My strange arthritic 'flare-ups'

Yes, I get this too, it's as if my joints start 'stinging'.

Like thatbags I associated it with fighting off a cold or something similar. Or with eating/drinking something that may not suit me.
Unfortunately it gets worse if I taks cod liver oil and especially if I take glucosamine - the very things which are supposed to help.
It is bad at the moment and, as we are going out for the day, I have taken a couple of anadin for joint pain which I don't really like taking.

I take glucosamine sulphate and a cod liver oil capsule every day. I used to think this helped but now I'm not so sure.

Simple yoga exercises help but willpower is required and sometimes I lack that

At the lecture I went to in York on rheumatology and orthopaedics giving me all the latest treatments and research, it said ' the jury is still out on glucosamine!'

rubylady, I was interested to read your bit about a tight throat. I get this occasionally and so does DD. It's really unpleasant, especially when you're trying to relax after a busy day.

I will definitely do a bit of research on magnesium deficiency.

Merlot.

"He'll have me plugged in to the pressure washer".

I've had OA for years and now Osteoporosis. I have tried practically everything going , there is no miracle supliment in my opinion. That's not to say what doesn't work for one person will not work for another so I am certainly not dismissing anybody's personal findings! Probably because arthritis and associated issues vary so much from one person to another.

When I see people of my age striding along coastal walks, hill climbing or ski-ing, I wonder whether they're just lucky with their genes or stuffed full of painkillers.

The one I know is just lucky with her genes I think. She is not on any medication at all.
She happens to be a physiotherapist. I did ask recently if that had any bearing on her own health at all, but she said no.

A recently retired physiotherapist.

Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis common in older people - some get it, some don't. From what I have read and researched, you can exercise, eat the "right" foods (and I think I do) take supplements etc. etc. but if your joints are going to wear out, they will. There may be an inherited tendency in some cases.

This isn't fatalistic, just how I see it. Fortunately, a lot of the damage is fixable, thank goodness. #thebionicwoman

Thanks for that Galen. My rheumatologist recommended I stop glucosamine and chondriatin supplements. She said the evidence to date didn't support its use for inflammatory arthritis and to give my kidneys a break (I take prescribed meds so my kidneys work hard enough)

A friend who is 2 years older than me (so early 70s) said she never gets aches or pains or even a headache.

She has always walked a lot with her dog (on the flat) and, as far as I can tell, eats a normal diet without supplements.

I think it is just down to luck or genes.
I do think magnesium helps relax muscles abd could help prevent cramp abd is reputed to be good for lowering blood pressure.

I saw a programme years ago about [I think] a medical school where they had a patient who could hardly move and it turned out it was a magnesium deficiency, gave them some and it was like the raising of Lazarus.

Rubylady, I take combined Magnesium+calcium ; also vits B12&6, combined vitC +lycine and vitD.

The jury is still out on glucosamine. All I can say is I had my arthirits under control for five years, then stopped taken glucosamin three months ago. I've just had a flare up that stopped me walking for two weeks. I'm now back on it and things are settling down slowly.

Co-incidence? Placebo effect? Maybe or maybe not.

Glucosamine and chondroitin come mainly from a fish or shellfish source so if you are allergic to fish/shellfish you might react to the tablets.
I have had difficulty sourcing magnesium tablets.

Rose Superdrug do magnesium tablets. Check the dose though.

amarmai Do the magnesium do you any good? What is the condition you take it for if you don't mind me asking?

Tegan Do you take magnesium at all?

Merlot It certainly has helped me. I've struggled to find out what the condition is, I can't be the only one. My doctor had never heard of it but it really hurt, especially if I bent down, it felt like a vice on my throat from the inside though. I've a new doctor now and it is nearly 18 years since I first suffered from it so they might know something now. Do either of you take tablets ending in ..zide, or water tablets? I got pulmonary edema when I had my son, he was a few days old (I gave birth in 57 mins) and the doctor was called, venflon with diuretics straight into hand, on toilet for ages urinating. In hospital for a few days, sent home on water tablets. I do think it robbed my body very fast of magnesium at this time. He was 5 weeks old when I first had a bad attack. But like I said, I had to find out myself what would help and what I was probably lacking. It has helped tremendously since. Let me know how it goes will you please?

Rose please check with a doctor, don't just take my word for it. Look up online about it, it's interesting.

Thanks rubylady

DD recommends them too, and for cramp.
She has done a lot of nutritional training and brought some with her last time she came over.

I know you have to be careful with the dose as they are a muscle relaxant - too high a dose could have you running to the loo!

The consultant giving the lecture also said that the commonest cause of arthritis appeared to be hereditary

Arthritis is a horrible disease. My uncle, a GP himself, tried every 'cure' going. Nothing worked. He ended up horribly disabled, needing a carer and a hoist to get him out of bed in the morning.

The cost to the NHS, the patient and their families and carers must be horrendous, both in money, pain and frustration. Isn't it about time some serious money was put into research to find the causes (which I suspect are multiple) and a cure, or at least decent pain relief.

I'm reassured by your conference / lecture on it Galen but wonder if you came away with the feeling that things are moving forward or not?

I'd had a number of negative blood tests for inflammatory arthritis after the birth of my last child. My hands became hot and swollen around fingers and joints, wrists and hands weak so I struggled to open bottles, hold the steering wheel. One morning, I woke and couldn't move, I eventually rolled out of bed, but my legs were very weak. 8 years later, I developed inflammatory eye disease and the GP I saw on that occasion has a special interest in arthritis/rheumatology. He and the rheumatologist he referred me to both said negative blood tests with positive symptoms should have led to a referral years earlier. Evidently, a flare up after pregnancy is classic. A family history was taken which confirmed I had the genetic base and glandular fever in my 20's left my immune system compromised so the RA took off.

Galen will be more up to date after the lecture,but so far as I'm concerned, things are improving. The newer drugs are wonderful, though of course not risk free, in fact they are risky. I've had one bad reaction but the last 2 years have had more energy and less pain/stiffness than for the previous many years. That's down to disease modifiers - for which I am grateful

I've felt pretty good this winter; retired over a year ago so not so stressed..have been exercising and having saunas. Even started walking again last week. However, although I don't appear to have a cold or virus or anything I've felt lousy for the past few days and all of my joints seem to ache. I can only assume it's this depressing, damp weather at the moment.

Evidently, a flare up after pregnancy is classic

iam64 I had what was diagnosed as 'gout' in the latter stages of pregnancy 2 and for months afterwards. Eventually, after stopping feeding DC2 I was given a cortisone injection which helped a lot.
A neighbour was in terrible pain during and after pregnancy no. 3 (she had 3 babies in 5 years). She was told that ligaments lengthened and joints 'softened' in preparation for the birth.

I was told I had 'longer than normal' ligaments that was why I had problems with my feet.

Galen would probably know if that is rubbish or not.

Rubylady, the calcium tablets come combined with magnesium for better absorbtion. I have been told that i have osteoartritis. I find moderate exercise is helpful e.g. bike riding.swimming...

I still think, having been on denial for each joint, and tried all these supplements, custom made orthotics, sleeping positions and diets etc. that, eventually one has to admit that one's joints are shot, and do something about it. (Still accepting that there are always exceptions..)