osteoarthritis

As you have possibly heard before, osteoarthritis [OA] is quiote common as one ages. Some people have OA and have little pain or loss of function. Others have lots of pain and loss of function. There is an excellent overview of OA at MedicineNet: http://www.medicinenet.com/osteoarthritis/article.htm

One of the things that helps me most but is the most difficult to do is to not do things that add additional stress to the joints affected. Reducing stress on the affected joints can help reduce pain and limit additional damage. However, that's hard when it is a joint one uses all the time.

Have you been referred to a neurologist? It would seem that it would be a good idea to get evaluated by one to see what impact the stenosis is having.

I started getting OA in my 30s. I've always been overweight (am working on it, but its hard when you can't really do much physically) and as a child I was extremely active and accident prone. So every joint I've ever injured, and several I didn't, now have arthritis. I have it in my knees, my ankles, my spine, my shoulders and I believe (although it hasn't been officially diagnosed), my neck.

The past year I've been fighting iron anemia, just had a bone marrow biopsy done and was told I have zero iron stores in my marrow. The doctor believes my arthritis is preventing me from absorbing iron. Any suggestions on where I could find more information on this? I'm kind of confused how that happens (the arthritis interfering with iron absorption).

As for activity, I'm building up the courage to contact my doctor to see if we can still use one of the local athletic clubs pool for water aerobics for arthritis if we have a prescription, but am not comfortable getting into a bathing suit.

Ah vanity!