To wonder what's normal re pain or health issues over 50?

I forgot to say, weight training really, really helps. I loathe it but would feel much older without it.

I'm 57 and find that HRT makes a difference with aches and pains. Just come back from skiing and as fit as I've ever been!

The only thing is if I run for any length of time my hips is no good so had to stop.
Have elevated cholesterol so had an internal scan of my heart and arteries, and no calcification at all. On statins though as I live my crisps. All in all it's ok.. so far.

50 this year, and generally feel OK. Tireder than I used to be, bit stiff first thing, and memory not great - put all that down to peri. Hips ache if. I do a long hill walk.

Don't come from an especially long lived family which worries me, especially as my parents had healthy lifestyles. My diet is good but trying to cut down on upfs and increase Excerise now while I still can.

Agree. Nature loads the gun, nurture pulls the trigger.

58 and still running half marathons. I did find that I got achy in my mid 50s but now take vit d and tumeric and that seems to help. Not on HRT. I run three times a week, gym/weights ideally twice but usually once as I hate it and walk lots. I've also never really eaten UPFs and cook healthily and from scratch. A number of friends are now getting back pain or needing hip replacements but as one of my DDs had to have her hips pinned in her tweens and the other had to have a spinal fusion at 20 I just count my blessings.

The one thing I have noticed though is that if I bruise it takes a lot longer than it did to clear up.

At a routine mammogram check one year the nurse said that health is down to 3 factors. Luck genetics plus lifestyle.

I think lifestyle is very important.

Op you asked if it’s normal. No it’s not. If I get a health issue, I don’t think it’s just cos I’m nearly 54, I get it checked out . There’s no reason why you would have bad health just because you’re over 50.

I am 50 and I have had issues with:
reflux, seems to be from dairy
dry eyes
recurrent iritis
recurrent shingles
anaemia
I am being investigated for sjogrens

No aches and pains or joint issues though I have noticed I am less agile than I used to be. I need to start up with yoga again - currently do weights 3 times a week but no other exercise other than walking.

I retrained as a teacher in my early 50s, (now 64) going from a sedentary job to standing/walking all day and I think that is what has helped me to avoid pain etc. I do quite a lot of sport, dance a lot, play padel, row, cycle and just got back from two skiing holidays with no pain or issues with joints etc.
However I realise this is quite lucky compared to friends, so just making the most of it before the inevitable decline.

Happy birthday 🎉

I was just thinking about this today I am 55

I started getting old in my mid to late 30s

started off with

IBS (had all my life really)
BPPV
Bile acid malabsorption
B12 deficiency
vit D deficiency
high cholesterol
got sepsis from a procedure
fatigue
fibroymalgia
coronary artery spasms
tachycardia
vision problems and migraines

last 4 years I have had embedded UTI, vertigo, depression and arthritis has really ramped up, I had a bone in my hand removed just before Covid but now all my joints are acting up and my fingers are all deformed, doc has just given me some stronger painkillers to try and to have another blood test next week

I hurt all over and am very stiff, cannot bend over or reach up to cupboards, etc, I feel and look about 80, I had to quit work at 44 and give up driving

i really feel that the lack of nutrients from my limited diet due to IBS has aged me before my time

Going into my 50s was fine. My biggest issue is weight - I know I'd be much better in terms of mobility (climbing stairs, long walks) I lost it (not so easy)! I yo yo and am definitely better when thinner.
My friends and I are now in our 60s but other than feeling a bit creaky on getting up are all in good shape.
Those who are active fare better, but seems like you were. I think it is just luck unfortunately.
There was some report when the Queen turned 90. It wasn't scientific or large but it was found the common factors in long and healthy life were:
Being active/maintaining healthy weight
Being involved with community
Genes
Luck (no diseases like cancer etc).

My sister and I both have arthritis like our mother. She was obsessed with hardly eating anything in case she put on weight - she was always around 7.5 stone.
My granny lived to 88 eating fry ups all the time and never taking any recognised form of exercise.
I've had to give up going to the gym due to the pain and go for short walks and try to eat sensibly. Since I gave up the gym I haven't put on any weight.

My health issues started in my late 30s when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and a rare gene mutation. Underwent chemo, radiation, and four major surgeries plus 10 years on Tamoxifen. Thankfully, my 50s are healthy, so far which is amazing considering what my body has been through.

The trouble with this thread is our bodies are all different - there is no normal for someone in their 50s. I'm 62 with several autoimmune conditions, osteoperosis and scoliosis. None of these relate directly to my lifestyle - although it is acknowledged that there is a relationship between stress and autoimmune conditions. Sorry OP, but the only people who can tell you if what you are feeling is normal are your blood relatives. Hearing from those who come from long-life genes and are going to be active until they are 100 are just going to make you feel worse.

DF is 92 and utterly miserable being alive, not sure it's an aim for me ...

So, golden rules, judging by extended family, lucky ones who lived long ( 90s) and reasonably healthily
: chose your parents carefully
: don't eat anything your ( great) grandmother wouldn't recognise : work hard

Of course which comes first the chicken or the egg...............?

Half and half really. I'm late 50's and still running ultra marathons but have colitis which I fear will get worse with age. Also spent last year severely anaemic, had to have an iron infusion and blood transfusion. Had shoulder impingement which thankfully seems to have got better by itself after 1.5 years.My DM died from cancer at 60 so it's a peculiar feeling to be approaching that age.

Get exhausted easily, iron still lowish, hate not having boundless energy!

Can you take painkillers beforehand? I find that helpful.

Nothing really until I turned 59 and I get backache if I've been running around all day.
Apart from that no other aches or pains.

GP when the time comes.

I feel like that now at 38 😟 I was thinking about going to the Dr's...

Remember the old saying of hard work didn't do anybody any harm. Well it was a crock of shoot. How many of us in middle age spent our lives in physically demanding jobs and now are paying for it.

DH fine at 56, I was fine till Sept last year when I did something dreadful to my back, I’m 58. As much as I am annoyed and I still get pain many days I have had 3 friends die before 60 and DH has had 1 die. Two were very regular women who didn’t live any kind of extreme lifestyle and two were women who I would say made an effort with food and exercise more than most. My physio said you have done everything right it’s just not fair, I could walk down town and see loads of people who don’t care for themselves but no skeletal or pain issues.