is this what happens when you get old?

[anniemae]

Honestly, since I am almost 40, I have been falling apart! When I wake up in the morning, my feet really hurt to walk on, my hands and joints ache, my knees hurt etc. Usually the aching eases during the day, but I feel like I am about 90 years old when I walk down the stairs clutching the banister. Is this what it's like to grow old?

I mentioned it to my dr. who is doing some blood work to rule out lyme etc. but she said she has many folks in "my age bracket" who complain of the same things. I guess I am officially old.

 

[MIGrandma]

In a word? Yes.

They say it's all downhill after 40, and I pretty much agree with it.

I had to get bi-focals after 40, developed Type 2 diabetes in my 40's, developed thyroid problems in my 40's, etc. etc.

So, welcome to the club!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Wait till you are 45. If I could go back to 40, I would have kept up with my exercise & diet. I was doing so good! I cannot stress how important diet and exercise is to your overall feeling of health.

Right now I am not doing so well. I gained 15lbs last yr and I never gain weight like that.

Plus when I went to exercise like it was nothing I hurt my back with doing lunges. I am going on a month with recovery from that. It really really stinks.

 

[Jennasis]

Getting old sucks. I'll be 34 this year and I am already falling apart! Bad back, aches and pains. Ugh! This was supposed to be the year I joined the gym and got my act together...but after I had a major back blow-out and surgery in April, I am back to square one.

 

[vettechick99]

I think I'm getting old too (I'm 34). Of course I'm pregnant right at this moment so that isn't helping, but I'm definitely getting old physically. My muscle tone is disappearing, my posture is weakening, and my skin isn't as bright. I need to get my butt into the gym and work out some!

 

[Shih-Tzu]

When I was in my 40's I started getting like that. Now that I'm in my 50's, I snap, crackle and pop more than my Rice Krispies do...
You will start to graduate to glasses, to bi-focals and I have my tri-focals now....
But, the pay off is that soon you will start to get discounts at drug stores and at some restaurants (and sometimes they just give them without asking - **ouch - that hurts**).

 

[kirstenb1]

OP, I'm 44 and don't have any joint pain. Has your doctor checked you for arthritis? I'm not saying I haven't changed, because I notice it takes me longer to recover from a workout, and I do need reading glasses.

But your ailments sound very specifically like arthritis. DH has it in his knees, and he describes it the same way you did.

 

[mrsbert]

I'm on the cusp of 40. I find it takes longer to heal from something. My dog knocked me down 8 months ago and I have a scar on my knee that 10 years ago would have healed quickly with no trace.

 

[sjs314]

Years before my 40th B-Day a man I worked with told me "wait, its all over after 40" I laughed

Well at 38 I had a heart attack, ok then things really did not seem to bad , fast forward to age 46, my kids were grown, I could finally do all the things I missed out on in my early years, I partied, went to the bars etc was doing pretty good until at 50 I hit menopause in the past 7 years everything went from good to bad, I put on weight due to various medications on was on, trouble breathing, sleeping, aches and pains, type 2 diabetes 3 years ago, I quit smokeing last Oct and I never drink now, but it is an on going battle some days to just get up and moving, I feel young but my body screams "your old"

 

[JoiseyMom]

The worst thing about turning 40 was my memory! I turned 40 1 month after my youngest DS was born. Now I used to remember where everything in my house was...not matter what. Now, if I dont put my keys on a hook, I am SOL!!

I thought it was baby brain...mil said nope..age It has only gotten worse. Sigh...it took me several years to accept that I will not remember where I put anything and to have set places for things. If I can't find something...oh well.... acceptance...

It does get worse...sigh...

 

[BC]

I am over 55 and let me tell you, I know what you are talking about. My feet and legs hurt me just like you described when I got up in the mornings UNTIL I decided to get up off my butt and start exercising and eating right. I do not know if you are overweight or not, but believe me if you are, that is a big factor. I now do not miss a day of at least 30 mins of some form of cardio/weights. It is amazing how much exercise can change you. Not to say you are one of them as you may be in great shape, but so many people are on drugs and/or hurting that absolutely would not have to be if they would take better care of themselves.

 

[MELSMICE]

I'm on the cusp of 40. I find it takes longer to heal from something. My dog knocked me down 8 months ago and I have a scar on my knee that 10 years ago would have healed quickly with no trace.

I'll be 47 a month from today & I also don't have joint pain like that either.

My body has definitely changed, but I think I'm doing OK physically. Ask me in another year or two though & my answer could be different!

 

[jfoofj]

I will be 38 this fall and I, too, am noticing a lot of changes... achy joints and knees/ankles cracking. My back aching. I am trying to exercise more and eat right, I have about 15-20 lbs I could stand to loose, but I am not by any means fat. I'm hoping that by losing this weight and getting more fit some of the aches and pains go away, but it might just be getting older. I also now need reading glasses and I SWEAR my hearing is going... maybe it was all that loud 80's music on my walkman! My mother warned me!

I also work night shift, I have for 15+ years, and I have to say that I have lost my "bounce". I work 3 12 hour shifts a week, and I used to be able to go in the first night w/ no nap, stay up 24 hours fine, and sleep during the days, and sleep till just noon the last day when I don't have to go back in and be just fine. Now I suffer if I skimp on my sleep. I'm working tonight, and DH begged me to nap today (but it is soooo hard because I've slept the last 3 nights and I'm not really tired yet) but I have to do some work in the garden and yard and I want to vaccum the house and finish the laundry so who knows if I will or not. If I don't I will be miserable and cranky tomorrow and Saturday, though, so I probably should.

Yep, getting old stinks!

 

[snapppyd]

I'm over 50, just wait I've gained ten pounds that won't go away, everything hurts all the time, my roots are gray and my wrinkles are getting deeper. Everyone is always saying "wow, you look tired". Gee, thanks. I'm not tired, that is my face these days.

 

[John VN]

I am truly sorry you youngsters are having so many problems. My 40th was 20 years ago and I guess I just didn't recognize the difference with that birthday compared to any of my others.

I have a 91 year old friend who last year was helping me move full size concrete blocks in his yard. He was also helping to clear vines and brush from
a large area of his neighbor's yard in the middle of August.

I went for an 87 mile bicycle ride 2 days ago with a 72 year old riding buddy who continued on to complete 101 miles. Last Saturday I rode 150 miles with another friend, 58 years old, who rode 110 miles. Just had an 81 year old Dr. friend return back north for the summer and he would do 40+ mile rides with us.

I think there is not enough emphasis put on physical fitness for our youngsters while growing up and even into adult life. Better eating habits also aid in lessening aches and pains.

Drs. wanted me to take Mobic and Prednisone for my arthritis and pains from bone spurs and other joint problems but I settled on taking Curcumin along with more Cinnamon, Turmeric, Celery and other natural anti-inflammatory eats added to my diet.

Good luck to all.

 

[IDoDis]

I'm almost 46 and feel great. Exercise and diet make a world of difference. Also, having a good mattress can relieve a lot of back pain. We need to replace ours after only 5 years, so I do feel some back pain in the morning, but I know that is fixable.

 

[Arielle22]

I am 44. I have bursitis in one hip (which is solved with a steriod shot) and some pops in a knee from an accident when I was young.

Otherwise I feel good. I am trying to lose weight but my recent physical showed all my levels were in the good range.

I have worn glasses since 8th grade so the change to bifocals wasn't a big change (I can even wear bifocal contacts). DH was not happy to have to wear reading glasses however.

 

[marcyinPA]

I'll be 42 in two weeks, and the biggest changes I've seen are the peri-menopause ones. I'm probably in better physical shape than I've ever been in, because I exercise regularly and I eat pretty well. I would love to drop 10 pounds, but they won't come off. I'm not sure if it's age related, or if those last 10 pounds are always hard to come off. My knees hurt and get stiff, but I think that's from taking Zumba...I never had knee problems before.

The stuff that gets me right now is the female monthly issues. Crampy, heavy, off-schedule, mood swings, extreme fatigue during....I never had those problems when I was younger. The week before and the week during SUCK. The other two weeks of the month, I feel pretty good!

 

[Pugsley]

Wow, you guys are making me feel so much better – I was afraid this stuff wasn’t normal. I didn’t really start going downhill until age 50, but now I’m 53 and lots of stuff is going wrong! The joint in one of my fingers is bothering me, so I’m afraid that’s the start of arthritis. One of my knees hurts whenever I bend it (actually it doesn’t hurt when I bend it; it hurts when I unbend it). I used to make fun of my husband because he couldn’t sit on the ground and then get back up, but now I’m the same. My hearing is getting horrible. I can’t remember anything; sometimes I panic when I see someone I know because I’m afraid I won’t remember their name. Often I’ll be talking and can’t come up with a simple word I’m looking for. Not to mention the hot flashes! And now I KNOW I’m old because I’m sitting here complaining about all my ailments!

 

[snapppyd]

Wow, you guys are making me feel so much better – I was afraid this stuff wasn’t normal. I didn’t really start going downhill until age 50, but now I’m 53 and lots of stuff is going wrong! The joint in one of my fingers is bothering me, so I’m afraid that’s the start of arthritis. One of my knees hurts whenever I bend it (actually it doesn’t hurt when I bend it; it hurts when I unbend it). I used to make fun of my husband because he couldn’t sit on the ground and then get back up, but now I’m the same. My hearing is getting horrible. I can’t remember anything; sometimes I panic when I see someone I know because I’m afraid I won’t remember their name. Often I’ll be talking and can’t come up with a simple word I’m looking for. Not to mention the hot flashes! And now I KNOW I’m old because I’m sitting here complaining about all my ailments!

We've become our parents! Oh, the hot flashes! I never sleep thru the night anymore, it feels like my pillow is on fire