Biking-Severe Arthritis-Vitamins-Supplements

[beccaB]

Have you tried glucosamine and condroitin?

[Zen]

Glucosamine/chondrointin have been found not to be effective

I can't walk far either but I'm hoping to get a half-century this summer. I don't take any drugs except for the occasional ibuprofen. On days I feel really creaky i slather on some BenGay type of ointment and sit in a hot bath for about ten minutes.

[pardes]

I can't walk far either but I'm hoping to get a half-century this summer.

I'm surprised there isn't more active publicity for seniors biking since I've heard the same thing from several biking seniors. It has to be one of the best kept secrets of biking that seniors can be competitive bikers when they can't run ten yards.

I'm going to do a little of my own campaigning about it this spring by advertising at local LBS and groups for "Elderberry Biking" for fun, camaraderie, and welcome pain management. There isn't much available for beginner and "just for fun" bikers in this area, particularly for beginning seniors.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Are you getting enough protein in your daily diet? Check it out, it might help.

[pardes]

Are you getting enough protein in your daily diet? Check it out, it might help.

I'm a certifiable carnivore whose teeth itches if I don't get enough flesh in my diet. Gawd that sounds awful, but true. Chicken, salmon, and now and then rationed beef are big on my hit parade of foods and running neck and neck with fresh vegetables and fruit. If anything, my diet alone probably kept me from being as debilitated as my mother and grandmother who grew up on Pennsylvania Dutch sweet fatty starchy food.

[Zen]

I don't know what a "senior" is but it ain't me.
I wrote to this group about their use of the term.

They pretty much said "meh".
If I make it to 70 then I might accept it.

[pardes]

They pretty much said "meh".

What does "meh" mean?

[pardes]

Have you tried glucosamine and condroitin?

Neither or in combination had any effect for me. That was one of the first things I tried.

[beccaB]

Neither or in combination had any effect for me. That was one of the first things I tried.

I have heard some stories of Glucosamine and Chondroitin not working. My problem isn't arthritis, but a torn Rotator Cuff and tendonitis with impingement.
I swear it works for me even though research shows it's not effective on those things.
I also try to eat certain fruits that have anti-inflammatory effects, such as pineapples and pitted fruits.
I also take fish oil and "try" to stay away from too much sugar, because sugar has an inflammatory effect.

[SouthernBelle]

I have no suggestions. But I wanted to mention that I read somewhere that Georgena Terry (in her 70s) walks with crutches but can ride you into the ground.

[michelem]

Oh, I almost forgot (actually, I did until I was reminded by salsabike's post in the "SADD [sic] that time of year" thread). Make sure to get your vitamin d levels tested. Both mine and my mother's were abnormally low. Here's the article salsabike posted:

http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/art...arthritis.html

[pardes]

Oh, I almost forgot (actually, I did until I was reminded by salsabike's post in the "SADD [sic] that time of year" thread). Make sure to get your vitamin d levels tested. Both mine and my mother's were abnormally low. Here's the article salsabike posted:

http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/art...arthritis.html

Thanks! I managed to catch that thread when it was posted and my ears perked up.

[Zen]

I also try to eat certain fruits that have anti-inflammatory effects, such as pineapples and pitted fruits.
.

When I had cellulitis, yogurt was recommended as an anti-inflammatory.

[sundial]

Pardes, I found staying away from processed foods, and things that are white in color helped me more than anything. Sugar, flour, white potatoes, pasta, milk products, etc causes my arthritis to flare up big time. Also, shade plants such as tomatoes and eggplant don't do me any favors.

If you can stay limber and cycle frequently, that will help more than any supplement in my opinion.

By the way, I ran across my cane the other day. Hoping I won't be using that anytime soon.

[OakLeaf]

What I've read about glucosamine and chondroitin is basically three things.
-Glucosamine HCl is useless, glucosamine sulfate may be useful.
-Glucosamine sulfate demonstrably rebuilds cartilage and slows deterioration of cartilage.
-Glucosamine does not necessarily relieve pain.

That's in line with the fact that no one actually knows what pain is. Radiological evidence of osteoarthritis does not correlate well with pain. I'll continue to take glucosamine to protect my joints, whether or not it's useful for pain relief. I do get some pain relief from it, but I'll grant that it may be placebo effect. My guess is that it probably prevents much more pain than it relieves... but of course that's impossible to measure.

I've had better results with shark cartilage than with bovine glucosamine/chondroitin, but I hesitate to take it since sharks are so overfished. You never know if it's really by-product cartilage, and even if it is, whether the meat was legally and sustainably fished.

My dog had excellent results with Adequan injections (glucosamine/chondroitin). Oral forms really didn't help her much, and I'm pretty sure there was no placebo effect involved with her shots.

SAM-e sent my blood pressure sky-high.

I'm generally skeptical of mainstream medicine doing research on supplements, not because I assume any direct bias, but because the studies are often designed around forms of the supplement that are already known to be the least effective.

Green tea and foods high in omega-3s like nuts and leafy greens are known to be anti-inflammatory. Sugar and caffeine are thought to promote inflammation. Yes I know green tea has some caffeine.

It doesn't cost anything to do a challenge diet for food sensitivities and allergies, and it can be very revealing. When your immune system is stressed by food allergies, systemic inflammation can't help with joint pain.

Supplements only go so far - most of this should happen through (1) good body mechanics, (2) regular activity through a full range of motion, (3) healthy diet, (4) if necessary, other therapies such as acupuncture, massage, heat/cold therapy, occasional homeopathic treatments.