Felix_lane is onto something with slowing down, but my body's just being DRAMATIC about it. Like the aches moved out but left all their junk in my joints. Guess I'm stuck with their clutter.
Honestly? I was the same for years, always believed you had to push through the pain. Tried this slow approach as a last ditch thing, totally skeptical. But after a few weeks, the constant background ache in my knees actually faded. It didn't just get a little better, it was gone. Changed my whole view on listening to my body instead of fighting it. I get the clutter feeling, but for me the main noise finally shut up.