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?

I was getting foot and back pain and losing weight sorted it all out.

Keep a diary of symptoms and go back to another GP. They will always mention weight and it will obviously help joints to lose some but it does sound like there could be something else going on. I knew someone who had similar and eventually got diagnosed with Ehler Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Took a good physio to diagnose it and treat. Regular strength training helped.

For the PF put a full plastic water bottle in freezer and use it (once frozen) to roll arch of foot. Also stretching calves (like PP has mentioned) will help. Hope you get some answers.

Any chance you’re perimenopausal? I was convinced I had RA, but it turns out my joint pain (was in my knees too) is one of the joyous symptoms of perimenopause.

If you do have plantar fasciitis I can recommend the splint or socks at night- not comfy to wear but really helped me get over it (after months of waking at night and pain all the time) - I think at night it all clenches up and that is why it is particularly bad in the morning. Good luck - regular pain is really physically and mentally exhausting

I have the same issue but it is my lower leg rather than knees. I’m very overweight. This pain precedes my weight gain. Where I live you can self refer for physio. I’ve had scans and blood test but still no clue. Have you tried a sports physio? Also different shoes? Shock absorbing ones.

for plantar faciaitis, sit down and roll your foot on a bottle of frozen water. Everyday. It works.

You poor thing. Nuffield gyms do a 12 week course, for free, called Joint Pain Management. I have found it very helpful. I broke my shoulder, and had to have a replacement and almost as soon as I’d recovered from that, I had to have a partial knee replacement, due to arthritis. This course has really helped me understand how to deal with the pain and how to manage. Could be worth a try, if you have a Nuffield gym locally.

This. Good advice

There's lots of treatments for inflammatory arthritis (the autoimmune type of arthritis, one of which is rheumatoid), and treatment is very important as it affects more than your joints. Your family history means you are more at risk, so do consider a further consultation. It is unusual though for your knees to be the first joints affected with that type of arthritis.

Search NHS Plantar fasciitis exercises, this will get you started. Most GPs have a self-referral pathway to physio (often called an FCP- first contact practitioner). Have a look on your practice website.

Your knees won't thank you for being heavy, particularly if you are predisposed to knee trouble. Swimming is good, avoid breast stroke legs though. You can also do some quads exercises (again, Google NHS exercises) as this will help your muscles to support your knees and usually help with pain relief.

Good luck

Sounds like there are multiple issues here which interact OP. You have an eating disorder which is not treated or controlled. This is adding to your obesity which is probably adding to inflammation in your body and inflammation in your joint. You also might have arthritis or similar. The pain you’re in will be affecting your mental state which in turn will make your eating disorder worse. And round it goes.

GPs often aren’t good at seeing things holistically- they treat a single issue rather than the person with all their medical issues (time constraints). So you might have to spell this out and go a couple of times to get the message across.

This could be me! I have arthritis in my knns and I think probably hips. Had my first steroid injection today which should help. I also think the menopause could be causing some of my joint pain so am pursuing HRT. I have lost weight but so far no difference. Have you heard of the fat doctor? They are on Instagram and run workshops on how to advocate with health professionals who just say it's all down to weight! I am also doing NHS physio so hopefully something will work. Good luck!

I've not read all the comments but have seen some great advice. For your knees, you could be out of balance and relying too much on one group of muscles when you walk/run. I get really bad ankle pain on one side from running, but when I add weight training into my routine it subsides, I think because I'm switching on muscles that are normally quite 'lazy'. Can you do some strength exercises? Something like Joe Wickes videos would be ideal as you can do it at home and no equipment needed.

He supports me in every way but emotionally. He does his fair share of kids, housework, makes more than me, does WAY more mental load than me. He just doesn't do feelings, not the way I do. He can't help it. I suspect ASD.

@iwishiwasonacruise
I wish you luck, be kind to yourself, that sounds like a tough time

I have not read the whole thread so apologies if this has been mentioned. I've suffered from plantar fasciitis terribly. I even tore the one in my left foot and chased relief all over. What I've learned... PF can be because of tightness anywhere from the feet up through the lower back. I stretch at the beginning of the day and before exercise, walk, or hike. I bend over and touch my toes for a full minute keeping my back as straight as possible. I prop my leg up on the back of the sofa in a standing figure 4 stretch and stretch for one minute on each side. I then prop my foot on the back of the sofa and bend over my leg as far as I can and stretch my hamstrings for one minute each side. I then stand on an adjustable slant board at the steepest position I can tolerate for 1-2 minutes. I finish it up with a standing IT band stretch on both sides for 1 minute each.

During a workout that involves alot of calf work, I will stop and stretch frequently. Halfway through a hike or brisk walk, I will stretch again.

It has helped a lot. I wake up without pain and can live my daily life without pain now and even go to crossfit 5 days a week without pain. If I don't do these stretches for a few days in a row, my feet go back to hurting. I am approx 15 stones at 5'7. Let me know if you want more information about what else I have tried.

Good luck! I know how bad the pain can be.

Oh that's so useful - we have a Shuropody in my city, walked past it a million times and just filed it in my head under "old lady shoes" 😆 - I had no idea they did foot assessment and podiatry stuff!!! Will get myself down there thank you.

I'm so sorry you're suffering so much 🫂 keep on keeping on - im sure there are people in your life who would be devastated by your absence x

@herewegoroundthebastardbush

I am 5ft4 and was 14st 2lbs, I am 55 and had similar symptoms but turned up to 11. My joint pain had me needing full care from my DH ( I couldn't even get to the toilet without help) .
GP said I had pulled muscles...

Eventually I got some blood tests done (ESR/ CRP etc) which showed i had inflammatory arthritis ( autoimmune disease)
Also my HbA1c showed i was pre diabetic. I started losing weight with an nhs diet and am now 13st.

But never did my gp say it was being fat that made me ill.

Hope you feel better soon ❤️

Sketcher trainers and paracetamol. Don't be scared of taking (non-addictive) painkillers.

I have plantar fascists and used to run a lot yylrs ago . My knees also buckle when I climb the stairs and I have back and neck pain (I have disc bulges).
I am currently seeing a neuropathist and ref to a specialist for arthritis too.
My gp has ref me to a podiatrist but I've found doing stretches a few times a day, changing my shoes (you can buy shoes for this). And icing my feet a few times a day has improved it loads.

Are you wearing appropriate shoes with good cushioning?

Im fatter and older than you and don’t have any pain or mobility problems. What you are enduring is not normal. Please push for better treatment from your sizeist and likely misogynistic gp

Op I feel you so much, I suffer with chronic migraines, it’s actually a syndrome according to neurology, however it’s taken me 6 Years to get to a point where a drug works for 6ish months and a monthly injection gives me 2ish weeks of respite, some days I can’t lift my head off the pillow, can’t physically smile at my children because my face mimics stroke symptoms and I’ve been sacked from my job, the first dr I saw asked me if I’d considered dieting, like that would suddenly fix my severe one sided pain. Two stone down and I can 100% say, and have said to that dr, its affected it in no way shape or form.

I had no idea Shuropody did anything but comfortable shoes, and I've been in our local one a few times 🤣

You are describing my pain before I was treated for plantar fasciitis. My knees were agony and also frequently turned red and hot- intense, persistent lower back pain which was worse when I had to walk and often neck pain too.
I got some really hard insoles with arch support from boots Designed for PF. The package said that you need to get used to wearing them, but I found them fine (will try to find a link if you are interested), although I could feel them all day! I then told my gp how much they helped and suggested that maybe a specialist could find something even better… got a referral to an orthotics department at the hospital who gave me similar inserts that fitted my feet better and some exercises. still wear the inserts ten years on, probably always will, but the pain is not there, my knees are fine and my back only hurts if I walk for a long time on rough ground without very strong boots.

I could have written everything you have said. I have seen an NHS physio a couple of times for painful knees. I was given very easy exercises to do whilst seated or lying down. They were so simple I couldn't see how they would help, but they did. I also managed to lose nearly 2 stone and I'm a lot older, shorter and heavier than you. I'm trying to say I'm sure the exercises would help you too.
If you can't get a physio appointment you can search on YouTube for leg and knee strengthening exercises. Just make sure it is someone who is qualified. The improvement in muscle strength supports the knees and helps get rid of the pain. It may take a month or 2, and you have to do them every day building up to 3 times a day.