“Yoga works for me. If I stay on track and do a morning stretching routine and a more intense afternoon routine (both about 15 – 20 minutes each) I don’t have to take any meds. I have arthritis in my neck in my lower back in my elbow and in my right knee. I have ZERO pain if I stretch out in the morning and stay limber in the afternoon. “
“I have arthritis in my neck and I take Omega fatty acids every day. They really seem to help.”
“Yoga, any exercise, physiotherapy, massage. You might want to try a supplement called SAM-e.”
“On a regular basis I take lots of fish oil as well as eat a lot of fish. I also use olive oil in nearly everything. Sleep is very important with arthritis. Also, keep dry and warm and as active as you can without exhausting yourself. Try and keep stress to a minimum and take pain meds only when you really need them. It tends to flare up and calm down on its own. Try and stay positive and remember you are not alone”
“I too have degenerative arthritis in my lower back, right hip and both knees arthritis, and some in my right shoulder and handWhat I have found is if I don’t keep up with abs workout (crunch, sit-ups) my back gets worse. I also do as much swimming, cycling and dancing as I can, even if I have to ice my knees after. I took glucosamine in the past and while it worked for a while, my knees are so gone it did not work anymore. I am waiting for knee replacement surgery and then I heard about NEMS – you can google it – it’s a form of glucosamine made out of the eggshell membranes – I started taking it late February and it made a huge difference. It’s a one a day supplement and I encourage you to try it -(cost between $25 and $30 a month). Finally, to lose some weight, I just started serious resistance training (weight lifting) to gain more muscle and strengthen those muscles that stabilize the knees. And that too works.”
“You may wish to consider adding Vitamin C, manganese, and tumeric to the mix if you aren’t already. And Omega-3′s too. “
“Bromelain is really good for pain as is tumeric. Getting higher levels of magnesium separate from calcium is important as well. Moving….that is the biggest key…I started swimming and doing yoga again and it has helped immensely.”
“I was able to get off my prescription med by using MSM. It’s an OTC natural supplement and is usually combined with glucosamine (which I took separately but didn’t help). MSM reduces the inflamation quite a bit. The doc just told me I need two full knee replacements and I hope to do that by next year. In the meantime, MSM is the only thing I take. I highly recommend it but always ask your doc first.”
“Another dietary consideration is to reduce the amount of animal foods. Excess, improperly digested animal protein manifests in the joints and contributes significantly to arthritis. The combination of MSM, Glucosamine and Chondroitin work synergystically to relive pain and build up bone/cartilage. The omega-3 fish oils are excellent, but are best taken in balanced doses as Omega 3-6-9. Do avoid commercial refined oils as they are heated, bleached and toxic. Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Grapeseed Oil are good for cooking, and fresh unrefined oils (Safflower, Walnut, Sesame, Almond) are great to add after cooking and on salads.”
“I get massages at least twice a month and, yes, they really help. I do stretch exercises with an exercise band and strength exercises with free weights regularly to help strengthen my upper back. “
“I’ve read that an additional supplement of Vitamin D3 is advised to help with inflammation and general bone health. There are differing recommendations on amounts. Some sites recommend 800-1000 IU daily for those over 50 and others recommend 400-800 IU.”
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I am in the process of trying SamE and so far it seems to work really well. Also am weaning off of an anxiety med and don’t want to mix too much up. BUT, weaning off of the med is a long process, yet I can tell I am feeling better–the meds were a crutch and awful because I needed more and more. Has anyone tried the apple cider vinegar old fashioned remedy for athritis?
I heard about a book which recommended cider vinegar, so I have it as a dressing on my lunchtime salad most days and my knees have been better since I have been doing this. I have also been taking Omega 3 and walking more, which may also be contributing. I’m just thankful and not worrying too much which thing I am doing is helping.
I have taken Sam-e off and on for many years and it really does help with the artheritus-and your mood. What I did find though and you may want to watch for is that after about a month or tow of taking it, I found myself getting moody, snappish, where as I’m not usually like that. Things that might normally just be irritating to me would make me angry enough to throw things. I contacted sam-e but they said they never had anyone else report that.. so it’s benefits are such that I will take it for a while and when I start feeling angry or sad, I cut back on it for a couple weeks. I know you’re not supposed to take it if you are bipolar and I have never been diagnosed as such and have been told by a doctor that it would have showed up long before now as I”m 56, so that’s not the issue. Would like to hear if anyone else has had similar experiences with it.
I have degenerative arthritis in my lower back causing pain in my thighs and legs. I also have carpal tunnel in both hands with trigger thumbs. I recently lost weight and my arms are starting to sag so what type of exercises can I do that would not hurt my hands but would tone up my arms and the rest of my body
You ladies have made some wonderful comments yet I am still on anti-inflammatory meds, anti depressant and pain medication with an added neuropthy med at bedtime. I have had RA since I was 27 and now I am 57 with both knees needed replaced(as my doc has told me for 2 yrs now). Some days are great and I am so thankful but there are days that I can’t walk at all without knee supports, and at night getting up and into a hot tub of water at least at 12:30am and about 3am. It all sounds wonderful..what you spoke of…and truly a little of it all helps immensley. It is the hope that gets me through each day. Hope that tomorrow will not be a painful day or at least I do know how to bear it.
I have found out that veggies/fruits are the best..w no processed sugar and no white starches. Beets, ginger, alfalfa, greens, spices…so help, oh yes..no meat..no chemicals!
My mom had RA and it’s in a different class by itself when you compare it to other kinds of arthritis. It’s all about auto-immunity and somewhat about genetics which is difficult to control. But it sounds like you are doing all the right things. I can sympathize with your challenges having lived with someone with RA. Some people find relief with a gluten free diet. It is supposed to reduce the inflammation and pain. It sounds like you are already doing some of that. My sister in law who is a physical therapist specializing in hands says “motion is lotion.” I’m sure it hurts to move, but be encouraged that when you do, it is doing some good.
Thank you so very much for your response. Tai Chi helps also..the stretching is a plus indeed and helps clear the mind. In my youth I played softball for years and danced with a dance team. It is so hard not to be active as I once was, but God teaches me patience. I have faith in the Lord and all is well with my soul. There has been alot of stress in my years and my heart has hurt for so many things. I am an intercessor and the pain of others have burdened me so, nevertheless….all is well, and life goes on here on this earth until the Lord returns.
Woke up this morning and can hardly walk. I know not to be complaining but the pain is so much I cried as I walked. I have a dog named Mocha(lab) and I went out and walked her trying not to think about my difficulty..barely able to get back to the house. Meds have been taken and just needed to post that all is not rosey with this kind of disease. Icy Hot to my knees and wraps under my pants before going to work and recently I had to go to eye doctor for eye inflamation and he told me it was due to my arthritis…then yesterday tooth broke off and dentist told me it was due to my arthritis. Please pray for me.
I have one word for all sufferers: AQUAFIT – preferably in deep water with an around-the-waste flotation belt. Not available everywhere as a class, but you can do it yourself in any pool – try gentle movements, speed up for more resistance, take it easy when you’re down, but just moving with no impact is marvellous. Even 15 minutes, three times a week will help enormously. And don’t mind what you look like in a bathing suit!! For examples of exercises to do, just google aquafit.
When you start it might be better to avoid large boisterous classes, especially in shallow water. Better to do it quietly by yourself for a while till you like it. Don’t be put off by people who put this activity down as being for fat ladies only. I know some marathon runners who swear by it as cross training! If you are overweight, and have arthritis, then this is perfect exercise. You will shed the pounds if you stick with it. Remember, best done in deeper water end of the pool so you don’t stub your toe or ruin your nail polish!
I grew up watching my mother suffer badly fom rheumatoid arthritis and dreaded the possibility that I might get it.. I’m 63 now and have osteoarthritis in both knees, no rheumatoid thank goodness!. I saw a specialist who was so horrible and disrespectful to me that I didn’t take the corticosteroid cream he contemptuously recommended. I went to our local health food store and asked the owner .. “What do your old customers take for arthritis?” She showed me something called Genacol made out of collagen. I’ve been taking it a year now and have hardly any arthritis. When I do it seems to come with a change in weather when the barometer drops. I don’t know how long term this remedy will be but I’m grateful for the relief I’m getting at the moment. I don’t like recommending commercial products on a website like this because I think it’s too easy for a company to spam and pretend to be “one of us”, but after trying a number of other things, this is what worked. Another thing that made a big difference was going off coffee. I read years ago that the acids in it can affect joints. It’s NOT the caffeine that appears to be the problem because I tried decaf and my knees still were bothered, and other caffeinated beverages like tea of chocolate don’t seem to bother me. I love coffee but it doesn’t love me so I go on and off it depending on how good or bad my knees are. Dopey, I know, but I’ve given up so many things that are supposedly bad for me that I don’t want to give up EVERYTHING. My mother quit drinking coffee when her arthritis got so bad she could no longer play the piano she loved.
I have tried many, some work better than others. BUT, started taking Certo with grape juice–one T. in 8 oz natural grape juice each day. I have to tell you, it is 100% humidity outside and while I still have aches, it is not the horror it used to be in the morning. I have been on it for about three weeks. I am VERY hopeful. Google Certo and Grape Juice to find out about it. It’s a bit messy but have devised a way of making it easier. Clip the package and squeeze onto a tablespoon and clip with a clothespin and keep it standing upright in a glass in the refrigerator. I buy it from Amazon. MUCH cheaper than the grocery store.
ML, I remember my grandmother who had rheumatoid arthritis used to eat gelatin (in her case she make endless bowls of Jello) and swore that it helped relieve inflammation. This sounds similar to the Certo idea. J.
By chance, I ran out of milk at home 3 weeks ago – because of the weather and other things, I could not get to the store so Instead, I used Soya milk in my coffee for almost 3 days – I drink 3 cups of coffee a day and it’s half-milk and half-coffee. After 3 days, I noticed my arthritic pain was much less – like way less. I have not had milk since and I also cut cheese and yogourt - the result is that my pain is about a 2 over 10, instead of the 8-9 over 10 it had been previously. I read on the web that dairy, peanuts or wheat could aggravate pain. It’s worth a 3 day elimination diet.
By chance, I ran out of milk at home 3 weeks ago – because of the weather and other things, I could not get to the store so Instead, I used Soya milk in my coffee for almost 3 days – I drink 3 cups of coffee a day and it’s half-milk and half-coffee. After 3 days, I noticed my arthritic pain was much less – like way less. I have not had milk since and I also cut cheese and yogourt - the result is that my pain is about a 2 over 10, instead of the 8-9 over 10 it had been previously. I read on the web that dairy, peanuts or wheat could aggravate pain. It’s worth a 3 day elimination diet.
Tennim, I agree that elimination diets, if you can stand the discipline, are very worthwhile as a sort of rebalancing of what you’re ingesting. We all fall into habits about food. I’ve gone off coffee which I used to crave from morning till night – wow what a difference, no more late-afternoon cramps, or that general feeling of malaise. I tried having a cup just recently, at work, and the old feeling of ‘stress’ cropped up right away.
I think you’re right about dairy products. They are definitely part of a balanced diet, but one only needs a modest amount (and if lactose intolerant, then appropriate substitutes) each day. My ex used to say if he just cut out cheese for a while he was guaranteed to shed a few pounds!
MSM, Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Works for me!! I have severe arthritis in practically all my joints plus osteoporosis. Calcium and Vitamin D3 works well for bone health.