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Because to be honest, it feels pretty ******.
I get a lot of aches and pains these days. Some of these I assume are normal but I would like to hear how anyone else is who's about my age.
I grew up skateboarding so I guess that's hard on the body, I have a physical job as a furniture maker/joiner, I don't get that much time for regular exercise that isn't work except for maybe a mid week razz on the bike and a longer one at the weekend.
I broke my right arm and lost a finger in a motorcycle accident in my twenties, I broke my leg dh mtb'ing in my thirties, fallen off countless times.
But anyway, most of that is normal human stuff right? So how come I struggle to stay in bed long because of aches and pains, takes me ages to get moving, my arms go numb on my motorbike within a few minutes, I generally feel some low level pain all the time I'd say.
Am I normal? Will it subside when I die, or can I do anything to help before that?
Tell me what ails thee.
So how come I struggle to stay in bed long because of aches and pains, takes me ages to get moving, my arms go numb on my motorbike within a few minutes, I generally feel some low level pain all the time I’d say.
Am I normal?
Don't know what is normal but if am in any way normal (at 52) I don't have any of what you are describing other than my neck aching most of the time.
I'm 53 and have similar issues.
I'd genuinely recommend a decent routine of stretching done daily. Or take up Yoga (but again with daily practice).
I struggle to motivate myself to do this but when I manage to string a week or two of doing proper stretching very day it makes an appreciable difference to my low level discomfort from old injuries plus the impact that scoliosis has on my upper body musculature.
Yep. 50 here and training for my 2nd Kyu Karate at the moment. After a session it feels like I've been beaten up.
If you feel it just now you will hate your fifties, im 12 years older and i ache quite a lot. Back, neck, tennis elbow etc. They take longer to settle down, just tying my laces on boots can trouble my back. Joys of the building trade
I'm 45 in January, never broken a bone in my body but I sound like a bowl of rice crispies when I get out of bed in the mornings. It's just an age thing, our bodies just wear out. I do basic yoga/stretches to keep the worst of the aches and pains at bay which has helped loads since I started doing it. Human bodies haven't evolved to live much past 40-odd I reckon.
But anyway, most of that is normal human stuff right?
Don't think so. Perhaps for a certain personality type. I've been MTBing over 25 years, never broken anything (except I suspect a rib) and only had a couple of knocks that caused anything more than a few days of pain. But this is because I'm innately risk averse and I always ride within my ability. This is why I've never cleared a proper double or done the road drop at Cwmcarn, even though I know damn well I could.
It's also why I won't ride a motorbike!
Re age, at 44 I'm generally ok. I realised a few years ago I'd been carrying an improperly healed shoulder injury sustained lifting a fat toddler out of a car seat from the wrong side of the car, but I've worked through that mostly. Only annoyance is some kind of ganglion or something in my right wrist that prevents me putting weight on it in a press-up type position.
I'm stiffening up though, so I'm making an effort to stretch. I should do pilates or something.
+1 for stretching. Also don't get too dehydratedw. Water is cheap.
Constant neck ache? Get an MRI. BIL had that, it was cancer.
I'm about your age, and have a similar background, skating and mountain biking and don't recognise those 'daily' symptoms, on some poor mattresses I get a sore lower back, but then it's gone in a few moments of getting up. I've not broken anything (that I know of) but I think I'd be worried if I felt some sort of low level pain all the time.
I'm 53 and I regularly wake up feeling like I've been hit by a bus. I also get really stiff if I sit in one position for a long time driving, is worst.
All much worse if I've had a hard bouldering or mountain biking session.
I think it's partly age, partly hard exercise,partly that my back is ****ed from rugby when I was younger
I tend to loosen up after a few minutes of walking about. Yoga has really helped too.
Yup,I feel your pain(literally some days).I guess stretching does help a bit but old injuries do like to make themselves known.In my case late onset weight training and accidents have been letting me know through this summer.
[strong]oldnpastit[/strong] wrote:
Constant neck ache? Get an MRI. BIL had that, it was cancer.
Other (none scaremongery) sources of neck pain are available.
46 here and feel very similar.
Mostly due to the abuse of 10 years working in the mountains and too many flat landings.
Already had 1 ceramic hip and due another in the next few years.
Not sure it's normal but you can help it.
As mentioned above, stretching and yoga can really help aches and pains as can core strength work (yoga again, or Pilates). Non-impact exercise can help as well, swimming or road/indoor biking can make a difference and not make you feel beaten up.
I'm a 43 year old ex-skateboarder with a very bad sleeping 2 year old son.
My "freshness" and tiredness varies masively based on sleep. But also, if I've slept well AND had a bout of good quality exercise I feel fantastic.
The other factor is mindset. If you can get your mind right and do a few week of good quality exercise (that probably include stretches) you will feel great.
two examples:
1) early in the year I ended up with about 5 days holiday I had carried over that I had to use by the end of april. i used most of these riding and after a 3 week run with lots of rides I felt great.
2) i started the https://mtb.fitness/ an mtb dedicated 12 week programnme which involves stretches and an workout plan. (you basically buy the pdf ebook which has hyperlinks to private youtube links that explain the workout). its a one off cost and you can do the programme again and again. (note: the weeks aren't split, its just a workout pattern.. so due to low spare time I was doing a 'weeks' worth of plan over about 2.) I felt great again, really good actually but pulled my neck doing something else so had to stop. lukcily for me, my employer has just started a wellness benefit and will part most of gym fees so am going to be doing that mixed with swimming (if i'm achey/need rehab) a morning or two every week now. (if curious about the programme theres a very active facebook group)
I have a physical job as a furniture maker/joiner,
I would suspect that has a lot to do with it.
I sit on my arse all day staring at a computer, so the toll on my joints is much less.....
There is something called the "Exercise Paradox", where more is better unless it's part of your job, where less is better...
Oh, to feel like I did at 46!
I'm close to 10 years older, and now I feel ****ed! At 46 I was in my prime (ok, about 10 years off it, but not much different!)
Other (none scaremongery) sources of neck pain are available
Yes, especially when I know the cause (cycling) and had it for 20 years so if it is cancer it is a slow one.
My “freshness” and tiredness varies masively based on sleep. But also, if I’ve slept well AND had a bout of good quality exercise I feel fantastic.
I follow a lot of fitness stuff and the world of PTs / coaching has definitely moved on: The key 'client' gains they desire are #1 7-8 hours sleep a night and #2 drink enough water. The Physical exercise bit now comes 3rd.
45 here and a lifetime of sport, exercise and generally messing my body up.
My elbows are both pretty fscked, my knees are both pretty fscked, I have had broken fingers and have several fractures in them that are still fresh. Most mornings are painful with joint or muscle soreness or, on a good day, slow to get working. Some days I walk like a zombie until my legs warm up.
That said, these last few years have been the fittest of my life, so it's difficult to regret much. Everything still works (mostly) and it does not impact work or home life, so all good.
Well, mostly.
After practice on Saturday and racing the PMBA at Kirroughtree on Sunday, then riding Helvellyn yesterday the whole of my 47 year old body aches! TBH I feel pretty knackered most days but today is bad.
63 here and feel like 17. Had a few injuries off the bike (broken hand and big back issue) but all sorted and no lasting effects. 6 foot and 14st, I suspect in some cases excess weight puts unnecessary stress on joints etc. I try to have a good diet plus supplements and despite all sorts of other abuses I've not noticed much difference in moving into the departure lounge. Been retired for 5 years but spend a lot of time over a bench which can make me a bit stiff but it soon passes.
Stick to the adage about being as old as the woman you feel.
42 and feel like hammered crap, but that's because I fired myself head first into a rock garden at the weekend.
I was feeling like the OP, just battered, a lot of the time I couldn't really pin-point what was off, just I felt a bit of a wreck and was making a lot of 'old man noises'.
In the end I saw a Chiropractor, yes I know they're all quacks blah blah blah, but they're not, well the one I see isn't anyway. There are official bodies and proper science based courses they can pass if you want a good 'un. Mine is also a Sport Physio and her partner rides Motorcross Endruo which probably helps.
So, first session was amazing, after telling myself my knees were too shot for me to jog ever again, I jogged out the door. I went back once a week for a few weeks, then every other, then once a month. I do a few stretches every day and a few exorcises a few times a week and I feel as good as I did in my 20s, well when I'm not OTBing anyway.
I do work in an office mostly though.
There are official bodies and proper science based courses
Yes there are and no they aren't.
But they're a sports physio too which is science and this is the bit that works for you.
Yes there are and no they aren’t.
Aren't they the ones whose own governing body warns members not to make any claims they can actually cure anything as there's no evidence for it?
48 and I’ve got a knackered shoulder (otb years ago) bad back and two dodgy knees. I’m always being told it’s just ‘wear and tear’ by the doctors. Just have to man up and get on with it I suppose? Might start doing Pilates at some point when I get the time.
For all the constant neck painers* out there....
Get yerself down John Lewis and buy one of these bad boys. It's all that gets me through the day sometimes.
*Renault 5 Gordini - v - 27 other cars. December 1991.
I'm 37 and I've had Rheumatoid Arthritis since my mid-20's. I got diagnosed after suffering with carpal tunnel syndrome and a lot of numbness in my hands and arms. Other than the occasional flare-up I managed to get to my early 30's in pretty good nick but these last couple of years it's getting pretty bad. Takes me about 30 mins from waking up to actually be able to get out of bed and walk downstairs. I used to walk everywhere, now I struggle to walk much more than a mile without having to stop and I can't ride my bike for more than about an hour before my knee seizes up. Hence I've gone from riding this
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To riding this
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Having a baby has really not helped, all the lifting, carrying and chasing about, not to mention the lack of sleep has ruined me.
When it's just pain it's not so bad, you can rationalize it and get on with stuff, but when your knee just stops bending it really starts to make life difficult.
Still, there's plenty worse things to suffer with and my job's a piece of piss, just have to appreciate my lot and get on with it.
OP, worth getting yourself looked at cos some of them symptoms are a bit similar to mine and the sooner they find a problem (if there is one) the more that can be done about it.
I'm 38 and still sleep like a teenager.
Apart from some back muscle ache after a day on the bike or bending over (which is more core strength and not back issues) I'm fine, stretching out the back normally sorts that and *touch wood* no health issues or pains or anything.
Thing playing on my mind... good a place as any to put it! Got my son a new bike... we go out for his first ride... climb, descend, climb, descend... I feel the same as I ever did on the descents, was pretty close to the kid on most of it. The climbs though, never before has climbing on a bike left me feeling so wrecked, until this past year or so. I used to be able to keep going all day! Used to [i]enjoy[/i] climbs! We got to the end of the second lap, and I was the one saying I'd had enough, couldn't do the climb again. I feel so shit about that. (Still not getting a sodding ebike though! :lol )
At 43 my day consists of being tired and hungry, occasionally with a bad back.
PP - that's a very elaborate codpiece.
47 here and what you've described sounds like me. I wake prematurely every day with back pain at the mo, and it stays all day. Stretching and yoga help, office job and 20+ years of biking (and crashing) probably don't. I have toddler, which possibly doesn't help the back thing, so I'm hoping things might improve a bit as he grows and needs less lugging around (and more time becomes available for stretching etc).
PP – that’s a very elaborate codpiece.
I'm a very elaborate guy
46 here. Broken one and dislocated both shoulders on a number of occasions. They cause me so.much grief daily. I have not much strength in my left one.
My back is buggered. If I stand up after sitting in one movement I won't be able t0 walk for a couple of days. I have to get up from where I've been sitting, then slowly straighten my back before I walk.
I feel happier reading this thread as I thought it was just me.
Not sure my ramblings are going to be of any help, but...
When I started my bike fitness quest in Jan 2017, at the age of 43, I was able to push myself to do an extended commute home involving approx 30mins of hill reps. Now at nearly 46, I'd struggle to tell you last time I did this.
When I bought my road bike in May 2017, I'd often come back from work, have an hour tops relaxing and then head out to the South Downs cat4s near Butser Hill for a few hours. This year, I've done this less than a handful of times.
I'm a postie, which is quite a physical job, been doing it nearly ten years. I only do three days a week, I don't know how anyone could deliver five days a week and have energy for exercise! My shift rotation changed last year, I went from static mon/tues/sat to a rolling rotation of working three of mon/tues/weds/sat each week, which means working three of every four heavy weds in exchange for a thurs-Mon inclusive "long weekend" every four weeks.
I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, so as much as I enjoy trying to improve my power stats, cycling also gets me outdoors on the days I don't work, or at least that was the plan!
This year has been a cycling write off, due to a lurgy that knocked me for six from early March until at least mid May. Then felt sorry for myself having lost my winter power gains on the turbo, but on the negative side it meant that I had completely lost the confidence to do 3+ hour rides, because I'm often saddle sore by approx one hour on turbo. Then I messed my left knee up by not setting my new 3-bolt cleats up correctly for my bow legs around mid July. Then we had rubbish wet weather through August and I have still to go out in the rain on my road bike... So back to the turbo, even subscribed to Zwift for extra motivation.
I've definitely turned the corner on the power stats, but I'm now feeling the SAD mental fatigue kicking in, plus I probably ramped up the frequency/intensity of the turbo sessions too quickly during August as I'm often feeling physically drained too... It's also getting busier at work, as per normal for this time of year.
I feel absolutely knackered right now, despite it being a very light day at work, but I couldn't say just what amount of it is just age related.
things might improve a bit as he grows and needs less lugging around (and more time becomes available for stretching etc).
Good luck with that! IME all that happens is you end up carrying a heavier weight!
Ive had 18 months of similar chronic pain.
Same age, and just felt f****d
Yoga when I go regularly really helps, good sleep does too, stretching, and not eating crap but drinking loads of water seems to make a big difference too
Carrying this around today. Might see if I can blow it up later, purely using the power of misfunctioning heartbeats 😆
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I follow a lot of fitness stuff and the world of PTs / coaching has definitely moved on: The key ‘client’ gains they desire are #1 7-8 hours sleep a night and #2 drink enough water. The Physical exercise bit now comes 3rd.
interesting.. my desk is 3 steps from the open office water dispenser thingy - always have a pint glass of slightly chilled water on the go (Yeah i know about chilled water/heart attack risks etc)
today i feel knackered. mostly as my son woke me at 5 and had 3 bad nights prev.. last night was an improvement so here's hoping!
Yeah i know about chilled water/heart attack risks etc
Never heard of that!
today i feel knackered. mostly as my son woke me at 5 and had 3 bad nights prev.. last night was an improvement so here’s hoping!
Certainly as I've got older the #1 thing which determines how I feel is whether or not I had a decent night's sleep last night. Only problem, is it seems to become more elusive as you get older....
I'm 62..also subscribe to the the theory you are only as old as the woman you feel ( as mentioned further up the page ) ..my woman is 45 and we have a 16 year old son ( I also have a 27 year old daughter from a "previous" ) ..and have been together for 20 years ..
I've always maintained a young outlook on life ..I have my own property business which has been in decline since 2007 with no real enthusiasm to re-ignite it ..the last few years have seen me working from home which was slowly driving me nuts with no human contact during the day ..so decided to do something about it and took on board an additional job ( 3-4 days a week ) working for a courier company delivering parcels..for a well known online company
The work is so fast paced that I've lost 2 stone ..and havent felt fitter ..the downside is that working weekends my mountain biking has taken a backseat and having organised most of our group rides I've now become a forgotten man as far as my mates are concerned..
Aches & pains ..yeah but I don't dwell on them ..
If someone had offered me this level of health 30 years ago I would have snapped their hands off !
Older than op but not really suffering the pain described. Did a pretty strenuous 55 mile ride Sunday where Strava confirms I spent quite a bit of it in the red zone. Could barely walk that night. Went swimming the next day and I'm ready to go again tomorrow (on hols). Apart from my arthritic knee feel not much different than after a tough rugby or footie game in days of past.
But I need the swim plus day recovery.
Jaysus, 52 here and feeling very lucky after reading above given that my body gives very little bother.
Didn't really do much organised sport in my youth so might have helped. Normal daily soccer in the park every evening, bmx in teens, Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age 9 (full recovery luckily), bought first motorbike at age 21, only transport until 42 ish, numerous crashes but walked away with bruises from all of them apart from first one (broken tibia and fibula), broke fingers\thumbs numerous times with tag rugby\softball\skiing. ACL skiing, ribs numerous times (mtb), Collarbone once (mtb). Currently lining up an MRI for what I suspect is a torn meniscus in my left knee (squatting during an introductory tai chi session of all things 🙂 ).
My exercise is nearly 100% bike. 12km each way commute 3-4 times a week. 20-25km Enduro type spin or 40km xc spin most weekends. 1-2 sufferfest Turbo sessions mid week or 1hr sessions in the gym. Did some xc races this year so probably fitter now than I've ever been (more a reflection on previous fitness levels). Health wise could definitely do with losing 1 st and cutting down drastically on alcohol consumption.
Given all above lucky that I don't have any constant pain anywhere. Fingers cross I get away with it for a good few years more !!!!!!!
45 and last time I counted I'd had 7 lots of leg surgery. Its fair to say everything from the waist down is kaput! (Bonus points if you can id the quote)
42 here and used to skateboard (badly), climb, box and practice martial arts. Also the opposite of risk averse in my teens and twenties (stupid?) and still ride bikes like an idiot when time allows.
I sound like an Orange 5 riding down a metal stairwell when I get up on a morning. My favourite is skateboarders ankle, wherein my ankles make snapping noises when I walk upstairs. If I ever become a burglar it’ll be bungalows only.
I’m beginning to accept I’ll be utterly ruined in my 50’s. Bring on the Tramadol!
50, can still climb and ride with my younger mates for around 2hrs then I tend to slow right down. I struggle with multi-day rides, we did 5 days in Wales and TBH I could’ve sacked it off after 3 days.
I really struggle with sleep, getting to sleep, staying asleep and then waking up at the crack of dawn. That really impacts my motivation.
Injuries from crashes take a lot longer to heal and after an infected bite last year my rh little finger is rather wonky and tight. I also have trigger thumb from too many shifts with tight cables, they sound like gunshots every now and again when I bend them (Mrs M does not think this is a valid reason for getting AXS)
I really should stretch more and eat better and cut back on the booze.
Currently running a singlespeed and that’s really helping with the fitness.
69 here, no aches or pain still working part time - electrician. only suffer if I don't get enougth sleep
This post has made my day. I'm 46
*My head is f@#$&d
*Everything hurts
*Don't know who I am, what I should be like or what I want
The bared suffering of singletrack souls suddenly makes more sense. It's normal(ish) by the sounds of it. Once I accept that and stop dwelling on my suffering it'll probably improve.
Right I'm heading out the door...once I've had a few tramadol
I'm 57. I gave up motorcycling at 50 due to the numb hands. Took up cycling instead and have never looked back (I never did much exercise before). I still get numb hands when riding but waving them in the air sorts that out. As for the bed aches, it probably is your mattress. Take the missus to a few really nice hotels and you'll see the difference it can make
49 and pretty ****ed really! Knee replacement last year with my good knee grumbling most days. OA in both wrists that's managed with steroid injection. dodgy shoulder. Under investigation for some cardiac issue and waiting and MRI for it. History of CFS/ME too.
Lots of sport and abuse in my yoof with martial arts, climbing, running, long distance walking and back packing, plus cycling.
Can't remember a day when I wasn't knackered and aching, but I still cycle, walk and have an active job. I just suffer lots and enjoy my sofa at home!
2 car crashes - one that got me in hospital for a few weeks. Most ribs broken, collar bones several times, sternum cracked 4 times in the two crashes (pre inertia reel seatbelts). Left arm broken twice. Most bones in both feet broken at some point (See car crash from when both feet hard on the pedals met engine in a Mk1 Escort coming to join me in the passenger compartment.) A lot of torn bits in the waves.
Currently I just ache a couple of days a year when it is really cold and damp but when I get old I'm not looking forward to it.
Sleep is pretty crappy though and I find after tracking it for a while that alcohol really affects resting heart rate and sleep, so I try to have 2 weeks off it a month and only one binge weekend.
Luckily never had weight issues other than being a bit too light at times and have consistently exercised a lot since forever.
I feel when it goes it will be a massive failure of everything over one weekend adn I will have the Monday from Hell.
Although typing this now I feel a bit stiff and achey.
Mindgames.
54. Motorbike accident at 22 (broken nose/scaphoid, facial lacerations, skinned knees, thousand cuts and bruises), broken arm a couple times, dislocated a finger (needed reseated by operation). Bad back (it seizes up every now and then).
I found things went down hill fast from 46. Eyesight (needed specs for reading then), and everything just takes increasingly longer to heal...
About to turn 49.
Interesting last 5 years where I've had a couple of ablations for AF, a PE and found I likely have an autoimmune condition resulting in blood clots. So I'm on anticoagulants, beta-blockers and a few other concoctions for life.
Funnily enough this doesn't affect me too much but I find the small things do - a lot like the aches and pains discussed above. I don't get them often but they do get me down when I do.
Cycling has proved incredibly therapeutic for my body and mind. I found I was slightly losing my mojo for it over the summer but events like North London Dirt and a bikepacking trip to Mull in two weeks seem to sort me out.
I quite literally feel your pain. Same age at 46, used to skateboard till early 20's, 2 broken arms a broke wrist and a leg in 2 places.
I also have a disabled son who I have to help get about. My lower back is a complete mess!
My neck and shoulders are tight as a granny knot.
I've just got back to mtb after many years of just being a roadie.
So your not alone with your constant aches and pains.
I think I can attribute most of mine to everyday life unfortunately.
What are all of you mid 40's types doing to yourselves to end up in such a state 🙂
I'm 55, have been playing sport Karate/Squash/5 a side/MTB, with weight training and running thrown in all the way through, and am feeling no different or less fit than in my early 20's.
Well, I must say it makes me feel better that nearly everyone else is ****** too .. 😂
I've recently had some tests for carpal tunnel due to the hands numbing thing but not had any results back yet.
I'm not convinced it's that. I mean, tonight coming home on my motorbike, my hands were just really painful more so than numb. My thumb wrapping round the throttle could be very much felt and was very uncomfortable.
I've been using my hands all day though I guess, building some plywood furniture.
Drinking water I'm definitely bad at. I'm kind of addicted to diet Coke... I know, I know... But yeah, I need to get on top of the water thing. Most days I would say I rarely drink any actual straight up water, bad as I know that is.
Had blood tests which I think ruled out any rheumatoid presence. I don't know... Gets me down. 😐
As for the bed aches, it probably is your mattress.
+1
For years I'd been having constant funny aches and pains, sometimes quite bad back pain that would last days. I put it down to age.
Last month we bough a new bed. For no particular reason a firm mattress was chosen. 2 months later no pain. Literally no pain. Totally unexpected and welcome.
Mind you the best thing I did to counter feeling decrepit was lose 3 stone and increase exercise.
Get your testosterone levels checked and Testo replacement of low! Muscle mass starts going downhill after 30 something. Good article in the guardian the other day.
What are all of you mid 40’s types doing to yourselves to end up in such a state
It would seem skateboarding could be the culprit. Smashing yourself repeatedly in to concrete, tarmac, stairs, kerbs and handrails at speed in hindsight would appear to be a terrible idea.
61 soon and, sorry OP, I don't recognise much of your post as being relevant to me.
Just got myself a motorbike a couple of years ago after a 25 year absence and really loving it again. Rides are getting longer and longer. A couple of wee tours lined up for next year.
Still bivvying regularly all year round. Sleep well in all temperatures and don't moan and grumble getting up etc.
No supplements, quack treatments, weird or restrictive diets.
I could do with working on upper body strength as I think I'm losing that but currently about as fit as I've ever been.
Sleep about 5 hrs per night but that's been the case since my 30s.
Maybe it is an attitude of mind thing?
As others have said, hydration, good sleep, (sleep aopnea?) getting enough sunlight? (Vit D broken bones are a red light for that ) some sort of yoga pilates type thing every week. Environmental health eg limit blue light (screens at night) get black out curtains, open the window a bit at night so getting enough air. No caffiene after midday. Eat some cuciferous veg every day, cut out sugar, eat fibre, eggs avocados more rice and protien and fish less wheat. Do electric motorbikes cause numb hands less? Possibly look at them in future.
Plenty that is worth trying that wont cause any harm and may well do some good but habits can be hard to break too.
I didn't suffer any aches and pains until after about 60. Apart from my knees which are a bit screwed and don't have as much stamina as the rest of my body. However, since retiring at 65 and spending several hours a week on the bike and losing a bit of weight (I was an enormous 10st hulk due to Greggs and the Coop) I'm back to no aches and pains at all. Well apart from those wretched knees, but they are OK on the bike.
Did my first Ironman aged 49. Did IM Wales aged 52.
Mid 50s now and feeling good.
Can still get up the big mid-Wales climbs on the mtb and not at the back of the group of younger riders.
Bit of a medial meniscus tear had kept me off running for a year but just getting back on that.
Generally feeling good.
Just gotta keep getting on with it.
40, arthritic elbow due to a crash and problems with my knees over past couple of years. Stretching and core strengthening exercises are helping with the latter. Getting better.
Previously, had a really bad lower back. Pilates, stretching and lifting weights has fixed that. I would v recommend mixing all that stuff up. Just cycling is really bad for you.
One revelation I had recently though was riding with a very very quick rider in his mid 50s. Inspirational. Just when I am wondering hmmm how long can I keep going, maybe I should ease off a bit, he comes along and proves it is possible to carry on hitting it hard. I'm aspiring to that.
Feeling pretty good at 48. I've always been a big fan of circuit training and have started flexibility and core training this year which really helps. Being an intermittent night worker I've also found Vit D supplements help generally.
On top of this I can only recommend to all who haven't done it yet - get yourself down to a Well Man clinic at the doctor's. Why wouldn't you?
It would seem skateboarding could be the culprit. Smashing yourself repeatedly in to concrete, tarmac, stairs, kerbs and handrails at speed in hindsight would appear to be a terrible idea.
Dunno, i'm still skating lots at 42 without ill effects! The entire weekend was skating 1/2 pipes and concrete bowls and was still OK for work at 5am on Monday. Takes a couple of days to get over a really bad slam but other than that i'm all good.
I played football, skated, raced BMX & MTB in my younger years and moved in to working very manual jobs offshore later on and have been lucky to have never suffered much in the way of injury and feel pretty fit and healthy as a result. Now i primarily sit behind a desk.
I do take supplements for my joints and general health and eat reasonably healthy foods. I also drink lots of water.
Yeah, supplements... Never sure if they're a waste of money or not.
I had been tested with low vit D before so might be worth a look. These supplements though, don't you just wazz them right out?.💧
47, fixed lots of my post 40 blues... (Bad back and feeling rough).
Sleep, limited or no booze, sit stand desk, virtually no sugar, hard riding regularly - doesn't need to be a long one. Just hard as you can.
Good food. Limited pasta.
Stretches - have minimal success with. But new physio has given me a nicely mixed routine.
Get up early and caffeine.
Not a saint, too many chips!
It's all about figuring out what works but if I had to come down on one thing I would say a consistent sleep pattern.
49 been active all my life trained reasonably hard for various sports for a majority. Rugby and sprinting have had an effect as has climbing and MTB.
Some mornings my legs are sore most mornings my feet and ankles make lots of clicking sounds.
Pilates has really helped. Recently started 5km runs before work(on a treadmill) and I feel best on Thursday after Pilates.
44 here, running has been best thing I've done, 2 years now, started doing couch to 5k, done a couple of ultras now, have a 40 miler on Saturday.
3 stone down, knee that used to be stiffer than coal is now brilliant, and I don't get up in the morning like a wooden man any more.
As scotroutes above, I could do with doing some upper body stuff too, starting a bootcamp next week if I don't die in Saturday. 😊
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
Hunter S. Thompson
49. Done lots of hard physical jobs, hard partying and hard travelling. Painter and decorator now so still an active job. 5 minute stretching routine morning and evening has made big difference. Treadmill in gym over winter when it’s dark and rubbish weather midweek helped a lot this year. Definitely takes longer to recover these days but that’s life. Elbows bit knackered and dodgy knee but still head back to Himalaya to ride next year. Keep on keeping on.
Lol if this post proves anything... it's that we love to talk about our health! My turn...62 and riding harder than ever, plus kitesurfing, racketball, weights and snowboarding when I can. I have more aches and pains than I care to think about (see my stw handle), BUT see those as a challenge to overcome rather than a reason to stop. It's amazing what you can do if you stay positive (and yes to the younger woman 62/32...or did that happen because of the positivity?)
Timely thread - I am definately aching more (46) than 2 years ago, and more tired. Life of sport with various injuries niggling still but have really only done cycling regularly now for 10 years and since finishing house renovations 4 years ago my core strength is dissipating. Going to put that right and the quick regular twice a day stretching/yoga thing seems to be the way to go as I can't stand gyms.
When I was 38, I was taken to hospital by ambulance because I had lost all feeling in both of my legs. It turns out I had a double prolapse that was impinging on the nerves on both sides of my lumbar spine.
Since then, I have managed to keep things under control with a combination of NSAIDs, a heating pad, stretching, losing two stone, and regular cycling. (Believe it or not, cycling has actually improved my back pain!)
I am now 47, and my accident has set me back somewhat. I haven't had a completely pain-free day since last October, but I stubbornly refuse to give up. I get sad and frustrated all the time, especially when I see that my jeans and t-shirts are too tight with all the weight I have put on; but I absolutely refuse to give in. Too much to live for.
I've noticed a few folk in this thread have mentioned sore necks and I also get this. I regularly go to the physio for him to mobilise it, but does anyone have any good neck stretches they can recommend?? Apart from a noose (bad joke)
almost 44 and a lot of the time my body feels like a skin sack full of broken glass.
Still have a good quality of life though and mostly doesn't keep me off the bike!
Another one feeling lucky here, 46 and largely trouble-free. Feeling stronger and fewer niggly little pains since starting gym this year too.
Recovery time is the main thing I've noticed slipping, be it from over-exertion or over-indulgence.
47, arthritic finger from crash, slightly unreliable knees, but otherwise in pretty decent shape. No real aches and pains, happy riding as much as I can fit in. May race BMX next year. I could do with getting some upper body strength back, but otherwise feeling pretty lucky compared to some on here.
Although I did have cancer when I was 43 and will be pissing in a bag for the rest of my life, so swings and roundabouts!