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!

Why??

Started 49 with frozen shoulder and then the other shoulder went. Stopped HRT due to regular bleeding which was driving me crazy. I stopped it and the bleeding stopped. My joints are aching - knees but I'm sedentary and work on a computer all day so I need to move more. Hip aches if I don't move around. I'm 53 in a couple of weeks.

I had a run of horrible health problems unrelated to lifestyle in my late 40s and since then I definitely have to be more careful and "manage" myself.

I've stopped running because I realised I was picking up too many injuries and the recovery time was frustrating and made me lose fitness. I do spin class now instead which I actually really like and it puts a lot less strain on me overall. Also do weights and pilates to keep my strength up. Even with that I'm nowhere near in as good nick as I was in my 20s and 30s despite spending most of my time then caning it and being v debauched.

@UncertainWife If your hip arthritis is stopping you from walking as much, push for a hip replacement. A friend of mine of a similar age to you has just had one and it’s transformed her life.

I'm 42 and now struggle with perforated discs and holes in my patella tendons. Often painful, and always restrictive. I do physio every day, pilates every week, and swim to do some cardio. But I can't walk up slopes without issues. I had to stop my run club I'd been in for 13 years. I would struggle to do a decent hike. It gets me down. I rationalize that other people have it a lot worse.

57. I have arthritis in both my knees but tbh the worst aches and oains I have are from going mad at the gym (currently have achy thighs from going heavy at spin this morning!) and in general I’m pretty healthy I think. I’m touching wood as I type this.

@Alalalala I'm having a hip replacement soon. I just feel a bit sorry for myself that I need one this young!

To answer some questions from PPs, I'm not on HRT.

This all happened gradually, hip arthritis started 3-4 years ago. Four years ago I had frozen shoulder on one side. My other shoulder now hurts and I'm not 100% sure yet but I think that one's slowly freezing.

Low back pain arrived end of last year when hip worsened - it's possibly caused by the bad hip.

Stomach stuff was most likely triggered by stress of all the above. I'm not taking any prescription meds.

Before my body fell apart I enjoyed walking, cycling, swimming and gym classes.

Sympathies to others on this thread having health issues. From some of the posts it sounds like a lot of this is luck. Obviously diet, exercise and lifestyle play a part but doing the right things doesn't guarantee good health.

I didn't expect to get a hip replacement at 54 either; I had no pain or bother in either hip, just that one night I'm pottering about my kitchen, then the next afternoon I'm being wheeled into theatre for a THR. ☹️

My friend had one in her mid 50’s and she said it’s the best thing she’s ever done. She’s made a full recovery and her pain has gone.

@UnctuousUnicorns you've been so unlucky. Must have been a huge shock. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

Other than Crohn's and asthma I haven't gone downhill past 50 in fact I'm more active and generally healthier, although about a stone heavier than I'd like. I do take glucosamine daily though - if I stop I become more aware of clicking in my knees, although they aren't painful.

Mine started about 58 - prior to that apart from being a couple of stone overweight no issues - it did coincide for me though with covid /vaccine - so goodness knows if it was just age or the virus

Then started with non coealiac gluten intolerance ( am ok with very small levels though) neck arthritis ( intermittent) dry eyes , pre diabetes, much weaker bladder - just generally a whole load of niggles- I function ok but never exactly feel 100%

57 here. I do an active job p/t (TA in special school) look after my 3 yr old grandchild 3 days a week, have a dog and an allotment. I'm slim, vegentarian, etc.
Since 50 I have had a frozen shoulder, developed arthritis in my left hip and lower back, developed horribly painful diverticulosis... horrific restless legs, the list goes on. Everything bloody aches!
I can only imagine it would be even worse if I wasn't active! I even broke my wrist last month slipping on mud, and felt so stupid!
I now have to take regular meds too which annoys me!

Dh is 63 and VERY fit for his age, barring a damaged arthritic hand from sports. Unfair!

Same age and yes a few bits are starting to give me gip

I posted this a while ago having spied it on Facebook and it feels very true for me 

Thank you. 🙏🧡 It was bit of a shock to go from being at home with DH and DD to spending nine nights in hospital.

Tbh I'm more worried now about my blasted foot; it just flops about like some stupid useless rubber foot, and noone can tell me when or if I'll regain full feeling and mobility in it, or at least, what mobility I had before my fall.
I used to dream of walking normally, without needing a stick. Right now I'm dreaming of walking with a stick and not a frame. I fell twice again on the ward after my op after which the physio diagnosed foot drop.

I hope your own op goes well and leaves you pain free. 🙏 Some encouraging stories here to take heart from.

Forgot this!

I feel like you OP. Not a day goes by but I have pain odmr soms other health issue. I could probably list at least 10 and have an ever increasing repeat prescription list.
I was perfectly fine until I hit 50.

Just a thought have u been checked for anaemia, b12 deficiency or vitamin d deficiency. All may contribute to tiredness, aches and pains, joint pain

I assumed that it was perimenopause and thought that HRT would solve all my problems. HahHah! All it did was get rid of the mild hot flushes and slight dragon mood. The aches and pains turned out to be age related.

I’ve found that walking and moving helps but the pain is much worse in the winter. I walk the dog daily and still work a couple of days a week, magnesium and B12 help but I’ve got used to the new normal.

Most of my friends will reluctantly agree. Again the magic HRT never seems to deliver as promised. I think there is a placebo affect initially when you eventually convinced your GP to prescribe it. But I think that the burst of energy clouds the actual effect.

I thought losing weight would help but no, I just ended up with less fat around the rear end so sitting down for any length of time on hard surfaces can because uncomfortable. Good job I’m not a regular church goer.

I was convinced mgmy problems were due to thyroid or B12 deficiency as my mother had those but blood tests all came back fine.
I still haven't had a definitive answer

Got away with it until mid sixties, then like buses it all arrived at once. It's genetics I think.

If you're not on HRT, then it could be worth a try, joint pain is a common symptom of perimenopause, and I've read that frozen shoulder might be linked too.

I had 2 cancers and 1 pre cancer at 48 with no risk factors, most treatment done within a year plus 10 years Tamoxifen, no hrt allowed. Last surgery just cosmetic in September. Now 3 years clear and pretty much fine. Odd ache in hips and take a vitamin then which solves that, Wellwoman 50. Normal BMI and exercise 3 times a week, no alcohol, never smoked.