Falling on the ice in the driveway doesn't help with stiffness. Just had that experience. It was easier to recover when I was younger...

allenpriest wrote: »

Falling on the ice in the driveway doesn't help with stiffness. Just had that experience. It was easier to recover when I was younger...

Yikes! Sending good healing vibes.

I add turmeric to my smoothies. Powdered.

Turmeric / Curcumin does help - The absorption is poor , you need the take it with black pepper and fat. I eat my morning eggs then the curcumin. - Eastcoast Jim

I spoke to a gentleman in line at Costco and he was buying Tumeric and Curcumin altogether in one formula and he said it really helps his arthritic knees.

Here is a google scholar entry on Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2015.1077195

Curcumin is known recently to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer effects and, thanks to these effects, to have an important role in prevention and treatment of various illnesses ranging notably from cancer to autoimmune, neurological, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetic.

And a second one
http://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/ArticleFullRecord.jsp?cn=SPOOBG_2014_v43n4_612

Thus, the findings of the study suggest that turmeric extract is effective against both acute and chronic inflammation.

From The University Arizona College of Medicine:
Turmeric for Inflammation: How Much is Enough?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lxV6jowuJ4

My right knee has been bothering me for about a week and a half since i stepped in a hole in a client's yard and wrenched it slightly. Didn't think much about it at the time, but it has begun bothering me more and more each day, particularly while driving.

It's a general ache but with localized pain about the size of a quarter on the inside (medial) just about at the top of the shin bone (Tibia). Last couple of days it has been feeling a bit unstable with pops, catches, and a little grinding (gravel on the knee sort of thing).

Call the doc yesterday morning around 10 and was able to get an 11:30 slot that same day due to a cancellation (providence?). Doc says most likely a tear to the medial meniscus but would need an MRI to confirm.

A meniscus tear can't be fixed by surgery as cartilage does not grow back, but they can trim off the rough areas of the tear (like trimming a hangnail) to smooth up the works orthoscopically (microsurgery).

Since I can't be off work during our busy season, I asked about a cortisone shot to put off the whole issue a couple of months. He said that a shot might do that and reluctantly agreed.

Knee is feeling better this morning. I'm to let him know in about 10 days if the pain comes back so he can schedule a MRI.

alteredsteve175 wrote: »

MostlyWater wrote: »

I add turmeric to my smoothies. Powdered.

How much do you add? A teaspoon? A tablespoon?

Thank you.

I add very little but I imagine you could increase it slowly. I don't think it has much taste in my smoothie but when I'd add it to rice, it really made the flavor sing.

nikkib0103 wrote: »

I am doing PT for my knees now. I may be able to push off replacement for more than the 3 years the surgeon estimated. I must lose weight, obviously, and move as much as possible. I have a decent anti inflammatory and my PT is going very well. But if I sit too long, I do end up feeling like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz and need oiling up! I try to not sit more than 60 minutes at a go. The fish oil supplement sounds like a good idea.

I did some algae recruiting a few years ago when it was all the rage and supposed to take over as the next biofuel (yeah, right...). Well, anyway, I was talking to a lot of scientists at that time that were REALLY excited about Astaxanthin, which is a Carotenoid (a red algae derivative), way more powerful than beta-carotene, lutein and Zeaxanthin. You hear about it more these days, but I still think it's way underrated. There have been a few studies lately about how much, in conjunction/combination with Fish Oil, how well it works for joint pain, especially back pain. You hear about Krill Oil all the time. All Krill Oil is comprised of is Fish Oil and a tiny bit of Astaxanthin (naturally occurring). It's actually much stronger effect if you take Fish Oil along with a separate Astaxanthin supplement (don't need much, like 4mg a day). I do this every day and don't have many joint pains at all and I train pretty hard.

Here's one study (though sponsored by FlexPro) that studies Astaxanthin, Fish Oil and Hyaluronic Acid. There are a lot more.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5312594/

There's a reason why you're seeing Astaxanthin in so many women's serums. It also reduces oxidative stress.

I also have great luck with Tart Red Cherry Extract and Turmeric.

A lot of the newest research indicates that keeping your fiber up to the RDA also helps tremendously with inflammation. There are certain bacteria in your "microbiome" that only grow/develop when you eat more fiber and polyphenols. One, in particular exciting a lot of scientists currently, is Akkermansia, now thought to be key in controlling inflammation.

Ocean Spray actually sponsored a study that demonstrated cranberries increased the amount of Akkermansia bacteria in your microbiome, so eat your tart cherries and berries!!