To wonder what's normal re pain or health issues over 50?

[UncertainWife]

As of recently (early 50s) I have lots of things gone wrong, hip arthritis, lower back pain, shoulder pain, and some new stomach issues, but most of my friends in their early 50s seem fine with no health problems at all.

I'm quite shocked at how rapidly my health and mobility has gone downhill. I eat well, am good BMI, before my hip went wrong I took regular walks each day.

If you're over 50, are you fully healthy and in good working order? Or are bits of you starting to 'go'?!

Is it just a lottery? I did all the advised things, diet, exercise, no alcohol, good sleep, but I am falling apart much more than my boozy friends who eat a lot of rich food! And am in worse health than my smoker husband!

54 here, currently convalescing at home following a fall on the night of the 2nd, resulting in me breaking my right wrist and hip, necessitating a total hip replacement. It has also resulted in foot drop, which means I can't move or feel my right foot much, so I need a walking frame to shuffle about like a ninety year old.

I also regularly wake up with an aching left shoulder and neck from a previous sprain.

Sorry, I'm probably not the best person to ask just now... 🤷‍♀️ 😅

I think it's a total lottery TBH. Every day I hear about young people getting cancer, and those a bit older with cancer who have led exemplary lives. Genetics and luck I think.

At the risk of putting a hex on it, I'm 67 and in good health touching wood. No arthritis, osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, good cholesterol, all the usual things I expected to have at this stage. I did NOT lead a saintly life either when I was younger, similar to most of my peers in the 70s/80s/90s. I am no saint now either but do not drink/smoke and eat very little rubbish stuff. Walk most days but have never, (and never will) go to a gym or a swimming pool.

I have a good friend who is three years older than me now, and like me she had a good run, but is now facing cardiac problems, and investigations for a shadow on her lung, despite never having smoked or being exposed to asbestos etc. Cancer is on her mind big time now.

I don't like to think about it in my own case. I'm just doing my best to get out and about, travel, and do what I'm able to do while I can still walk and talk at the same time lol!

It’s the luck of the draw really. I’m relatively fit and healthy, low BMI etc but once I hit my late fifties various musculoskeletal issues came out of the blue, starting with frozen shoulder which lasted about a year and now ‘wear and tear’ in my lumbar spine which causes back pain and sciatica-like flare ups which I’ve had for over a year. I think a lot is down to oestrogen depletion. I’m on HRT but I don’t know if it’s made much difference TBH.

Seems like two different types of people here, those of us with everything going wrong and everyone else is totally fine!

Wish I could jump back into the everything fine group! I liked being healthy and pain free, it's so much easier to live life and be content and comfortable.

What really frustrates me is that my dad is in much better health at age 78. So unfair!

Forgot the joy of peri. Hot flushes, migraines, getting up to the loo all night, aching everywhere.

HRT, vaginal oestrogen and weights made a huge difference.

54. Generally in good health, but I do have to be more intelligent with my running. Too much and I ache like a bastard. I seem to be more prone to ankle problems as well. It's got better since menopause (2 years ago). It's a pain as I've got the fire in my belly for racing. Currently debating whether I can race 10 miles on Sunday. Was all set but went over my ankle just over a week ago. I think it's nearly ok but I'm still had one long run to get under my belt.

"What really frustrates me is that my dad is in much better health at age 78. So unfair!"

Oh yes, my dad is 83 and walks better than me. Even before my fall, I needed a walking stick to get around, due to nerve damage in my foot and lower leg from a previous injury. It's probably what contributed to the fall tbh. I just hope this foot drop gets better as I'm now even more disabled than I was before. I'm just a wreck! ☹️

I'm unfit and get more tired these days, but basically I feel OK. I'm nearly 60 and haven't seen a doctor for 13 or 14 years.
Just lucky, I guess!

I'm 54. Totally healthy. No aches or pains. No stiff joints. I know I funny deserves this as I don't exercise and my diet isn't great
My fiance is only 42 and he has a lot of aches already. He jokes that's he's physically older than me

It's a lottery.

My OH developed a very rare cancer at the age of 53 - he was fit and healthy beforehand and the type of cancer he has is one with no known "causes" so literally nothing he could have done to avoid it. Not that he has ever smoked, he was a healthy weight, very fit and active, didn't even drink alcohol. His type of cancer is usually known as an "old age" cancer, where the average age upon diagnosis is 70-80.

By contrast, I feel fitter than ever. I've lost several stones in weight over the past 20 years after topping the scales at a whopping 23 stone, now "just" 13 stone. No longer get back, hip nor other joint pains, no longer get chest infections requiring strong antibiotics to clear etc.

My OH has only survived his cancer so long (and tolerated the chemo) because he was so fit and healthy going into it. He can no longer exercise, has terrible problems with digestion (due to the drugs), etc., and is slowly deteriorating, but because he started from a position of being fit and healthy, he's lasting far longer than the oncologist suggested as typical lifespan after diagnosis - in fact twice as long to date, she's actually quite shocked he's still with us!

I think the best you can do is try your utmost to be fit and healthy as you turn 50, i.e. don't smoke, limit alcohol, plenty of exercise, lose any excess weight, eat a balanced, healthy diet, etc. So at least if something nasty gets you, you're probably going to tolerate the treatment etc better than if you were unhealthy so more likelihood of a better outcome.

Had breast cancer at 47, I've recovered but the treatment led directly to other health problems. I get over (or learn to manage) each problem as it comes along, but I've had a rough time. I've never been overweight, always been a very active person, never smoked etc.. Just sheer bad luck.

Cancer, I think, is often terrible bad luck.

38 and im f*cked.

I did. But then started to go to the gym and now feel 100 times better than I did.

Aged 60 and have had IBD for 20+ years but well controlled. Feel fit and healthy and no limitations on activity due to age. DH 10 years older and has made full recovery from prostate cancer and is also fit and healthy.

I found HRT really good for various aches and pains I started to get.

Late 50s, on HRT and need to lose a few more pounds but apart from needing reading glasses when I hit 50, I’m getting through relatively unscathed. No real health problems or aches and pains to speak of.

Op don’t despair, it could be menopause, as I went through a good six years with those symptoms and they have all now settled down and I feel okish now save for slightly reduced energy levels.

60, very healthy feel very grateful and lucky.

Me - 47 in very good health, apart from piriformis syndrome (lower back pain) pretty much under control now due to daily yoga and weekly pilates.

Mr Monkey is 56 and in rude health - runs park run every week, pacer for half marathons every month and runs 3 to 5 sub 3.30 marathons a year - he never even gets running injuries - we joke he is sturdy and low to the ground - like a Shetland pony.

We both walk a lot and exercise every day.

I had some hip pain so I tried pilates online and it went away.

@RachelLikesTea it might be worth seeing a physio to see if you have an anterior pelvic tilt , there are exercises which can really help re-align things and reduce pain. I have had an issue with it on and off for several years due to me being a lazy arse , like you walking actually helps but the exercises usually banish it quite quickly.

This thread has really made me nervous

No it’s not a normal age thing. I’m nearly 54 and feel great. Not on hrt either and 3 years post meno. Don’t ever write off health niggles as age related, always get them checked out. You could be Vit d deficient.

Why? Many pp saying they feel great. There are loads of younger women feeling awful too. I normally eat a really good diet and fast 18:6 . Benn doing this for about 9 months and feel even better. I also take Vit d3 daily but luckily that’s all I take. I walk daily with my dog. I do some home kettlebell work outs, squats etc but that’s it.