Am I in pain or just a bit wimpy?

I'm probably not a great deal of help, but maybe your activities are making the situation worse at the moment. I'm not suggesting that you give up exercise but maybe swimming instead of the gym would give you activity without the strain on your joints.

It might be worth trying it for a while before going to the GP.

I do go swimming once a week, I probably could go another day instead of into the gym, thankyou

Pain in all your joints?
You're overdoing the exercise btw. Try Aquafit class in the pool instead of gym. Kinder to joints but a good full body workout.

Have you had a raft of blood tests? Many things go wonky as we age. B12, Vit D, thyroid.

Go back to the doctors. You shouldn't be in pain for no reason

I suffered from terrible joint pain around 55. I used to plan parking as near as possible to anywhere as it was so painful to walk. I did loose some weight but overhauled my diet, removing all unnecessary extras such as cake, biscuits, crisps, sweets and chocolate (yes we really don’t need them we just think we do) and started taking Vitamin D, B12 complex, magnesium and zinc, since reducing to a maintenance dose. I feel better now at 61 than I did then.

ExperiencedNotOld
That is very interesting to read, I really should maybe look at my diet I really do have too much sugar and salt. You s as re not the first person to mention but D and B12 as well.
Thanks for all your comments

Jane10
Not all of them I was exaggerating!!
In my knees, elbows, fingers and heels.
Just feels like them all!

53 is quite young to be suffering so much joint pain. Those are good points about doing the right kind of exercise and looking at your diet. Could you have a virus, maybe? They're notorious for causing pain!

I think I'd try a short course of painkillers to try and get on top of it, then wean myself off them. If the pain stays away, job done. If it returns, a visit to the GP is warranted.

Hope you feel better soon!

Vitamin D makes a huge difference to me, that and intermittent Fasting which takes down joint inflammation and helped ger rid of a few pesky pounds.

Promise everyone I'm not starving myself or any such thing, I just don't eat between 8pm and 12 noon and I've been doing it 3 years with many benefits.

And I've just realised I'm just giving unasked for advice....

Yes you should absolutely go to your GP. Don't suffer when there may be a simple fix x

I think you should go to the doctor. You should not be in pain - pain exists to tell us that something is wrong.

I honestly don't think that your doctor will see you as a malingerer, and really, it doesn't matter if s/he does, does it? If you can be helped, you will be, and if not, at least you'll know what the matter is.

I suffer from osteoarthritis in the knees, and found an ointment on Amazon that helps. It is called 101 and is made in Eastern Europe from bee venom. It stings a bit (nowhere near as bad as a bee sting!) when you put it on, but it warms and soothes the area. I find it much better than ibuprofen gel, but your doctor may be able to prescribe something that is better.

I suffered from pain in my joints intermittenly throughout my adult life. All doctors would do was prescribe pain killers. At one point the pain was so bad I couldn´t do up the buttons on my coat, couldn´t turn the key in the lock. Then a wonderful (elderly) GP took over, sent me off for a a whole lot of tests and told me that the pain was a by-product of an inflammation in my gut. I changed my diet drastically and stopped taking all medication. Over-the-counter pain killers are the biggest culprit.. Am now in my 60s and pain free.

Thanks for all your thoughts, it certainly looks like my diet needs a good overhaul as most people are saying that could be the route cause. I will research this and get onto it straight away. Thanks again everyone.

I truly don’t think a GP would consider a visit a waste of time scentia and agree with doodledog, most pain is there as a warning. Sensible dietary change isn’t a bad thing but please get it checked out. There could be an underlying issue needing attention and no, of course you aren’t being wimpy, ongoing pain is debilitating and impacts all areas of life. No harm in seeking advice.

I agree about a full blood count-I have one each year. My MOT. I heard the rule about going to the doc is:- is symptom new to you; is it persisting; is it getting worse?

I agree with the suggestions of blood tests. I would include inflammatory markers, in case you have something like Polymyalgia Rheumatica which causes joint pain.

Does your gym have a physiotherapist? If it has why not book an assessment with them and see what they recommend.

They might recommend you see your doctor.

Have you looked at changing the way you eat? If you have a look at the Keto diet, it makes very interesting reading. It helps with all sorts of problems, from diabetes to fibromyalgia. It flies in the face of everything we have had drummed into us for the last 40 years! But it is good and it works, you loose weight and start to feel better, aches and pains subside. It is a way of eating and not just a temporary fix. Good luck.

try to keep active every day at the gym

There you have it. You youngsters are ruining your bodies with all this gym business. Nothing to go to the doctor's about. Start taking a calcium supplement.

No harm in getting full blood tests but I am exactly the same age as you and I could have written that post - I’m just about to start HRT to see if it helps.

I have read that while keeping fit can help the cardiovascular system it is often at the expense of the joints. You're probably wearing away your cartilage cushioning as fast as it can repair itself. Give it a couple of weeks' rest.

I know what you mean, Scentia, I'm actually fed up of going to the GPs at the moment! I do know most over the counter painkillers suggest seeing a GP if pain persists for more than a certain length of time, so could you start counting the days when you need painkillers and then go when it reaches the point where you should consult your GP?

I was recently referred to a rheumatologist because of persistent pain, and he diagnosed me with a vitamin D deficiency (after blood tests) fot which I need a large dose of Vitamin D for a few months, plus 'Chronic Pain Disorder', which to me doesn't mean anything other than describing my symptoms, but apparently various stimuli interpreted by the brain as pain. The only treatment suggested was amitriptyline, which I've had before and made me unmanageably sleepy, so I decided to do without it. But it is a bit of a help having a name to put to the condition.

I think maybe you might be overdoing the exercise.

Try cutting something out, or try swimming instead.
Although, personally, swimming makes me feel very tired afterwards.

I fully agree about the gym. I think all that pulling and lifting, running and jumping, must be really hard on the joints.

HRT does help with aching joints. I feel so much better when I am on it. Check also for fibromyalgia. Walking is the best thing you can do too. Hope you soon feel better x