Will getting clipped in help my knees?

[joyrider]

Saw my sports med doc on Friday. She said that with my knees, hills are going to give me pain. Period. She said I had arthritis in both knees, and she said she didn't like to tell me NOT to ride, but left the statement hanging, implying to me that if she could, she would. She said I just needed to do what I could to minimize "wear and tear" from here out, recommended glucosamine, and to keep up my exercises. Not very positive.
Argh! I really think it's my weight that makes docs think that the best I can hope for is to boogie down in water aerobics twice a week and to enjoy a full twenty minutes of chair stretching on Sundays.
Once we got talking, though, she said that getting fitted, losing weight, and getting clipped in all might help.
So I want to thank you folks again for being truly supportive. I know I can make this work. I think, though, that I need to switch to a solution oriented doctor.

[CorsairMac]

Keep us posted!!

[MomOnBike]

Joy,

Good for you, keeping the doc talking 'til there were more ideas about riding. I agree, getting a real fitting will probably help. Also, if you go clipless you can gear down and spin to give your knees a break. The idea is to reduce the pressure of each pedal stroke.

Go ahead and start taking glucosamine. But buy the glucosamine/chondroitin (sp?) supplements. The combination works much better than glucosamine alone. And give them time, it won't happen overnight, but your joints will start to feel better. Yes, that's what I take - the dog, too.

And don't give up on the water aerobics. Think of it as easy-on-the-joints cross-training.

MomOnBike (who really should get back in the pool and shape up the non-biking parts)

[CorsairMac]

Go ahead and start taking glucosamine. But buy the glucosamine/chondroitin (sp?) supplements. The combination works much better than glucosamine alone. And give them time, it won't happen overnight, but your joints will start to feel better. Yes, that's what I take - the dog, too.

MomOnBike (who really should get back in the pool and shape up the non-biking parts)

My turn to play mom now: just a word of warning, if you have a shellfish allergy, don't take glucosamine as it's made from shellfish.

Corsair "learned that the hard way" Mac

[Jennifer Gallow]

one more note -- Glucosamine is also in the Tangerine Emergen-C -- get your vitamin C at the same time!

[fixedgeargirl]

MSM may help with the chronic pain, too. I started taking it after reading a pamphlet from a natural grocery store which discussed studies done on MSM and osteoarthritis pain. In a nutshell, most people quit analgesics once they began taking 500mg. per day.

A daily dull ache was creeping into my left knee, which underwent ACL reconstruction last year. I saw quick relief once I started on MSM, in addition to glucosamine, and can feel it when I haven't had my dose.

[spazzdog]

I took glucosamine and MSM for my knees when I was marathon training. Dropped the chondroitin.

Glucosamine comes as a sulfate and a hydrochloride (HCI). So beware of shellfish allergies AND issues with sulfates.

The combo of glucosamine and MSM worked great for me back then. If I run into problems while cycling I'd do it again.

Oh, one other thing... not sure if anyone here experienced this but me and a few others I know got a bit, er... "tooty" on the MSM. It went away after about a week on the combo.