dodgy knee and exercise (Full Version)

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myotherself -> dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 6:33:33 AM)

I've been having knee pain for a couple of months, and today I was told it was osteoarthritis. Not such a shocker since I was also diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my fingers earlier this year.

I know a large part of the pain I'm feeling is due to the extra weight I'm carrying. I've had a shitty 12 months, which started with the death of my dad and continued on through serious problems at work with a vindictive manager. My refuge was in food, hence the extra weight.

Now I'm dealing well with my loss and my crappy manager was fired, life is so much better and I'm feeling soooo much happier. My main focus is to get my weight down and get fit and healthy. When I've tackled weight loss before I've always done a lot of exercise to supplement the food side of things. But my crappy knee means I'm not able to do the stuff I used to do (running was my main thing).

So my question is - has anyone in a similar position found any particular type of exercise to be beneficial to helping deal with the arthritis symptoms and/or helping with weight loss too?

Oh, and I can't go swimming. I have a real fear of the water (dating back to a sadistic swimming instructor in my early teens). Even the smell of chlorine makes me want to puke and I start shaking in fear.

But anything else, I'm willing to give it a go! I have a lovely pair of leather jeans that I'd like to be able to wear by Christmas [:D]



LadyConstanze -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 6:47:13 AM)

You won't like it, but you're heading Kia's way ;)

http://curezone.com/art/read.asp?ID=105&db=5&C0=44

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18484250

http://arthritis.about.com/b/2005/08/28/leeches-knee-osteoarthritis-to-be-treated-with-leech-therapy.htm

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00435773

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=leech-therapy-quells-the

Actually it's not too bad, it only itches for a few minutes, I get them regularly for my back, no arthritis but herniated disks, I usually have them about a week before I fly to the West Coast and it makes 18 hours in an air plane seat bearable.

Girlie had a replacement knee in the meantime (nasty Staffy bit her in her arthritic knee and shattered the joint) but we still keep at it every 3 to 6 months and she's doing so well, she's clearing fences. We both have our own leeches and make sure we don't get them mixed up and recycle them faithfully. Don't expect immediate results, it's creeping up on you slowly, I usually notice it 2 to 3 days after having a leech on me, that the backpain is gone. With Kia at the height of her arthritis, it was almost immediately, but I think dogs react a bit quicker than humans. It's actually something even the NHS offers as it is cheaper than meds and has less side effects, though a lot of doctors or hospitals don't want to do it, because it's easier for them to just prescribe meds.



myotherself -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 8:37:46 AM)

it's something I'll certainly suggest to my doc. I don't like the idea of taking a lot of meds, and would much rather go for alternative approaches...even mainstream alternatives [:D]

I am using heat and ice and a TENS machine, which is helping somewhat. I'm also getting back into tai chi which should help strengthen the muscles around my knee, even though I'm finding some of the moves a bit too tricky at the moment.

But on the other hand, my dogs seem to smile when I fall over, so it isn't all bad [8D]



Hillwilliam -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 8:40:57 AM)

Have you tried Glucosamine and Chondroitin? It's helped me a lot.



LadyConstanze -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 9:05:35 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: myotherself

it's something I'll certainly suggest to my doc. I don't like the idea of taking a lot of meds, and would much rather go for alternative approaches...even mainstream alternatives [:D]

I am using heat and ice and a TENS machine, which is helping somewhat. I'm also getting back into tai chi which should help strengthen the muscles around my knee, even though I'm finding some of the moves a bit too tricky at the moment.

But on the other hand, my dogs seem to smile when I fall over, so it isn't all bad [8D]


In case you got one of the docs who goes "eeek" or doesn't want to deal with the mess (fiddly and it will have some after bleeding but that is what you want), try it yourself, they aren't expensive (less than £10 for a leech and give them a call, they are super helpful and could possibly also recommend a doc in your area that does it)

http://www.biopharm-leeches.com/

http://www.biopharm-leeches.com/applying.html

http://www.biopharm-leeches.com/maintenance--products2.html (You only need the additions if you use sterile water)

Since you plan to only use them on you, just put them into a separate jar with filtered water (no tab water, the chlorine kills them, use Britta filtered or just still water) and make sure it's covered with gauze, or the buggers will escape, don't mix hungry leeches with fed ones or they will cannibalize. If you keep them in a light warm place, they will metabolize quicker and be sooner ready to feed again. Vlad and family seem to do rather well and you can't actually tell which ones are on the Dobie and which ones are on the human diet, so we label their containers ;)



LaTigresse -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 9:15:30 AM)

I've been genetically blessed with bad knees.

Swimming, weirdly enough, is the one thing I've done this summer that caused me the most knee issues. Who knows what the fuck that was about.

Mostly......I walk. A lot. Years ago a doctor actually advised it. Said that it would strengthen the muscles that support the knees and prolong the possible need for surgery. It does make a difference. A pretty huge one actually. My knees hurt if I don't get enough exercise.

Also, I cannot stress the importance of good, balanced shoes. If your feet are tipping in or out in the slightest it can fuck with your knees after even a 1 or 2 miles stroll.

A good elliptical workout, regardless of length of time or how intense, has never bothered my knees.

I do push things and do alternate training at the gym on a treadmill. Walk to warm up, then alternate at walking, then running as fast as I can, increasing the times equally of each. With a good incline. Not for a long time, usually just a half an hour. And I don't do it every day, 2-3 times a week.

I do NOT use the weight machine to do anything that would involve the knee. I am also careful when doing any sort of squat or lunge. I figure, a more shallow lunge that doesn't stress the knee is better than no lunge.

There are also a lot of yoga poses and pilates moves that can either be modified or not involve the knee at all.



myotherself -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 9:50:48 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam

Have you tried Glucosamine and Chondroitin? It's helped me a lot.


can I just buy this over the counter at a health food store?



myotherself -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 9:52:00 AM)

I do have an elliptical trainer that I just bought - it's good to know I can give it a go without doing my knees too much harm! And I have an exercise bike too - I'm guessing that's pretty low impact on the knees?



LadyConstanze -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 9:52:27 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: myotherself


quote:

ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam

Have you tried Glucosamine and Chondroitin? It's helped me a lot.


can I just buy this over the counter at a health food store?


Try ordering it on the web, usually cheaper and better quality (higher concentration)



kitkat105 -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 9:57:16 AM)

Elliptical's are really good for relieving pressure on joints.

Since you've done tai chi, have you tried yoga? I am a recent convert and pretty much think this is the best thing ever. Not only is it physical exercise but it's also good for the warm fuzzies, positive thinking and energy.. which sounds like it wouldn't go astray either.



LaTigresse -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 12:09:55 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: myotherself

I do have an elliptical trainer that I just bought - it's good to know I can give it a go without doing my knees too much harm! And I have an exercise bike too - I'm guessing that's pretty low impact on the knees?


For ME, bicycling tends to bother the knees. Others it doesn't. I think it probably just depends on the indvidual.



CynthiaWVirginia -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 3:58:37 PM)

For pain and inflammation in your knees...The Doctors recommended something called Fruit Fast. I cannot find my bottle, it's at home. Anyway, they reduce 18 gallons of tart cherry juice down to a one quart bottle. One ounce twice per day was recommended. (I put mine in some bottled water and add sweetener, but mom takes hers off of a spoon.)

When I wrecked both of my knees, having this just one time per day took me off of a walker. I take it sometimes now if my pain level goes too high (right now I'm lucky and my tail bone hurts more than my knees, lol, taking my mind off my knees), and it takes away at least half of the pain and inflammation. When mom had a slip and fall on ice and her knee swelled to twice it's normal size, she drank some of that every two hours and said it did better for her than the percoset pain meds they gave her. She healed up fast too.

I've had osteo in my hands now since I was pregnant with my son, 23 years ago. I've done glucosamine chondratin (it will grow back cartilidge only if you have some cartilidge at the joint left, so don't put this off too late) as well as gentle exercize to retain full range of motion (when mom got it in one finger last year, she tried not to use that finger and it started curling up), and I've used the cherry juice concentrate. The juice is an ouchie $18 to $21 per bottle, but one bottle lasts me for a whole month and...Tylenol does nothing for me and ibuprophen chews my stomach to shreds. I bought mine either at Kroger or Food City. Walmart used to have it, along with another type of juice The Doctors recommended, blueberry, but it didn't stay stocked for long. I wish they had kept the blueberry because it also works for bladder infections and I get so sick of drinking cranberry, lol.

If someone knows of a link to get good quality glucosamine chondratin somewhere online, I'd love to see a link. [:)]



Politesub53 -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 4:38:57 PM)

Get your knee looked at, it may or maynot be osteoathritis. It may be ware and tear or even a little damaged bone, chipped or whatever. If it is pieces of chipped bone, they can be removed easily by keyhole surgery. If possible get a scan, an xray wont show everything.

Try some physio first. I found that was more useful to me than chondroitin although ultimately my problem was joint damage caused by falls from scaffolding. I ended up needing a partial joint replacement.



smartsub10 -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 8:11:39 PM)

I've had knee replacement surgeries for osteoarthritis so I know exactly how you feel. Long before the surgeries happened I used capsaicin cream on my knees. It takes about a week before you really start to notice a difference. Store brand works just as good as name brands.

I swim for exercise now but if you are averse to that then an eliptical machine would be perfect. No excess strain on the knees.

Good luck to you.



Hillwilliam -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/15/2012 9:03:16 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: myotherself


quote:

ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam

Have you tried Glucosamine and Chondroitin? It's helped me a lot.


can I just buy this over the counter at a health food store?

You can buy it at wal mart or about any place.



LadyConstanze -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/16/2012 4:23:35 AM)

Hilly, no WalMarts here, other supermarkets usually don't stock a wide array of natural remedies and good stores with that kind of stuff are not too frequent, there is Holland & Barrett, but I am not so keen on them, fairly inexpensive but usually the concentration isn't as high as you want it, so checking online is often the best option.

Doggie girl gets Flexi-Joints (Glucosamine, Condoroitin, Vitamin C) regularly for her arthritis, though it hasn't made a lot of difference, actually none I could notice (we were giving it to her a year before we got her on leeches), I still keep at it as it won't harm her, again the highest concentration and best price is ordering online. When it comes to natural remedies, they're not quite as easy to get in the UK as in other countries. One thing that works really well for arthritis is green oat tea (from oats that are still green) - especially recommended for gout and arthritis, the uric acid crystals are washed out and impurities or infections are purged, excellent for all sorts of urinary tract infections, it's almost impossible to get it in the UK and I get friends to send it over from the continent where it is a staple.

It's the "morning drink" for dog girl and she quite likes it (got to steep it for 10 minutes though), the only problem is that you have to pass water quite frequently, so anything later than 4 PM and you are in for a restless night. The odd thing is, you can find tons and tons of recommendations in German if you google Gruener Hafertee Arthritis, try and googling green oat tea and arthritis - Zilch.

Gave it to a friend of mine here (the side effects of the arthritis meds really bugged him) and it helped, when he told his doc, doc acted as if it was some weird Voodoo...



sunshinemiss -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/16/2012 5:21:17 AM)

LaT said darned close to EVERYTHING I was thinking.... well except one. I love to dance. I vary my dance based on how I'm feeling. I too have knee problems. Yay for ellipticals. Boo for stationery bicycles. I do ride my regular bike very casually... I do that because it makes me happy. I deliberately bought a Wizard of Oz bike (as I call it). I even sing doot doo doot doo doo doo while I'm riding it! Yoga - yes although I don't find it particularly weight lowering. I do weight lifting at least 2 days a week (usually 3 or 4). For me, having a friend walk with me helps tremendously!

Don't do it if it's not fun. Don't do it if you are miserable.

My trainer tells me that diet is 70% and exercise is 30%. I'd be happy to share all his brilliance about food if you'd like... but people are often bored by that kind of stuff.

best,
sunshine



servantforuse -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/16/2012 5:35:24 AM)

When you were told that it was ostioarthritis, was it a Dr. that told you ? I'm with politesub. Have an MRI done and see a good joint Dr. They might be able to fix it.



kalikshama -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/16/2012 7:36:03 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: myotherself

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam

Have you tried Glucosamine and Chondroitin? It's helped me a lot.


can I just buy this over the counter at a health food store?


iherb.com ships to you! Use code IBA153 to save $5 with your first order. I buy shampoo and ChocoLove from them too.

http://www.iherb.com/Search?kw=Glucosamine+and+Chondroitin&x=0&y=0



kalikshama -> RE: dodgy knee and exercise (8/16/2012 7:39:28 AM)

Arthritis doesn't necessarily cause pain, as I learned in this book: Treat Your Own Knees: Simple Exercises to Build Strength, Flexibility, Responsiveness and Endurance, which I got from my library. The exercises are so simple it's not worth the $9.27 list price - I recommend first trying to get it used or from the library.



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