This treatment helped me

In pain management, sometimes it's the little things that help the most. If you've been living with osteoarthritis, you've probably become an expert on coping with the many daily challenges it presents. Sharing the things that have helped you, no matter how simple, can make a big difference in someone else's life.

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The American Arthritis Society reserves the right to edit any and all messages for clarity, length, and content. 

 

This treatment helped me category

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    Has anyone had luck with a otc lotion called Penetran+Plus?

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    I have arthritis in my hands and the Illinois cold weather does not help.

    I have found a paraffin hand dip helps a lot as well as mitts you heat in the microwave. I also use compression mitts from JoAnn Fabrics and can even wear them under my heavy outdoor gloves. K

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    I had my first GOUT attack about 10 years ago.

    At the beginning I was having attacks every 6 months. Then gradually I was getting them every 3 months, then every month and eventually every week. It started at my big toe and then it was moving sometimes in my knees,and generally all around my joints, in my feet. And the pain was agonising. I have tried all the cures you can imagine. I tried ACV, lemons, drinking a lot of water, but to no avail. I tried water fasting, juice fasting, baking soda, again without success. I almost gave up meat, limiting it to only once a week, gave up alcohol completely, again no success. I was living on vegetables, lots and lots of fresh fruit, milk, cheese beans and so on. My eating habits could not be healthier, or so I thought. But my gout was worsening. Then I decided to increase the amount of fruit I was consuming, thinking that if some fruit is healthy, more fruit will be more healthy. Some days I was eating fruit only, others over 10 portions a day. And alas my gout instead of improving it became chronic. I was desperate. I did not know what to do. And then one day accidentally I read an article about fructose,which is contained in fruit in large quantities. It said that it increases uric acid, in a matter of minutes. Fructose is also present in table sugar, and in HFCS, which is used in soft drinks. I put two and two together and realised what I was doing wrong. I stopped eating fruit and all other sugars, for a period of 3 weeks,and by magic I saw a dramatic improvement. Pain was gone, swelling was gone, I was fine. I re introduced fruit again in my diet but reducing them to 1 or 2 a day, and my gout completely disappeared. I do eat more meat now, and thank God everything seems to be fine.

    Fructose was my enemy!!.

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    This is what helped me the last two years, after several knee operations and no relief. Every time I eat anything containing M.S.G. (Monosodium Glutamate) my ankle or knee starts swelling and produces unbearable pain. Sometimes eating food products which contain M.S.G. happens unknowingly, since they are not disclosed on all ingredient labels. Some other companies like Campbell Soup, however do disclose the ingredients. To all those companies and the Dept. of Agriculture, thank you. M.S.G. serves as a flavor enhancer and can be found in many products like potatoe chips, salad dressings, sauce mix, almost all prepared meat products like sausages etc.

     

    Happy to have recovered from arthritis pain symptoms, I hope this will make a difference to some of you reading this.

     

    Thanks,

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    Once upon a time, I suffered from arthritis. The joints in my legs were very painful. I underwent treatment for 2 years, but alas, no drugs had any affect on my condition and I suffered from chronic pain. My aunt advised me to use alternative therapies. I went to an expert who prescribed acupuncture for me. After 2 months, my pain amazingly disappeared without warning.

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    Due to excruciating knee pain - I couldn't walk from here to there - I decided for knee implants. One knee was done in 1994, and the other six months later in 1995. What a blessing! I wrote to my orthopaedic surgeon to thank him for the operation. I felt like I could climb Mount Everest and I would advise anyone to have their knees done. I can't explain what a difference these implants make. I can now walk all around and I can stand and cook for over an hour!

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    I have lived with Arthritis for more than 40 years. What has helped me was a holistic approach to dealing with pain and includes a healthy diet, avoidance of food irritants (caffeine, sugar, salt, red meat, yeast, refined flour, cream, etc.). I have also taken into account the need for stretching exercises meditation, self hypnosis, reduction of stress, adequate sleep, apple-cider and vinegar in water taken with meals, rest, and many more things. I've written a book which was published this week called 'Drug-Free Arthritis: Secrets to Successful Living' which is now available on Amazon.com and Booksurge.com,

     

    I live pain free and am enjoying my golden years. I would like to share my message of hope with anyone out there who is eager to live with less or no pain. It can be done.

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    For lower back pain due to arthritis and spinal stenosis, I find relief by wearing "shapewear", i.e., support underwear. You can find this in any department store in the women's underwear department. In addition, learning to tighten the abdominal core muscles (in yoga or pilates classes) is helpful for use when extended standing is unavoidable, for example in airport check-in and security lines.

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    Opening Jars with a Rubber-Band on the Lid eases the pain ...

     

    My family and friends that have Arthritis noticed that the Maxwell House Instant Coffee container jars have a rubberized lid.... I came up with a simple idea that works with ALL jars - Simply take a wide-Rubber band (like the ones found on Broccoli and vegitables etc) and place it around the lid of Any jar - be it Jam, spread cheese, pickles, etc. and the jar has an easy to open grippable lid . Very easy to open and close and with little to no stress on the arthritic hands. My family and friends have found over the last year that jars are far more easy to open and close with no resistance. I share this information among this community for All to enjoy.

    Like I said - a simple WIDE Elastic-Rubber band ( like the ones found on Broccoli, etc) on the edge of a Jar lid will allow better grip for foods we all enjoy, with far less, to no strain on Your arthritic hands.

    Cheers Everyone, I hope this info helps you all as it has my family and friends.

    Sincerely, Dave Fraser.

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    After 4+ years of suffering from osteoarthritis in my hip, I elected to have hip replacement surgery! Nothing describes how good I now feel! I went through all the preliminary treatments to include yoga, losing weight, purchasing z-coil shoes, and finally having to depend on medication to help ease the pain. When the medicine stopped helping and pain was continuous day and night, I asked for surgery. For many it is the last resort--I wish I had done it sooner! Exactly six months after surgery, I walk without the use of a cane and can sit without experiencing pain. I feel absolutely wonderful!

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    In response to Mrs Ina F from Spring Hill, FL, the natural remedy that we use for leg cramps is plain mustard. When the cramp begins, swallow a tablespoon of mustard, and in most instances our relief has been instant. If you need to, take a second dose. The mustard is safe and effective.

     

    Best of luck to you from Texas.

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