Anyone with stiff/ painful feet?!

[Violet1984]

A bit of an odd one, but since I had DD who is now 16 months my feet and ankles are so stiff and sore in the mornings. It happens too if I’ve been sat for a while. When I get up I shuffle for about 5 minutes till everything seems to have ‘loosened up’
I’ve been to the Drs about this- she took a blood test which showed inflammation so I was referred to a rheumatologist. She said I’ve no signs of swelling and so ruled out RA. I asked my GP to test for any deficiencies etc. but results were normal. I am no better a whole year on. The only thing that came from other blood tests were that my ferritin was low so had iron tablets.
I have seen a podiatrist and a physio but no real ideas.
Anyone on here had anything similar and got any answers? I’m getting so fed up with it now!

How old are you? This was the first realsign of the peri-menopause for me.

My feet where very stiff when I got up and I'd waddle along for a few minutes until they loosened up. Fine then until the next morning.

Eventually other symptoms drove me to the GP. My blood tests showed some general inflammation. I was prescribed HRT and the stiffness disappeared within days.

Yes. Have done for decades. I shuffle like a stooped little old lady for about 2 dozen steps, then no more problems. I wiggle my feet and ankles before I get out of bed which helps. Try to do the same if I’ve been sat down.
If you find a permanent solution - please post!

Thank you for your reply! I am 36. Is that too early to experience peri- menopause? I don’t know much about it to be honest. Would you mind me asking what your other symptoms were?

Was your inflammation related to peri-menopause or did they not give a cause for that? I was told that some people just sit outside of the ‘averages’ they use but tbh I think something else is going on.

I don’t think it is too early for symptoms. Everyone is different. I wasn’t given any explanation - but then my GP has told me that arthritis doesn’t manifest itself in feet or hands ….. now, i am not a dr but I don’t quite believe that!
Personally, I don’t over think it. It is a niggle, but given everything else functions and so long as I don’t sit still for too long and wiggle my feet before standing, I’ve learnt too accept it’s just my body and live with it. Just as you would if you had to wear glasses.
Would still be nice if there was an easy fix!

Yes, it's too early to be approaching menopause so please don't try and pin symptoms to this. Women tend to do this when the reality is they should be pushing their GP further.

I mean, you could well be someone who is going into peri menopause early but it's unlikely and would need managing if you were

I'd suggest that the fact inflammation has been previously spotted could be something worth looking at again so try and push for this

I had this with DC1 - it was very mild plantar fasciitis caused, I think, by wearing ballet flats in late pregnancy while I was obviously much heavier than usual. Have you come across that? Worth a Google. Some mornings I’d be hobbling to the crib.

Proper supportive shoes and some decent stretches including a tennis ball under my arches helped hugely and it went away.

@Violet1984

Thank you for your reply! I am 36. Is that too early to experience peri- menopause? I don’t know much about it to be honest. Would you mind me asking what your other symptoms were?

Was your inflammation related to peri-menopause or did they not give a cause for that? I was told that some people just sit outside of the ‘averages’ they use but tbh I think something else is going on.

Yes - I was 10 years older than you though

In my case the pain and stiffness spread to other joints and when I could no longer get out of a chair without help I finally went to the Dr.

I had a full blood test which showed high levels of various inflammatory factors but no marker for RA. My GP is pretty clued up and it was his idea to try HRT. I'm now completely mobile again and no longer even have stiff feet. All the symptoms come back again though if I try and come off so I'll be on it indefinitely at the moment

are you breastfeeding? my feet are sore in the mornings and I've heard other mums who were still breastfeeding have sore joints especially in the morning

I had this when DD was around the same age, I figured out it was all the crouching and getting up and down and sitting on the floor.

Some simple exercises really helped, starting with stretching my feet and ankles while still laying in bed, then standing on the stairs like this:

Try warming your feet up with wiggling and stretching before you get up.
Also, put your foot into a supportive slipper straight away.

Our feet need more TLC than we realise- they like a firm shoe around them, sometimes, to prevent them over flattening.

I had very achy feet every morning when DS was a year old and would shumble around like a geriatric bear till they loosened up. I had been wearing a pair of totally flat suede fleece lined moccasin slippers and my feet had pronated inwards.( I later discovered I had one leg longer than the other and now wear orthotics.)
As pps have said wear supportive shoes with a slight heel definitely no ballet flats, arch supports in your shoes and do exercises for plantar fasciitis.

@LadyPoison very interesting. I've put my joint pain down to carry extra weight, but I'm thinking it's more than that. My feet also ache and feel sore.

It took me years before what showed up as raised inflammatory markers on blood tests finally showed up as being a connective tissue disease (also hypothyroid too). I was about 30 when symptoms first started and 36/7 when I finally got the appropriate help via a completely different department (ophthalmology). Keep going back if it doesn’t resolve itself.

36 isn’t too young to consider perimenopause - it is unusual although not unheard of.

I’ve had this for years (mid 40s). Been tested for early menopause a couple of years ago as a result of something else which came back negative. It eases after that first shuffle to the bathroom so I’ve never really thought any more about it. I put it down to having flat feet so I wear orthotics in most shoes and do a lot of exercise.

It can be linked to peri menopause and at 36 you could be in peri menopause. A menopause is only classed as early if it’s before 40.

Avoid heels but also avoid totally flat shoes such as ballet pumps. They are apparently as bad as heels and who knew that. I used to wear them all the time.

I stretch my feet out but the best is if you can get a foot rub.

I was in full menopause by 43, so probably perimenopausal a good few years before.

As PP said, menopause is only premature before 40. You could have 5/10 years of this.

It was also a first symptom for me.

Oh, HRT, epsom salt foot soaks and wriggling toes before getting out of bed helped/help!

@Violet1984 this does sound like Rheumatoid Arthritis to me, pregnancy can trigger it in some women. I’d go back to the docs for second opinion. Google seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. In the meantime ibuprofen should help relieve inflammation and make sure you keep moving, exercise helps.

@LadyPoison

How old are you? This was the first realsign of the peri-menopause for me.

My feet where very stiff when I got up and I'd waddle along for a few minutes until they loosened up. Fine then until the next morning.

Eventually other symptoms drove me to the GP. My blood tests showed some general inflammation. I was prescribed HRT and the stiffness disappeared within days.

I am SO pleased to read that your stiffness went away.

I have very much the same symptoms and they started a couple of years ago. It's been getting worse over the past year and I initially put it down to lockdown / wfh / not moving as much (no cycling to work, for eg)

But, I'm 50 and have other peri-men symptoms. I'm now seeing a doc to get on to hrt - going to get bloods done today.

Fingers crossed hrt gets me moving again!

I had this after having my DD. I find flexing feet and wiggling toes does help. Some foot exercises before bed should help. It did stop eventually but now in late 40s and it's back again

I meant to say flexing/wiggling before you get out of bed as well as any exercises before bed.

I had this for years and eventually tests showed I had Hyperparathyroidism. Have you had your calcium levels tested OP? I had surgery to remove the affected parathyroid gland and the pain/stiffness disappeared overnight.

I've had this for years and just assumed it was an age thing (I'm only 45 though!) although then developed plantar fasciitis which meant it was much worse. It comes and goes however the morning shuffle has remained!

I mean the plantar fasciitis comes and goes. I've never seen a doctor - the PF is self diagnosed.

Arthritis doesn’t manifest itself in feet and hands 😱

What’s wrong with mine then?