Calling all arthritics...
jonagolddreams
Posts: 39 Member
I have had arthritis in my knees for the last 15 years or so (which is a factor in my decision to continue my weight loss). I take glucosamine currently. I still deal with swelling, and I sound like a bowl of rice krispies when I squat. Storm season means my signature scent is Aspercreme (ooh la la).
What am I missing? Are there any specific regimens/exercises I can add that will help me manage it? Is there a magic bullet yet??
What am I missing? Are there any specific regimens/exercises I can add that will help me manage it? Is there a magic bullet yet??
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Replies
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Weight loss helps immensely. Joint replacement helps many. Strength training also helps. No magic bullet!2
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Weight loss helps immensely. Joint replacement helps many. Strength training also helps. No magic bullet!
Right, I started losing weight partially because I was tired of struggling to pick things up off of the floor. I have noticed an improvement, I know it will only get better with more weight loss.
Thanks for your input.
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Cycling! Cycling! Cycling! The low impact activity is great for strengthening the knees and legs without the strain of squats, leg presses etc.0
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Strengthening relevant muscles, repatterning sub-ideal movement patterns to reduce stress on the joints, and creating flexibility can all help. Best way to find those strategies? Get a referral to a good physical therapist. IME, those people are practically magic.
Some people benefit from a regular practice of yoga. Some people benefit from acupuncture (I'm one, even though I'm a no-nonsense type who doesn't believe in woo - shrug!).
Weight loss has been magic, almost, for pain reduction, for me.3 -
I have something that really helped my arthritis, but it’s not passed by the fda so idk if I’m allowed to say it....0
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Calliope610 wrote: »Cycling! Cycling! Cycling! The low impact activity is great for strengthening the knees and legs without the strain of squats, leg presses etc.
This is great, I didn't even think of cycling- it is popular in my area but I always thought it would be painful. A lot of people have told me to do exercises like squats, lunges, etc., but the getting up is never as easy as the getting down.
And it's something I can do with the kids- thanks so much for the suggestion. 1 -
Strengthening relevant muscles, repatterning sub-ideal movement patterns to reduce stress on the joints, and creating flexibility can all help. Best way to find those strategies? Get a referral to a good physical therapist. IME, those people are practically magic.
Some people benefit from a regular practice of yoga. Some people benefit from acupuncture (I'm one, even though I'm a no-nonsense type who doesn't believe in woo - shrug!).
Weight loss has been magic, almost, for pain reduction, for me.
I did physical therapy after my knee surgeries, but didn't think about seeking it out for help with the arthritis - I will talk to my doctor about a referral. Thank you 0 -
pinggolfer96 wrote: »I have something that really helped my arthritis, but it’s not passed by the fda so idk if I’m allowed to say it....
I'm not opposed to alternative medicine if it's safe, what is it?0 -
jonagolddreams wrote: »Strengthening relevant muscles, repatterning sub-ideal movement patterns to reduce stress on the joints, and creating flexibility can all help. Best way to find those strategies? Get a referral to a good physical therapist. IME, those people are practically magic.
Some people benefit from a regular practice of yoga. Some people benefit from acupuncture (I'm one, even though I'm a no-nonsense type who doesn't believe in woo - shrug!).
Weight loss has been magic, almost, for pain reduction, for me.
I did physical therapy after my knee surgeries, but didn't think about seeking it out for help with the arthritis - I will talk to my doctor about a referral. Thank you
When I wanted PT for my torn meniscus, my doctor told me it couldn't treat/cure the condition. But when I explained that I knew that, but wanted to learn ways of moving that would reduce further stress on the affected joint, he was willing to give the referral.
I mention this in case you might get similar pushback about PT not being able to treat arthritis.0 -
I too had knee pain....regimen of naproxen daily. The only thing that pretty much took care of it was losing the first 10% of my weight.I know the more I lose the better it will feel! Lose your first 10% and notice the difference.I no longer take pain meds.1
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PT helped me. Some specific exercises are good, but weight loss helped the most with my knees. Not much can be done for hands. Building shoulder muscles makes my bursitis less frequent (as far as flares; it's always there at some level). Positive attitude cannot be overrated.1
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My knees have crackled for about 20+ years now. Weight loss does help me. So does reduced sugars and avoiding foods that are inflammatory for me. I also take glucosamine chodriotin msm but I can't say if it helps a lot.
I also need to avoid long endurance exercise. Running over 5-10km now makes my knees swell for days. Hiking is harder too - going up a mountain is hard but coming down is ouch.1 -
My knees have crackled for about 20+ years now. Weight loss does help me. So does reduced sugars and avoiding foods that are inflammatory for me. I also take glucosamine chodriotin msm but I can't say if it helps a lot.
I also need to avoid long endurance exercise. Running over 5-10km now makes my knees swell for days. Hiking is harder too - going up a mountain is hard but coming down is ouch.
Yes....I can climb stairs like a champ but coming down......oh dear!!!
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My knees have crackled for about 20+ years now. Weight loss does help me. So does reduced sugars and avoiding foods that are inflammatory for me. I also take glucosamine chodriotin msm but I can't say if it helps a lot.
I also need to avoid long endurance exercise. Running over 5-10km now makes my knees swell for days. Hiking is harder too - going up a mountain is hard but coming down is ouch.
Yes....I can climb stairs like a champ but coming down......oh dear!!!
Annoying, isn't it!?
In my fitter years I used to run the stairs of a 15 story building. It worked great because I'd run up and take the elevator down. I could even set up the elevators so they waited for me. LOL0 -
This is good food for thought- it has absolutely affected my gait. I wrote myself a note to bring this up.jonagolddreams wrote: »Strengthening relevant muscles, repatterning sub-ideal movement patterns to reduce stress on the joints, and creating flexibility can all help. Best way to find those strategies? Get a referral to a good physical therapist. IME, those people are practically magic.
Some people benefit from a regular practice of yoga. Some people benefit from acupuncture (I'm one, even though I'm a no-nonsense type who doesn't believe in woo - shrug!).
Weight loss has been magic, almost, for pain reduction, for me.
I did physical therapy after my knee surgeries, but didn't think about seeking it out for help with the arthritis - I will talk to my doctor about a referral. Thank you
When I wanted PT for my torn meniscus, my doctor told me it couldn't treat/cure the condition. But when I explained that I knew that, but wanted to learn ways of moving that would reduce further stress on the affected joint, he was willing to give the referral.
I mention this in case you might get similar pushback about PT not being able to treat arthritis.0 -
My knees have crackled for about 20+ years now. Weight loss does help me. So does reduced sugars and avoiding foods that are inflammatory for me. I also take glucosamine chodriotin msm but I can't say if it helps a lot.
I also need to avoid long endurance exercise. Running over 5-10km now makes my knees swell for days. Hiking is harder too - going up a mountain is hard but coming down is ouch.
Yes....I can climb stairs like a champ but coming down......oh dear!!!
Annoying, isn't it!?
In my fitter years I used to run the stairs of a 15 story building. It worked great because I'd run up and take the elevator down. I could even set up the elevators so they waited for me. LOL
Hahaha....so it was you screwing with the elevators?!0 -
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jonagolddreams wrote: »pinggolfer96 wrote: »I have something that really helped my arthritis, but it’s not passed by the fda so idk if I’m allowed to say it....
I'm not opposed to alternative medicine if it's safe, what is it?
BPC-1570 -
My husband has degenerative arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis (kind of like an evil cousin to the more well known rheumatoid arthritis). Both swimming and simply walking in the pool have helped him immensely. It is a safe, low impact way for him to keep moving and maintain muscle that his doctors approve of.0
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kracken200 wrote: »My husband has degenerative arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis (kind of like an evil cousin to the more well known rheumatoid arthritis). Both swimming and simply walking in the pool have helped him immensely. It is a safe, low impact way for him to keep moving and maintain muscle that his doctors approve of.
I briefly dated someone with ankylosing spondylitis. Yoga helped him tremendously, and in fact, he became a yoga teacher.1 -
My regimen has included dropping 45#, maintaining light to moderate activity throughout the day (it's always worse when I am not moving around), fish oil (to hit 2.4 g of combined DHA/EPA) daily, and a glucosamine/MSM (Kirkland brand) supplement daily. I no longer have to take NSAIDs daily, but rather just before bed after a particularly strenuous day. Edited to add - I go through months of regular weight training year which seems to help even if I have months off between cycles.0
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I have bad osteoarthritis in both knees bone on bone and find water aerobics or swimming 2 help me out 4 cardio exercise. I find Tylenol Arthritis alternated with Meloxicam and Volteran Gel directly on my knees 2 x day works wonders!0
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kracken200 wrote: »My husband has degenerative arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis (kind of like an evil cousin to the more well known rheumatoid arthritis). Both swimming and simply walking in the pool have helped him immensely. It is a safe, low impact way for him to keep moving and maintain muscle that his doctors approve of.
My grandfather had that and I have the HLA-B27 antigen. I have undifferentiated spondylitis with some degeneration mostly in the lumbar where the herniated discs and spinal stenosis are. Has he tried the London AS diet? It doesn't work for everyone, but a lot of people seem to get relief. Lots of info out at kickas.com. I tried it for a little while and wasn't really sure if it helped as I tend to get flares more than constant trouble. It's really hard to practically give up starch though.0 -
I am not a fan of medication of any sort. I belive most of our problems are self inflicted by our diet.
Did you try.
Foods that Help Rebuild Cartilage
•Legumes. For optimal joint function, it is important to beat inflammation wherever possible—inflammation is the primary source of collagen and, by extension, cartilage breakdown. ...
•Oranges. ...
•Pomegranates. ...
•Green Tea. ...
•Brown Rice. ...
•Nuts. ...
•Brussel Sprouts.
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I found collagen helped. I have a finger joint that was crunchy and painful. It stopped crunching and generally hurts less (though it is hurting now!) after a few weeks of taking ~12 g collagen/day. There are a few studies on collagen that show some improvements in range of motion though not pain scale. And a study that shows some improvement in cartilage density. [I think both of these studies were on knees] I am taking collagen hydrolysate/gelatin. There are also studies using small peptide fragments of collagen (collagen II) at very low doses (~40 mg) that seem to improve things via changing the immune system. That's above my pay grade- I'd talk to a doctor before doing anything that messes with the immune system on purpose. Examine has a write-up on collagens, though most of the references are to the peptide versions: https://examine.com/supplements/type-ii-collagen/
There are some studies showing tart cherry juice (or pills) helps too. The studies seemed decent, though they were all funded by supplement makers. I didn't find it helped with the joint stuff, though my mom did. Examine doesn't have a write-up, so you'll need to go through pubmed if you want the scientific details. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2 -
kracken200 wrote: »My husband has degenerative arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis (kind of like an evil cousin to the more well known rheumatoid arthritis). Both swimming and simply walking in the pool have helped him immensely. It is a safe, low impact way for him to keep moving and maintain muscle that his doctors approve of.
That is what I have! It is a *kitten*. Apparently 20-somthing year old women don't usually get it, so I am special haha.
OP, one of the best things I ever did was find a beginners fitness class where the trainer specialized in working with obese and/or physically limited people. If a move hurts she can give you 10 other ways to do it until you can build up strength.
Continuing to lose weight will also help, if that is your goal. Less stress on the joints.
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I have bad arthritis in both knees also.
Be aware that losing weight has certainly helped my arthritis.... however, nothing will reverse bone on bone.
So although I've lost 110 lbs, I'm still getting a double knee replacement end of the year.
I prefer to be active and mobile while I'm young and otherwise healthy enough to do so.1 -
Anyone tried Turmeric? I am advanced osteoarthritis/bone on bone and they say the only thing that will fix it is a replacement, but that I'm about 20 years too young for that! Have tried EVERYTHING out there and normally wouldn't expect much from a supplement, but have read a lot about Turmeric being great for inflammation. Any experiences with it?1
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Muscleflex79 wrote: »Anyone tried Turmeric? I am advanced osteoarthritis/bone on bone and they say the only thing that will fix it is a replacement, but that I'm about 20 years too young for that! Have tried EVERYTHING out there and normally wouldn't expect much from a supplement, but have read a lot about Turmeric being great for inflammation. Any experiences with it?
If it's bone on bone, you're not too young IMO. You're too young to get sidelined for something they can fix - again IMO.0 -
CarvedTones wrote: »Muscleflex79 wrote: »Anyone tried Turmeric? I am advanced osteoarthritis/bone on bone and they say the only thing that will fix it is a replacement, but that I'm about 20 years too young for that! Have tried EVERYTHING out there and normally wouldn't expect much from a supplement, but have read a lot about Turmeric being great for inflammation. Any experiences with it?
If it's bone on bone, you're not too young IMO. You're too young to get sidelined for something they can fix - again IMO.
trust me, I agree! been at this for at least 5 years and tried everything short of a replacement (including two other surgeries that did nothing to help). I've had the same conversation with 4 different surgeons (and countless other doctors), but they all end up with them saying I am just too young - come back in 20 years!0
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