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This may be a silly question

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 5/5/2006 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, normally I hang out at the Ulcerative Colitis forum but I have what may be a silly question for my husband. He's got arthritis in his knees (don't know what type but guessing Osteo), ankles and feet. Sometimes it hurts him pretty bad and he hates taking any sort of medication or pain relievers, well not quite, he does take Osteobiflex. Is there an exercise even if mild to help alleviate some of the pain in his joints? He likes to work out with weights but doesn't do much with his legs because of his knees. Oh I don't know if helps any but he's 39.
Posted 5/5/2006 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherry!

I'm usually on the crohn's board, but I have cd-related arthritis and some wonderful people here advised me to get exercise in a heated pool. I was able to join a gym a few months ago and the pool is wonderful. I still have pain but I have made noticeable progress. I used to have to start out in the pool and then do a little walking, but now I'm starting out walking and using cardio machines and weight machines and reward myself with the pool and hot tub and sauna after my workouts. The place I go is owned by the hospital and they do a lot of physical therapy there. I've seen people with bad pain who are only able to do exercises in the hot tub because the hot water helps so much. Some people just walk laps in the pool. They even have an arthritis class in the pool. The water will take so much weight off his joints. My pain is in my feet, ankles, knees, hips and back and I'm 42. I take darvocet to take the edge off the pain and it helps enough to let me get this exercise and some housework done.
Posted 5/5/2006 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks smile So heat good cold bad?? He's got it in his head that he needs to ice his knees then heat them and I'm not sure this is right. He's one of those guys that refuses to go to the doctors unless he's on his death bed or I drag him by his ears! He did have xrays a few years back and it did show arthritis in those areas and his knees make the most awful noises going down steps......eek like nails on a chalkboard! Also too, I doubt he will join a gym (yes he's a little antisocial and likes to work out in the privacy of his own home) so would a moist heating pad work before his workouts? Or when his knees hurt? I'm just trying to find something that will help him because he can be quite stubborn about a few things and this is one of them. I've actually been trying to get him to the docs for his knees and I think I'm finally wearing him down! lol I'm normally not a nag but darnnit, I want him walking with me when we're old smile
Posted 5/5/2006 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Sherry! Welcome to the Arthritis side of the house... :) Sorry your hubby is having a hard time... But hopefully he'll seek the help that he needs (thanks to you) :).

Heat and cold is good, depends on the pain... If I have a lot of swelling, I like to use ice packs or bags of frozen peas / frozen corn to try and get the swelling down.. But I use heat too, if I have aching pain... Kinda like when I've been on my feet all day... Nothing feels better to me than sitting in a hot bath with oatmeal and just relaxing...

Since he will take Osteo-biflex, is he open to supplements? A lot of people swear by flax seed oil and fish oils... You can get them at GNC... and most groceries stores too... That may help with the knees popping...

Good luck to you and let us know how he is doing, as well as what he decides... Duck
Posted 5/5/2006 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ducky smile Yes, he likes his supplements and does take fish oil (when he remembers). It's prescription meds and doctors that he avoids like the plague! I think he's afraid they're going to tell him that he needs his knees replaced but I honestly doubt it's that bad yet. He does a lot of up and down motion at work (he's a construction painter at Ford) and some days he says his knees just kill him. Another question for ya's.......has anyone tried the Blue Stuff yet and if so, does it help with knees? My gma who has bad bad OA uses something similiar, Blue Emu, and swears by the stuff but her OA is in her hips and back. But it's hard gauging from her reactions to things because she never complains and never says anything hurts even though I know when she's in pain. Just a FYI, he won't use any other sort of cream because of the smell and The Blue Stuff has no odor but it's way expensive. I will gladly get it for him though if it will help ease his pain.
Posted 5/9/2006 5:23 AM (GMT 0)

I would also suggest stretching. Lots of it. ...

Also, see a podietrist. Make sure the mechanics of his feet are okay and he doesn't need orthodics. My knee issues screwed up my feet. I have psoriatic arthritis in my feet as well and between the 2 issues, my feet became all messed up.

Stretching, orthodics, meds that actually did some good (currently that med is Plaquenil) and time - it was a looong road, but I made it.

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