Why do I seize up when I stop?

[Frane Selak]

I do a fairly manual job, skilled but it involves a bit of graft, I'm mid 50''s fat but can still kind of compete with the spring chickens. Only today I was crawling round under someone's floor in a 2ft gap. I can climb a 2 storey ladder no problems and a couple of weekends ago I barrowed what must have been 7 or 8 tonnes of soil out of my back garden.

Getting out of bed is a slight challenge but 30 seconds later I'm fine but after work and driving home, getting out of the van is so painful, same as after lying on the couch for a few hours, getting up feels like an impossible task, to the point where I think maybe pissing myself isn't that bad.

how can I be so active during the day but sitting up is nearly impossible.

[m3jappa]

I'm a bit younger than you but I realised this a few years ago. I have had back problems since I was 17, i've worked through it, i've had time off, i've tried all sorts.

The only thing I can do is keep moving, as soon as I have a lazy day or especially few days the pain is bad.

I have heard loads of us trades say this too, I think its pretty much as simple as keeping moving keeps the joints lubricated, keeping still doesn't, but im probably wrong ad will be corrected soon

[MitchT]

I wonder if it's an age thing. I'm 51. Don't have a manual job but do walk 7 miles on office days if it's dry and I get the train to work. Do 10 mile plus walks in the countryside, up mountains sometimes. Generally fit, healthy, not challenged by anything... but, stand up after a spell on the sofa and it's like I'm a classic sports car being started for the first time in months. Everything feels like it's semi siezed for a moment until I get moving and then it all loosens up and I'm fine.

[Inbox]

Cod liver oil capsules are supposed to help with joints.

I would have a chat with the GP to make sure nothing else is going on.

[mac96]

m3jappa said:

I'm a bit younger than you but I realised this a few years ago. I have had back problems since I was 17, i've worked through it, i've had time off, i've tried all sorts.

The only thing I can do is keep moving, as soon as I have a lazy day or especially few days the pain is bad.

I have heard loads of us trades say this too, I think its pretty much as simple as keeping moving keeps the joints lubricated, keeping still doesn't, but im probably wrong ad will be corrected soon

Funnily enough I went to the physio today and she said almost exactly that. Move gently first to lubricate the joints before doing anything more vigorous.

Reminded me of the recent thread about starting an A Series engine after 25 years!

[steve2]

Get yourself checked for polymyalgia, i was struggling to get up out of bed and also chairs,

[Bluevanman]

Like most people you probably perform the same movements day in day out,as you age your tendons are getting tighter, your muscles weaker
It's not enough to carry on as you are, you need to push your body outside it's comfort zone.
5 years ago I couldn't put on my socks without lying on the bed, today I can do it standing on 1 leg.Stretching to improve your flexibility, weight training to increase your strength.I did try yoga but didn't get much benefit really, I now do a few simple stretches that I hold for 2 minutes each, unfortunately I can't find the video on YouTube that I used..... I'm 62 btw

[J4CKO]

How fat ?

[leef44]

MitchT said:

I wonder if it's an age thing. I'm 51. Don't have a manual job but do walk 7 miles on office days if it's dry and I get the train to work. Do 10 mile plus walks in the countryside, up mountains sometimes. Generally fit, healthy, not challenged by anything... but, stand up after a spell on the sofa and it's like I'm a classic sports car being started for the first time in months. Everything feels like it's semi siezed for a moment until I get moving and then it all loosens up and I'm fine.

This is an interesting thread. This is exactly how I feel too. Blood tests more or less come back as normal. I had palpitations just going to the top of the stairs after sitting down watching tv. Got checked out by a cardiologist and the heart is all fine. So I'm none the wiser on this.

[mcelliott]

Stretching and losing weight would be my first port of calls, reducing any sort of heft on a load bearing joint will always help

[Wills2]

I don't think the cold weather helps I start to seize up in the winter months, you've just got to keep moving.

[m3jappa]

mcelliott said:

Stretching and losing weight would be my first port of calls, reducing any sort of heft on a load bearing joint will always help

It definately does

I’m 5ft 8 and got up to 207lbs, along with 3 damaged discs everything was such a slog, I do paving so can imagine how hard it was becoming. I am now around 167 lbs.

Nervous breakdown triggered my weight loss. I feel good now and am keen to maintain the weight. I’m actually starting to get muscle again and feel stronger than I have for years.

I think of all that weight I was carrying about, almost a bag of cement, imagine carrying that about all day

So yes. Losing weight especially with a physical job is very important.

[MitchT]

mcelliott said:

Stretching and losing weight would be my first port of calls, reducing any sort of heft on a load bearing joint will always help

I'm 5'7", 65kg (143lb) and still wearing the same size jeans I did in my early 20s, so heft isn't an issue here. I'm like an old car for the first few seconds after I start moving but once I'm up I can go all day without breaking a sweat.