Sore and Tired

It has been a couple of weeks of exhaustion. I have been trying to analyze just what is going on. This is what I am currently observing:

For the past few years I become REALLY tired in the winter, especially when it is very cold or we have significant weather events (like the 12+ inches of snow yesterday). A walk to a neighbor's house can mean a nap or serious lethargy for the rest of the day and my legs will be sore for at least a day or two after. My arms do the same; not as problematic after a walk but can be so if I do something simple like hold a vent in place while Tree fastens it to the wall.

My joints also go *nuts*. Standing in place is almost impossible to achieve since almost every joint involved, from my spine to my hips to my feet, feel like they are slipping back and forth. Consequently, I look like a waving flag (or a drunk - I'll leave the image to you :-) ). Sitting down means sore hips and not only the challenge of standing back up but also not knowing which way to sway to get a wayward joint to slip back where it belongs.

As an example, while typing this post I have had to stop several times to pop my joints. I know, Mom, it is a bad habit, but useful because it makes the discomfort go away and in some cases is necessary to regain the use of that joint (or the attached limb). My hands (not finger knuckles, but the back of the hand), neck, spine, left hip, and right shoulder are frequent annoyances while typing and rarely even need gentle pressure from anything but normal movement. The worst are my elbows; I don't have to do anything but move them let out a loud, satisfying *pop*.

I wonder if my muscles are overworking in the winter to keep my joints from dislocating, thus causing the soreness and exhaustion. I do feel like I have run a few miles or played a strenuous soccer match this past week. I am eagerly awaiting my first face-to-face meeting with geneticists so I can run some of my concerns and observations past them.