What do you do for your joints?
brinicolelovely
Posts: 14 Member
I’m 26 years old and from playing sports I tore my acl 11 years ago and already have pretty severe arthritis in my knee, and also have arthritis in my spine and shoulder. I’m obviously very young to already having pain from this 😓 Is there anything you guys do/take to help your joints (aside from losing weight/exercising)
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Replies
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I take Puritans Pride Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM Joint Soother. It does a great job.
I have osteoarthritis and have already had three joints replaced.4 -
Surgery and physical therapy. Given you history, I don't think you're especially young for this. I think I was probably 24 and 25 for my first two knee surgeries and then 30 and 31 for the second two (I'm 32 now). In my case it was a mix of congenital orthopedic issues and a dislocation that was poorly managed - I should have had physical therapy but didn't and I had no idea at the time that I should have had PT. The lack of PT accelerated the need for surgery, but I probably would have needed at least two surgeries (one per knee) regardless. Weight had nothing to do with it for better or worse and surgery way inescapable. If I hadn't had my previous knee surgeries, I would have eventually needed knee replacements.
Currently I don't really target my knees intentionally, but all of the sports I do are glute intensive which is very helpful. My knees will occasionally get a bit swollen for reasons I can't pinpoint and they don't always enjoy the cold (though today they were fine...) but I can do more or less everything now.4 -
This is going to get me some disagree reactions, and I totally understand that, but it's a true fact that - completely against all my expectations - acupuncture reduced my knee pain and swelling. I'm not sure where you are weight-wise, but getting to a healthy weight was also a big improvement for me. I ice my knees after nearly every real workout, whether they particularly hurt or not; and it's of course a positive to keep moving in any way that doesn't significantly aggravate the problem. I think modalities like massage therapy (not just the relaxation type, but true therapeutic massage) can help, more IMO from countering tightness in other areas that can come from guarding or compensating.
I'd also encourage exploiting physical therapy to the maximum, as others have suggested.
I hope you can find some helpful interventions!9 -
Strength training and yoga with approval and specific advice from a physical therapist - to support the joint better.
Therapeutic massage was wonderful but pricey.
Fish oil seems to help me. Generous use of ice packs. And not crossing my legs, which is very hard to unlearn (really helps knees and hips).3 -
I just resistance train. It's the only thing besides chemo(temporarily) that helped noticeably with the pain from my progressive joint disease.
Current evidence shows adequate resistance training can benefit and reduce pain with people with osteoarthritis. Particularly people more of advanced age.
Stronger muscles from trained individuals will support deteriorating joints more effectively than untrained individuals.8 -
Weight loss.
Yoga- both flow and yin styles. If you aren’t familiar with yin, google it.
But most of all, getting in the practice ten years ago of doing a slow, delicious, satisfying thirty minute morning stretch four or five times a week. The difference before and after that stretch is incredible- it’s the difference between a death grip on the staircase handrail and walls and painfully navigating one step at a time, versus skipping down the stairs without giving them a second thought.6 -
I'm 65 with OA for many years. I do a stretching routine early in the morning 3x a week. I swim 3x a week and do acquagym. I go to a yogaflex class once a week and go to the gym once a week for strength training. Planking, squats, and yoga have changed my life. I too, had trouble going down stairs--now I can skip down. Try different things and see what works best for you. Being active and exercising has helped delay hip replacement for me. Many younger friends and relatives have had it. I'm still OK.
I also take supplements Glucosamine, Chondroitin, etc...6 -
I just resistance train. It's the only thing besides chemo(temporarily) that helped noticeably with the pain from my progressive joint disease.
Current evidence shows adequate resistance training can benefit and reduce pain with people with osteoarthritis. Particularly people more of advanced age.
Stronger muscles from trained individuals will support deteriorating joints more effectively than untrained individuals.
I agree wholeheartedly with this. Though not having an ACL tear (at least not diagnosed), I've had many knee injuries over the years.
When I began to lose weight a few years ago I needed a sleeve for my knee to help support it.
When I began to strength train it took about 2 months and I no longer needed it. When I started out, squatting the bar, my knee would still hurt. As everything got stronger - including all of my joints - the need for support went away.
I'm in my mid 50s now and squatting over 300 pounds and because of the progression in strength training (i.e. a controlled progression that allowed everything to adapt together), there is virtually no joint pain.
+1 on the strength training idea.
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i have a disorder affecting my joints
i typically do bodyweight work and aerial yoga.
and try to keep moving when my body allows3 -
I have RA so I take a lot of meds anyway but I also use tumeric which I find helps with inflammation.3
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I'm a firm believer in Animal Flex. I've been taking it for years, my joints feel pretty good considering the abuse they've gone through. I definitely notice if I run out and dont take it for a week.0
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I just resistance train. It's the only thing besides chemo(temporarily) that helped noticeably with the pain from my progressive joint disease.
Current evidence shows adequate resistance training can benefit and reduce pain with people with osteoarthritis. Particularly people more of advanced age.
Stronger muscles from trained individuals will support deteriorating joints more effectively than untrained individuals.
I've tried telling this to so many people, yet no one seems to believe that.2 -
Yoga, resistance training, walking and staying active. As soon as I stop moving, I get sore and my mobility turns to crap.4
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For my OA I’m currently on HGH and
Hyaluronic acid, making a massive difference0 -
I just resistance train. It's the only thing besides chemo(temporarily) that helped noticeably with the pain from my progressive joint disease.
Current evidence shows adequate resistance training can benefit and reduce pain with people with osteoarthritis. Particularly people more of advanced age.
Stronger muscles from trained individuals will support deteriorating joints more effectively than untrained individuals.
Also if you do ever end up need surgery, going into surgery physically fit from a cardio and muscular standpoint will help you immensely. I am almost positive I was just inside the obese category before my last two surgeries and no one ever mentioned my weight. What my ortho and physical therapists did talk about was how happy they were that I was so athletic and how much that was going to and ultimately did play into a fast recovery (fast for what it was - both surgeries nessistated long recoveries).1 -
I roll them tight and always pass to the left. It's just proper etiquette! Lol.. no glucosamine.3
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Resistance and balance training (takes a slow build up, but it helps immensely). Movement in general.
Torn meniscus in both knees, went through PT originally, just keep up with it on my own now. Occasional chiropractic, but for the most part, increasing my fitness, strength, and flexibility has almost eliminated the need for those "tune ups."
I have an ankle that is and will be a constant reminder every single day for the rest of my life, and I find topically applied CBD oil to be a life changer. Doesn't get rid of the pain, but the constant, daily, ache goes away, making it much easier to live with.1 -
I just resistance train. It's the only thing besides chemo(temporarily) that helped noticeably with the pain from my progressive joint disease.
Current evidence shows adequate resistance training can benefit and reduce pain with people with osteoarthritis. Particularly people more of advanced age.
Stronger muscles from trained individuals will support deteriorating joints more effectively than untrained individuals.
Same. Doctors tell me the only thing keeping me out of a wheelchair is strong back muscles.1 -
Motion is Lotion.
A quote from my orthopedist...So much wonderful advice here I hope it helps you.2
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