anybody got arthritis?

[kevin mckay]

I found out I have it, was hoping it was gout but no such luck...
Not sure if it is rheumatoid or ostio but it recently moved from my hands and wrists to my elbows. If anybody has experience with this let me know. I am not sure if it is ok to workout with a joint when it is flaring up.

[Dave Wilson]

How is the pain on a scale of 1 - 10 ?
Do you eat alot of Soy or Grain or Dairy ?
My family is loaded with Rheumatoid , My Grand Parents on both sides, My mother, I had my first sign of it in my early twenty's. I currently have very few signs of it at 35. Obvious things to avoid are refind foods. Fish oil and probiotics are a must, and stay hydrated. I dont have many flare ups any more. Maybe try some Mobility work if you are having a flare up,unless the pain is a 7 or better, in that case stay as active as you are able.
I just started doing static holds again, Planche, L-sit, handstands and all of there permutations, I always felt like this was helping as it is bringing blood to the area as well as strengthening the surrounding tissue.

[Garrett Smith]

I'd first suggest the "Arthritis Diet" book from www.noarthritis.com. There's more in it than just the nightshades.

Also, get on plenty of magnesium. I suggest Natural Calm brand.

[Elliot Royce]

You need to find out whether it's osteo or rheumatoid -- completely different diseases. I had bilateral hip arthritis, which is osteo. I can't advise you on rheumatoid.

Osteoarthritis is a question of wear and tear. You have worn down your cartilage sufficiently so that the bone is rubbing against bone. The body is designed so that this causes pain to prevent you from continuing to wear away bone. You should follow your body's guidance in avoiding activities that create strong pain or pain that does not go away within a short time.

On the other hand -- and this is quite important -- continuing with physical activity is very important. Even with severe hip arthritis, I still played hockey; however, I gave up running. You need to balance the tradeoffs, with the advice of a good doctor.

I think it is possible to slow the progression with a good diet and the right supplements. I found glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM to be very effective. Some studies have questioned its effectiveness but it worked wonders for me. Perhaps it was a placebo but the pain reduction was greater than any of the painkillers. And there was no change in the extent of my arthritis measured by xrays in 4 years.

You should start investigating medical interventions. It may be premature but at least knowing what is possible can help with your state of mind.

Do not allow your life to become too restricted due to arthritis. That is the path to depression. Some pain is perfectly normal and can be managed through the right medicines, exercise and a good state of mind. Just make sure you're not doing things that would increase the damage.

Happy to share other thoughts with you. Osteoarthritis is a difficult disease because there is often no simple cure, but it is possible to manage it.

[Mike ODonnell]

Osteo - take some glucosamine-chrondotin (sp?), fish oil, cut out sugars....the regular anti-inflammatory stuff

RA - that's an immune system issue...many of my clients with it find relief once they get their gut health in check...probiotics, cutting out allergens like nightshades, gluten..., etc....look into leaky gut syndrome and fixes...

http://www.leakygut.co.uk/Treatments...eaky%20gut.htm

[Dave Van Skike]

Originally Posted by Mike ODonnell

Osteo - take some glucosamine-chrondotin (sp?), fish oil, cut out sugars....the regular anti-inflammatory stuff

True.

I have osteo, both knees. Above advice is good. Also, keep moving, always. If I go a week without squatting my knees hurt. What Elliot is saying resonates. Find an activity that works pain free with the greatest range of motion, full depth squatting works for me, cycling hurts. XC skiing works, skating doesn't.

[William Hunter]

I'm pretty sure you're already eating IF Paleo syle, so there will less of a dietary overhaul than you're average guy/gal. The fact that it's moving around sounds more like it's something in the blood vs osteo. BTW, why were you hoping it was gouty arthritis? That shit absolutely sucks. I agree with all of the above. Staying active is the only way to go. Don't let it beat you down.

[Garrett Smith]

Joint mobility. Lots of it. Do some before every workout, however minimal.

[kevin mckay]

Pain wakes me up in the morning but is really not that bad, maybe a 2-7 most of the time. It is in my hands wrists and fingers they are totally swollen and stiff in the morning and usually takes about an hour to get full range of motion although the wrist range of motion can be limited all day some times. I get these weird extremely tender lumps under the skin by the joints. It recently moved into my left elbow and I get really sharp pain when I fully extend it so I am not sure if it is ok to pull and push right now.

I do strict paleo
60-80 grams cho/day from fruit and veg (fruit mostly berries)
carlsons fish oil
jarrow glucosamine chrondotin msm
jarrow bone up

Not sure you can do much better than that, do have family members with arthritis I thought it was 90% hereditary not dietary... Will check out noarthritis and maybe the probiotic stuff never heard that. Any hard science on the gut stuff?

The rheumatologist thinks it's rheumatoid because it came on over night is symmetrical and is moving around allot.

Thanks for the info

[Garrett Smith]

Kevin,
If you want to avoid the rheumatologist's drug cocktail spiral, I'd suggest you contact me about the testing we discussed.

There are many other options than what they have to offer.

Since your diet is relatively clean, a food allergy test is in order. While you may be eating Paleo, you could very well still be reacting to something you eat a lot of.

Basically, I'd suggest we talk. I do lots of work with chronic pain and autoimmune stuff.