Joint pain help?

It’s been forever since I actually did any kind of workout. Every single time I gear up to start, I tell myself I’ll just take it easy for the first few weeks—you know, just some basic push-ups, squats, sit-ups, and maybe a light jog before I try to really ramp things up. Everything starts off fine, but then there's this recurring issue. Even when I make sure to warm up and get my body temp up, after just a couple of days, my joints—like my wrists—start hurting way more than the actual effort of the push-ups themselves. It always throws me for a loop and kills my momentum. What am I doing wrong here? Am I not warming up enough, or is this something about my diet? Maybe I need to grab some supplements? At first, I figured it was just because I was carrying too much weight, but I’ve already dropped from about 235 down to 205. I might still be a little heavy at 6'0", but nothing crazy enough to be wrecking my joints like this. I mean, I can handle the push-ups, but eventually, I really need to focus on some upper body strength training. My goal isn't even about bulking up or getting huge; it’s just that whole "healthy body, healthy mind" vibe. I just want to work out and keep things balanced.

Are you talking about your wrist? Honestly, sounds like you might have just come out of the gate a little too fast. The angle between your hand and your forearm is huge, though—it’s everything. I’m guessing (and let's be real, assumptions are usually where things go sideways) that you’re doing pushups with flat palms on the floor? If that's the case, try switching it up. Grab some dumbbells or even kettlebells and use those as handles instead. Try to keep your forearm and the back of your hand at about a 180-degree angle—basically, keep your hand formed like you're throwing a punch. If you’ve ever messed around with martial arts or anything like that, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Just keep that forearm turned slightly outward. Your hand width during the movement can also play a role in how much stress you're putting on the joint. Now, if this is actually some underlying medical issue manifesting in your joints—which is way less likely, but still—you should probably check in with your primary care doctor just to be safe. And hey, if you drop a few more pounds of body fat, you might find things feel a whole lot better overall 😉

I’m dealing with something similar. I really should have taken it seriously and gone to see a doctor or something, but I haven't... I can't even do a push-up without feeling this sharp pressure in my right wrist. It hit me mid-workout during a CrossFit session a few months back, and it hasn't let up since. I still try to push through with push-ups, but only if I wrap the wrist tight with a brace. I've tried everything—Tiger Balm, Voltaren, Advil... you name it. Usually, push-ups are the only exercise that triggers this pain.

hollowdrifter3 said:I’m dealing with something very similar. Even though I really ought to have taken it more seriously—actually heading to a doctor for a proper checkup or something—I just haven't. I find myself unable to do push-ups because of this intense pressure in my right wrist; I first realized how bad it was right in the middle of a CrossFit session a few months back, and honestly, it hasn't improved one bit since then. I still attempt push-ups, but I absolutely have to wrap my wrist tightly with a brace, and at home, I'm constantly slathering on Tiger Balm, Voltaren, or even just some Bengay... Usually, push-ups are the only exercise that triggers this specific pain.

I'm going through the exact same thing, to the point where I can't even perform them anymore. And now, to make matters worse, my right ankle is starting to act up too. Up until now, I've never had these kinds of issues, except for the trouble with push-ups, so I'm feeling a bit lost on what to do next. I haven't worked out in two days because the moment I put any real weight on that foot, the pain hits me...🤷

hollowdrifter3 said:I’m dealing with something pretty similar, honestly. I really should have taken it more seriously and actually gone to see a specialist or something, but I just haven't. I can’t even do a single push-up without this sharp pressure in my right wrist; I first realized how bad it was during a heavy lifting session a few months back, and it’s been the exact same nagging issue ever since. I still try to get my push-ups in, but I have to wrap my wrist tight with a brace every single time, and I’m constantly slathering it in Tiger Balm, Voltaren, or Icy Hot... Usually, push-ups are the one exercise that absolutely triggers the pain.

This is dragging on way too long. Was there some kind of injury from a while back? Honestly, wrapping it up might be doing you more harm than good—you’re probably just aggravating the joint further and essentially lying to yourself by delaying the actual fix. You really ought to see a doctor, at least for a basic check-up and maybe an X-ray or some blood work. Those creams and gels are fine for surface-level stuff, but they don't really penetrate deep enough into the joint to fix anything substantial.

Karen Adams2 said:I’m in the exact same boat; I can barely do them at all. And now, my right ankle is starting to act up too. I’ve never had these kinds of issues before, aside from the push-up thing, so I’m totally lost on what to do next. I haven't worked out in two days because even putting a little extra weight on that foot sends a spike of pain through me.🤷

If there wasn't a specific, sudden accident or some repetitive strain you can point to as the cause, you really need to go see a primary care physician. It’s worth getting a baseline exam along with some X-rays or lab tests, because what you're describing could potentially be something systemic—like a rheumatoid issue, an autoimmune thing (especially if there's a history of that in your family), or even just some lingering infection or whatever else might be going on internally...

velvetmoose9 said:This is dragging on way too long. Could be an old injury resurfacing. Wrapping it up is just doing yourself a disservice—you’re likely aggravating the joint while just masking the pain and delaying a real fix. Go see a doctor. At least get a basic checkup and maybe an X-ray or some blood work. Those ointments and gels rarely penetrate deep enough into the joint; they're mostly good for surface-level issues.

Thanks for the input. I have a physical scheduled soon, so I'll mention the pain and ask for an X-ray referral...

My knee's been acting up a bit. Back before summer, I went on a long run and started feeling this dull ache right when bending under weight. It didn't clear up for maybe 2 or 3 weeks because I kept trying to push through runs whenever I felt okay—yeah, my bad, I know. I took a break over the summer and everything seemed fine when I got back into it, until I recently tried a longer route than usual. Now, I'm feeling that slight pain again just from walking. Once it warms up, it feels fine, but once it gets cold, I can tell it's still there.

Any advice? 😢

rustyfalcon24 said:My knee has been acting up on me lately. Back before summer, after I went for a longer run than usual, I started feeling this dull ache whenever I bent it under some weight. It didn't really clear up for two or three weeks because, honestly, I kept trying to push through and run whenever I felt like I could—which was definitely a mistake, I know. I took a break from running all summer and things seemed fine when I jumped back in, but then I recently pushed myself through another longer route than my norm, and today I’ve got that slight pain again just walking around. Once it warms up, it feels alright, but once it cools down, I can tell the issue is still there..

Any advice? 😢

Look, the knee is a pretty complicated joint, and you really ought to have a doctor take a look at it. Trying to diagnose this over an internet forum is kind of reckless since we don't even have specifics on where it hurts or what the sensation actually feels like... Like, has this knee been injured before in general? Is this specific type of pain totally new, or has it popped up in the past? Did you have an old ankle injury on the same side or the opposite one? Any old knee injuries on the other leg? Do you spend a lot of time sitting with your legs crossed? What about the incline or the surface quality of where you're running? Are you wearing decent running shoes? That bit about how it might suggest that we're looking at an old, improperly healed injury somewhere in the knee area. You should definitely stay away from running for now; likely lunges will be painful, too. A squat with moderate weight (assuming your form is solid and your stance is wide enough) probably won't hurt—but hey, that's just me guessing...

velvetmoose9 said:Was that knee already messed up before? Just asking generally.

Nah.

Is this type of sickness a brand new thing, or has it been around before?

Back before summer hit, when I totally overdid it with the running.

Old ankle injury on the same side, or the other side? Plus an old knee injury on the opposite side?

Nah.

Sitting cross-legged for too long?

Exactly. And that leg right there.

What kind of incline are we talking about, and what’s the surface like? Also, you got the right kicks for it?

Dirt trails. Need some solid, comfy kicks.

Probably. Lunges might hurt, man. But a squat with moderate weight? If you’re doing it right and keeping your stance wide enough, it probably won't sting—though that's just my two cents.

It’s not the stride that’s the problem. I just feel this slight ache whenever I sit down or stand up—basically anytime my knee bends under my own weight. I'm not even overweight or anything; I'm about 175 lbs at 5'11".

@violando, I think we’re actually getting kind of close to pinpointing what’s going on here.
Look, you really need to go see your doctor so they can figure out exactly which part of your knee is acting up. It’s all just guesswork until then—you don't know if you're dealing with intra-articular issues, stuff happening around the joint itself, or maybe a messy combination of both. Plus, a pro needs to decide what kind of treatment actually makes sense for you, whether that’s localized stuff like gels and creams or systemic options like pills, and how long you’ll need to stick with it. That’s definitely territory you should leave to the experts. While you're there, make sure to ask them when it’s safe to start rehab exercises and specifically what kind of movements you should be focusing on.
As for things you can handle on your own without making things worse, here is the drill: fix your sitting posture right now. Crossing your legs while sitting is honestly terrible for your joints. If you’re lying down, try propping a pillow under your knees so they aren't locked straight, but rather slightly bent. Also, stay away from running for at least 4 to 6 weeks (or even longer if it still hurts when you try). Before you even think about hitting the pavement again, you really ought to knock out some rehab or corrective exercises to stabilize that knee—and please, make sure you're doing this under the eye of someone who actually knows what they're doing—like a physical therapist, a doctor, or even a solid trainer at your local gym. Just a heads-up: avoid any movement, activity, or position that triggers or ramps up the pain. By the way, you might want to come up with a little penalty for yourself whenever you catch yourself crossing your legs. Maybe buy a round of drinks for your buddies every single time you slip up, or donate $17to a charity supporting American Paralympians, take the trash out for your neighbors, or do the dishes.😍