Just Jill is the creation of Jill Cohen Morris. Jill is an avid rambler and mother of two from Toronto, Canada with a remarkable zest for life and a fabulous sense of humor.
Dear Just Jill,
What is happening to me? I wake up and can barely get out of bed because my body aches so much. Don’t get me started on walking downstairs. If my coffee machine wasn’t on my main floor I might never leave my second floor. I feel like I am one hundred years old yet I’m only fifty-five!
After about an hour, stairs are no longer the devil. Thankfully this does not affect my rambling. The more I move the better I feel.
If I sit too long, getting up is a task in itself. After three hours of playing Canasta, I’m embarrassed as I try to get up. My body does not want to cooperate.
Everything aches. I want to scream, instead, I moan and groan. I wish I could stop the sound effects but they just spill out of my mouth. I feel like my body is stuck and I need a few minutes to loosen it.
Don’t ask me to pick something up off the ground. Bending down is a workout in itself. My body just does not want to move that way anymore. Again, the sound effects rear their ugly head.
What I don’t understand is why I can walk upwards of ten miles a day or play pickleball for three hours straight, but getting up off a chair or picking up a piece of paper from the ground is beyond daunting.
Is this age? Is this menopause? Any Sole Sisters experience this? How have you coped?
What’s a gal to do?
Sincerely,
Achy Anna
Sole Sister Advice & Comments
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This could indeed be a menopausal symptom. However it could also be about how you use your body regularly. Activities like walking and playing pickleball use various muscle groups in particular ways but do not work others! Bending over and squatting to sit or stand from a chair work muscle groups in a way that walking does not and you need to repeat that action regularly to maintain it.
There’s a reason that cultures which do not use regular chairs and toilets and which do exercise daily (such as tai chi) are posturally less restricted in old age. The old ”use it or lose it” adage is true.
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I would recommend yoga, Pilates, resistance training or similar on a regular basis. It honestly really does help!!!
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I only have advice from my doctor and she says keep moving.
- Turmeric will help. It is a godsend for me!
- Joint aches can also be a symptom of an autoimmune disease. It might ease up as you exercise but I think you should tell your doctor.
- Be careful with nightshade vegetables. I have arthritis in my right hand and right hip and foot. I feel your pain. I sit on the side of my bed every morning and have to stretch my ankles and legs before I apply any body weight pressure. Stretching for me is my saving grace. I do yoga, wall pilates etc. Check with your doctor always.
- This is absolutely a perimenopause symptom, and it is worth discussing with your doctor. However, if they even suspect autoimmune, it’s always some kind of prescription, or HRT. It really depends if you’re looking for pharmaceutical solutions, or natural solutions. Lots of great natural solutions have already been listed above.
- I make a golden milk paste that can be drank warm or cold in my house, with turmeric, ginger, and a bunch of other things. I worked on my gut health, which supports my mental, emotional and physical health. Sometimes it’s as simple as having a tissue salt, magnesium, calcium, and potassium (Tri-salt, inexpensive and available at iHerb). Also, recognizing which foods are inflammatory for your system is key. No sense in continuing to eat inflammatory foods, and then trying to mitigate them with medication.
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Motion is lotion - swimming, stretching, cycling are great plus check out pilates, yoga, bungee workouts to keep up core strength. Avoid inflammatory foods. I have found Foamaderm to be a great product if you can find it as an effective delivery of Diclofunac to grouchy joints and muscles.
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We are supposed to drink half of our weight in ounces of water. It is tough but wow, life changing. In my experience reduce sugar and inflammatory foods. Glucosamine is also great and keep moving, do not stop bending and stretching etc. I started doing 10-15 mins of yoga before bed which helped with morning aches.
- We are designed to move not sit, lay around or be in one position too long. Could be muscle weakness or tightness or overuse of certain muscle groups. Menopause has so many symptoms not just the hot flashes and insomnia. Ask to see an endocrinologist to rule out osteo or hormone issues. It's good your body feels better with movement!
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After your walks and pickle ball you could add 5 to 10 minutes of gentle stretches while your body is still warm. Stretching after every workout will help. Breaking up your sedentary time would be beneficial too. Can you try standing up and moving a couple times during your long Canasta sessions? Sitting is the enemy I find! I used to get so achy and eventually figured out that dairy sadly is no longer my friend. After cutting it out my aches really subsided. Maybe a particular food you are eating is causing some inflammation and exacerbating your aches. I also try and go for a deep tissue massage with a good RMT when I can.
We look forward to hearing your advice in the comments!
Happy Rambling!
SSR doesn't endorse the advice, or content shared in this column. Our goal is to access the wisdom of our incredible Sole Sisters.
READ MORE > Ask Just Jill, Rambler Cafe Blog
I’ll be 65 this year. When I was in my early 20’s, a similar thing happened to me. I was a runner, hiker, cyclist, but my body felt old when I woke up. I was stiff and sore after resting, but not after running. It started with a general feeling of fatigue. After a night out with friends, it would take me days to recover. After a number of tests and a couple of specialists I was finally (after 2 years) diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I was only 24 so it was not expected, until it hit my feet and hands. Thanks to an exceptional care team, and drugs, I still run, hike and bike. I do yoga and strength training, watch my diet, especially sugar and I stay active as much as possible. I tire more easily than I’d like, but all things considered, I’m in better shape than a lot of women my age. See your Dr. and get a proper diagnosis. Autoimmune diseases can be tricky to uncover, but there are great therapies out now and new ones being developed. You have my best wishes as you manage this. Don’t give up! You got this!
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