How much pain is normal?

[Flippingflamingo]

At almost 40, how much pain in day to day activities is to be expected as a “getting older” thing?

I was recently chatting/moaning to a friend about the pain in getting up and about these days and was surprised to find she didn’t experience any!

I find getting up from seating painful, sciatica and pain in my legs mean walking anywhere is painful, my back and neck constantly ache and my fingers and wrists are useless for the first hour in a morning. None of it is stopping me ploughing on through and doing things anyway, but it’s starting to get me down a bit.

I just wondered whether most people experience mild/moderate pain daily at this age, or whether it’s something that I actually need to seek medical advice on!

44, no pain. Still at gym and 23 weeks pregnant

I don't think that's normal at nearly 40. I am 15 years older and whilst a bit achy and stiffer than I was, I don't have ongoing pain. See a GP, also a physio.

That seems a lot for your late 30s. I'm 37 and I have no daily pain (unless I've done lots of exercise the day before, then I have achey legs)... might be worth speaking to your GP?

I had this, I was low on vit D and B12. I’ve started taking supplement and HRT and the pain has gone. I had an old back injury but if I do yoga once a week it’s fine.

At 39 that's not typical. I had no pain at all (barring when I was pregnant!), I'm almost a decade older and no pain like that. I would get some medical advice on it all.

47, terrible lifestyle and zero pain

I’ve just had bloods done and B12 was fine but folate was low so I’ve started high strength folic acid tablets.

Are you overweight? I'm 48 and was suffering really badly, back, hips, constant aches and pains and stiffness. I lost 3 stone and it's completely resolved. It's really made me look at by diet and overall health to try and keep it as long as possible.

No, BMI of 22 so it’s not a weight issue.

Do you exercise ? If you don’t move and strengthen muscles, joints and ligaments they will start to feel achy and tight at some point in your life.

I used to have lower back pain but since I got into working out with heavy weights I have had no issues. I’m 57 now

I went through the menopause at 42, after just having a baby. Overnight, everything ached, I could believe it before I was playing squash, badminton,full contact karate, going to the gym, cycling. Hrt and back to normal. When I stopped taking it 11years ago, the hot flushes returned. I have 2 border collies,am now 74, I find it I sit around I get stuff. Not as flexible as I used to be, but not really any aches or pains

Sitting around get stiff!

I'm early 60s, and don't have that much joint or muscular pain on a daily basis. I get the odd knee pain, and bad back, but they get better and go away, its not all the time. I think a GP appointment might be in order, see whats going on with you.

What is your diet like? Is it full of inflammatory foods? What is your blood sugar control like/hba1c?

What exercise do you do? Are you getting 150min moderate activity plus a couple of strength sessions a week as advised by the nhs?

How much sleep including deep and rem are you getting a night?

It could also be due to fluctuating hormones/peri menopause.

Sorry, I don’t think this is normal or expected unless one has a health condition, illness or injury. I’m 47 and exercise 6 days a week and the only time I’m in pain is when I’ve actually injured myself, which is rare. I am in extreme pain right now because my tooth is infected but generally, I live pain free day to day.

Late 60s, exercise regularly, stretching, light weights, Zumba, walking. If I don't do anything for a couple of days I get a bit stiff and achey, especially the knees but nothing I'd really call pain.

Are you looking into the reasons behind your folate/b9 deficiency? Lack of green veg in diet, too much alcohol, caeliac disease etc. Low b9 could cause the symptoms you describe.

Exercise wise it can vary with a busy household and work, but generally quite active. I have just joined the gym so I can do more strength training.

My diet isn’t the best, I don’t like vegetables but eat plenty of fruit, dairy and meat.

Mid 50s, did a hilly 15mi run yesterday, fine today. I think the fitter you are, the less things hurt - but the older you get, the more you have to earn fitness/strength/flexibility (which is really tough especially if you have a sedentary job).

Not typical at all i’d say - I’m 37 and fat (although I do lot of yoga and walking) and apart from occasionally tweaking my back lifting stuff, I don’t have any pain at all. What sort of exercise do you do?

45, very little to no pain.
Not pregnant and not a gym bunny, but definitely working physically.
I wouldn't expect pain at 40.

I believe ‘they’ say that no amount of pain is normal. That’s kind of the point of pain tbh, to tell you something is wrong.

I’m 34 and have been in daily pain for 7 years now. Right now my molars hurt, lower back, and feet in searing pain! And my liver but I forget about that one as it’s constant low-level pain.

41, no pain at all unless I've had a particularly energetic bike ride etc. in the last few days.

I have started making old man noises when I get up though, which I'm finding odd given that there's no reason for it!

I have ongoing plantar fasciitis and occasional back pain. No obvious cause for either. V annoying.

51, no aches and pains as yet! I am on HRT, take magnesium with B12 and collagen when I remember