Biking-Severe Arthritis-Vitamins-Supplements

[pardes]

By the time my mother and grandmother were 50 neither of them could walk across the walk the room without debilitating pain from osteoarthritis. Mom had it the worst and needed a walker shortly after that and was on high levels of addictive pain killers until her death. Genetically I seem to be taking after them but have decided to find alternative treatments that don't involve opiate or similar drugs which I'm allergic to physically and against philosophically.

It's no joke that I can't walk fifty feet without severe pain but I can bike for miles without exacerbating the pain. Even though the arthritis is in my spine, hips and now starting in my knees, since biking isn't weight bearing, the weightless but constant movement of biking has helped considerably in taking the terrible edge off the pain. In other words, I'm much better off physically and mentally since taking up commuting every day to work.

However, the winters are hard on arthritis sufferers and I'm upping the supplements that I've found helpful. I don't suggest that anyone take what I'm taking but I'm interested in what others have found helpful with arthritis pain.

Both prescription and OTC NSAIDs are currently under fire for recent studies linking them to everything from sudden fatal GI bleeds, to strokes, and heart attacks - especially in "senior" citizens. Consequently I stay away from all of them although when things get too unbearable to breathe, I will take a short course of Celebrex to take the edge off the pain.

Meanwhile, the vitamins and supplements I've found helpful are:

Boswellin
Celadrin
S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe)
Salmon Oil
Vitamin E
Vitamin C
Geriatric Multi-Vitamin

I can bike for 10-15 miles a day without major adverse effects the following days but that is the hairy edge. If I go over the 15 mile limit, I'm toast for a few days moaning and groaning and creaking around looking 93 instead of 63.

How about the rest of you "seniors:" Have you found anything else that is helpful to extending your biking abilities?

[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]

Have you tried glucosamine and condroitin?

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

[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?

[Zen]

Meh-
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/n...,5517946.story

[shootingstar]

Despite your pain, I'm impressed by your ongoing enthusiasm with cycling. If it weren't for cycling, you probably feel may not feel as positive as you are now, however imperfect that feeling is.

[Trek420]

Keep movin' that's all I do.

My arth philosophy somewhere below. I don't eat or take anything special. There are foods that have anecdotal evidence that they help. But just keep moving.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=17179

[michelem]

My mom swears by Sam-e (she said it took a couple months of consistent use to notice anything, and then the difference was remarkable). She said that her rheumotologist advised against glucosamine/chondroitin (sp?) as ineffective. She's also been advised to keep her omega-3mega-6 ratio as close to 1:2 or even better 1:1 as much as possible (the typical american diet is closer to 1:20 or more!). She wants to stay away from rx meds as long as possible. Warm water pool therapy seems to be helping her as well.

I believe my mother gets her supplements through VitaCost and said that the prices are even much better than Costco. Before retiring, with a written note from her dr. including her diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, she was able to get FSA reimbursement for her supplements.

[Tuckervill]

I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my knees a couple of weeks ago. I started taking a prescription NSAID (meloxicam) then, and it has worked wonders for me. But, I've been having the pain for at least 4 years, and I just got around to going to the doctor--that explains how bad the pain wasn't, I guess. (Really I just knew he'd say I have arthritis and to take NSAIDs, which is exactly what happened. I'm happy to know for sure, and not worry about other things.)

Anyway, the knee pain is what started me riding a bike again after a 20+ year hiatus--that, and I got a bike kinda by accident. The more I rode, the better my knees felt. I do take really good care of my knees by not doing things I know will hurt them, but I also run a mile +/- once or twice a week and do 100 jumping jacks once a week. I never ever thought I'd be able to run, and the doctor doesn't really recommend it. However, I think those kinds of activities, while I'm still young enough to be able to work up to it, have helped my knees feel better. The tendons and muscles are stronger and there's no imbalance anymore from mostly sitting in the recliner! In fact, my touring bike, which is set up differently than my road bike, kinda forces me to mash more than I used to, and that actually makes my knees feel GOOD!

So, if you're not a "senior" and you're just beginning to get symptoms, I'd say work up to a sustainable level of exercise, and you'll keep more fitness as you age. (duh.)

Karen

[pardes]

My mom swears by Sam-e (she said it took a couple months of consistent use to notice anything, and then the difference was remarkable). She said that her rheumotologist advised against glucosamine/chondroitin (sp?) as ineffective. She's also been advised to keep her omega-3mega-6 ratio as close to 1:2 or even better 1:1 as much as possible (the typical american diet is closer to 1:20 or more!). She wants to stay away from rx meds as long as possible. Warm water pool therapy seems to be helping her as well.

I believe my mother gets her supplements through VitaCost and said that the prices are even much better than Costco. Before retiring, with a written note from her dr. including her diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, she was able to get FSA reimbursement for her supplements.

Thanks for the VERY helpful tips! I'm so glad to know she uses VitaCost. Their prices ARE much better but I was worried about the quality of the products. I'll give them a try.

Also, I will work on the omega-3/omega-6 ratios. Thanks for that tip. Please give my best regards to your Mom!