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My feet, legs, and joints are stiff in the morning why?

By February 14, 2009 - 7:11am
 
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Wow I am having nearly the same condition. My feet, legs, and knees hurt all the time. But it is worse in the morning, and I am stiff as a board when I get out of bed. It does gradually get better throughout the day. I am 5'6 160lbs. But it always still hurts, when I sit or stand in one position for more than 15minutes it gets worse. My muscles tighten, they become stiff. I can't walk down stairs (I can go up, my knees just make creeking sounds). This all started last May, when my right knee swelled up really big (no injury) then fluid traveled all over in my leg, mostly the way gravity took it, to my ankle. I had no insurance at then time, so I had some crutches at home from my Grandfather, I used those because I couldn't walk. It took a week or do for the swelling to go away. I was scheduled to be out of country in July for a month visiting family, so I went even with my leg bothering me (I could walk again at this point). I was there two weeks and got Shingles, I flew home with it and got trated for it. I still can't walk well, and all of my "old" injuries hurt too, like my pinky finger I broke in 4th grade. I strech still daily, and exercise even though it is extremely painful. It hurts so bad I developed a jaw clinching thing I do it constantly, that hurts too (but not nearly as bad). Any ideas of what the heck is going on with my body? Oh I forgot to mention I went to an orthopedic surgeon, and he told me to lose some weight, he sent me for an xray of my right leg, since that is where it all started, and I haven't been back. The xray was negative.

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EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

My hips had been so sore in the morning that it was painful getting out of bed. During the day, I needed to put a lot of weight on my hands to relieve the hip pain when moving from a sitting to standing position. It was difficult to walk, but got better after movement. I was convinced I would need hip replacement.
I've always paid close attention to unusual food cravings and had noticed that I had been craving eggs then also garlic. I researched the common element to see what it was I was craving and discovered it was sulfur. It turns out that sulfur is the main component of cartilage. About that time, I went to a physician to find out if I had arthritis. All results were negative. But the blood profile showed that my usually low cholesterol had skyrocketed from all the eggs I'd been eating for the three previous months. I researched where I could find edible sulfur without using eggs (or garlic). It turns out it can be purchased in the form of MSM, which can be found at any decent vitamin store or online. I bought it in powdered form. It's cheap but tastes terrible. The result is that within the next few weeks all soreness completely disappeared. I strongly suggest you try MSM before undergoing any operation. From my experience, I can say that I felt no difference until somewhere near the last week from a total of around five months taking sulfur. My cartilage was probably shot. But when it was rebuilt, I rapidly went from almost wheelchair bound to being able to walk normally without any pain. It's so normal that I can stand from sitting on the floor just using a light push with my hands then using my leg and hips - thought I would NEVER be able to do that again in my lifetime (I’m 56). I take the MSM regularly, but only once a day now. Times where I slacked off for a couple of weeks, I noticed that the hips start feeling a little sore, so will have to keep up with the sulfur. Sulfur was a miracle for me. I pray it also works for you – but don’t give up on it until you’ve tried it for a minimum of six months. Since MSM is probably more potent than eggs, you may experience rebuilding of cartilage sooner than I did. Good luck to you and let other people know who have this same issue.

April 20, 2012 - 8:59pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I'm having these same symptoms as everyone has mentioned ,but also my elbows are very tender,very sensitive and hurt.Did I mention that 39,have bad a partial hysterectomy, uterine cancer being the culprit,also I'm bipolar and I have broken my T12,and L1 vertabrae,have degenerative spine disease,and I got burned during a house fire resulting in seventh degree burns on my upper and lower legs and feet leaving me with chronic circulatory problems and neuropathy w severe pain.I can hardly move in the mornings and I don't sleep well being disturbed ID say every hour and half from pain and numbness w tingling having to turn from side to side often BC the pain is terrible and LYING flat on my back is almost impossible.I can't take sulfur as I'm extremely allergic or anything containing it even antibiotics it makes me extremely cautious.Any suggestions for me ,and this may not have anything to do with it but I've noticed my vision has gotten worse in the sense that w my normal prescription always bring the same now I cannot read or focus close-up even with my lenses in its very blurry up close but other than that it's great.I desperately need to find out what's wrong with me BC the pain is excruciating methadone being the only relief for me and I realize it's not good for me and very addictive but what other choice do I have.I have tried all I know to do.and now the one ten milligram methadone isn't working as effectively as when I started them four years ago and I think maybe the dosage needs to be increased but I'm afraid to mention it due to the DEA and their cracking down on drs and patients on narcotics.I don't want to fall into one of those categories of patients that lose their drs or get cut off their meds.please can anyone tell me if their is an alternative to replace sulfur that I can try..

February 22, 2016 - 6:46am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hi: I have this stiffness problem with my legs, but in the middle of the night. It feels as though they have been filled with cement! One thing that is sort of helping: I get up and fix myself a drink of "Calm". It is actually a powder which you add hot water to and it fizzes. It is magnesium and when I lie back down I can feel my muscles start to relax a little. So maybe a magnesium deficiency is possibly a factor? You can get Calm at Whole Foods stores.

November 4, 2011 - 2:24am

Can anyone help!!I had a serious traffic accident nearly 4years ago head on high speed,involving car turning over and being hot rear and side when landing ..anyway though I had come out relatively ok exception whiplash and bruising but the last 3/4 years have been hell!! I have severe burning pain neck/shoulder and back and involuntary muscle cramps,the condition has got worse not better over this time??weird i know but true my arm hurts and now my legs have joined in too in the morning and after rest i am so stiff it can take hours to get moving pain in feet and heels excruciating!gp said plantar fasciitis but this has been going on for months now and everyday those first steps hurt like hell im scared to rest scared to excercise it all hurts my life feels over since this crash!I am 40yrs and was fit and well previous to the accident i worked full time ,did all the chores at home and looked after the kids went out at weekends..what could be causing all these muscle cramps and soreness i am desperate and worried i may not ever recover

October 8, 2011 - 2:58pm

Hi, I am a new member as of this morning. My problems began a couple of years ago with severe pain in my knees. Went to an Orthopedic Specialist and he did x-rays and determined I had arthritis. I got two injections of some type of steroid. Worked great for almost a year. My pain in my knees returned. Could not get up and down off of the floor, and absolutely no pressure on them. The first doctor I went to moved away so I had to go to a new one. The new one did x-rays, and described my knees as windblown. He said he sees it a lot. The x-rays made my knees look like a strong wind hit from the side and sorta make the lean. He also said I had osteoarthritis and I received injections again. The worked for a few months.
Now I experience excruciating pain in my knees, lower legs and feet. I did go to a vascular specialist to eliminate varicose veins. He did a ultra-sound and said my veins and arteries were great in my legs. My pain is mostly after sitting. I can hardly bare weight on my legs and feet. After walking for a few minutes, it is relieved. I am taking online classes, so I spend extended time sitting at the computer. Sometimes I have to actually hold on to something to walk. I walk very far or are on my feet for along time, I am exhausted. I am 52 years old and have gained a lot of weight. I know I need to exercise, but I hurt so much. I also have discomfort in my lower back. I have had issues in the past with it. I am tired all of the time and do not sleep well. I think it is due to the pain in walking, I just lay around. Not the life I have had planned.
I think after reading all the posts back to the beginning, my best bet is to find another specialist. Do you think this sounds like RA? Should that be the type of doctor I look for? Look forward to your response.
Julie

June 25, 2011 - 12:50am
(reply to JulieKay)

I really think you should get tested for RA, and other autoimmunity diseases. I will tell you that when I dropped 50 pounds my health improved, but didn't cure my disease. I take meds for my RA. Keep going to the doctor and exploring all possibilities. If that doctor doesn't listen to all your symptoms then go to one that will test you, and actually help you. Getting massage helped reduce my pain a lot! It worth trying. Good luck.

September 17, 2012 - 9:25am

I am a new member as of this morning. I just had to try and figure something out on my own. It is so extremely painful to just get out of bed in the morning. My feet hurt, my elbows, the inside part next to my body, my legs ... I could go on. It does get better as the day goes on but I just want to figure this out. I recently had bloodwork where the only thing that showed up was a minor vitamin D deficiency. This all started happening about 3-4 months ago. My feet hurt all day and walking doesn't help. My dr has suggested exercise but exercise is the LAST THING I want to do when I feel this way. Any suggestions? Suggestions of Rx's drs may have been prescribed? I'm only 48 and much too young to hurt like this. I've had horrid chronic back/neck problems from when I was hit, head-on by a drunk driver when I was 23. Is there any correlation between all these years of pain and then suddenly start experiencing these awful joint pains? Any help, suggestions will be so appreciated. Thank you! I wish all of you, who are suffering, a pain-free day and future! ... that's all I want! THANK YOU!

May 16, 2011 - 11:09am
(reply to momandmia)

Hi
I too had a serious car accident 4 years ago and since then have pain and suffering like yours which has got worse not better over time and is spreading like mad the mornings are indeed hell!cant walk for a few minutes holding onto what i can to move I am 40years old now and i know this is because of my accident as i was fine before it but since I am no where near the woman I used to be! I am seeing a nerve pain specialist soon so I will let you know how it goes.good luck.x

October 12, 2011 - 4:59am

I am a new member as of this morning. I just had to try and figure something out on my own. It is so extremely painful to just get out of bed in the morning. My feet hurt, my elbows, the inside part next to my body, my legs ... I could go on. It does get better as the day goes on but I just want to figure this out. I recently had bloodwork where the only thing that showed up was a minor vitamin D deficiency. This all started happening about 3-4 months ago. My feet hurt all day and walking doesn't help. My dr has suggested exercise but exercise is the LAST THING I want to do when I feel this way. Any suggestions? Suggestions of Rx's drs may have been prescribed? I'm only 48 and much too young to hurt like this. I've had horrid chronic back/neck problems from when I was hit, head-on by a drunk driver when I was 23. Is there any correlation between all these years of pain and then suddenly start experiencing these awful joint pains? Any help, suggestions will be so appreciated. Thank you! I wish all of you, who are suffering, a pain-free day and future! ... that's all I want! THANK YOU!

May 16, 2011 - 9:57am

tested my blood for Rhumatiod Arthritis, and several other diseases. I was negative on all counts. Also I did an Xray of my legs and nothing..I drive a school bus and after my route I try and get out of my seat and I have so much pain in my legs that I could cry. When I wake up in the morning I feel like I just got back from a battle and I lost. My shoulders hurt so bad and I had a MRI done and I have Arthritis in both of my shoulders and I am only 46 years ol and I am over weight I am 5"6 and 200 lbs. Please could someone help me on this.

April 4, 2011 - 4:02pm
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