[IROC]

A lifetime of exercise combined with evidently some unfortunate genetics seems to be dooming me to a life of pain. I use the term arthrosis as what I have is degenerative joint damage due to wear and tear. Not inflammation, etc.

It basically started when after about 10 years of running (maybe 10-12 miles a week and an occasional 5k) a swollen knee sent me to the orthopedic surgeon where he proclaimed my knees were shot. X-rays showed severe wear and very little cartilage left. I was 49 at the time. No more running. My knee pain is manageable, but getting annoying. After the knee pain discovery, my left hip has also developed what I can only assume is arthrosis.

So, I continued with weight lifting. Nothing crazy, but I've essentially been working out with weights since 8th grade for football, etc. As a result, I now think my elbows (and to an extent my shoulders) are shot. I went through this phase a couple of years ago where I was doing about 100 push-ups 3 times a week (a set of 40 and then sets of 20/20/10 etc until I was worn out). I had to quit due to the pain. Crazy, but it can be incredibly painful. Sometimes to the point of making it difficult to sleep.

Anybody else in this situation? I'm only 54 (6'3", 215 lbs and otherwise in good shape) and wonder how I am going to make it another 20 or 30 years like this. About the first 5 minutes of getting out of bed in the morning is nothing but pain.