- Location
- Mid Norfolk
I came back from seeing a consultant last night following an MRI a few weeks ago. He has confirmed the the back and leg pain I have been suffering with for a considerable time now is arthritis in 2 or 3 of my lower vertebra.
I'm 41 and farming has literally worn me out.
I now have to find a way of restructuring a 75 year old family business into something that isn't going to put me in a wheelchair in the next decade. I suspect the animals will have to go as will most of the staff and I may have to become more reliant on contractors for arable. I'm not even sure if a 120ha is viable in the coming future. More diversifications will probably have to be devised and I may have to return to my former career in engineering part time/self employed.
The consultant told me frankly that this is not going away, I will face a lifetime of pain management and "safe" exercise to strengthen and protect my back. NO BENDING. NO DIGGING. NO TWISTING. Farmers have a tendency to grin and bear it and power through pain, but doing exactly that for the past through years has put me in this position.
Are any of you guys/gals facing a similar dilemma? Any advise that you can offer me?
I'm 41 and farming has literally worn me out.
I now have to find a way of restructuring a 75 year old family business into something that isn't going to put me in a wheelchair in the next decade. I suspect the animals will have to go as will most of the staff and I may have to become more reliant on contractors for arable. I'm not even sure if a 120ha is viable in the coming future. More diversifications will probably have to be devised and I may have to return to my former career in engineering part time/self employed.
The consultant told me frankly that this is not going away, I will face a lifetime of pain management and "safe" exercise to strengthen and protect my back. NO BENDING. NO DIGGING. NO TWISTING. Farmers have a tendency to grin and bear it and power through pain, but doing exactly that for the past through years has put me in this position.
Are any of you guys/gals facing a similar dilemma? Any advise that you can offer me?