What can I do to stop me walking like I'm 100 every morning

[Moveyourbleedingarse]

I'm on HRT 100mcg oestrogen/coil/testosterone. I try to eat protein. I've been lifting moderate weights for 15 yes continually so not new to exercise and not especially prone to DOMs because of this.

But when I get up I can barely walk. The aches and pains in my legs and feet are horrific. It takes 5 minutes to be able to move naturally. I have to hold onto both bannisters to get down the stairs.

I did get tested for arthritis last year and it was negative.

Is there anything anyone can suggest to help? I've looked into collagen and there's zero scientific evidence for it. I take Vitamin D/K2, probiotics and magnesium glycinate at night.

Really want to avoid the GP again after several years of surgery and many medical appts. Can't afford to see a nutritionist/functional medicine specialist.

Thank you!

Have you looked into plantular fascilitus? I had that for a good few months and when I got out of bed I had to cling to the wall as it took me a while to be mobile. Sounds very much like the same as it is for you? Maybe look into that as well?

Re the Achilles tendonitis, I had it for a couple of years before my sports physio and personal trainer showed me how to deal with it. It's been gone for several months now.
Do you have sciatica?

It can be. The best approach is to eliminate it for a month and see if you notice a difference. Everyone is individual and when it comes to food you’re best to experiment with yourself and not be too concerned about what other people can tolerate.

If you don’t eat much dairy (no cheese or anything?) then you might be choose to start with something else instead. Bear in mind if you do decide to do a dairy elimination experiment, it is found in loads of things you wouldn’t expect (eg crisps!)

Sugar is also everywhere so if you don’t eat much sugar in itself, what about bread, pizza, pasta, processed foods etc?. processed food and refined flours/UPFs are likely culprits for what you’re feeling.

Remember if you eliminate something for a while to see if it makes a difference, it doesn’t mean you can never eat it again. Some things might need to be eliminated so you can re-set your gut microbiome. But you can reintroduce things. It’s a process of experimentation to see what works for you.

We all know that real whole food is better than processed food but it’s not always easy or realistic to eliminate processed stuff entirely. But if you want to reduce the aches and pains it’s definitely worth trying some dietary adjustments.

Where and how and in what bit of you is the aches and pains OP?

Muscle, bone, joints? Feet, ankles, legs, knees? All of the above?

I had achilles tendinitis and went to a private physio who did this infra red thing on it, it made a clicking sound and was quite painful, but it did the trick, I then got insoles for my gait which rolls inward on my ankles, not sure what its called but very common. I have those insoles in every single pair of shoes Ive got, I wont buy shoes now unless I can take the base insole out to fit them in. Apart from my birkenstocks which seem to be fine for me actually.

Also just to add to the sugar thing, when I try to cut it down significantly I find it get less joint pain in my fingers. Ive been scoffing chocolate quite a lot recently and my fingers hurt at the moment.

I have found the same thing with water. I have to drink 2L a day if I don’t I start to ache all over I thought I had fibromyalgia but I think I was just dehydrated because if I drink enough I don’t ache.
I also try to limit carbs as much as I can because too much sugar makes me ache too.

I am quite extreme hyper mobile so I suspect I will have issues further down the line but I’m not too bad at 50 yet, but I have to start lifting and go back to yoga I’ve got very lazy.

@dailyconniptions serum calcium is mid range.

I was concerned about calcium, I wondered if I was taking too much vitamin D/too much gaviscon for my reflux.

(just in case this is relevant and I didn't think to mention it earlier, I took lactulose and laxatives frequently for about 8 months from Aug 24 to May 25 as I had a lot of stitches from gynae surgery x4 which is why I need gaviscon. I also had several courses of antibiotics and that's why I take the probiotics.)

My diet is otherwise very good. 90% chocolate and weekend crisps are pretty much the only UPFs.

@likelysuspect yes I had shockwave therapy on it before. Hurt like hell 🤢

Pain is in legs. Like I ache in the morning as if I've been standing up all night. I've worked really hard at glute and quad strength to support my hypermobile knees. And SI exercises as I did have some sciatica which is now resolved. Osteo put it down to childbirth issues.

@HangryBrickShark and @EffectivelyDaydreaming yes I've been wearing insoles for years since my first achilles issue. I also have cork heel raises in one shoe. I have them in my wellies and trainers and work trainers etc

I used to lift every day but at some stage realised my focus was wrong. Doing biceps, traps, quads, hamstrings wasn’t helping my lower back. So now I’m trying to focus on the problem areas often via body weight exercises such as hip bridges. I do Run Faster With Ash stretch videos ( I don’t run but his videos are good)

maybe see a podiatrist? I had insoles custom made for my arches which helped. I have also realised that cushioned trainers weren’t helping my ankle pain at all. I was only pain free in cheap wellies so have replaced my Hokas with pared down Brooks and that’s helped me.

I had PF as well. Ballet barre, lots of relèvés, foot, ankle and calf strengthening exercises helped. Something called‘elephant walking’ with toe raises first thing to unstick the hamstrings and stretch out your Achilles and feet. Worked for me, alongside HRT and strength training. It did take a lot of time and repetition, but the time would have passed anyway and I would have been in pain throughout!

I used to be like this until I cut out sugar. I think it’s reduced a lot of inflammation for me which I why I don’t ache anymore.

Sorry, haven't RTFT except your replies, have you trield wearing Birkenstocks instead of Crocs? Birkies are much, much better for foot and leg support.

I have rheumatoid arthritis and I'm very stiff in the mornings but it gets better. I also tested negative on blood tests (seronegative) but was diagnosed based on a rheumatologist examining me. I would go to the doctor as this isn't normal at 48. Rhematoid arthritis is better caught and treated early.

I can't wear birkenstocks. I have really long toes and they always go over the hard lip at the end!

@SooooAIBU did you eat a lot of sugar before you stopped?

I eat a lot of fruit. And whilst I can go months without eating a biscuit, I have 4 squares of 90% chocolate a day which is about 4g of sugar in total.

@BigSkies2022 I have to walk on tiptoes if I've been sitting on the sofa in the evening for half an hour. By that point in the day everything feels so inflamed and tired.

Which obviously makes me limp. And hurts even more in my other hip!

@HighStreetOtter i do work on my core a lot more now. I do Lauren fitter videos as they are relatively prolapse safe too.

It's so much bloody work being a woman. DH does nothing. No pain.

I workout, stretch, relax, walk, physio on so many parts of my body at the same time and still in pain 🤷🏼‍♀️

I have psoriatic arthritis and these were my morning symptoms exactly like yours I also have axial spondyarthris in my spine SI joints maybe u should be seen by rhumatology not always picked up throu blood tests !
If your aching at rest that's usually inflammation and if it gets better after hour or so that's clinical for inflammation x

Could you try resting in the evening by elevating your legs - put them on the top of the back of the sofa - and see if that helps.

That sounds pretty crap, @Moveyourbleedingarse, and I would be reluctant to dismiss it as just one of those things or normal for your age.

You said above that you have insoles - are they custom orthotics made by someone good? If not, it's really worthwhile, and, if so, maybe time to have them reviewed?

I also agree with some of the pp's that you sound like you would benefit from a thorough workup with a rheumatologist and/or an endocrinologist. Taken together, your symptoms, including the tendinitis and golfer's elbow make me wonder if there's something autoimmune going on there. I would, at the very least, ask for an updated and more thorough (includes T3 and T4) thyroid test.

I might also swap the yoga for pilates.

I have achilles tendinopathy/tendonitis (or possibly plantar fascitis). I can only wear firm laceup shoes, either trainers or brogue style. I need to wear them all the time, indoors as well as out. I also do stretches a few times a day. Crocs would make it much worse. I have recently started wearing insoles as well.
Without all that, I can barely walk. As it is, despite some arthritis in knees and hips, I am quite mobile.

Are you talking about the sandal type? I wear the trainers and the boots. Revolutionised my walking and my feet. Cant live without them

Same here although I dont think I ever had PF, only the achillies problems

No pretty sandals for me, proper solid lace ups all year round.

I have Birkenstock 'shoes' for slippers, I cant wear anything backless or soft.

Have they ruled out ankylosing spondylitis?

Yes, I ate a huge amount but it sounds like you don’t eat much at all. Hope you find something that helps.

I was going to suggest a dietary-related inflammation. I feel much less achy in the mornings when I manage to stick to a low-carb and no alcohol regime.

Is there any chance that certsin foods/drink are triggering you?