I stumbled on this topic and was so glad to see that I am not the only one who has struggled with this. I have been having issues for the past 3 years. My periods stopped almost exactly 2 years ago. I had gotten so bad in the past 6 months that I could not walk when I got out of bed in the morning and could barely walk after sitting for longer than 10 minutes. I finally found a combination of things that have been working for me. I hope it may help somebody else! I admit that my diet has been terrible. I've had a bad case of the "busys" and I have relied heavily on the "bag and box" convenience approach. I read that people who eat a lot of fast/convenience food have magnesium and potassium deficiencies--which affect muscles. I began eating a banana--sometimes with peanut butter for breakfast. I eat baked potatoes (with all the good stuff; even then it 's better for me than fast food!). I concentrated on getting food with real nutrients; particularly potassium. You can google and find lots of options. I began taking a magnesium supplement. I only take about 1/2 the therapeutic dose. Do some research and find out which formulations are best absorbed to avoid diarrhea. I found out that artificial sweeteners can have an affect on nerves over time. (I recalled working with a client in my past job who turned to drinking Listerine as a source of alcohol. It permanently damaged the muscles in his legs.) I have been a HEAVY diet coke drinker for decades. I limit the diet soda to one or two small bottles per week and I began drinking water. Lots of it. I bought a compact fold-up exercise bike so that I could get in non-weight bearing exercise. The treadmill just seemed to aggravate things, especially my foot that had begun swelling. The bike allows me to work my legs--releasing lactic acid build-up that can lead to tightness--without causing new problems. A rowing machine might work too. I do at least 30 minutes a day, sometimes breaking it up into two or three sessions. I like the bike because it is totally silent and I can stop for brief breaks. I watch TV while riding. (I've read that deep tissue massage is also excellent in releasing lactic acid build-up, but I haven't tried it.) I began taking vitamin D3 for muscles and bones. I began taking Krill oil to help with inflammation--and it's just plain good for the human body. On mornings when I am still feeling pretty tight by 9:00am or so, I take 600mg ibuprofen. Previously, this did nothing to help. Now, it makes all the difference. I can feel it within an hour and one dose is all I need for all day. It took about 6 weeks, but the difference has been amazing. My stiffness is not totally gone, but it is remarkably lower!!! I can stand up and loosen up in a few seconds.

normally no...but this week has been a killer...my lips are chapped and hurting...and my thumbs both have splits...I usually lather on Lanolin grease I got thru Amazon and sleep in gloves...that clears it up in a couple of days...Hubby ordered four huge bottles of Amlactin for Christmas...he uses it and we sent a bottle to his Mother and gave the other ones to the kids...it doesn't work for me...I got a bottle subscribed a few years ago and hubster ended up using it...Now that its on Amazon he loves it! There is a lanolin grease called Lansinoh you can find at some drugstores and also back in the baby department at Walmart...its sold for nursing mothers...lather some of that on your hands and sleep in gloves...you'll be amazed at the results! I think every one of our bodies are different and you just have to keep searching till you find what works for you!!

I did have someone come in last year when I broke my ankle. She showed up three times a week (changed quickly to twice), and cleaned up for me (and helped me clean my hair). She collected my mail and brought my trash curbside. I did my own cooking ... unless it's Jamie Oliver or some one with a flair for reasonably authentic Asian dishes, I'd rather cook for myself. (I have a chair on wheels, I just used the patio cushions in a layer of two of them to make this high enough for my use.) Peapod delivered groceries, but seriously, I'd much rather pick out produce and seafood myself. And, as it turns out, lamb. The lamb chops Peapod sent over were extremely fatty. Once I move, though, I really want someone in once every other week, and maybe just prior to any special get togethers. Clean up all the public spaces and bathrooms, special scrubbings for the baths and kitchen. Assist with kitty litter. Periodically do windows. Maybe this person, or someone else, can drop by every three days if I am out of town, to check on / feed / litter change the cats. More visits than that... no. (There is no way I can board my one cat - I am going to be interested in seeing how he responds to his eventual two hour move to my future home...) I am fine with doing my own laundry, although they're welcome to do the sheets and linens. (I needed help with all laundry when I had the broken ankle, as my current laundry set up is in the basement...) It's the nitty gritty of dusting, vacuuming, kitchen & bathroom scrubbing I want to hire out on.

Thank you everyone for your responses. Wednesday was a pretty good day for me, but I stayed home from work. Thursday I woke up to alot of pain, but after I was up and around it lessened. I went to my chiro appt and we talked about it all. He said I might end up needing a steroid shot, but we went ahead and did my treatment. I felt pretty good all evening. I woke up this morning to excruciating pain, but i knew if I could get over the hump, it would be better. My sweet dh had to put on my socks and my jeans. I called my family physician and saw him at 2:00. I went all over the story and he decided to put me on Prednisone and Gabapentin (a med for nerves) and to continue to see my chiro. He was insistent that it had nothing to do with my kidneys. I have had two doses of Prednisone and I will have one dose of Gabapentin before I go to bed. If I wake up in the morning with pain I am suppose to take 1/2 of a pill. He said if I am not better in 2 weeks that we will then do something else. I'll keep you posted.