Hi Alice. I'm with you, whoever started this group a BIG thank you. If you hadn't of, I would have today.

I'm only at the beginning stages of knee osteoarthritis and not even at the pre-surgery or post-surgery that so many others are. One thing we all have in common is - knee pain from inflammation! :sick:

I started this journey at 249 and am now 199 - so I've lost a Big 5-0. However, due to the latest round of knee pain and thinking I'd done something at the gym to excerbate it, I quit going to the gym a week ago! Today I reprimanded myself for being so stupid and went to my Nurse Practictor to talk about it. Sure enough, I did do something wrong at the gym and she told and showed me what to do in future. Tonight it's ice ice ice and I even broke down and took 600mg of Ibupropen, which I'm loathe to do and rarely do. Tomorrow I start back at the gym following the nurse's good advice.

HOPE - She told me that one I get this latest inflammation down and and keep it down, the warmer weather will help AND by continuing to lose weight by the beginning of the colder weather in the fall I shouldn't have any more flare ups! Hope reigns eternal, I hope she's right!

What started my first flare up of this was in mid-March I compete on an MFP challenge that involved running. Normally, I've limited my running but it just felt so good and I forgot and wham! Next day my knees and a week later the doctor's diagnosis of osteoarthritis, with this prescription: No more running for you unless it's away from imminent danger. LOL

Lesson learned. I'm staying away from the MFP challenges as I guess I'm too competitive. Just stick with what works for burning calories without huring my knees further. Meantime, I'm at the cross-roads like you - if I don't finish this journey and get the weight off, I'll be crippled AND, more immediate, just working through the pain in the right way at the gym.

What about you? Do you participate in MFP challenges?

-Debra

I have only just started with Osteoarthritis in my knees but topped with injuring both knees in the last 5 years it has been a tough journey. I am just getting back into exercise, dropped 25lbs and 38inches in total. I have to be selective in my exercise but am finding I can do some walking - not pain free but it is all relative to how bad the pain is. Walking in the pool or running in the pool is relatively pain free. Am also interested to know more about anit-inflamitory foods. Look forward to having the support and being supportive.

So glad I found this group. I have severe OA in my hips, knee, and right hand. I also have a spondylolisthesis. I need both hips replaced and I've been putting it off for years. My problems actually started at 10 years old. I fell through a roof and I was diagnosed with JRA and I have a total right hip fusion. I went years doing great but because of depression in my twenties I started putting on weight and it won't go away, in fact, it keeps gaining on me. I'm tired and I need a HUGE change. I've just started reading Bright line eating and I'm hoping to put some of that to work in my life!