Aging, Arthritis, and Joint Pain

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10b4me

Boulder climber
Somewhere on 395
Jan 22, 2013 - 12:35pm PT
I had the hyaluronic acid injections (5) a year ago. Seemed to work for awhile, but I am pretty much back to lots of knee pain again
Norton

Social climber
the Wastelands
Jan 22, 2013 - 12:42pm PT
Does arthritis or joint pain limit what you can do?


absolutely not

I am 62 and arthritic as hell

and I can't do anything anymore
wayne w

Trad climber
the nw
Jan 22, 2013 - 01:26pm PT
Still taking Turmeric, Guck, still getting exceptional results.
Guck

Trad climber
Santa Barbara, CA
Jan 22, 2013 - 01:37pm PT
Thanks for the feedback Wayne. Do you have a recommendation for a brand name? Is Glucosamine any help? It is quite frustrating to feel the grip of "old age" (I am 65 yeard young) while some seniors are still waltzing on the rocks!
healyje

Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
Jan 22, 2013 - 02:15pm PT
TURMERIC!

As stated, a high-quality Turmeric is the real deal but be aware it takes a couple of months to solidly saturate and take maximum effect. I went from decades of having to dose a chronic, old shoulder injury after every climbing session to being able to do eighteen hour days with only minor twinges that night and following day.

One caveat is if you are prone to kidney stones. In that case you need to get a high-quality version of just Curicumin, the principle active ingredient. Tons of active academic research going on relative to both if you hit scholar.google.com
Elcapinyoazz

Social climber
Joshua Tree
Jan 22, 2013 - 02:54pm PT
I use the turmeric. Seems to be very helpful for me with inflammation (I should note that I do not take ibuprofen or other meds, so I feel reasonably confident it is the effects of the turmeric).

Recent research shows that pipperine (a compound in black pepper) increases the uptake and efficacy of turmeric something like 2000%. So add some black pepper with your dose.

I buy turmeric in bulk at the local WinCo grocery store, and it is dirt cheap that way. Like maybe $1/month kind of cheap. Dosage for me is about 1 tsp/day, either dissolved as a tea or used as a condiment in my regular food.
Seamstress

Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
Jan 22, 2013 - 04:05pm PT
Hyaluronic acid - insisted on it after my knee surgery before it was routinely prescribed to old people (>40). It took threats of growing cartilege in a petri dish or a knee replacement to encourage the insurance company to allow the injections 14 years ago. Now it is more widely available and I had great results.

I have one finger that is a total mess, and I suspect arthritis. Don't know if anything can be done about that. While it hurts to move, I have found no adverse impact on climbing yet. That's probably because it is just one finger and I cowardly only climb moderate routes.

I take glucosamine daily (when I remember), and it has helped my knees and had no affect on my finger. Study results show that 30% of people who try this treatment have a good result. Could it be a placebo affect? After 14 years, I notice when I have skipped too many days of those pills. So I still take them.

The Boomer generation that does not want to be coach ridden will demand changes in treatment which will lead to a better quality of life for older, arthritic people going forward.

Remember that many OTC pain remedies - and prescription arthritis drugs - can be blood thinners (more bleeding if you fall, tough on your digestive track (GI bleeding) or toxic to your liver in larger doses over a long time. I'm avoiding all pain medications as much as I can. In the middle of a long trip where I am part of a team, I will take what I have to in order to perform. For weekend warrior and daily life, I avoid it as much as I can.

If you stop moving, you will age faster.....
darkmagus

Mountain climber
San Diego, CA
Jan 22, 2013 - 04:12pm PT
Hyaluronic acid is really cool, I think that in conjunction with some other supplements can be a good thing. Specifically the combination of glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega-3 fatty acids. We recommend that combination to a lot of our patients with joint pain (usually due to degenerative arthritis). Load up on them! And drink lots of water all of the time!

Also, resting worsens osteoarthritis (the type of arthritis associated with aging), so moving around will always be a good thing.
Jan

Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
Jan 22, 2013 - 04:16pm PT
At age 66 I suddenly started having arthritis in my middle finger and thumb which got rammed into a haul bag while holding a big leader fall 46 years before, so old climbing injuries can catch up with you.

So far, mine is tolerable without meds but gets much worse in humid weather and when the atmospheric pressure changes. Like cosmigram I can predict weather three days out. Typhoons with their big barometer drops are the worst. So far the best thing I can do for myself is retire to a dry climate.

And one other good thing about turmeric. People in India have the lowest rates of alzheimers of any group in the world and it has been traced back to their heavy use of turmeric.
Cragar

Trad climber
MSLA - MT
Jan 22, 2013 - 04:31pm PT
How are y'all taking the turmeric/black pepper? Capsule or in food? Both?

Thanks!
wayne w

Trad climber
the nw
Jan 22, 2013 - 04:35pm PT
Glucosamine can have side effects in regard to upsetting ones stomach for some. I have never had that problem with Turmeric. I take two 400 mg capsules most days, and sometimes take another one when I have been really pushing it. Makes a tremendous difference for me. Buying in bulk and adding to your food, or capping your own is the most cost effective way. I also buy Turmeric from Puritan's pride sometimes when they have their buy one get three free promotion. Hope this helps you Guck and Moosedrool. What do you have to lose but some pain and discomfort?
steveA

Trad climber
bedford,massachusetts
Jan 22, 2013 - 05:04pm PT
I bet Fred Beckey feels pretty sore all the time!

Remember that pain is a mind thing; however when your fingers really don't function, or other joints like knees and hips, because there simply frozen, like a rusted nut and bolt, you have a real problem.

I just try to deal with the pain and go on from there, knowing that it sucks, but in reality, is just a mental thing.

If it wasn't for the love of climbing, I would be totally out of shape,
like all my brothers and sisters, who have no athletic interest.

At 66, I'm still getting up 5.10 trad, but not as well as my old buddy Donini; who is even older!
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jan 22, 2013 - 05:23pm PT
Go get bitten by a scorpion. No, seriously! Read the current issue of Nat Geo on venoms.
jogill

climber
Colorado
Jan 22, 2013 - 06:42pm PT
This is a sort of progress report, since I posted back in 2007. At nearly 76 I am enjoying moderate bodyweight exercises, although I gave up climbing several years ago due to severe shoulder arthritis and reduced confidence in soloing. There is a short video of me exercising with a link on the first page of my website.

I have taken glucosamine (2000 units/day) for about eight years, and so far my legs and other joints are fine - the shoulders flamed out some time ago. I take 600 mg of ibuprofen in the morning and one or two tablets (200mg) more during a 24 hour period. Without the "vitamin I" I would be in some pain whenever I used my shoulders. I admire those who disdain this NSAID and are able to function well without it, but for me it is wonderful. I have had no side-effects so far, and I have been taking it for almost a decade.
Stewart Johnson

climber
lake forest
Jan 22, 2013 - 08:56pm PT
ive got pretty bad arthritis(left leg< walk with a limp) im 53, it hurts unless i take Tumeric.or Vicoden.
i just climbed the Widows Tears last week and didnt feel too bad the next day.
its Tumeric for me.
Ken M

Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
Jan 23, 2013 - 02:22am PT
A couple of notes on things the bedevil many of us, from my 30+ years of practice:

There are different types of arthritis. Responses to treatments and outcomes will vary dramatically as to the cause. Last time I looked there were 45 different types.

Setting aside the more esoteric types, there are generally two issues to consider: structural deformities, and inflammation.

My observation is that structural deformities (a bone broke, cartilege was torn, a tendon ripped) is somewhat like a flat tire.....it doesn't matter what kind of air you put in, whether it has Turmeric or Glucosamine.....it doesn't change the abnormality. The main treatment (short of repair) is pain control.

Inflammation is very different. There also may be considerable inflammation associated with a deformity. Generally, you want to attack the inflammation, although you may ALSO attack the pain.

In western medicine, the big deal is treating with NSAIDS...such as advil.

One thing that is poorly understood is that for many of these 40-odd drugs, they treat BOTH pain and inflammation. However, the dosage may be different! For the example of Advil, the pain dosage is the OTC dose, two tabs twice a day. Pushing the dose does not really increase the pain effect, much. HOWEVER, the anti-inflammatory dose does not really kick in until you get to the prescription dosage, which would be 16 tablets a day.

There is also considerable differences in potency of these drugs. Diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam) is generally considered about the strongest, and the top dose is 75mg twice daily. It is generic, and cheap(3 months/$10)

I don't have a problem with the herbal remedies, but a word of caution: Many have not been vetted for safety, particularly over a long time. I think they are generally safe, but Caveat Emptor.

For those who have arthritis in their hands, and some other joints, an old fashioned remedy that works well for some, is a Paraffin Bath. I use one daily, and it really helps. It also treates dry skin!
You can pick them up for about $25, and no adverse reactions.
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
Jan 23, 2013 - 03:13am PT
A regular regimen of bicycling and beer seems to have kept my joints in good working order for 65 years.

I did my best to detach my left leg twelve years ago, and when they bolted it back on they told me I'd soon have arthritis in my hip, but so far that hasn't happened.

Ken M

Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
Jan 23, 2013 - 03:47am PT
The primary solution the medical establishment has for the commonplace ills of mankind are prescription and OTC drugs. Period.

Donald, while I understand why you say that, and don't totally disagree, you should have some perspective, that perhaps you don't:

Virtually all physicians spend a significant amount of time imparting information on lifestyle modification. Diabetes is a perfect example of a disease process that is prone to such modification. You can imagine the frustration of imparting such advice, and seeing it ignored. After you see 10 in a row.....100 in a row....1000 in a row. At a certain point in time, I think many physicians just give up, and move onto the things that they know will actually produce a superior outcome.

It's easy to give advice, when there is no consequence of being wrong. The example of Jim Fixx comes to mind. Could not have led a healthier lifestyle. And yet, there is virtually no doubt that medications could have saved his life.
healyje

Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
Jan 23, 2013 - 04:39am PT
jogill: I have taken glucosamine (2000 units/day) for about eight years, and so far my legs and other joints are fine - the shoulders flamed out some time ago. I take 600 mg of ibuprofen in the morning and one or two tablets (200mg) more during a 24 hour period. Without the "vitamin I" I would be in some pain whenever I used my shoulders. I admire those who disdain this NSAID and are able to function well without it, but for me it is wonderful. I have had no side-effects so far, and I have been taking it for almost a decade.

This is precisely what I did for years and years for my bad shoulder - 800mg of 'I' daily - until I started taking the Turmeric. But after three months with the turmeric I have less pain than I ever with the advil.

P.S. KenM, yes, I realize Turmeric does nothing for the condition of my shoulder, but rather just manages the pain and inflammation.
healyje

Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
Jan 23, 2013 - 04:54am PT
DT: ...the medical establishment

Ken, it's not you, Donald just has a problem with 'establishments' not on the Rovian-approved list of high lobby dollar institutions.
Messages 21 - 40 of total 101 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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