www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Arthritis

I was just wondering who on the forum suffers from arthritis, and what do you do for it? I'm in my 40's, and spend at least 4 days a week at the healthclub. I do lot's of cardio exercises, am not overweight, eat a fairly decent diet, have never sustained a knee injury in my life, and yet since 2002 I've been having knee pain when walking up stairs. Now it's even happening when I go down them.

Take a box of raisins and soak them in gin for 40 days. Then eat 8 raisins a day. If that does not work throw away the raisins and drink the gin.
Guaranteed to work!
Stephanos I

Lawrence,

I'm mid 50ish and usally have some knee & hip pain during the cold months and take a couple of buffered aspirin as needed...though on occasion I do like a ounce of Benedictine before the lights out call...
its medicinal

Call for Doc Eric...

james

Those ideas do not sound bad, except I do not have arthritis thank God! I like the Benedictine though.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Dear Lawrence,

Please have your doctor run a test on your uric acid.

Similar age, knee hurted, and then really hurt! Went to doctor, said I had gout.

Only way to find out is from test for the uric acid in your blood. Apparently, the body of some stop processing the purines in certain foods, meats, and shellfish, and cause excess uric acid. this then flows through the body and likes to settle in joints, such as the knee, shoulder, big toe, wrist, ankle, etc. The crystals form shards so it is like having needles and broken glass within the joint. Becomes very painful. Shrimp, spinach, alcohol, meats, garbanzo beans, and many other types of beans are just a few of the foods that can cause a severe flare-up.

Thankfully, a diet prescribed by a doctor and possibly medication will help to prevent future flare-ups. But my symptoms started like yours, and then the knee started to swell, like overnight, and was hot to the touch.

anyway, good luck, just wanted to let you know that it may be something other than arthritis and you should have it checked out!

In Christ,

Michael

Gout!

ICXC
NIKA

Lawrence,

In all seriousness, your primary physician should refer you after some tests to an orthopedic doctor. It may not be arthritis, but problems in a joint such as a calcium build up or other. They will have the where with all to determine if it is that or if you need to see a rheumatologist (one who specializes in arthritis).

I from personal experience had a massive calcium deposit that had to be removed from my right shoulder a little over a year ago. No explanation as to why it developed, but it required surgery, since I would not permit steroid injections. Now the other shoulder is beginning to show signs of the same problem. I will deal with that when the problem gets acute. The good news is after the surgery I was able to regain 100% of the use and mobility of the shoulder.

I would start with your primary and go from there. Also in the meantime I would not overdo anything at the health club.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Dear Lawrence,

Although I like Stephanos suggestion, it probably is the gout. I was checked for it by a doctor because of a flare up in my foot, and found out it was not. Now I'm a women, so had it been the gout it would have been highly unusual.

Well it seems that when I kneeled, the position my foot was laying in, seems to have done the trick. I changed the position, and stopped kneeling so much, and the flaring stopped. I can walk now.

Well I seem to have pains all over, and if it's not a slight touch of the flu, I'm probably to blame. ACtually I recall that at the young age of thirty, I took a sauna bath, and noticed that I felt the way I did in my teens...very flexible with no aches.

Well having turned on the 700 club recently, (skinny Wednesday when they speak about health), Pat Robertson said that Arthritis is due to the health of one's teeth. Seems it has to do with gum infections.

Well I regret neglecting my teeth, (at least the back one's that don't show)...not that it will make me go to a dentist now. But I do brush more carefully, and make sure I mouth wash more often.

Other than that, I take MSM, Glucosomine, Chondroitan, and Microlactin. Never of course in the amounts they should be taken. I believe the spice tumeric helps, and unless I made a mistake, (I'm absent minded), bromelain is supposed to help so eat lots of pineapple. I love it!

Now that's my advice for the day. Not that it's helping me. Oh for a nice hot sauna! But look, you get use to anything. We grow into pain, and can only hope that it doesn't reach the point where we end up burdening others.

Zenovia

Stephanos

Thanks for the suggestion. It almost sounded like an April Fools joke at first, but I found mention of it online. I think I'll try it.

Michael

I've had various kinds of alcohol, shrimp, spinach, etc without experiencing any flare ups.The pain is just a slow progression.

Zenovia and Pavel

From everything I've read about gout, I'm very certain I don't have it. I have no swelling, redness, or severe flare ups of pain.

Ironically, what really alleviates the pain is increased physical activity. In the Forest Preserves near where I live, there's a tobaggon slide with 120 stairs next to it. If I walk or run up the stairs, my knees will ache the first time, but usually when I'm half way up the second time the pain goes away.

Consider the chance it may be a weakened arch in the foot and invest in good arch supports for your shoes.
It sounds like you have pain when you bear weight. Working out at a gym 4 days a week is excellent, but we often don't think about the beating our knee joints take, bearing the weight of the entire body with each step. I say start with the shoes and work on up. It may not be arthritis at all.
Sam

I've gone back to taking the cheaper brands of glucosomine chondroitin (can't afford the kind they sell in health food stores at present). In the past it alleviated some, but not all of the pain. Tart cherries are next.

apple cider vinegar is cheap too!

Lawrence,

You have been given some pretty good advice so far. A clarification in terms; arthritis literally means inflammation of a joint, and means at least 100 different conditions are possible.

Sam's advice is very good, get your arches checked. A 40 year old guy should get tested for gout, RA, and have the knees X-Rayed and get an MRI on them. (You may have torn a ligament. Surgery has been shown to be no more effective than just sticking a big needle into the joint; sham treatment) Also get your heart and prostate checked.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin must be attatched to a sulfate ion to be bioavailable. In english: the bottle must say glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate for your body to use it. Otherwise you are paying for yellower pee and have waisted your $16.95. Chondroitin and glucosamine hydrochloride (HCl) are not useful to the body.

My advice, do what they do in Japan. Get all the fancy schmancy tests and junk. Then go to an "alternative" (albeit a professional, credentialled, and licensed) practitioner for treatment. That way you won't get worse from the side effects of the drugs! Try rehab and a good acupuncturist. I just had a moxibustion treatment on my new bad knee and it feels great!

Here's where my disclaimer goes in saying that this in no way is meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Check with your physician before attempting any treatment, blah, blah, blah.

Pomegranite(sp?) juice is also being touted as beneficial for arthritis, if that is the problem. When my mom was in her early 40's she went to the doctor complaining of joint pain(she worked on her feet all day). Dr told her to expect some aches and pains after 40. She tried metatarsal supports in her shoes and felt great for years afterwards. The point is, check everything out.

Thanks Dr Eric, but until I have medical coverage again, I've got no choice but to self diagnose.
I really don't think I need surgery, as apart from climbing stairs, I feel fine, plus forcing the issue by repetively walking up stairs has made my knees feel better. I definitely prefer the holistic approach though.