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Here's to Your Health:  arthritis Help!  |
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Alanna Neupert
True Blue Farmgirl
66 Posts
Alanna
cabot
PA
USA
66 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 09 2011 : 4:47:32 PM
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Hi everyone-I'm a new farmgal and love MJF forum. I'm 62 and I've, unfortunately overweight. Been underactive and i've really packed the pounds on this winter. Does anyone have artritis of the knees and what do you use? I'm not really a pill taker, but sometimes I can hardly stand the pain especially in my left knee. I use castivia, during the nite to rub on my knees at nite and that does help. That has cod liver oil in it, if you have never heard of it. I had read about drinking vinegar with o.j. I do take glocomine,also in the morning. What does a sr. farmgal to do? Thanks in advance- Alanna from Pa. |
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palmettogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
571 Posts
sue
camden
south carolina
USA
571 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2011 : 2:59:01 PM
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| read the one on cinnamon and raw honey!! i've had arthritis since i was in college-----rheumatoid arthritis. i've had my good days and bad days and have been on all types of medications over the past 30-some years. people don't like it, but plain old buffered aspirin really helps if you are really having a bad day. oh, and motrin. tylenol does not have the anti-inflamatory stuff that you need. also, whatever you find that works, be consistent in terms of taking it the same time every day. the problem a lot of people have is that they bear the pain until it's really bad (and they are very swollen)thinking they are going to be a hero, but you actually want to take something to aleviate some of that Before it happens to cause less damage. good luck! |
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cathymark4ever
Farmgirl in Training
38 Posts
Catherine
Friendswood
TX
USA
38 Posts |
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Alanna Neupert
True Blue Farmgirl
66 Posts
Alanna
cabot
PA
USA
66 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2011 : 8:03:05 PM
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| I'm going to the store to buy the raisins tomorrow, I have the gin from my daughter's wedding. I'm going to make a triple batch and give some to my sister who has severe arthritis. |
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prayin granny
True Blue Farmgirl
1874 Posts
Linda
Kansas
1874 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 10:40:17 AM
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Never heard that one! I take vitamins, herbs, gluc. I have good and not so good days as well and do not like to take pain pills much. Will check out the cinn/honey topic as well. I too, need more exercise and eat healthier. Good luck to us all.
Blessings, Linda
www.scatteredlittleblessings.blogspot.com
Country at Heart |
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palmettogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
571 Posts
sue
camden
south carolina
USA
571 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2011 : 06:17:05 AM
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| i've never heard of the raisins and gin thing either, but hey, it's definitely worth a try!! i'm gonna tell my dad about that one.....he has it in his hips and legs-----even if it doesn't cure it, it should put him in a better mood when he visits!! |
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catturner68
Farmgirl in Training
26 Posts
Casey
Carrollton
Tx
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2011 : 06:47:34 AM
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I am 42 & have had arthritis in one of my knees for about 10 years. I had surgery, but that really didn't help very much. If I have a bad day & am swollen, I will ice it right before bed. I have also started riding my bike to work every day. That has helped more than anything else over the years. There are some yoga poses that also really help.
Casey
If you live your beliefs, you can change the world. |
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HollyG
True Blue Farmgirl
214 Posts
Holly
Hamburg
Arkansas
USA
214 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2011 : 07:00:27 AM
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My mom struggles with arthritis - even to the point of double knee replacement (for other reasons as well.) She takes celebrex - which I know has been taken off the market - or at least there have been issues, but it works for her. She's also a vitamin junkie, taking everything under the sun. What seems to really work for her is to limit dairy. In some of her reading years ago, she discovered that dairy products seem to aggrivate arthritis sufferers (for reasons I can't remember now). She takes calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, etc - all in supplimental form and routine blood work shows her levels are good. She has eliminated nearly all the dairy products from her life - no ice-cream, and limited cheese and milk. For example, she'll "wet" her cereal with milk, eat the cereal and pour out what's left. She says she can always tell when she's had too much. Exercise, even moderate exercise, is always helpful, but sometimes no matter what you do, you have good days and bad days. Examining your diet may be another troubleshooting area you'd want to check out. Good luck!
HollyG
Farmgirl #2513
www.mydeepwoodslife.com |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Feb 20 2011 : 02:48:50 AM
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I think those have to be white raisins, but I could be wrong.
Palmettogirl,
My DH was diagnosed w/ RA a few days ago. That news coupled w/ the flu have him out for the count, which is VERY a-typical
He goes in to see the rheumatologist this week. Good to know about the buffered asprin too. He was taking tylenol for arthritis, so I'll pick up some of the other today.
DH gets pain and bad swelling in his knuckles, hip or shoulder.
Good to know about the dairy too. We are ice cream junkies, so cutting that out will be hard, but we both drink and have been drinking almond milk for many years, so at least that part is done.
He is an avid cyclist (rode 60+ miles last weekend) so thank goodness his knees aren't affected yet
Thanks for the tips |
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Penny Wise
True Blue Farmgirl
1903 Posts
Margo
Elyria
OH
USA
1903 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2011 : 07:14:15 AM
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i am developing a bad case of arthritis in my right index finger and joints all the way up the hand- i am a bank teller and am having trouble counting money! OH NO! and in my college keyboarding class i just wanna cry!
thx for the ideas, gals!
Farmgirl # 2139
~*~ counting my pennies and biding my time; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
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earthmamaT
True Blue Farmgirl
96 Posts
Tammy
portola
California
96 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2011 : 4:57:31 PM
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I suffer from arthritis in my knees and bone spurs. Try taking a nettle infusion ( 1/4 cup of dried nettle put in a quart jar; cover with boiling water & let set for 4-8 hours. Drink one quart a day) Nettle is anti inflammatory. Also I use ginger compresses. I can not take pain pills due to my wonderful ulcer....You can infuse an oil ( even Extra Virgin Olive Oil) with pain relieving herbs. I then rub the oil on my knee and apply heat. This is a big help....Alfalfa pills are good anti inflammatory too!!! Best of luck...
Tammy ~
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Gandhi |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2011 : 06:45:43 AM
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| Tammy, thanks for the reminder about Nettles being an anti-inflammatory. I usually just think of it as a general tonic. Time to stock up! |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2011 : 07:04:12 AM
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I was where you are about a year ago. Believe me, if you can force yourself to exercise, you will feel better. The trick is doing it right so you don't hurt yourself worse.
I know -- believe me -- how hard it is to do anything when you hurt so badly, especially knees, but I worked with a wonderful physical therapist who got me going a little bit at a time, until I got more mobile. If you have a diagnosis of arthritis, you should ask your doctor to write you a referral for physical therapy so it can be covered by insurance, which I hope you have.
And I was careful to eat wisely -- I have Type 2 Diabetes, so that's crucial -- and before long, I got my weight down to something within reason. Even the first few pounds made a big difference in how my bad knee felt.
The big breakthrough, though, was eliminating a major source of stress in my life. That has been miraculous. But really, it's all the remedies working together. That includes vitamin supplements and other things already mentioned in this thread. Also, if you drink a lot of coffee or caffeinated tea, try to wean yourself off it. You'll feel some withdrawal symptoms at first, but you'll be much better off. Caffeine aggravates inflammation.
{{{hugs}}} I know. I know. |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2011 : 09:49:38 AM
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Started taking Tylenol for arthritis just for kicks since DH has been taking it.
Odd how I haven't had a migraine in 2 weeks! A record!
I'm now 41, so my warranty expired last year.
DH will go back to the rheumatologist in 2 weeks and will start on methyltrexate.
It's the same drug they sometimes put Leukemia patients on, so I'm a little scared for him. I mostly don't want him loosing weight due to stomach issues and no apetite. He is already rail thin due to his bike riding and quick metabolism.
Sure do wish a simple OTC could take care of this, but even on the Tylenol his hands swell a little and hurt in the a.m. |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2011 : 3:06:30 PM
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| Tylenol, like other acetominophen drugs available over the counter, does nothing for inflammation, which is the source of arthritis pain. Anti-inflammatories like Advil, Motrin, Aleve or other NSAIDs would probably be more effective. Of course, aspirin is very a effective anti-inflammatory available and is inexpensive, but if your DH's stomach is sensitive to it, he might try 3 or more cups daily of a tea made from Meadowsweet or White Willow Bark, both of which are natural sources of salicylate, from which aspirin is derived. Unlike aspirin, however, both plants are actually soothing to the stomach and in traditional medicine are used to treat pectic ulcers. Forgive me if this is info you've already taken in and rejected as being unhelpful in your situation. I sure do sympathize! Arthritis is awful :-( |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2011 : 06:53:02 AM
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Happy news is, we have access to a great all natural health food store and if they don't carry the white willow , I am very familar with the Mountain Rose Herb company. They have everything!
We have each tried Alieve. And for me, the prescription strength worked as far as any migraine pain that may have been associated with muscle spasms , but I have had an ulcer in the past from these and get kind of gun shy.
For my hubby, the regular strength Alieve doesn't touch his pain. He starts on Methyltrexate in another week. Most of his problems are in his knuckles. It really bothers him first thing in the morning when he first gets up |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2011 : 09:14:59 AM
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I have got to say that apple cider vinegar is great. I had noticed my right middle finger was getting arthritis in it and it hurt to bend. I take a swig of ACV every morning and it is so much better and does not hurt and it bends like normal now.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Here's to Your Health: arthritis Help! |
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arthritis Help!
