Aches and pains - middle age?

[AnotheBloodyChinHair]

Recently turned 50. Reasonably healthy, I eat from scratch, low carb diet, no alcohol, reduced sugar, exercise daily for about 40 mins, walk everywhere (not much at the moment admittedly); exercise comprises of strength training or shred or 5k runs (daily, more or less); I am a little overweight, perhaps 1 st.

These last few weeks I have started feeling all achy when I sit down to watch TV and I have to change posture, when I am turning in bed, when I wake up in the morning and start walking, certainly if I sit on the floor...

I realise I'm no spring chicken, but is there anything I can do to minimise these aches and pains? I plan to start yoga daily (if anyone can recommend a free online course I'd be grateful), but I was wondering, are there any supplements that will help me?

I use tumeric as an anti inflammatory supplement, there are a few studies knocking around about its effectiveness, I will try and find one.

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325508

I left off the research studies as TLDR.

Thank you Ella. Have you noticed a difference since you started taking turmeric?

I’d see the dr, your doing everything right & yet your not reaping results anymore.

I'm 49 do a lot of cycling and yoga. So far no aches and pains. I took circumin for inflammation in the past but it made no difference. I now take 1 tbspn extra virgin olive oil in the morning.

Things that I'd think about:

Stretching/flexibility exercises - do you do any? The other stuff is great but flexibility and stretching are really important for recovery
Protein intake - is it adequate for muscle recovery after your exercise?

Omega 3 supplements and morency cherry extract - pretty good evidence for improving muscle recovery after exercise.
Also ensure you're taking adequate vit D, B12 and magnesium for healthy bone and muscle function. Most of us are deficient

I'ld consider seeing doctor and getting blood tests like vitamins ones.

I found a vitamin containing magnesium helped but was also low in iron - I took liquid Ferooglobin but you should only take supplements containing iron if blood tests show you are low.

Though I've been very achy for 2 weeks and blood tests showed an infection, suspected a virus so if its temporary maybe something like that.

Yep I’m 52 and suffering the same! I’m certainly not overweight (BMI 19), cook from scratch, swim and walk. But if I’ve sat down for a while I’m stiff and achey, in the night often get achey or even worse cramps legs. I put it down to menopause?

Since I've been on HRT all my niggly little aches and pains have gone.

Maybe you should get a blood test to see if there's anything causing it.

I take CBD oil and find it great.

You are still quite young. Could be a virus or effects of the change of lifestyle due to covid. My lifestyle completely changed through lockdown and after, and I ended up having knee issues and back issues and I am in my 30s and reasonably fit. You don't do things you normally do, sit too much and work on the dining table, and you get some inflammation or muscle weakness resulting in injury.

It can be a magnesium deficiency. Mg oil spray on aches works and so does mg flakes in the bath, it does make you sleepy though so I’d do it before bed.

Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube is really good and she often does free 30 day sets...

Late 60s and not achy at all .. now .. good luck I think not because of lifestyle. Last year I thought I would soon need carers. I ached everywhere , hips and hands the worst . I could have cried if I dropped anything on the floor and I had to bend . Getting dressed for work was agony. Walking up stairs involved dragging myself with both hands on the bannister. Had bloods taken .. Vit D deficiency although I eat a good diet . Can’t believe the difference after starting supplements . Good luck

Yes I did notice a difference but the posts about B12 and vitamin D are making a good point too and I completely forgot about that. I (like lots of people) was deficient in those and take supplements plus injections.

I use a combined vitamin d and k spray.

www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-and-vitamin-k

It’s the menopause. Look into HRT

Hi OP, I would ask your GP to do a routine blood check as that would show any deficiencies, the most common of which I think for women our age being Vitamin D.

I’m 49 and I’ve been in menopause 3 years. I also have an under active thyroid and I really suffered at the beginning with fatigue and muscle aches and pain. I finally feel after 3 years, much better physically and mentally because I do a good mix of regular exercise, eat better and alongside medication for my thyroid and HRT, I also take vitamin supplements. The one thing that I felt made a huge difference was taking a supplement called Boswelia. My Acupuntcurist recommended it when I complained of aches and pains and I have to say since I’ve started taking it I’ve noticed I ache less and less.

Yoga is a great idea and I would highly recommend yoga with Adrienne on YouTube - free and fantastic.

Is there any reason why you wouldn't consider HRT? Many women swear by it.

HRT is what solved it for me! Achey joints, stiffness, and walking upstairs or getting up from the toilet became really difficult, felt about 80 (Im51) No real other menopausal symptoms but joint pain is related to menopause. Within few days of starting HRT the difference was and still is unbelievable! I’d see your GP, can always come off it if it doesn’t help. Good luck

Same as everyone else, I was all achey and the GP gave me HRT. I'm now not achey

Same age, same diet, no aches and pains so dont accept it as normal. I have seen turmeric capsules and wondered if i should take them. Havent yet. They have anti cancer properties i think

I wish I could take HRT I would have it like a shot, but had breast cancer 4 years ago so can’t take the risk.
I’m going to start magnesium and Vit D supplements.

Thank you so much everyone. I will book an appointment with my GP. It will not be the first time I discuss HRT with them. In the past I have discussed it because of my weight gain and difficulties losing weight. Apart from the current aches and pains and general lethargy, and perhaps not having as much hair as I used to, I don't feel I have suffered from any other menopause symptoms. I have always been worried that HRT will make me put weight on.

In any case, I felt a reluctance from the GPs to give me HRT. Perhaps I imagined it. I did have bloods taken a few months ago and it showed Serum FSH level 64.0 iu/L. I asked for my thyroid levels and all I was told is 'they're normal'. I was asked to return in a few weeks to do bloods again and monitor change, and then lockdown happenend.

I still have periods, unfortunately, so I guess worse is yet to come.

@missyB1, try reading Ostrogen Matters by a world expert in the field- it should reassure you about how the stastistics have been totally distorted.

How is your thyroid? Fatigue?

Low carb fine for a while but hard in thyroid after a few months.