After a couple of months the pain hadn’t gotten any better, in fact it was getting worse. So I finally did the sensible thing and went to see my doctor. She sent me to have some x-rays, and after further examination I was told I had osteoarthritis. I have to admit this floored me. Ok, so I was 52 years old and not as fit as I used to be, but my immediate thought was “hey, that’s not fair! I’ve never been overweight, always tried to eat healthily and look after myself”. Of course, fairness has nothing to do with it, and I later learned that osteoarthritis is more common in people who have suffered some sort of trauma to the affected joint. I had fallen off a horse over 20 years previously and landed very badly on my right hip, whilst nothing was actually broken (or so I was told), it’s quite possible this precipitated my arthritis.

On explaining my condition, two words my doctor used stuck in my mind: “progressive” and “incurable.” These were definitely not in the top ten list of words I hoped to hear on the subject. The Initial treatment she advised included taking regular, non-impact exercise, like swimming (this was good as I’ve always loved it, and swim every week) and Tylenol for the pain. I was told that in the future surgical intervention might be necessary.

I like to take a proactive approach to life, but I left the doctor feeling like there wasn’t much I could do beyond what I was already doing (exercising regularly, but not overdoing it, and generally looking after myself). So, I started to read as much as I could about my condition. I read the about natural, and not so natural, supplements available and the dietary therapies some people swear by. I read articles written by chiropractors and physiotherapists. Having a keen interest in alternative and complimentary therapies, I also explored acupuncture and magnetic therapy. I spent months on my private research mission, and these are the four things I found work for me to reduce the pain and stiffness in my hip and help me to cope with my arthritis:

1. I take regular exercise. I like swimming best, it’s aerobic (if you put some effort into it!) and doesn’t over-stress your joints.

2. I take supplements containing cetyl myristoleate. Huh? I hear you say. Of the many supplements on the market, the most well known are probably glucosamine and chondroitin (often taken together). Of the two glucosamine is more widely accepted, in fact it’s recommended by the European League Against Rheumatism. I took glucosamine on its own for a while and did notice some benefits, but I found a supplement combining it with cetyl myristoleate worked even better at reducing the pain and stiffness.

3. I attend Tai Chi classes. I find this keeps me flexible and improves my balance — as well as being very relaxing.

4. I keep a positive attitude. I have found that there are many positive steps I can take to help myself and I have started to feel in control of my condition, rather than it controlling me.

Exercise the pain away
Many (relatively) fit and healthy people are exercise-phobic. They have become masters of procrastination, always putting off that jog or visit to the gym as they don’t have time right now. Those who suffer from pain and restricted movement in their joints have a much better excuse — it can be difficult enough just standing up to walk to the bathroom, let alone taking any real exercise. However, the benefits of motivating yourself to exercise regularly really do make the initial effort worthwhile.

There are many exercise programs specifically designed for people who suffer from arthritis or similar complaints. I would suggest you ask your doctor or physiotherapist for advice regarding the best exercise regime for your particular situation. My doctor stressed that warming up before a workout is absolutely vital. Start off slowly with some gentle stretching, this will help to warm up your muscles. You should not bounce when stretching. If it starts to hurt, then stop that particular motion.

My favorite exercise, and one which I’ve heard recommended time and time again, is swimming. I find being weightless in a pool immensly relaxing in itself and swimming is an exercise that’s easily tailored to your personal level of fitness. Lots of exercises, such as running, walking and cycling essentially consist of repetitive actions with the same joint motions occuring over and over again, and a specific set of muscles repeating the same movements for the duration of the exercise. This is where swimming really comes up trumps. You can exercise pretty much any muscle group at will, with one session giving your whole body a workout if desired.

Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Cetyl Myristoleate
Ok, so that’s not a heading that’s likely to appeal to anyone except the odd chemist among you. But these three supplements taken separately or together, are the most popular ones currently on the market. Many studies have shown their beneficial effect in reducing the symptoms of arthritis and related conditions. Personally, I take a supplement which includes both glucosamine and CM, and I highly recommend this combination.

As with other similar supplements, it is normally recommended to take Chondroitin or a combined Chondroitin/Glucosamine supplement for a period of three months whilst closely monitoring the effect. If no improvement has taken place after this time, it probably never will and you would be advised to stop taking them.

Many people find this substance helpful in managing their symptoms and it’s extremely unlikely to do you any harm even if it doesn’t work for you. Many studies have been carried out on Cetyl myristoleate and no harmful effects have ever been found, even in very high doses. Though, as with any medicine, if you have any doubts or questions you should consult your doctor before taking these supplements. Health practitioners often recommend trying the supplement for a period of three months to see if it works for you.

Some people achieve relief through physical therapies designed to improve joint motion and muscle strength. There are many therapeutic techniques available depending on your specific case. However, this approach doesn’t benefit everybody and if you don’t notice an improvement after a couple months, then you probably never will.

Exercise

Regular exercise helps to keep your joints moving freely and tones the muscles which help to support them. Non-impact exercises are highly recommended. Especially beneficial for osteoarthritis sufferers are swimming, walking and possibly cycling. There are many exercise programes specially designed for those with osteoarthritis, and it’s always a good idea to consult your physician to find an appropriate regime for you. A healthy diet will also help, particularly if you are overweight.

Supplements

Supplements containing Cetyl Myristoleate, Glucosamine or Chondroitin may help to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. They can be found individually as well as in combination with each other. Glucosamine is the more widely used option and is recognized by the ELAR (European League Against Rheumatism).

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease, affecting more women than men, which causes inflammation of the joints, such as those in the wrists, ankles and feet, and often problems elsewhere in the body. It can appear at any age and varies in severity from person to person. Those suffering from it generally endure more pain when the affected joints have been immobile for a period of time.

Osteoarthritis

Your chances of suffering from osteoarthritis increase with age and while there appears to be a genetic link – you are more likely to be affected if other members of your family are – the exact cause as yet remains unknown. The disease causes the cartilage between the joints to wear away, causing pain as your bones grate against one another.

Gout

Gout is caused by a build up of uric acid within the synovial fluid which surrounds your joints, resulting in inflammation and often severe pain. Again, the exact cause has yet to be discovered. The most commonly affected joint is the big toe. Some people have acute attacks which come on suddenly and disappear in a few days, others suffer from chronic gout.

Bursitis

Normally affecting the hips, knees, elbows or shoulders, bursitis is a disease of the bursae – the cavities near joints where muscles or tendons pass over the bone. Its causes include infection, injury and rheumatoid arthritis.