Serious Subject- Arthritis,

[Surfergirl]

Hey guys I just want to let you in on a little secret my Dr. Told me about when I fell recently and hurt my cartilage in my knee. It is called Joint well I cannot tell you who makes it because I am not at home at the moment.

I am one of those people who hate taking any kind of meds whatsoever, and I am very sceptical on natural remedies; but I can tell you these things really work.

And, it also has some other great benefits. My doctor told me that one of the other ingredients has proven clinical studies to stop cancer growth, and prevent it.

[Hatterized]

have done the glucosomine condroitin as well....

for arthritic flare-up prevention...i watch and limit my intake of salt........and drink apple cider vinegar...couple of ounces in morning and at bed time...also the vinegar helps to neutralize acids....which in extreme condtions....the acids crystallize....and that is known as Gout.....a form of arthritis

[hubris 1]

When Im warm and tan. But put me in the cold climate and I cant fall asleep some nights it hurts so bad. Frank, those cold engines need a block heater maybe before you work on them.

[Fritz]

When Im warm and tan. But put me in the cold climate and I cant fall asleep some nights it hurts so bad. Frank, those cold engines need a block heater maybe before you work on them.

Alex, I am with you. In the summer or when I get to warmer weather in the winter, I feel pretty good. Right now, I have to put two hands on the rail coming down the steps in the morning. Two more weeks and I am out o' here for a few days to warm the bones and maybe cacth a fish or two.

[longfisher]

Firstly, there's more than 100 different diseases which cause arthritis. Strictly speaking, these diseases all cause pain and swelling in the joints and surrounding tissues and often lead to impairment to dysfunction to non-function in the joints. Major morbidity can accompany the disease with substantial effects of posture, gait and general mobility.

But the two most prevalent types of arthritis are rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is also know and joint wear disease. And, it's caused by physical damage to the joints and surrounding tissues. Sounds like you've had enough physical trauma in your life to have this. It gets worse with age.

Often surgical repair of joints which ultimately become so impaired and dysfunctional is the only real treatment.
Before that it's pretty much putting up with the pain and using pain killers. Sounds like you're already doing that and may have done so for years.

Osteoarthritis can sometimes develop into rheumatoid arthritis. The mechanism of this, at present, unknown.

Then there's rheumatoid arthritis which is an auto-immune disease. Auto-immune diseases (like lupus) result from the body recognizing something common within the body as not natural and attacking it via an auto-immune response. This sort of arthritis is most commonly caused by an overactive immune system or by long dormant damage to tissues and joints caused by infections long ago.

From the drugs you're taking it appears your doctor is treating you for rheumatoid arthritis. If that's the case, he's doing pretty much all that can be done with your current regimen.

I'm very sorry to hear that you don't have health insurance and that you rely on the VA. As good as they are, they're not first rate. And, you're going to pay dearly over the years with decreased function and increased morbidity by not having access to the best medicine and best physicians and best treatments available.

No, I'm not rubbing it in. This is not a political discussion. This is a clinical discussion.

But I'd encourage you to get a health policy even if you had to start or work in a business that has a group health plan. With your arthritis, particularly if I'm right and it's rheumatoid arthritis most individual medical plans won't allow you to join due to your pre-existing conditions. The only insurance outside of group you're likely to get is those darned discount plans or limited-benefit plans that are very unlikely to help you. Don't buy them The VA is going to be of more use to you than they would be.

A group plan in most states in guaranteed issue. You can't be turned down if you're in the group. Most states allow you to have but two people in the group to start a group. And, if you can verify that your wife actually works in the business yoyu could start one yourself for your own business.

It won't be cheap. But you could then get more frequent care, lower cost drugs and access to a rheumatologist who can be a world of help to you.

Just a few thoughts. Take care.

LongFisher

[NY Bearhunter]

NOTHING LIKE SOME CORTISONE AND NOVOCAINE SHOTS.

[seapower]

I've been taking Glucosimine/Chondroitin twice a day for years, been taking fish oil twice aday for years as-well. I had Lymes disease too, thats really not good for the joints. Some of the natural suppliments are made from shellfish, guess what I'm deathly alergic to shellfish. I'm going to have to get to an arthritis type DR, don't know what you would call them.
Longfisher, as much as I woulod no doubt about love to have health insurance, I simply can't afford it. It's a double edged sword, can't afford it, can't afford to be without it. I tell guys that work for company's that offer health care coverage, how fortunate they are.
Hubris, temperature doesn't seem to make a difference in my case. Although I can appreciate a warm engine room in the winter, and a little A/C in the summer. Thanks for the come backs, Frank

[clt_capt]

You would want to see a Rheumatologist - They specialize in Joint and soft tissue stuff like Arthritis

[Big Jay]

I've been taking Glucosimine/Chondroitin twice a day for years, been taking fish oil twice aday for years as-well. I had Lymes disease too, thats really not good for the joints. Some of the natural suppliments are made from shellfish, guess what I'm deathly alergic to shellfish. I'm going to have to get to an arthritis type DR, don't know what you would call them.
Longfisher, as much as I woulod no doubt about love to have health insurance, I simply can't afford it. It's a double edged sword, can't afford it, can't afford to be without it. I tell guys that work for company's that offer health care coverage, how fortunate they are.
Hubris, temperature doesn't seem to make a difference in my case. Although I can appreciate a warm engine room in the winter, and a little A/C in the summer. Thanks for the come backs, Frank

Damn Frank. Allergic to shellfish? Yeah the Alflutops wouldn't be a good idea then. Good lord. Hope ya feel better soon.

[Surfergirl]

Seapower, Tee get's gout sometimes so bad he cannot walk. I feed him tart cherries and make him drink tart cherry juice for several days. It seems to help the inflamation, and he drinks lots and lots of water to wash it out. Maybe that will help. It is aweful to see someone you love going through so much pain. If you need the name of the cherry juice and cherries we use just give me a call and I can tell you where to get them.