Joint Pain

Don't let osteoarthritis get the best of you!

A little over a year ago I was told that I have mild osteoarthritis in one knee.  I wasn’t terribly surprised since this disease is so prevalent and I’ve put my knees through years of impact activity.  If you’re like me and have this degenerative joint disease, there are things you can do to ensure that it doesn’t hamper your daily life. 

Take Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Your first line of defense should be glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.  Taken together, these supplements can help relieve some of the pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis. 

Next, you should consider taking omega 3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation. 

Make sure you talk to your personal physician first prior to trying either of these supplements, especially if you are on blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin). 

Exercise
For exercise, it is important to perform range of motion exercises to keep your joints moving and avoid undue stress on specific joints (the kind of stress that can occur with repetitive motion activities such as running).  Water aerobics and other non-impact activities such as the elliptical machine and stationary bike, are excellent for people with osteoarthritis.  Personally, I like to mix up the activity I am doing to keep my body strong and my joints limber.  And, I frequently do exercises to strengthen the areas around my joints.

See Exercises

Lose Weight
Excess weight increases your risk of developing osteoarthritis and being overweight leads to greater pain and loss of mobility when you do have the disease.  Overweight people tend to be less active which leads to weak muscles and even more painful joints.  Always lose weight gradually and talk to your doctor first before starting any kind of weight loss or exercise program.

Overall, it's important to lead a healthy lifestyle in managing osteoarthritis to minimize your joint pain.  Keep it in control and it won't control your life.

For more information see www.arthritis.org