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 had terrible foot pain for years and it turned out to be hypermobility.

First up. If it is plantar or even shin splints you need to rest/reduce impact and seek physio and GP support asap. I know this can be hard with kids but it is important.

proper insoles for your shoes can help massively with plantar. Shock absorbing one’s can work wonders as you lose weight to reduce shock on your knees. Look at your shoes. Are they properly supportive. You may be better placed to wear decent running trainers to do the nursery run and switch to work shoes in work.

after seeing Gp and physio seek a reasonable adjustment with your employer to wear supportive trainers if possible in work even in the short term to help manage pain with the understanding that once pain is managed you’ll switch back to shoes with the right support.

im overweight and have some Birkenstock slippers in the house that massively reduces my plantar pain and as a result I don’t have as much knee pain either.

asto the weight loss. Focus on diet first before exercise. Given your current pain focusing initially on diet and limiting exercise to low impact low stress like yoga (annd whatever stretch mobility exercise your physio suggests) and swimming as you’ve lost some weight and hopefully resolved some of the pain would be your best course of action.

Do you have my GP

for the love of God try a pair of Skechers please!

I have mentioned it before but not in the context of my pain (was part of the discussion when I was put on SSRIs, am off them now).

None of the other symptoms of AID, I've always been blessed with very good health actually (apart from mentally) until relatively recently. Which I have never taken off granted as I've seen the total misery chronic illness brings. I dread it. It's probably why I've tried to ignore this for so long, because I cannot handle the idea of an ongoing condition that I can't do much about that will just get worse and worse.

1. Plantar fasciitis - decent trainers with good arch support, but most importantly, really good slippers! Birkenstock clogs work well
2. Vitamin D supplements - good quality ones that are oil based. Vit D deficiency causes massive joint pain.

Worth trying both whilst you're waiting for the GP to do any investigations.

OP, I’m not saying it’s definitely auto immune, but your symptoms sound the same as mine 10 years ago, when I was 40. It took a couple of years to get a diagnosis but I have spondyloarthropathy, it’s almost the same as rheumatoid arthritis and the treatment is the same. The fact that the pain is particularly bad first thing in the morning is a classic sign, and the fact your mum had RA I think is significant.

OK, I’m not a doctor, but I’ve had PF and before that tore a ligament in my knee doing the Couch to 5k (FFS!) in old/unsuitable trainers. And the most simple explanation for all your symptoms is the WRONG FOOTWEAR. Yes, it will take time for the tissue damage to heal but in a few months you WILL come back to this thread and give us the update that a new pair of trainers & simple insoles saved your life!

Having been in a similar situation with weight gain some years ago, I agree. Weight loss is hard, and when you’re struggling with the effects of it, it’s much easier to attribute the symptoms to something else. I’m really surprised at the number of posters completely disregarding the extra weight as a factor. Ten stones is 140lb. Fourteen stones is 196lb - that’s a gain of over a third of overall body weight. It has an effect.

You’re overweight but not massively so. Have you had a blood test? I wonder if it is an autoimmune disease? I had Stills Disease (Juvenile chronic Arthritis) onset at 21. Luckily I was slim!!! My mum has Sjoegren’s. Autoimmune stuff does run in families.

Ask for a blood test to rule it out. Ask for a referral to physio and what to use for pain relief, this is not normal and they can’t fob you off for being ‘fat’.

@herewegoroundthebastardbush
( I too, used to love DM's from teen, to professional, to parent! )

Later suffering unbearable PlantarF. for years, the ONLY footwear to have been a godsend have been by the brand "FitFlop" (which are also helpful for general fitness & leg-toning) so I'd highly recommend checking out some of their styles, or another brand featuring a similar 'rocker' sole.
If I'd discovered them sooner I'd have saved myself so much crippling pain.

Wishing you well.

I use Barefoot Vivo shoes. I had tendinitis a few years ago and was referred to a podiatrist who gave me an insole that totally fucked up the muscles in my leg. Be warned.

I'd go back to your GP, tell them that you are serious about losing weight but that the pain makes it difficult then ask for physio and OT referrals in that context.

I'd say those two professionals are who you need because it does seem as though you could be causing or making the pain worse inadvertently by wearing the wrong shoes then walking/running on hard roads.

They'll be able to give you advice about stretches and exercises you can do to alleviate the pain and then help you to look at changes you can make to address the root cause.

Painful feet was the first symptom of RA for me, really bad when I first got out of bed in the morning it was like walking on sharp stones. Then over a year or so the pain spread to hands, knees and shoulders.
Blood tests showed high level of inflammation and positive rheumatoid factor and I started the meds.

Most people are able to live normal lives when on RA treatment, although it took a while for me to get on the right combination of drugs.

Finding the right footwear is crucial, I've got NHS insoles and fantastic walking boots and now walk 3 miles a day without pain.

Not read the full thread so apologies- but could it be hoffers syndrome? I have a long term issue with it.

Ok, I'm in need of a full knee replacement but trying to delay as I'm too young and they can only be done twice as they run out of bone. Also tore the plantar fascia on the foot on the same leg. Add to it all, I'm overweight as well, so I'm in your situation.

What helps? (Note I'm in Australia)

• I see an exercise physiologist fortnightly. He does body work followed by strengthening exercises. A lot of your pain is probably compensatory.
• I have a range of pain meds, however don't overlook a paracetamol Ibuprofen combination. Very good pain relief - I take two of each if I do that, morning and night. In Australia we can get Diclofenac over the counter. It's a step up, quite effective IME, but cheaper with a script.
• shoes - skechers have saved me with the torn plantar fascia. Highly, highly recommend. I've got the prowalk, slide on type
• tens machine - OMG great relief if used regularly. I like it set to quite thumpy. Position on the hurts and thump away - I tend to fall asleep doing it.
• bit more woo, but I found very effective, is using quality essential oils. As a carrier oil castor oil is anti-inflammatory as is arnica. I've got a good mix of oils that I blend and rub in
• one you need a specialist referral for is a PRP injection. They basically take your blood, give it a spin and inject the platelet rich plasma into the joint. I got that done in June and the difference is astounding. Given the severe osteoarthritis and mangled cartilage in my knee, I've barely used pain killers since, and usually they're for muscle pain not the knee. Downside it's expensive.

I understand what you mean, but the hobbling first thing in the morning after you get out of bed because it hurts so much to put a foot on the floor is absolutely textbook PF - and continuing to wear Converse as you get older and heavier is a textbook cause. Converse are the literal worst - even worse than ballet flats because so many people deliberately wear them on long walks.

The OP should of course take on board everything that knowledgable posters have said about RA etc, talk to her doctor again about everything above the ankles, and see if she can find a sustainable weight loss plan that works for her.

But PF is absolutely miserable but often very treatable. Fixing it by doing some simple exercises, getting some solid slippers and replacing the Converse with FitFlop or ASICS from the outlet shop might take a decent chunk of the pain out of her life while she gets help with the more complex issues.

While you are considerably overweight and knee pain can self-resolve on weight loss for some people, it does sound like an unusual amount of pain for the circs.

Plantar fasciitis can be fixed - I got a PF foot roller from Amazon and had massage/physio - that got rid of it. It may also be related to the knee pain and can treat both with NHS Physio.

You could ask the GP for a blood test to check for Rheumatoid Factor given your family history. It would be good to rule that out.

Your Mum should have been screened to see if she carried the gene that a daughter would inherit for RA.

You need to tackle this and not be afraid to see your GP and talk it through.

Being serious, if it IS RA, you could end up in a wheelchair in time, severely disabled, but if it's treated soon, you can hold it back.

I'm puzzled why you haven't taken this on board as the NUMBER 1 issue to rule out or get treatment.

My dh roughed up the back of his knee cap from running on concrete. He was 28 when it was diagnosed and nothing to do with weight.

You need to do exercises for your plantar fasciitis and can’t do much about your knees. Losing weight will help but there are plenty of people your weight without pain so your gp is a bit narrow minded imo.

I am slim (7st12lbs because I have blood cancer) and have slipped discs 3 times, my dh actually told a friend off for suggesting losing weight may help my back. I do visit an osteopath every few months and so does dh. It’s about £45 a time but keeps us old crocks going. We’re in our 60’s.

Vitamin D supplements, if you don't already, new pair of trainers that are supportive and comfortable for walking in, as you do a lot. But the supplements may really impact, I was definitely creaky without them. Once you feel a bit more mobile, have a think about your diet and fitness, but you won't feel like this at all if you are in pain.

You’re nearly 40 so should get a ‘health check’ on the NHS. I was borderline Underactive thyroid - in the USA it would be counted but here in the UK wouldn’t usually be treated. However as I had symptoms (had a previous blood test also borderline, tired, aching joints etc) the Dr was sympathetic and put me onto a low dose of tyroxine to see if it helped - and it made a huge difference.

weight also won’t help as it puts strain on your body but you know that.

Try Bob and Brad on YouTube for Plantar Fasciitis (also Dr Rowe).

PF is horrendous, I’m about three months out the other side thankfully.

my best advice, always wear supportive footwear, add supportive insoles to existing shoes, never walk barefoot on any hard floor EVER.

always wiggle your foot and give it a little massage before putting it on the floor to warm up the tissue that’s tearing and causing the pain if you don’t.
this includes any getting up in middle of the night.

it takes about a month to get better but you have to put the work in but buying supports for my footwear gave instant relief but it doesn’t mend the problem you still need to work on that.

if you must take pain killers be very careful as they can cause constipation. Eating kiwi fruit can help with difficult bowel movements.

Looking after myself went out the window when I had to care for a sick relative. We women push our own health to one side to care for others. I’ve had to be really strict with myself and make time to do some physio as my PF then went onto a bad hip, and a bad back, I use a lot of YouTube to get physio exercises for my issues but did in the end go and see one too and I’m sort of now on a maintenance physio which is a combination of various exercises from YouTube and the physio I saw. I lie on my bed to do them as I have trouble getting up from the floor.

im working on losing weight too as my knees are pretty bad, I know if I lose weight they are better because I’ve been like this before.

hope you are pain free soon OP 💐💐💐

Speak to your GP and ask to be referred to their online weight management course.
Change your shoes - get a pair of decent trainers. Give yourself more time in the morning.
I recently lost 7 kilos and the difference it has made to how I feel - going upstairs, walking, breathing etc is stunning.
Take some ibuprofen for your aches and pains
Be proactive with your health and your GP.

Definitely go back to dr and see someone different.

I agree with another (lone) poster who mentioned sugars, and I would include refined and complex carbs in that as well. I personally find my joints and aches and pains are much worse, inflammation much worse if Ive been eating bread or sweet things or a higher carb diet than Im used to.

You need to look at these things holistically, something a GP just wont and cant do, so you may have autoimmune issues, you might have RA, you might just be causing the issue by poor posture/footwear/pronation, you might be causing the issue by being overweight but the reality is it could well be a whole mixture of all of these things which if you address the things you can do yourself (diet and weight loss) you're halfway there already. Plus stretches as others have said, particularly the ones where you hang off the stairs.