I am in SO much pain. Surely this can't just be because I am fat?

[herewegoroundthebastardbush]

This is really a question either for the medical or for my fellow fatties - I'm 5'6, about 14 stone (😬) and 39. I used to be around 10 stone. put on a lot of weight very rapidly about 5 years ago when my mum died, and ever since then have struggled with binge eating and the weight has continued to creep up.

So the past 6 months or so, I'm in horrible physical pain much of the time. It started with my knees, which have never been great since I went through a phase of running to work on concrete in my 20s (idiot). But now it's not just the odd twinge, I'll be literally limping and whimpering and climbing the stairs is murder. I've also developed a horrible permanent pain in my right foot which the internet tells me is plantar fasciitis. And I can't ever seem to get comfortable in bed as whichever way I lie seems to pull the base of my spine out of alignment and it feels strained.

I have a busy life, two small kids and one is at nursery and the other at school, so every day after work I have to do a very brisk march march up the road to nursery and then turn and walk very fast back to school to get the eldest (about 40mins fast walking - or jogging if im late!) all told. I've started to dread it with a mortal fear as I am in SO much pain - some days I'm literally limping and gasping with it, but I can't stop because obvs then no-one would pick up my kids (partner has the car as works in a different city). That's the low point of my day, but just getting out of bed and standing up in the morning is horrendous too, it hurts so much and I literally limp like a comedy pirate for the first 20 mins of the day my foots so bad.

The one time I went to the GP about my knees, she did the head tilt and talked to me about my weight (didn't even examine my knees), and that aches and pains are more frequent as we age so its important to take care of our weight to reduce that. I agree I am too fat and need to lose weight. I am trying. But I see people far fatter and older than me who don't seem to be in total agony as they walk around!? So is this normal and fixable by losing some weight? Or is there something I should be worried about?

The pain is plantar fasciitis and it is most definitely because of the fast paced walking/jog. Do you find also your feet cramp a lot? I’m a postlady and have this too. I find rolling a golf ball under my feet helps with the cramping. But if your planter fasciitis is that bad there is an operation x

Sorry OP but one of the reasons you have developed PF is likely because of what you wear on your feet - ie unsupportive. Insoles, stretching and ice-ing can help. Keep a small, full, plastic water bottle in the freezer and 'roll' it back and forth with your feet while it is frozen. Hurts but does help!

And to her right foot.....she said it was plantar fasciitis.

Surely you are allowed to see your own records? I requested my hospital notes from my previous c-section and they sent me the entire folder, like a copy of bloody War and Peace lol 🤣

nurse here. Yes unfortunately your weight will have something to do with it. Feet however is a different matter. Are you wearing the correct footwear? May be worth speaking to GP re a Podiatrist
i ike you have gone through a recent change over the last two years whereby I'm not exercising and haven't been eating as well. I too have noticed my back is having the odd twinge . I feel stiff and achy. This wasn't there when exercising so I've started doing some yoga and more walking and it's really helped.
Try doing some gentle stretches at home to start with.

Agree with PP better to not take co-codamol because it could make matters worse, being addictive, also there isn't good evidence for it working any better than paracetamol.

To add if you take Ibuprofen tablets (which could help as an anti inflammatory as well) take it every 6 hours after a meal for up to 5 days.

Glucosamine supplement could also potentially help with your knee issues.

Don’t allow yourself to be fobbed off. Your weight/height ratio wouldn’t account for your symptoms. See a different GP and if necessary, insist they are investigated properly. Good luck 💐

Please don't be shamed into thinking you don't deserve medical treatment.

If you are having to take codeine to carry out normal day to day tasks you need to seek further medical help (esp as it's addictive and has some horrible side effects). You can self refer to your local MSK or see a private practitioner such as a an Osteopath or sports physio. I would also suggest you complain about the GP. Regardless of your weight (and you are not especially heavy) your GP still has a duty of care for you and shouldn't just dismiss you.

Plantar fascilitis is an absolute nightmare. I have it myself at the moment, have had it since early September. However it is getting a bit better now.
You need some arch supports in your shoes and slippers if you wear them. These can be purchased cheaply from Amazon. Skechers trainers are excellent support for your feet - those already have arch supports in them.
You should also see your GP and get some advice about daily exercises which do help, albeit slowly🙄. Also your GP may recommend a steroid injection for your affected foot, however I'm still waiting for mine after more than two months.🙄

As for your other pains, as others have said, you should be tested for RA just to rule that out. Good luck 💐

I feel exactly like you feel, everything hurts, I have PF which lasts for months, then goes away, then comes back, I have horrific lower back pain, joint pain and clicking, and for the last three months everything seems to be a struggle.

I am almost 6 foot tall, I have always been very big, around 16-17st, but the last year or two I've been about two stone more than that! I know I need some serious motivation, but my mum died suddenly in March of this year, and I just haven't been able to scrape together the will to do anything about it.

I literally feel your pain. I don't feel like everything should hurt as much, but I know it's a waste of time at the GP because I'll just get the fat person eye roll. Sorry, I can't be much more help, just wanted to sympathise...

I know I can lose weight if I'm in the right headspace, so I've written off this year now, but I'm going to start in January, more walking, cut down on the calories, drink more water, drinks less alcohol just simple, achievable things, but see if losing a bit of weight, makes any difference 🤞🏼

We have a shop near us called Shuropody which sells shoes and has a clinic. They have a machine that scans your feet and shows you what issues you may have and how they can affect the rest of your body. I now wear orthotics and but their made to measure ones. I have back issues and I’m normal weight. I noticed my daughter was walking where her feet pronate inwards and the insides of her shoes were wearing down faster than the outsides. The GP looked at her and said she was fine - briefly asked her to walk across the room. I was asking for a referral to kids orthotics as she should get free nhs insoles but he said she was fines. She was having awful knee problems at the time. Took her to get her feet scanned and sure enough she pronates when she walks and needed orthotics which basically stopped the knee pain. You might have a similar type of for clinic near you. The scans are free but the orthotics from them are expensive but you can get ones online cheaper.

I’d try and get your weight under control WHILST looking at physio, RA diagnosis. My DH has RA (he’s 34) in his hands and with treatment lives a perfectly normal life.

There’s no downside to losing weight. You’re putting less pressure on your joints, the GP will (wrongly) take you more seriously plus all the other benefits to being a healthy weight.

my normal BMI is on the low side of healthy but that’s just me, I’ve always been very slim and active and blessed with a good metabolism. I really struggle physically when pregnant with carrying the extra weight and it practically cripples me, I’m currently crawling by evening and I’ve only put on 1.5 stone (although this is an increase of almost 20% of my body weight).

I am not overweight at all but also in daily pain with arthritis in my toes, cartilage damage in both hips and nerve pain in my shins. I have no idea what to do and the doctor just passes me from pillar to post. I now pay for a private physio at great expense I see every fortnight. I dunno if it does anything but I have to keep trying. I am 42 and some days I honestly wish I wasn't alive.

Hmm. I’m about the same weight and height as you and I’m a bit older and I don’t feel like that. I walk the dog everyday and don’t eat a brilliant diet but my knees aren’t trying to kill me. I’d definitely be chasing that up.

I did have plantar facitis once though. Hurt like a bastard. I found some foot pads on Amazon. They come on a stretchy band that goes around your foot and the pad goes under your arch. Cured it for me in a few days and it never came back. They were only a few quid. Worth a try!

I'd be tempted to look into HRT even at your young age. You're not old enough to be getting this extent of old age aches and pains.

It could be any number of things. Sure, losing weight might make a difference and is worth doing, but it could also be lots of other non weight related things.

In my case it was a lot like yours, gradual decline into pain in my joints, fingers, feet, wrists, and so on.

Had loads of tests for rheumatoid arthritis etc nothing showed. 6 months into HRT I'm a different person. Sure I get the odd twinge but I was crippled with pain before. It's like a miracle.

Wish you the best of luck finding out what is wrong. 🍀

I had similar but started off much heavier.
My doctor would dismiss everything as being my weight but was sending me for regular bloods and telling me they were fine.
I'll be forever greatful to the hospital for writing to him and sending me a copy to ask why I didn't appear to be being treated for my ever worsening thyroid and my uric acid levels needed treating.
I saw another doctor who ran a couple tests and told me I had hashimotos thyroiditis and uric acid crystals in my joints

I lost a very large amount of weight, moved house and GP surgery and was called in for a review. I asked him how much more weight I needed to lose before the pain would stop and he looked at me puzzled and said it won't and what meds was I taking for my joint condition as he couldn't find the info on my notes ..... What joint condition?

As it stands now I'm diagnosed with fibro, inflammatory arthritis, hashimotos, parathyroid disease, pernicious anemia and bowel issues that mean I have issues with vitamin absorption and am often anaemic

If you feel you are being ignored then ask to see another doctor and push for a referral to physio and rheumatology

I was 12st.2lbs, 5' tall. The pain on my hips and legs kept me awake at night. Hobbling everywhere, struggling with stairs, difficulty standing, walking, even getting out of bed. GP told me I'm getting old, hard luck.
I followed the NHS online weight loss thing and lost 22lbs in 20 weeks. My hips don't hurt unless I walk 3-4 miles. I can do stairs without hesitation. The pains have almost all gone. I think weight loss is the first thing to try. It's worth it. And GP can't eye-roll you if you have to go back.

As someone said above see if you can self refer to phisio. The extra does put straight on the knees and cause pain. I had similar. You probably need to strengthen you legs muscles to help support your knees. The physio should be help with that but you can also finds lots online. And you use trainers with cushioning under the hill.
Hope you feel better soon

1 - weight can put extra strain on your body - so yes you could be feeling far worse because of your size

2 - being larger - means you need more vit d - and at this time of year - you don't get enough - are you taking supplements - low vit d - makes your joints hurt

Do some pilates - to stretch out your body improve your flexibility - take vit d - and see if that helps you

There could be numerous reasons for your pain including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, go back to your Gp or a Nurse Practitioner and ask them to arrange some investigations, they could start with blood tests and go from there. Meanwhile take regular painkillers and try to keep yourself comfortable, don't be content with just muddling along, it might not get worse but it won't get better without help

Hi OP. I had a lot of knee, heel & ankle pain when I was heavier and not watching my diet.
Cutting out sugar and carbs really helped - takes a few weeks - as they're inflammatory.
Also - ice!
Or standing in freezing cold water.
I have underlying problems with my ankles which affects my gait, but diet and ice keeps it in check.
And also ibuprofen. - tablets or gel.

Hello I suffered bad PF for about 8 months. It’s mostly recovered now but took a lot of work.
You need to get good arch supports for your shoes… I wore the same pair of shoes all the time with inserts.
stretch your feet every day on the bottom step. ( look online for exercises) Rolling the arch of the foot over a tennis ball helps. I also bought a boot thing that stretched my foot when I could rest it. And say goodbye to all your uncomfortable shoes. They will just make it come back I’m afraid. The PF affected my knees and hip joints as you compensate for the pain by over pronating.
Some people get offered steroid injections with pain but I never did. I used OTC pain relief alternating ibuprofen and paracetamol every 2 hours on the really bad days. I hope this helps and I really sympathise, it’s bloody awful x

Do you have flat feet?

Flat feet and collapsed arches can make PF worse but can also knock the knees, hips and back out.

I pushed for a referral to a podiatrist and got some supportive insoles made just for my feet and it's made a world of difference.

Also wearing wide fit shoes, with thick natural insoles, and ankle support.

Could I offer a slightly different perspective? With absolutely zero judgement, I promise. I'm an anorexic, I also have severe clinical anxiety and depression, PTSD due to SA and rape, and not the most "stable" of people.

An eating disorder helped me deal with the trauma and confusion of my life, on and off, since aged 11. I understand. I get it. Eating disorders come in all forms, no one is more noble than the other. So I truly "get" your BED. And I hope you will beat it.

However, over the three decades I have suffered with anorexia to various degrees (at my best, and now, you wouldn't even know, I just look like a size 6/8 slight control freak) sometimes I overcompensate and order the cheeseburger, other times I cancel social plans as the thought of eating out makes me want to curl up in bed with carrot sticks and starve myself.

I've been to the doctors with numerous ailments over the years, including mental health issues and suicide ideation. Every time, I've been told to "eat well and put some weight on, it will help" on the flip side to "just lose some weight"

there's been times I've been so offended "I'm not even thin, I'm as big as I've ever been, I'm certainly not going to put weight on for some BMI calculation"

Other times I've admitted I have been restricting, or calorie counting, and said I understand I need to be more flexible.

Then other times I've broken down in tears because I KNOW I'm a recovering anorexic, I KNOW I need help when I get too thin, I KNOW I can't expect to sleep 6 hours, work a 12 hour shift at a manual job and be full of energy.

I guess what I'm saying (very ramblingly!) is that sometimes the doctor is right, and sometimes the doctor is wrong, but honestly a healthy baseline is always best. I was NOT healthy at 6.5 stone despite having a full time job and 3 "meals" a day. Similarly, my zinc deficiency was down to just that.

All I mean, in the gentlest possible way is: losing a bit of weight can't hurt. Same as for me putting on an extra half a stone really helped with other things in my health.

It's all a spectrum, give your body the best possible chance. You losing/me gaining those extra pounds could only help our respective overall health journeys, it won't hurt our chances. I'm now over 7 stone, I feel I look disgusting but I actually do feel healthier and with more energy than at 6.5 stone. Maybe try that with half a stone to start with from your end.

I wish you nothing but the best, I hope this message is received in the spirit it was intended, without judgement, and with care and understanding. And love.