it separated.
I don't want one single account.
It takes time to work on a blog post.But to sign into Blogger I have to sign into the associated account.I have a number of Gmail accounts for different identities.I have different interests,and need a few different emails to have accounts for them on various sites.
And...It's a pain in the ass to have to sign in,and out of the different accounts.
I have to stay out of my preferred YouTube account.
This has been going on for awhile now.The one Google idea is a flop.
They're really not promoting Blogger anymore anyway.
They're fumbling,and fouling up on YouTube.
Why not change things?
One of the richest,most powerful internet companies in existence,and they mess up the small stuff.
They're getting too big,and unwieldy.
A giant train of products,and services with the caboose falling off.But they can't see it from the expensive cars up front.
And if you complain about it;it's an impotent whine in an ocean of ignoring.
Sigh.

Kratom - my experimentation with taking it.

This may be a controversial issue to discuss.But what the hell.It's not like anyone is reading this anyway :)
I've been trying Kratom lately.
I recently posted about my chronic pain from years of weightlifting,and playing tennis.
I do take a Hydrocodone/ Ibuprofen medication for the pain sometimes.This is an opioid pain killer.
I almost always only take half a tablet.It's an effective medication for pain.But it's strong enough that it's hard to workout with a full dose in my system.
Before that I was taking a lot of Ibuprofen.Probably too much.Too much Aspirin before that.
Fortunately the Aspirin didn't seem to cause me any problems.I have a good stomach.
But in the long run NSAIDS can stress the system.Taking Acetaminophen( Tylenol ),and drinking alcohol is not good for your kidneys.At least it's risky.
I didn't take Tylenol.I don't think it's a good drug frankly.
Ibuprofen is an effective painkiller.But again taking higher doses of medications for a long period of time can be concerning.When I was taking enough to reduce my menstrual cramp pain,it would make me feel slightly uncomfortable from it after a few days.I guess I would describe it as stuffy headed,and icky.Of course menstrual periods make you feel nasty anyway.For the most part I've had a good experience with Ibuprofen.

So on to my recent use of Kratom.
I had a period of time when I didn't have a refill on my usual medication.Kratom had been in the news a lot,and I started looking into it.
Chris Bell , the director of the film 'Bigger,Stronger,Faster' is making a documentary on it.He has had an opioid  problem in the past.He's had severe hip problems,and replacement surgery.He made the documentary 'Prescription Thugs' about the issue of pharmaceutical companies,and doctors encouraging the use of powerful drugs.I haven't seen the movie yet.I'll try to watch it sometime.
I understand the point of view.I think the problem of opiate addiction is very complex,and multicausal.Not only bad intentions from Pharma,and irresponsible doctors.I wonder if obese,over stressed,and depressed America is really having a pain crises? I think that's possible.
I know Americans are relatively spoiled when you look at the global picture.But I think the pain is not imaginary,or mere self indulgence.
This is also a nation of athletes who play contact sports,and we have many suffering veterans.
Maybe I just don't have the heart to condemn people for their agony,and grief.I don't think anyone wants to become addicted.
But opiates are strong drugs that can cause real physical problems.They seem to change the way the body perceives pain.It's normal for people to develop a tolerance for opiates.But it can become worse and develop into Hyperalgesia.It's beyond my knowledge level to go into details.But it's the frightening effect of long term opiate use causing a worse pain problem.
 It's horrible to think there are people who have pain problems then have worse pain because of the painkillers.The human body is just great,isn't it?

So I ordered a sample pack of Kratom to see what it would do.It included;Red Vein Maeng Da,Green Vein Malay,White Vein Bali,and White Vein Maeng Da.I'm a long time taker of various supplements.Most of them are over rated,and not worth it.I'm reasonably cautious.But I'm willing to give things a try.
( I do want to point out that Kratom is legal where I live.Also I don't take recreational drugs )

Kratom is unquestionably effective.
It certainly feels like it's activating the brain's opiate receptors.It does clearly have the feeling of pleasure,euphoria,and warmth that opiates can induce.
But it feels softer,and rounder in a way.More diffuse,and relaxing.
Pharmaceutical opiates are strong,and pointed in their impact.They have the feel of a targeted drug doing what it's designed to do.That's not a criticism.Just fact.
There are claims that the different strains of Kratom have different effects.I'm not sure I really noticed that.Maybe it effects different people in different ways.
It's said to make you more alert,and yet relieve pain.I didn't find what I took particularly energizing.But it didn't make me feel like I was going to fall asleep either..Not at all.I didn't feel out of control.Merely softened,and relaxed.
I took a dose of about 1/4 tsp of Red Vein Maeng Da and proceeded to lift weights.It was a leg session with squats.No problems.I did have some pain relief from it.But I didn't feel dopey.
I could,and usually can,feel some degree of pain in my hip joints most of the time.It's just a question of getting it down to a manageable level when I lift.It's more of an issue on leg days of course.
I also tried taking the other strains in slightly higher doses when I didn't have to lift.I did notice the White Vein Bali was very relaxing.Good bye anxiety!

It would certainly be worth experimenting with people who have severe problems with anxiety,and depression to see if Kratom would help them.I wonder if it would help people with OCD,Anxiety,PTSD,Insomnia,Anorexia,Anhedonia  etc..?
Who knows?
But we live in a society that would allow them to take SSRIs,and drown themselves in booze before they would be allowed to take a plant.
I'm still amazed we're seeing an improvement in the decriminalization of marijuana.
I hate to think this is all really due to the greed of pharmaceutical companies.We live in a country that seems to place financial interest before all else.That's a tragedy.But I'm sure the drug companies think they can create better,more precise,drugs than can be found in nature.True,scientific drug manufacturing has improved human life immensely.I'm absolutely not anti-science.But that doesn't excuse unfairly barring people from using natural substances when appropriate.
Evolution has been at it's work a long time.
We can't have the arrogance to destroy individual liberty when people are seeking relief from pain,and disease.It's not a noble cause to protect society from the right to control their own bodies.
I never get over the fundamental refusal from the Right,and the Left to respect personal autonomy.
I'd rather see people educated,and allowed to exercise their liberty,than unnecessarily frightened and protected from 'themselves'. It may be well-intentioned.
I just don't think it works.You end up infantilizing society.

Now in all seriousness;Kratom could cause problems.I doubt it would be as addictive as pharmaceutical opiates.But that doesn't mean people couldn't become dependent.I don't have the information on that.It might be too soon to tell.
Of course you wouldn't want people to take it just to get high,and be useless.
I wouldn't want minors taking it unless under medical supervision.
There could be some reasonable restrictions,or expectations for usage.Though it does seem like we have a major problem with common sense usage of anything in America.
That's what I'm afraid of.It's either legal,and everybody finds out about it,or it's criminalized.
Why does everything have be classified as good and legal,or bad and criminal?
If the media goes into a panic frenzy that will set the politicians off to dog pile on it as a menace.
I'd bet on it.
America hates a 'junkie'.
I just remembered the late great comedian George Carlin's line about a 'Commie Fag Junkie'.
If American politicians get a whiff of the dreaded spectre of bums getting high,look out.

At least the DEA has relented for now.
We'll see.
Can America please agree it beats the hell out of oding on Fentanyl?


A few more practical points;
This stuff was as fine as baby powder.And it's very hard to mix with anything.You could say it's        hydrophobic just to have the opportunity to use that word.It hates water.
It can be mixed with applesauce,or pudding,or even ketchup.It takes patience to mix.It doesn't have a pleasant flavor,or texture.It's dusty,but tends to clump together in the mouth.
The only thing I can remember that it tasted like was a supplement called Horny Goat Weed (epimedium)
It's not a horrible taste.It's just a little bitter.
It will stick to a silver spoon.Use a plastic spoon to take it if you're going to be simply putting it into your mouth.
You can take about a 1/4 - 1/2 tsp dose in your mouth and then take a swig of a non-carbonated drink like a fruit juice,or Crystal Light.Swish it around vigorously in your mouth,and swallow slowly,and carefully.Don't gulp it.And wash it down well.
Don't get it up your nose either.That would be a bad time.
It can be made into a tea.Put it into brewed tea in a cup.Or mix it with an instant tea mix.You could try it with cocoa.I didn't.But it will settle to the bottom,and stick to the sides of the cup, even in hot water. Sipping it with a strong lemony instant tea mix was not bad.
You could probably also buy it in capsules.But then you couldn't control the dosage as much.
I would take it easy at first.Always better to under do something until you get a feeling for how it will effect you personally.

Now to wrap up.To provide the usual disclaimer.
Of course you should never do anything illegal,or naughty.
I'm not encouraging you to take any drug,or supplement.That's your choice.
Talk to your doctor.(Really that wouldn't be a bad idea.)


My final word is;I do think Kratom should remain legal.
I'm concerned about the people who are trying to stay,or become, more functional.
Why punish them?
It would do far more harm than good at this point to ban it.

Personal Pain Experience.

And it's all personal.We're all limited to our own subjective experience of our pain.We can bitch about it to others.But we're the ones stuck with it.
Of course there's emotional pain.It can be every bit as horrible as physical pain.But this is about physical pain,and exercise.
About how you learn what the depths,and limits are.

It seems so easy when you're young.You know what pain is by instinct,and you avoid it.The doctor comes at you with a needle,and you cry and hide behind your momma.At least I did.I'm lucky I was successfully immunized.Actually I was a very healthy child.I did get a few injuries.But nothing major.
When I was young my mother would complain about her discomforts.She had me when she was forty years old. My father was forty three.Naturally conceived.What are the odds?
My point of view has usually skewed older.I feel rather 'out of time'.
But I guess I must have taken my youth for granted.I believe most of us must.The aches,and pains will inevitably increase with age.
My mother would say her hips hurt her.She was having trouble sleeping because of it."My hip hurt so bad last night it almost killed me."She may have been slightly melodramatic,but she wasn't making it up.I believed her.Told her I was sorry.But I don't think I really understood how bad it was.

When I was a teenager I started playing tennis.Running around hard courts.Not fast either.I'm not a good runner.But very good form on my strokes.Shame I couldn't get around the court better.I may have been a decent player.Forgive me for a little brag.But my teaching pro said my backhand looked like an Ivan Lendl copy.That's who I was trying for.( Lendl or Edberg )
A few years in I noticed I was having some incidences of hip pain.It felt like the hip joint was biting on the nerve.Sharp stingers that would shoot down the leg.
Sciatica
It's pretty common.And no doubt inherited in my case.
It can be a genuine pain in the ass.

All this time I've been weight lifting too.On and off.I don't want to give the impression I've lifted day in,and day out  year after year.I've been involved with other things.Didn't have the enthusiasm.Didn't make the effort.
But in recent years I've been more dedicated.Which is great.
The benefits far outweigh the negatives.
But one of the questions I have is does it make my pain better?
Because the sad fact is it's gotten worse over the years.I think you could label it chronic at this point.
There are good,and bad days.But I can feel the discomfort in my back,and hips ( left particularly ) most of the time.
I do take pain killers when I need them.
I've taken Aspirin,Ibuprofen,and Hydrocodone.

My first experience with opioids was an attack of kidney stones when I was about thirty.It just hit me one evening.Bizarre unimaginable pain.I ended up in the ER where they gave me a shot of demerol.It felt like having the full tension of a set of piano strings released.
I was given some hydrocodone to take at home.I did take it when needed.I did not pop the whole bottle of pills down my throat like candy.That bottle lasted awhile.The stone passed.
I've passed a few of them since then.I,and you,would have to take strong pain killers to get through it.
It's like passing a sticky burr down a piece of spaghetti.It's excruciating.
An emergency room doctor told me he had women who had both experiences say kidney stones hurt worse to get out of your body than a baby.
Now I'm really glad I never had kids.
But seriously.The pain of kidney stones is bloody awful.
Having the medication on hand keeps me from needing to make an expensive trip to the hospital.

To get the point of the issue.I was a very strict young person.I didn't use illegal drugs.I didn't smoke.
I didn't drink more than a few times in my twenties.I worked out,and tried to eat well.
I was born to be the designated driver.
I don't party.
It's a family joke how unwild I am.
I don't take drugs lightly.But I've changed my views.I have nothing but sympathy for people who have to treat intense,or chronic pain with medication that's beyond over the counter.
I used to chew down enough aspirin to kill a horse.it gets to the point where you have to use more effective substances.

Pain sufferers are not criminals.Some may be addicted,or dependent.I'm as sorry as anyone else to see people die of opioid overdoses.I don't want to see the irresponsible over prescription of drugs.
But I'm sensing the onset of another case of destructive moral panic coming on in America.It wouldn't be the first.We seem to have a sad predilection for them.Americans hate the appearance of moral incontinence.All the while being surprising selfish at the same time.A puritanical,and individualistic nation can lead to some weird convictions.
I just hope that the greedy sensationalistic media doesn't keep careening out of control on this issue.This can't be turned into another case of hysterical click bait.
Why the hell can't we be rational about serious issues?
I'm sick of seeing politicians scampering to get ahead of a fear herd for votes.
Criminalize marijuana.Criminalize Anabolic Steroids.Now the DEA is moving toward criminalizing kratom.Here we go again.We grant the idea of personal freedom like a ticket you're not allowed to cash in.And people will keep trying to get what they want,and need.
And doctors are being accused of being drug pushers.Big Pharma.What a mess.What a complicated problem.Money making drug companies?Yes.True.But they do so much to relieve human suffering too.I know there are corrupt,and just plain lousy, doctors too.But most of them are not.They're overworked,and under pressure to function as a profitable part of the health care system.I don't think the vast majority are careless of harming patients.

The problem is physical.The human body deteriorates over time.The baseline changes.The baseline is not pain free any more.The baseline may not be manageable without treatment.
I certainly hope for progress in drug development too.

So I have to care.because it effects me.It's not just somebody else's problem.
I don't want to be treated like a self indulgent weakling because I have pain,and need to manage it.
Maybe I've made it worse by over training.That's a real possibility.
I could go on about the evidence on the benefits,and risks of weight training with chronic pain.
I'm going to say in my case the benefits win.I can lift heavy weights,and function.I think it keeps me ahead of the limitations that could set in.
I'm going to keep trying to build muscle,and strength.At least keep all I can.
My mother didn't play sports,or exercise much.I wish she had.
So I think I would have had the probably congenital low back,and hip pain anyway.
I'll keep working to hopefully improve my body under the circumstances.It's an ongoing process.

This is just one of the big issues in weight lifting.Something is going to give eventually.It's individual what it's going to be.

Martina Navratilova squatting at 60 years of age.

As a weight lifting enthusiast,and a tennis fan,I get a kick out of this.They often call tennis a sport for a lifetime.Weight lifting can be an activity for a lifetime too.
I remember seeing Martina for the first time when I was a teen and thinking "A tennis player has calves like that!"I watched the US Open that year to see her play...and just kept watching tennis for the rest of my life.I became a deep fan of the sport because of her.Funny thing.But my love of muscle made me a tennis fan.My attention was caught.Then the whole wonderful sport got me.
And I wish more older people would have her commitment to fitness.

Martina squatting with a Wimbledon towel wrapped around the bar.

Weights on the bar.

She's been a skier since childhood.Her natural father was a ski instructor.