If you're in your 40s, how often do you take painkillers?

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I'm 46 and some of my joints are really troubling me. Sleeping is the worst, and pain in my back, shoulders and one hip wakes me when I turn over. It's much better when I take ibuprofen, but is it safe and wise to take every night at my age?

I know it's just osteoarthritis, but it's annoying and seriously uncomfortable at times. Even my fingers are getting knobbly. Is this weird for 46 or quite common?

im 50 with similar

but im in an active job and am overweight....i know from experience if i lose the weight its easier

I’m 53 and have not experienced any of this.

I’ve only ever taken pain killers for dental pain and for dental sinus pain.

I think you should see your GP as at 46 you are young not old!

It's the peri menopause

I’m 43, take pain killers maybe twice a year for headache/period pain and seriously hoping this is not the future 😟

I’d say get a new mattress. I am 44 & overweight. I occasionally get hip pain if I have walked a lot with silly shoes on but not on a daily basis.

I am 56 and take Ibuprofen most days. Going on the pill will help a lot with joint pain. I went on the pill in my early forties to help with a variety of things because I needed the extra hormones. In my early 50s an OBGYN decided to switch me to HRT and within a month I was racked with joint pain, SI joint pain, finger joint pain, knee and elbow and foot joint pain, and in the PT office three times a week. 10 months later I went back on the pill and all the joint pain went away.

I’m 45 and I don’t take any painkillers. When did it start? Maybe it’s like the other poster said peri menopause? I never thought we will fall apart this quickly

I'm 49. peri menopausal and take pain killers if I have had too much wine or tuned an ankle.

I solved the sore back/ neck thing by getting new pillows.

Not normal full stop, certainly not normal in your 40s. I’m not sure when I last took a painkiller, I’ve had a few paracetamol for fevers but I think the last time I had it for actual pain was after my c-section nearly three years ago.

Change your mattress, and if that doesn’t help see your GP. You shouldn’t be in constant pain.

I know it's just osteoarthritis
Isn't that a serious condition? I'm 59 and hardly ever take pain killers

I am 45, and I take two on the first day of my period to stop the cramping. Apart from that maybe the odd time I have an aching shoulder or headache. I've had the shoulder thing for a long time, maybe more than ten years so it isn't an age thing. Same with the headaches. I don't have any increased use.

I’m 46 and I take them occasionally for headaches or period pain.

I haven’t started perimenopause yet though.

Sounds exactly how my rheumatoid arthritis started. My pain got so bad in the end I couldn't get out of bed without crying. If I were you I'd see your gp.

Sorry I forgot to say I was 47 when diagnosed.

I am 57. I take Naproxen on a fairly regular basis because I have arthritis and my joints hurt. If you have pain it is fine to take painkillers. No point suffering.

43 and have not taken anything past 12 months. I run 5k X3 a week and travel abroad every 2 weeks cos of work. I'm really active which I think is the reason I don't get I'll often.

I’m 46 and have severe arthritis and a bony growth on my left femur causing impingement in my left hip. I’m on naproxen/esomezaprole twice daily.

I’m 54 and don’t take painkillers. Except for an occasional hangover which is self imposed.

I’ll be 40 next year.
I take naproxen and cocodamol regularly for back problems and piriformis syndrome/sciatic pain.
It’s rubbish!

A spit off 50 and at least daily but I have hypermobility syndrome.

I'm 63 and don't take painkillers, or any other meds

I feel lucky, as both sides of the family usually have painful early osteoporosis and arthritis, which I seem to have escaped thus far.

I'm a lifelong exerciser, so maybe that's kept everything moving reasonably well

I’m in my mid-sixties and hardly ever take painkillers. I know that I’m lucky (so far!) but I think you’re too young to be on regular painkillers without having a few basic investigations.

I’m 50 and I take 8 paracetamol, 2-4 Buscopan and 6 ibuprofen a day for the first two days of my period. After that I might take 2-4 paracetamol for the next couple of days of it.

Bloody hell, I’m jealous. I’ve been on regular painkillers for 30 years and I’m only in my mid-forties. I thought this was the norm for my age now. The pain in my hips can wake me up. My joints ache. I have headaches and migraines. I’m feeling very hard done by now!!

Agree it’s peri menopause, I also have hyper mobile joints and scoliosis they are both at the more minor end of the scale though. I hardly ever take pain killers. I walk for an hour every day and rub my feet it helps a lot.