Anyone out there with arthritis??

[tmn]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

its in my knees and hips - i hope ive not been babying it, i swim as much as i can as its such low impact i find it can help me, im even gonna give the aquaaerobics a shot this week in the hopes that the water will support that too, the only thing that will stop me is if its a bad day and well... i wont be able to get down the steps into the pool.

My specialist is giving me 3 weeks of shots in my knees startin from the 16th, after 6 weeks if theres been no change he'll go in and give me some cartlidge ( replica of?), apparently theres nothing there at all now...

TKR is something that i really dont want to have to go thru... i believe they have to be replaced every 10 years?? thats a lot more surgery in my life!!

I had minimal amount of cartiledge left. I strongly believe the shots were effective. As a note, I do take glucosamine and calcium supplements to help out.

Can I suggest that you ask them to check out the strength and condition of your muscles around your knee and hip? They may be atrophied, shortened, and in serious need of therapy and be a huge cause of your pain. (Of course, it may be difficult to determine if your knee is painful at the same time.) If you can slowly get them stronger as I am mine, things may fall into place and you can avoid surgery for some time. It's really starting to look like I'm going to, thank God.

They may want the shots to take a few weeks or more to work in but afterwards, the very light exercises and stretches could begin as mine were.

Thinking and praying for you!

[*Emma*]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

that site looks chinese to me lol... dont understand any of it, im also not up on knee arthritis as it is, ive always been told i had a different condition until i switched my specialist last month who straight off told me i had RA, he said...

"just HOW long have you been in pain?? you literally have no cartlidge, nothing, this seems very advanced"

that is literally all i know, til i go back on the 16th

[sallyseachange]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

There is a clinic in Germany where they do live cell (of sheep) treatment especially for cartilage problems. It's expensive and rather macabre, but very effective... or so my mother in law (and many others) tell me. If anyone wants details... pm me.

[theredhead]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

I'm a big fan of Dr. Michael Eades, of Protein Power fame. He has a wonderful blog and recently has been talking about "krill oil" as a powerful inflammatory. I've gone to his blog and searched for "krill oil" and brought up the posts about it. Here's the link: http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/i...hp?s=krill+oil I just got some yesterday for my DH, who has very painful knees and hands. I got a pretty good deal on the net from a company called Doctor's Trust. I hope this helps.

[biogeek]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

Emma, sorry to hear of your arthritis!

For myself, I suffer from psoriatic arthritis and this WOE has done nothing but help me. I also take a number of supplements that seem to help.

Here's a thread that I wrote awhile back on Omega oils. Maybe it'll help you out. http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ad.php?t=40528

A couple of years ago, there was an American study (NIH study called "GAIT") on the effects of glucosamine, glucosamine & chondroitin, chondroitin, Celebrex (a COX-2 inhibitor painkiller), and the placebo group. The results are incredibly promising for those suffering from osteoarthritis. The group taking glucosamine sulfate, 500mg, 3x/day (so 1500mg/day total) for 24 weeks experienced significant pain relief. Basically, they felt just as good as the Celebrex group, but without all the nasty side-effects of Celebrex. The other treatments were similar to the placebo group. There was also a similar study done in Europe that basically backed up the American study.

If you're interested in taking glucosamine, look for one labelled "glucosamine sulfate," as that is the version used in clinical trials to date. Skip the glucosamine HCl version regardless of what the manufacturer says about how good their product is.

Granted, the study were done to see the effects to those suffering from osteoarthritis, but why wouldn't it help those with other types of arthritis? I think it is worthwhile to check out.

Best of luck to you!

[sadie147]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

Yes I have also wondered this as well Bio, from what i've read they seem to recommend it for OA but not RA. In the stuff i was reading, it sounds like what it basically does is lubricate the joints, which can only ease the pain.

There is also a suppliment here called Celedrin, which is supposed to be very good as well. I learned of it when my hubbys tennis elbow was causing him grief. We bought it in a cream form, but I have also seen it in pills. the site below seems to have studies mostly on teh creams from what i can see. I can't say much about what afffect it had for him as he had a cortisone shot at the same time. I think his more or less healed with a combination of that and rest.

This might be good to look into as well as Glucosamine Emma, maybe run them both past your dr. and see what he thinks?

a

Celadrin® is an all natural proprietary ingredient, that has been clinically proven to reduce pain and rapidly promote joint health, improving flexibility and mobility. Clinically studied at various times in Vivo, it has been published twice in the prestigious Journal of Rheumatology.

Available for oral and topical applications, Celadrin's beneficial effects have been proven superior in results to Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, SAMe and other arthritic medications.

http://www.celadrin.com/ Not an unbiased site obviously..but a good place to start.

[biogeek]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

I don't know why the studies are just focusing on peeps with OA and not RA. Why not test it out on all forms of arthritis?

I'll have to read that site and find their twice published papers in the journal. I believe it's on the list of journals I have access to. I'm always wrinkling my nose at "proprietary ingredient" whenever I read that. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

[*Emma*]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

Thanks guys for your advice, ill be sure to run them bast my doc and see what he says... Im there monday so not long to wait!

[cincywbbw]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

I have it in both ankles and yes it is very painful, it keeps me from doing alot of walking or excersise. I sure hope you feel better soon.

[sadie147]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

Emma, I'm just curious to know what the doc thought about taking suppliments to help..any update?

[*Emma*]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

He said to try whatever i wanted, but he wasnt hopeful. that helps eh?

I had my 3rd injection today, the final one in the series i have to have, it was very painful and i was brought home in an ambulancey style thing, still cant walk - so one thing i havent done today is drink my water - lol... my bathrooms upstairs!

so ive had my uhh.. umm... the guy im dating... come round and get me everything i need from upstairs - bedding etc, theres no way i can move off this settee today! hoping all is okay tomorrow for work but we'll see...

Its not the same kind of pain i usually get my knee is very swollen - i guess if theyre pumping stuff into my joints thats why its so tight, if i try and put weight on it it just gives way...

apparently i should now feel the benefits within the next few days, if so then i can go ahead and get treatment on my other knee and maybe my hips

[GaynorA]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

Hi there honey. My heart goes out to you. I really do know what constant pain does to a person (I've been there since age 12 and I'm 44 now). And yes ... certain foods do flare the condition. But only you can find out what those are really. Before Atkins I used to eat a lot of tomatoes, till I realised that my joints really did not cooperate every time I ate them. I find that alternating ice and heat does some good. Also, if I give in and just go to duvet city (i.e., too scared to move because of the pain) it actually gets worse. I try to do loosening up exercises every day to try and keep the areas loose. But, seriously, my heart does go out to you. For me it's hips, shoulders, neck and spine - and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. You sound really positive though hon. That is so important. And getting enough rest is important too. If I get exhausted my pain threshold drops. Try and get enough sleep yeah! Lotsa luv and a GREAT BIG hug to you.

[GaynorA]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

Hey there Emma. Just wondering how you are feeling today hon. Are your pain levels any better? Am wondering why you aren't taking your painkillers. Please don't be a martyr. If they will help you, then take them. I don't think anyone would expect you to be in crippling pain just to avoid taking them. Anyway - I was thinking about you and I just thought I'd hop in to say hellooo. Lotsa luv to you.

[*Emma*]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

Thanks hun, in general ive been much better, bad day today but thats just cos of yesterdays exercise, i just hafta take it as it comes!

I do take pain killers if the pain is unbearable, i just dont want to grow addicted to these things!

[GaynorA]

Re: Anyone out there with arthritis??

Hey there. Can I share with you a little tip my orthopaedic surgeon in South Africa told me. Back then I had a shattered femur and no right hip. I was told I would never drive again or walk. Doing both now BTW - I never was very good at being told I can't do stuff (grinning). I walked around for 10 years without a hip. Anyhoooo.... I was in agony. And I was put on morphine 4 hourly. I was TERRIFIED I would get hooked. He told me the secret is to only take painkillers when you really need them. It's when you start taking them because you feel a bit low or because you are trying to prevent pain that the problems kick in. I was on morphine 4 hourly for 10 YEARS. As soon as I had surgery to repair the hip and leg, I requested to drop onto lower dosage meds - and I never had a single withdrawal symptom. So I guess he had a valid point. Stay well luv. I'm here if you get to the "head through wall" stage of pain control. I'm guessing you probably know what I mean!