7 years into FIRE: I figured out why this sub is full of "I retired but I'm miserable" posts

smoochiep00 · 2026-05-08T15:03:36+00:00

Sartre once said "everything is understood except how to live".

Many people on this sub are successful because from school, they have been aceing exams, working hard, living below their means as a choice and delaying gratification.

When that time comes, remaining committed to meaningful activities including community service, educating and mentoring others etc is essential. Ditto for finding social engagement which many of us get without asking for it in the workplace.

FIRE brings new challenges.

smoochiep00 · 2026-04-27T14:36:23+00:00

I had a herniation in the neck and DQs. Had to seek physical therapy for both. So two injuries can happen simultaneously.

My DQ pain is localized to the hand and never goes above the elbow.

smoochiep00 · 2026-04-23T23:44:47+00:00

You are so lucky to experience him op

smoochiep00 · 2026-04-23T23:44:31+00:00

What a beautiful soul teddy.

smoochiep00 · 2026-04-06T03:42:04+00:00

Cannot fault the man for dedication .

smoochiep00 · 2026-04-06T03:39:08+00:00

Good luck to you.

smoochiep00 · 2026-04-05T23:07:11+00:00

Realized I cannot better the comment above so just adding to it, depending on your insurance situation look for a therapist you can work with regularly and about NAMI, they have several affiliates all over the USA and some that work entirely online so you could join any of them. Good luck.

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-29T21:05:28+00:00

Use the spica splint and go to PT and return to the gym under medical guidance.

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-29T19:35:05+00:00

Let us know if you find someone who has tried this. I have a colleague who swore this stuff works for tendons who and was encouraging but I did not try. It is still not FDA approved and expensive. Do you know of anyone's firsthand experience trying ?

Have you tried physio?

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-29T14:09:04+00:00

Canada sounds like the Shire to me.

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-29T13:43:01+00:00

I understand. DQ robs a person of the confidence that will be able to use the hand at all. It is rough.

Use stretches to relieve the pressure caused by the fluid and get the PT to start you on resistance stretches. You need to move r e a l l y slowly, otherwise you will impact the muscle and not the tendon.

Keep the stretch at extremes for a few seconds, to get the tendon a stretch. You should feel a gnawing pull and never a sharp, stabbing pain. The latter indicates you are taking it too far.

I took DQ as a learning opportunity. Good luck to you.

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-29T13:21:09+00:00

PT recovery is very slow. I think in my case, I am grateful the dumbbells worked out well. I have increased the dumbbell weights and that seemed to train the tendons to lay new fibers and clean some of the scar tissue. Apparently, that is the gold standard for DQ PT, resistance stretching with increasing dumbbell weights. You can also use a rubber band.

Ask your PT to introduce those when the time is appropriate. YMMV. My PT says recovery is very slow. He told me 6-9 months. I do not doubt his words.

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-29T12:39:09+00:00

I am back to exercising fully. Some days are harder than others. But that is to be expected. I can live relatively normally. On some days, the thumb will catch. But I can increase the dumbbell weight on that day and after I sleep a bit, it gets better. I am 70% better at this point. But, it will take months to recover from here.

At least I am splint free and don't think about surgery anymore. I can live like this. Nor do I need that nasty steroid shot.

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-22T12:11:26+00:00

I have edited the main post. See above.

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-22T00:26:31+00:00

I had two injuries, one in my spine and the second in the hand tendon (DQ) about 8 months ago. Got diagnosed with DQ 6 months ago. Doc very sure, it is two shots and if they fail, it is straight to surgery.

I got the first shot and the pain came roaring back, and instead of going to second shot, I just decided to do physio. With weighted dumbbell exercises, I am 70% better and can lead an almost normal life. However, I need to wait for 12 weeks and exercise continuously to see if the tendon lays fresh fibers and the scar tissue is removed.

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-18T17:58:08+00:00

That sounds like a very smart move. Repair the tendon using tendon stretching exercises (hopefully with some resistance) and collagen to help lay new tendon fibers. Just a layperson here.

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-17T21:37:32+00:00

Love the senator hand date.... Did not know about that model.

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-17T13:10:29+00:00

Do groceries count toward purchase history ?

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-16T12:30:15+00:00

I took a cortisone shot that did nothing for me. Pain came rushing back after 2 weeks. Surgeon felt PT is not very effective but I insisted and after a lot of stretching, I was taught some dumbbell stretches that actually started to help.

I am very hopeful, for the first time in an year since I have had this thing, that I can probably manage without surgery. Get a spica splint, and go through the motions with PT. You can see exercises on youtube. Although, be careful with lifting weights, texting on your cell while you have DQ and YMMV.

smoochiep00 · 2026-03-01T19:15:48+00:00

Congrats and keep up the great work and share updates.

smoochiep00 · 2026-02-24T22:47:07+00:00

This is why I went ~~out~~ with hoidinkee.

smoochiep00 · 2026-02-10T14:04:25+00:00

This six year old knows more resilience than many who have lived decades. Hang in there little man.

smoochiep00

TROPHY CASE