To think joint pain is just normal in your mid 40s?

[bluebears1]

I'm wondering to what extent it's just part of ageing to be stiff with achey joints in your mid 40s. I'm debating whether or not to discuss it with my GP.

I've had some joint issues for a while. For years I have had some amount of aches and stiffness in my lower back and knees. About two years ago this spread to my neck and I now have issues with my elbow, my big toe. I previously had all the tests for RA and don't follow the pattern for an inflammatory condition so it seems to fit the picture of Osteoarthritis, which my mother I'm stiff in the morning and if I sit for periods in the car or on the sofa. The pain is manageable but it gets worse if I do activities like hoovering, exercise, gardening.

But! Part of me thinks maybe this is just part of getting older and that most people in their mid forties will have stiffness and joint pain? AIBU to think this is the case or is it something that points to an actual problem?

I think you being perimenopausal might be a cause? You are of a healthy weight so it shouldn't be a problem.

I'm 49 and don't have joint pain.

I would talk to your GP. Do you over pronate or have any foot issues. Podiatry innersoles dramatically cut down my pain. The SEM consultant I saw said that unless we corrected the overpronation, I would have horrendous arthritis later in life.

Did your GP rule out ankylosing spondilitis as that can be worse in the morning? My Dad had it. Manageable with medication.

Yes I have sore knees/ am hobbly when I get up. Exercise can be painful. I am mid-40s and blame peri.

I used to have a few niggly pains. I took up weightlifting and hiit. They've vanished apart from some ovary pain I get 2 days a month. I think it's often lifestyle related. I'm 45. I'm not on any medication and try to eat well.

I'd go to the docs.

I'm the same age with joint pain that can send me to A&E for emergency pain relief on occasion.

This happens when I don't do exercise.

If you get some proper painkillers (naproxen or diclofenac) that make exercise possible, it might help

I’m mid 40s. No joint pain. In fact after twenty years of yoga I have more mobility than I did in my early 20s.

I don't actually think it's as abnormal as lots of posters say. I think lots of women in menopause struggle with achey joints. It's a known symptom. Do you take any glucosamine supplements? That's worth looking into.

I have a strong family line of osteoarthritis. I exercise a lot (weights) and that can make it worse if I don't stretch. Do you know any focussed stretching programmes? I would really look at doing it at least once a day for a good amount of time.

I had this for a few years in my late 40s/early 50s, was referred to a rheumatologist re possible rheumatoid arthritis as blood tests showed some inflammation and after another test he said no RA but I did have early signs of OA in my fingers.

I went the the doctor for something unrelated at one point and when I got up from the chair and slowly straightened up she said ‘you need to come back and see about HRT’. I was up to my neck in caring for elderly parents so never did get round to it.

Mid/Late 50s now and it’s a lot better now so I suspect menopause related.

Hi op, depends on your gp- I had one doctor insinuate my joint pain (knees, back ) was age. His colleague (50;)) prescribed glucosamine, told me to take vitamin d and start using (he said swimming was the best way to go or cycling)before I lost it all. I got a cortisone injection, have gone back excercising, take vitamin d and glucosamine and eat better (he said fizzy drinks are horrendous) and nearly a year later am much better. I’ll admit I’d given up, with long Covid as well I’d turned a hundred and could barely walk but feel so much better now. By the way I’m 42/43

Mid 40s. Ran 5km then walked 9km yesterday. I can feel it in one knee, but not usually.
DH, mid 40s has 2 achey knees that cause him pain if he does too much.

I’ve had this since my mid 30s!! Following as no idea if normal or not (GP lumped it together with my fatigue as CFS and I have an iffy thyroid too).

Following this, as I'm similar. I've just turned 50 though. I can barely walk in the morning with joint pain, particularly lower back and hips. I take HRT, vitamin D, magnesium and B12. I get up at 5am, as I have to do an hour's worth of gentle stretches for my back, or I wouldn't be able to go to work. I have an exercise bike abs go on this for half an hour a day. I don't want to go to GP in case I get fobbed off.

44 here and I confess to being very unfit and overweight. I don't generally have aches and pains unless I've been doing something more active the day or so beforehand (gardening, I'm looking at you!).

I do, however, have to say "oof" when I'm getting out of bed in the morning nowadays, but I wouldn't class it as pain.

I'd definitely speak with your GP about it as if it is arthritis you may benefit from some early intervention and slow down its progress.

Definitely a trip to gp to check everything's ok, but what has massively helped me is lifting weights.
I was so achy! Last October my husband paid for a 10 week course with a personal trainer for me as I was finding it hard to get into any exercise or kept hurting myself. It has helped so much ! I'm not completely ache free but I would say 75% better. I know feel confident about going to the gym and for the first time in my life I'm actually enjoying it.
We start loosing muscle mass a lot in our 40s which is why we get so achy (as well as hormonal stuff) so we need to build it up.

Hi all. Thanks for the further perspectives and suggestions. I am actually just back from a review with my GP re: HRT, which was what prompted me to post earlier. I wasn't sure whether it was worth discussing the joint pain and stiffness at the same time. Interestingly she suggested increasing my oestrogen as I'm on a fairly low dose for my age and she think that will bring about a further improvement in the joints. I'm glad people here had also suggested it as I think I would have been a bit thrown by that being her first response otherwise. She said once I've had a few months on the higher dose it will be clear if it makes a difference so I'm happy with that for now. She also mentioned the usual things like exercise and seeing a physiotherapist but I haven't had much success with that in the past. I think I need to think about weights though as that isn't something I've tried and it makes a lot of sense at my age. Thank you all again.

Are you in England?

I didn’t get any joint pain until my mid 50s and then it started overnight more or less. Woke up with really stiff painful knees and ankles. It really affected my mobility for a while. Was diagnosed with osteoarthritis eventually. My mobility returned to normal after 6-8 months butI still get the occasional knee flare up.

No, Scotland. Why do you ask?

I am 65 and no aches or pains .... despite being unfit and overweight .

There's a family link in my case, as my grandmother had OA and mother has it too. I have been diagnosed with it the youngest unfortunately out of three generations.

If you can afford it, have a few sessions with a good osteopath- might make a big difference.

I’ve been in agony since I was 40. Terrible back and one ankle is so bad I can barely walk. Seen everyone under the sun and nobody has been able to help.

I am 70 and never had aches and pains. See your GP.

I think people saying "I've got no pains etc, see your GP" is not that helpful. Your normal is not everyone else's.