View Full Version : Annoying Middle-Age Aches & Pains Vent
Lately, there are various weird things going on in my body, but not really bad enough to go see a doctor. That is my litmus test...I wait a few days and see if things resolve before I consider going to a doctor, because I don't have any insurance.
Here is my vent list:
Perpetually sore left hip, probably from a lower back issue from a long ago work injury. The hip acts up more when I increase walking for exercise. Then my knees complain (I was a former figure skater so I think I have a lot of wear and tear to my knees and ankles).
Sore shoulders and neck in varying intensities, depending on what activities I do (I have extra cervical ribs that when the muscles around them get inflamed, it causes nerve pain down the arms and into the hands - also known as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome). As long as I don't do a lot of work reaching up with my arms over my head, it's usually pretty tolerable.
Now the latest: last week when walking I noticed that the outside of my left heel was increasingly sore and then for about three days I had real trouble even putting weight on it, let alone going up and down the stairs. I think I over-stretched the tendon that runs around the outside of the heel. I almost broke down and went to the doctor (it was that bad) but thought it through and knew they were just going to say take Advil, ice it and stay off it as much as possible. So that is what I did (I also replaced some very old broken down tennis shoes which I think contributed to the problem in the first place). Lo and behold, it is pretty much all better.
Now the latest ~ I've noticed an odd bruising and swelling on the inside middle joint of my right index finger. I don't recall injuring it in any way recently. It is also coupled with some numbness and tingling at the tip of the finger and both my index finger and middle finger feel really cold compared to every other finger. Last night the fingernail and tip of finger itself was a really odd greenish color. It seems like a circulation issue? Hmmm...
I am going to be getting some tax money back so I'm actually thinking about going for a physical just to make sure I don't have some weird disease (it's been about 3.5 years since I've seen my doctor).
Oh yeah, the other thing...I have to have a diagnostic mammography and ultrasound on Monday due to what I am pretty sure (and hoping) is just a breast cyst that has enlarged over time. That will be covered under a state program for low-income women, thank god! I'm not too worried about it...well, just a little I guess.
Sometimes I think, if I feel this achy at age 50, I can't imagine what the next 30 years is going to feel like!
domestic goddess
2-9-12, 10:16pm
Yeah, I hear ya. Somedays, everything hurts. Like you, I don't have medical insurance. My back is starting to hurt, due to some strain placed on it at work. I have fibromyalgia, so everything else hurts.My left knee is getting painful and stiff due to arthritis. Sometimes I blow it all off and say "my mom has this", but she is 86! I'm not quite 60. This isn't looking good for the future.
I don't have any answers, but I can sure commiserate with you.
Hang in there.
Oh, hon. A-yup. I am having arthritis flares in the weirdest places. My left elbow. Okaaay... So am on a weight loss and anti-inflammatory program. So far, so good...
I lost my employer paid health insurance, and bought a major med policy. Will be going to acupuncture soon, and a place with a sliding scale. Great for pain management.
Wildflower
2-10-12, 4:27am
Me too! I have been incredibly painful the last 6 months all over my body. Everything hurts all the time - my muscles and joints. My doctor is running tests on me. Just had a MRI done this week, but haven't got the results yet. I am going through menopause - haven't had a period in 6 months and that's when all this pain started. I thought I would feel great and celebrate when my periods stopped, but now that I feel terrible it just isn't the joy I thought it would be.... I feel like an old lady at the age of 54. I am really watching my diet these days and hoping that will help in the long run. I don't like to take medication, but currently have to to keep from feeling totally miserable 24/7.
Wildflower, I am so sorry! I hope it gets better. Please let us know...
might consider mobility work. mobilitywod.com has excellent info. designed for athletes, works for everyone.
goldensmom
2-10-12, 8:03am
Been there, still there. In the summer I hurt and ache most of the time. The first thing I do in the morning when I wake up is lay there and see if anything hurts and if it doesn't I rejoice but sometime during the day I will do something and hurt somewhere. I can turn funny and have an ache or pain for days. I am physically active so it's not like my bones are set up and my muscles tight and things just jar loose sometimes. I remember my father saying the same thing and my grandmother used to take an aspirin a day for 'those aches and pains'. Must be something genetic or simply the aging process.
You have my sympathy and empathy!
I have fibromyalgia, so this kind of thing is a constant thing for me.
I was wondering.......are you of perimenopausal age? It was a horrible time for me, when everything went wrong physically......from plantar fasciitis to sinus infections to muscles so stiff I could barely get up from chairs.
I have found that stretching helps alot with various muscle stiffness. For your plantar fasciitis, try using ice on it several times a day, and consider using "Walk Fit" shoe inserts. Many times when people get this problem, its because they have very high arches and when the foot flattens out when you walk, it pulls on the tendon too hard. A good shoe insert will support that arch and let the tendon heel.
Be sure to take a multivitamin.
Are you sleeping okay? Do you snore alot? I discovered that Sleep Apnea was causing alot of my problems.
Good luck to you. I know its a really difficult time for you.
It sounds miserable. I was experiencing daily aching and sore spots. I know about some arthritic joints but it seemed to be everywhere and for years. My step mother commented that I seemed to be a little young for all of that (I agreed but didn't think there was much I could do). She was close to 70 and not as consistently achey as I seemed to be at 50. Anyway, I wasn't looking for change there but when I stopped eating wheat and dairy after an elimination diet, those aches were minimized. I still get some, but usually I can tie them to activity or if I have messed around with my diet, or if I am getting sick with a cold or something. Otherwise, the body aches are just not there. I mostly notice when I get up to go to the bathroom at night and walk down the stairs: that used to be just one pain after another, feet, knees, shoulders....but most of the time, I just feel flexible then.
I know it sounds too good to be true but it was an unanticipated benefit of this change in diet for me. That's just my story; obviously everyone's is different.
Oh, and I forgot to say what I started out to say.....don't you HATE complaining about your aches and pains and medical issues? I remember as a young person thinking that I didn't want to be Like That in my older years but I can see how it becomes so important that it is what you think about and talk about.
Sometimes when I hear myself, even in my head, I cringe. That's why it is good to vent here...thanks to the OP!
I often think to myself why didn't anyone tell me more about the surprises of aging.
However, aside from some weird eye things and a numbness in my thigh when I lie on it, I am feeling great now that I am finally menopausal. I give a lot of credit to avoiding stress and changing my diet to mostly vegetarian/vegan over the past few months. Many of the foods Americans are eating are supposedly inflammatory.
iris lily
2-10-12, 11:07am
I am 57 and just don't have aches & pains. I notice some limitations but they are nothing that exercise, strength conditioning, and balance conditioning wouldn't greatly improve.
If figure that I am ok in this arena for the next ten years if I survive the other stuff that is NOT apparent.
I too have numbness in my left thigh. Just on the surface. The only other thing that ever hurts is my broken foot and my royally broken arm and wrist whenever the weather changes. I have a bunch of steel in my arm.
Leslieann, touched on an important issue, diet, and how certain things can trigger upset/problems in the body. Sugar, is another, and according to a few medical reports and articles I have read, sugar, can bring on all sorts of inflammation, pain, and other problems.
Sending get well wishes to everyone.
loosechickens
2-10-12, 2:18pm
I'm 70 and in generally excellent health, normal blood sugar, good tests always, etc., and no chronic problems (I, in years past, when living back east, had asthma from molds and damp, but in last dozen years, no problems at all). BUT.....that said, in hips and knees, while I don't have problems getting around, etc., when I sit for awhile, as in a restaurant with friends, eating dinner, and then try to get up, for a few minutes I'm like the Tin Man in desperate need of an oilcan until I get my joints stretched and walk a dozen steps or so. It takes great effort not to hobble like an old lady (perhaps an oxymoron since I AM an old lady), but in general, am grateful not to have all the problems I see in so many folks my age.
I am 57 and just don't have aches & pains. I notice some limitations but they are nothing that exercise, strength conditioning, and balance conditioning wouldn't greatly improve.
If figure that I am ok in this arena for the next ten years if I survive the other stuff that is NOT apparent.
This is me. At 55 I don't really suffer from anything. The only pills I take are vitamins. I get a headache maybe 5 times a year, but can usually trace it to something direct. I am trying to exercise more cause I know I'll regret it later if I don't. Especially balance and strength. I don't want to be one of those old people shuffling hunched over barely able to stand without tottering. I want to stay limber. I am active, climbing and hauling and building and digging and all that stuff, but I know that doesn't take the place of regular exercise.
I absolutely agree with the sugar issue Mrs. M. I think sugar is poison, literally, and I avoid it as much as I can.
What really surprised me was visiting my sister, who is less than 2 years older than me, recently. She takes a handful of pills every morning and evening. I never really noticed before and asked her what they were all for. Many of them were vitamins, sure, but several were for one affliction or another. As she started listing them, I think it even surprised her. Taking them had just become automatic.
Back to the OP, I have to say that finger thing sounds kind of suspicious. I think that's the kind of thing you really need to get checked out. Fingers aren't supposed to be green!:0!
I think of sugar as poison, too, Peggy. Since dropping sugar (white granulated sugar) from my coffee/tea, I feel way better. Even the smell of granulated sugar makes me nauseous now.
HappyHiker
2-10-12, 3:46pm
Yep, me, too--I hear you loud and clear--or maybe not so loudly and clearly--lol!
I've the various aches and pains--and need not list them, along with hair spouting in unusual places! Ah, the joys of aging...I love the wisdom but not so much the physical rest of it...
I try to eat a non-inflammatory diet, but sometimes I fail...then I get a flare-up, and sugar is usually the culprit. Without a lot of sugar, I still have my bum knee (I will get around to having that checked out sooner or later, but some with surgery and shots, still have painful knees--better the devil you know? I'm still mobile and an OTC pain reliever helps a lot).
Anyhow, I press on, take my vitamins and minerals, try to eat lots of leafy greens and other colorful veggies, go to the gym, do my yoga and bike around town, and fight it off..I figure I'd rather wear out than rust out...my personal goal this year is more laughter and less complaining...mind over matter.
I had to laugh at loosechickens' comment about getting up. We canoe with a bunch of people of similar ages. Getting in the canoe is fine but when we pull over for a break, we all have to remember that it takes TIME to actually mobilize the body to unbend the knees and get the legs to work again, and sometimes some of us have to help others out of the boats. And it HURTS! Fortunately we are all in the same situation and we all realize that paddling even with the struggle to get out is a lot better than NOT paddling and turning into rusty metal on the living room couch.
I'm 68 and don't have many aches and pains ... and even if I do I don't talk about them. I've found it's easier to just grin and bear it. And, I don't get sick. Seriously. I haven't had a cold or flu or what-not in years. Not even general malaise. I don't have a high energy level, tho, and I prefer to take things easy. My doctor tells me I have a very high pain level.
I'm nearly 57, and I am the wobbly tin man getting up & hobbling. Arthritis in my knees due to long term extra weight, partially due to undiagnosed sleep apnea for 10 years. Add in several years of significant overuse when farming, and my poor knees! Mostly the patella tendons on top, and some cartilage damage.
In treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) now, which has been amazing. I recommend it if one has any suspicion of sleep apnea (the other kind is called central sleep apnea, CSA, which is a neurological problem). I developed a behavioral mod process to acclimate to a CPAP mask, and have 100% compliance. If you or your sleep partner snores, get it checked out. Untreated OSA or CSA greatly increase the risk of serious cardiac problems.
I've had, in the last 2 years, a big diminishment of capacity, and my leg strength is dreadful. Sooo, back on weight watchers with a goal of 40# weight loss, and starting to exercise again. 60# would be optimal. It sux, but ah well! So it is. I don't get sick anymore, from the usual viruses that run around. I recently read that the older we get, the greater our library of immunity due to multiple exposures over time. I also get a flu shot every year.
redfox ... yeah, I've wondered if I've built up resistance ... but I'm "afraid" one day I'll run into a germ I'm not immune to, and it'll kill me! And I also have sleep apnea. I don't know which of those kinds it is, but the mask does help, especially DH! He used to say I'd wake him up and he'd worry about me. I also think food allergies or sensitivies can play a part in this as well. I've had tests and I'm "sensitive" to eggs, dairy, wheat, and soy. So I avoid them all, tho even if I eat them occasionally there's no reaction. However, I do think they can show up in sleep problems, energy problems, and weight gain. Since I've "eliminated" those foods from my diet I've lost 70-80 pounds, and hoping for 20-30 more. Haven't reduced my need for the cpap, tho. :-(
BTW ... for YEARS my husband had extremely high liver enzyme tests that no doctor could figure out (had all kinds of tests and liver biopsies) ... and it turned out to be a gluten sensitivity. So he's off gluten 99% of the time and his tests are totally normal. The only bad part is now he has so much energy he drives me crazy! He's always been high energy, but not extreme, but now, even at 67, he's busy busy busy. I've threatened to put gluten back in his diet!
Ah, time for bed in Idaho ... goodnight~
Thanks for the group vent, I needed that!
However, as of tonight, I am thoroughly convinced that I should see a doctor about this finger thing that is happening. It happened again today, right as I was getting into work. Took off my gloves, realized my index finger was freezing cold, looked down and it was that icky white color from the middle knuckle to the tip, as if the blood flow was completely shut off. It also was numb and rubbery-feeling, like when you get a shot of novacaine and you feel the pressure but that's about it. It lasted almost an hour. I couldn't grip a pen very well and it felt weird to use the keyboard. But after an hour all of the sudden the spigot turned on, the blood flowed and it got color and warmth back. It was pretty dramatic.
I called my dad's wife tonight, who is a very experienced nurse. She told me I really need to get seen by a doctor and get a hand x-ray, as it sounds like there is some sort of nerve and blood vessel inpingment (sp?) going on and what if the blood didn't start flowing and the finger started to die? Then it would be emergency surgery. Yeah, that has convinced me! I will call my doctor tomorrow. I haven't seen him in three years....
Thanks for the group vent, I needed that!
However, as of tonight, I am thoroughly convinced that I should see a doctor about this finger thing that is happening. It happened again today, right as I was getting into work. Took off my gloves, realized my index finger was freezing cold, looked down and it was that icky white color from the middle knuckle to the tip, as if the blood flow was completely shut off. It also was numb and rubbery-feeling, like when you get a shot of novacaine and you feel the pressure but that's about it. It lasted almost an hour. I couldn't grip a pen very well and it felt weird to use the keyboard. But after an hour all of the sudden the spigot turned on, the blood flowed and it got color and warmth back. It was pretty dramatic.
I called my dad's wife tonight, who is a very experienced nurse. She told me I really need to get seen by a doctor and get a hand x-ray, as it sounds like there is some sort of nerve and blood vessel inpingment (sp?) going on and what if the blood didn't start flowing and the finger started to die? Then it would be emergency surgery. Yeah, that has convinced me! I will call my doctor tomorrow. I haven't seen him in three years....
The only things that seem to happen to me are overuse injuries from time to time, and this weird neck/shoulder thing that refuses to go away. It seems to happen every January - something with my upper spine, probably due to my whole body clenching up against the cold weather. Ah well.
A freaky thing I just noticed today --- and I think of the paleo folks here as I ponder this --- is if I eat a high-protein, low-carb day, lots of protein of various types, and no caffeine or sugar, it feels better. So, Ms. Human Science Experiment is going to try to eat that way for a few days to see if it goes away. Is it possible to get too LITTLE protein in our culture? Maybe so.
Trying to take good care of this mechanism that transports my brain to and fro for me.... :D
SiouzQ, I'm glad you are getting that finger looked at. The sooner the better in my opinion. Most mistakes we make in our lives can be fixed, but sometimes things can't be fixed, like a dead finger. Once it's gone it's gone. Go soon, please.
I've had lots of aches and pains this year, partly due to being sick in bed for several weeks, but mostly due to the weird winter weather we're having. I can tell when an abrupt change is about to come by how stiff and achy I feel. Exercising and just plain moving in spite of it seems to be the best cure.
Man, that's rough! Such a variety of ailments in different locations! Do you do any regular flexibility-building exercise? I find yoga and stretching helps me out quite a bit.
I'm not middle-aged, but have been suffering from a weird tightness in various areas of my chest lately. The first time it happened I thought I was having a heart attack and nearly panicked myself into a stupor. Went to the doctor and was told it was heartburn... I am not convinced. Can you get heartburn above your boob right under your shoulder?! I think it's possibly anxiety-related, just like every other ailment I've had has been :/
Last night my left arm began to ache sooooo bad. I know you're thinking "its her heart!".........but I've been through this so many times. then it moved up my arm to my shoulder and neck. Then I started feeling soooooo hot and nauseous.
Sometimes I'm sure I'm getting the flu, but by the next day it is past. I wonder like you Jemima if my body is responding to a front going through. All these aches and pains make it real hard to know when something really is bad enough to be concerned. And like you mira, I get tightness/pains in my chest, but for me, I think they are stomach-related. For me, if my stomach nerves or esophageal nerves are irritated, I can have pain just about anywhere in my chest. What fun all this is!
I ended up seeing my chiropractor yesterday and she confirmed that the circulation/numbness problem was most likely caused by an incredibly tight scapula muscle that clamped down on the nerve that runs out from the shoulder and down into my arm and hand. She did a series of neck and rib adjustments and some tension release pressure things that really hurt while she was doing it, but it was the kind of hurts-so-good action.
I did speak to the nurse at my doctor's office yesterday and they still want me to come in but I haven't made that appointment yet. I am adopting a wait and see approach, as I am still having a bit of the circulation issues, but not as bad as Sunday, by any means. It seems when I had the really dramatic issues it was when I had just come in from the cold (even though I was wearing gloves) so they want to make sure it's not something else going on, like Reynaud's Syndrome. I am waiting fro a very large tax refund so when I get that perhaps I will just go ahead and schedule a physical so I can do all my complainin' at once. I so fear being sent for a bevy of expensive tests! How does one grow old without health insurance??????
Reynauds syndrome?
Edit: I see you mentioned it already as a rule out. Hope you get to the bottom of things.
Anyone ever correlate differences to anything when it comes to their aches and pains? Damp days? Cold days? Full moons? Certain foods. (I think I'm going to eliminate the sugar from my single cup of tea each day and see if it make a difference.) Because, some days are better than others.
When one ponders how incredibly complex the human body is, it is amazing how it functions so well on a daily basis for the most part.
Yup. I agree. And I am going to stop complaining about my aches, pains and various stuff. I don't want to be like that so I can just shift my attitude. I am pretty happy that I can walk and run (a little) and paddle a canoe and get up from the floor and xc ski (as long as I don't fall down) and I think maybe I should just focus on that. This thread has helped me to think about that a different way. complaining is really being very negative and drawing my attention to that which I don't want, rather than attending to that which I want to encourage in my life.
Thanks.
WTH!! I can't get over how achey I am at the end of the day. It's ridiculous! Also, if I sit in any one position for more than 15 minutes, when I get up, I'm SO stiff! I'm trying to understand what causes that. It's so strange.
Cold for sure. The hot tub is my fav place.
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