Various Topics on Arthritis

....

Around 2 months back, my wife (38 years old) started having pain in one
of her knees. Mainly the pain happens when she squats - sometimes so bad
that
she couldn't squat - other times it used to be Ok.There was a small swelling
also,
& very little redness. We had visited the doctor - he said we aren't going
to make a diagnosis now - we will wait for a couple of weeks, before we
send her for tests etc. He said this could be an injury or osteoarthritis or
rheumatoid arthritis.
He gave her a COX-2 inhibitor & asked her to return after 2 weeks.
He didn't ask her to stop activity, but said that she should avoid it
whenever she could - i.e. if she could sit & cook, she should do that
rather than standing & doing it. Likewise, avoid unneccessary walking
- combine trips etc. Excersies to be done while sitting or sleeping &
that too only after a week or two.

After 3-4 days she started getting chest pains & I did a little googling
about COX-2 inbitors & we called the doctor. He asked her to stop
the medicine & visit him. However we are currently travelling & hence
will be visiting him only after a couple of weeks more.
However, the chest pain stopped immediatelly after stopping the Cox-2
inhibitor.

In the mean time, on the advice of an aunt, my wife started a few things.
- Glucosamine 500 - thrice a day
- Chondroitin 400 - thrice a day
- Garlic - 2 pieces in the morning
- Calcium supplements.

10 days of this & her pain has reduced by 70%. There is only trace
pain left now.

Since she took multiple stuff, we don't know if any of them caused
the improvement or did it happen automatically.
Since there is a couple of weeks more till she visits the doc, I wanted
to know the opinion of people here - does this sound like arthritis -
what type?
How long can one take Glucosamine/Chondroitin - i.e.is it to be
taken lifelong or only for a few months? Any other supplements
which may help? Will applying ice/heat help?

Also my wife has stopped all kinds of excercise since this
started. She used to do an hour of walking everyday & 1/2
hour of dancing few times a week, earlier. She has almost
stopped this. She is marginally overweight - 5 to 10 pounds.
What kind of exercise is safe for her to do?

The doctor she visited for this is not our regular doc.
Our regular doc is on a 6 month vacation or something.
He will be back only in Aug/Sept. We will visit the
other doc once we are back from our travel, however.

..rv.. .. ..o..

Hi jeev,,,, Donna G. has replied to you with good information and I just
want to add a few pennys to the two cents worth through your message.
"Jeev" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:g2vlsd$jtj$1@news.datemas.de...
> Around 2 months back, my wife (38 years old) started having pain in one
> of her knees. Mainly the pain happens when she squats - sometimes so bad
> that
> she couldn't squat - other times it used to be Ok.There was a small
> swelling also,
> & very little redness.

Squats are out if there is swelling/redness... Way to much pressure on an
inflamed joint.


We had visited the doctor - he said we aren't going
> to make a diagnosis now - we will wait for a couple of weeks, before we
> send her for tests etc. He said this could be an injury or osteoarthritis
> or
> rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheu. can start with just one joint but in this case it most unlikely.
Rheu. usually has pain and swelling on both sides of the body. The truth of
it is that it does take a Rheumatologist to say and a completely different
type of treatment to deal with it.


> He gave her a COX-2 inhibitor & asked her to return after 2 weeks.
> He didn't ask her to stop activity, but said that she should avoid it
> whenever she could - i.e. if she could sit & cook, she should do that
> rather than standing & doing it. Likewise, avoid unneccessary walking
> - combine trips etc. Excersies to be done while sitting or sleeping &
> that too only after a week or two.
>
> After 3-4 days she started getting chest pains & I did a little googling
> about COX-2 inbitors & we called the doctor. He asked her to stop
> the medicine & visit him. However we are currently travelling & hence
> will be visiting him only after a couple of weeks more.

Hhhhm, How DO you KNOW it has nothing to do with her heart??? Aaah well, I
know how important travelling is... She can wait,,, maybe.


> However, the chest pain stopped immediatelly after stopping the Cox-2
> inhibitor.

Most likely is was acid reflux but is most likely good enough??


>
> In the mean time, on the advice of an aunt, my wife started a few things.
> - Glucosamine 500 - thrice a day
> - Chondroitin 400 - thrice a day
> - Garlic - 2 pieces in the morning
> - Calcium supplements.
>
> 10 days of this & her pain has reduced by 70%. There is only trace
> pain left now.

But the 70% could be from the stoppage of excessive exercise for a stressed
joint.


>
> Since she took multiple stuff, we don't know if any of them caused
> the improvement or did it happen automatically.
> Since there is a couple of weeks more till she visits the doc, I wanted
> to know the opinion of people here - does this sound like arthritis -
> what type?

It takes a doctor to decide that. I would not think it is arthritis just
yet but it most likely will be if abuse of the joint is continued.


> How long can one take Glucosamine/Chondroitin - i.e.is it to be
> taken lifelong or only for a few months? Any other supplements
> which may help? Will applying ice/heat help?
Can't help you on the supplements but 15min of heat and 15 min of cold has
helped many people.

>
> Also my wife has stopped all kinds of excercise since this
> started. She used to do an hour of walking everyday & 1/2
> hour of dancing few times a week, earlier. She has almost
> stopped this. She is marginally overweight - 5 to 10 pounds.
> What kind of exercise is safe for her to do?

Stretching, less time walking,,, any swimming exercise but pain and
swelling must be allowed for. You just do not exercise a swollen joint.
That makes things worse.

>
> The doctor she visited for this is not our regular doc.
> Our regular doc is on a 6 month vacation or something.
> He will be back only in Aug/Sept. We will visit the
> other doc once we are back from our travel, however.
>
Good idea,,,, enough guessing and Aunts advice with other peoples ideas.
Your wife is worth more than that and your wife is going to gain weight if
she is still eating the way she did before she injured her knee. There is
no good way to handle that for a husband but try your best and good
traveling.
Harv

....

"Harvey R. Stone" <hrstone@swbell.net> wrote in message
news:mrP4k.8086$jI5.1128@flpi148.ffdc.sbc.com...
> Hi jeev,,,, Donna G. has replied to you with good information and I
> just want to add a few pennys to the two cents worth through your message.
> "Jeev" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:g2vlsd$jtj$1@news.datemas.de...
>> Around 2 months back, my wife (38 years old) started having pain in one
>> of her knees. Mainly the pain happens when she squats - sometimes so bad
>> that
>> she couldn't squat - other times it used to be Ok.There was a small
>> swelling also,
>> & very little redness.
>
> Squats are out if there is swelling/redness... Way to much pressure on an
> inflamed joint.

Thank you for your reply.

She was never doing squats as an exercise. Just occasional squatting to
pick something on the floor or to get something from the bottom drawer
was when she first noticed the problem.

> We had visited the doctor - he said we aren't going
>> to make a diagnosis now - we will wait for a couple of weeks, before we
>> send her for tests etc. He said this could be an injury or osteoarthritis
>> or
>> rheumatoid arthritis.
>
> Rheu. can start with just one joint but in this case it most unlikely.
> Rheu. usually has pain and swelling on both sides of the body. The truth
> of it is that it does take a Rheumatologist to say and a completely
> different type of treatment to deal with it.
>
>
>> He gave her a COX-2 inhibitor & asked her to return after 2 weeks.
>> He didn't ask her to stop activity, but said that she should avoid it
>> whenever she could - i.e. if she could sit & cook, she should do that
>> rather than standing & doing it. Likewise, avoid unneccessary walking
>> - combine trips etc. Excersies to be done while sitting or sleeping &
>> that too only after a week or two.
>>
>> After 3-4 days she started getting chest pains & I did a little googling
>> about COX-2 inbitors & we called the doctor. He asked her to stop
>> the medicine & visit him. However we are currently travelling & hence
>> will be visiting him only after a couple of weeks more.
>
> Hhhhm, How DO you KNOW it has nothing to do with her heart???
> Aaah well,
> I know how important travelling is... She can wait,,, maybe.

My wife has suffered multiple health issues over the last few years.
Some gynaec issues, a minor accident, chronic sinusitis. She has visited
the doctor/hospital over the last few years & because of that she hates
going to the doc I have to really really nag her to get her to agree
to visit a doctor :-(
And she has had some bad experiences with a couple of doctors before
we found our current doc.

>> However, the chest pain stopped immediatelly after stopping the Cox-2
>> inhibitor.
>
> Most likely is was acid reflux but is most likely good enough??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etoricoxib

This is the pain killer.
It is known to cause heart issues. Anyway, we did visit a hospital
a couple of days after she stopped the medication. They did some tests
& they said she seems OK as far as the heart is concerned.


>> In the mean time, on the advice of an aunt, my wife started a few things.
>> - Glucosamine 500 - thrice a day
>> - Chondroitin 400 - thrice a day
>> - Garlic - 2 pieces in the morning
>> - Calcium supplements.
>>
>> 10 days of this & her pain has reduced by 70%. There is only trace
>> pain left now.
>
> But the 70% could be from the stoppage of excessive exercise for a
> stressed joint.

She had stopped exercise 2 months back even before she visited
the doctor first time, but didn't make any difference. Even the
pain killer didn't make much of a difference in the 3-4 days she
took it. But all of a sudden the pain reduced after taking these
for a few days.

>> Since she took multiple stuff, we don't know if any of them caused
>> the improvement or did it happen automatically.
>> Since there is a couple of weeks more till she visits the doc, I wanted
>> to know the opinion of people here - does this sound like arthritis -
>> what type?
>
> It takes a doctor to decide that. I would not think it is arthritis
> just yet but it most likely will be if abuse of the joint is continued.

>> How long can one take Glucosamine/Chondroitin - i.e.is it to be
>> taken lifelong or only for a few months? Any other supplements
>> which may help? Will applying ice/heat help?
> Can't help you on the supplements but 15min of heat and 15 min of cold has
> helped many people.
>
>>
>> Also my wife has stopped all kinds of excercise since this
>> started. She used to do an hour of walking everyday & 1/2
>> hour of dancing few times a week, earlier. She has almost
>> stopped this. She is marginally overweight - 5 to 10 pounds.
>> What kind of exercise is safe for her to do?
>
> Stretching, less time walking,,, any swimming exercise but pain and
> swelling must be allowed for.

Thank you. She doesn't swim. Walking & dancing used be her main
exercise, but it looks like those are out!!. Is something like walking
for 10-15 minutes risky if she isn't in pain?


> You just do not exercise a swollen joint.
> That makes things worse.
>
>>
>> The doctor she visited for this is not our regular doc.
>> Our regular doc is on a 6 month vacation or something.
>> He will be back only in Aug/Sept. We will visit the
>> other doc once we are back from our travel, however.
>>
> Good idea,,,, enough guessing and Aunts advice with other peoples ideas.
> Your wife is worth more than that and your wife is going to gain weight if
> she is still eating the way she did before she injured her knee.

She has cut down her food - she has a gained a pound or 2, but not
more than that.

> There
> is no good way to handle that for a husband but try your best and good
> traveling.
> Harv

.... ..l..

Jeev wrote:
> Around 2 months back, my wife (38 years old) started having pain in one
> of her knees. Mainly the pain happens when she squats - sometimes so bad
> that
> she couldn't squat - other times it used to be Ok.There was a small swelling
> also,
> & very little redness. We had visited the doctor - he said we aren't going
> to make a diagnosis now - we will wait for a couple of weeks, before we
> send her for tests etc. He said this could be an injury or osteoarthritis or
> rheumatoid arthritis.
> He gave her a COX-2 inhibitor & asked her to return after 2 weeks.
> He didn't ask her to stop activity, but said that she should avoid it
> whenever she could - i.e. if she could sit & cook, she should do that
> rather than standing & doing it. Likewise, avoid unneccessary walking
> - combine trips etc. Excersies to be done while sitting or sleeping &
> that too only after a week or two.
>
> After 3-4 days she started getting chest pains & I did a little googling
> about COX-2 inbitors & we called the doctor. He asked her to stop
> the medicine & visit him. However we are currently travelling & hence
> will be visiting him only after a couple of weeks more.
> However, the chest pain stopped immediatelly after stopping the Cox-2
> inhibitor.
>
> In the mean time, on the advice of an aunt, my wife started a few things.
> - Glucosamine 500 - thrice a day
> - Chondroitin 400 - thrice a day
> - Garlic - 2 pieces in the morning
> - Calcium supplements.
>
> 10 days of this & her pain has reduced by 70%. There is only trace
> pain left now.
>
> Since she took multiple stuff, we don't know if any of them caused
> the improvement or did it happen automatically.
> Since there is a couple of weeks more till she visits the doc, I wanted
> to know the opinion of people here - does this sound like arthritis -
> what type?
> How long can one take Glucosamine/Chondroitin - i.e.is it to be
> taken lifelong or only for a few months? Any other supplements
> which may help? Will applying ice/heat help?
>
> Also my wife has stopped all kinds of excercise since this
> started. She used to do an hour of walking everyday & 1/2
> hour of dancing few times a week, earlier. She has almost
> stopped this. She is marginally overweight - 5 to 10 pounds.
> What kind of exercise is safe for her to do?
>
> The doctor she visited for this is not our regular doc.
> Our regular doc is on a 6 month vacation or something.
> He will be back only in Aug/Sept. We will visit the
> other doc once we are back from our travel, however.
>
>
>
Perhaps her knee cap is running out of its groove.
That action sometimes causes similar symptoms.
If that's what it is, simple exercises can correct it and she
will be able to squat once more.

....

"High Miles" <2Blues17@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:3fWdnd6A5txPe87VnZ2dnUVZ_h3inZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Perhaps her knee cap is running out of its groove.
> That action sometimes causes similar symptoms.
> If that's what it is, simple exercises can correct it and she
> will be able to squat once more.

I don't understand - can you elaborate?

.... ..l..

Jeev wrote:
> "High Miles" <2Blues17@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:3fWdnd6A5txPe87VnZ2dnUVZ_h3inZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> Perhaps her knee cap is running out of its groove.
>> That action sometimes causes similar symptoms.
>> If that's what it is, simple exercises can correct it and she
>> will be able to squat once more.
>
> I don't understand - can you elaborate?
>
>
When the patella is not tracking properly, it 'gouges' into the
surrounding soft tissue, causing a lot of pain and inflammation.
If you do a search on knee pain you will find:

Dislocated kneecap. Kneecap (patellar) dislocations can occur in
contact sports and in activities that require you to change direction
while running, such as tennis,
racquetball and volleyball. If your knees tend to turn inward or your
kneecaps are higher than normal, you may be more prone to this injury.


> http://www.kneepaininfo.com/kneepatellofem.html

It's called patellofemoral syndrome - a biomechanical problem.

.... ..ss..

Jeev wrote:
> "High Miles" <2Blues17@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:3fWdnd6A5txPe87VnZ2dnUVZ_h3inZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> Perhaps her knee cap is running out of its groove.
>> That action sometimes causes similar symptoms.
>> If that's what it is, simple exercises can correct it and she
>> will be able to squat once more.
>
> I don't understand - can you elaborate?
>
>
Search on Chondromalacia.

Look, the knee is the largest and most complex joint in the body. Nobody
here is going to give you a diagnosis worth spit. It's impossible.

Meanwhile I will guarantee you this: your wife has arthritis of the
knee. I can say that because arthritis isn't a diagnosis but a symptom.
It only means swelling / pain / often redness of a joint.

Your wife's knee pain / arthritis can be caused by anything from
osteoarthritis to an infection to poor gait.

Your probable next stop is an orthopedist.

-paul

I would suggest a rheumatologist instead of an orthopedist.
Gwen

************************************************** *********
Don't worry about tomorrow. God is already there!


"Paul C***el" <pc***elremove2@comremovecast.net> wrote in message
news:d6KdnZAvZvnd28nVnZ2dnUVZ_gqdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
Jeev wrote:
> "High Miles" <2Blues17@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:3fWdnd6A5txPe87VnZ2dnUVZ_h3inZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> Perhaps her knee cap is running out of its groove.
>> That action sometimes causes similar symptoms.
>> If that's what it is, simple exercises can correct it and she
>> will be able to squat once more.
>
> I don't understand - can you elaborate?
>
>
Search on Chondromalacia.

Look, the knee is the largest and most complex joint in the body. Nobody
here is going to give you a diagnosis worth spit. It's impossible.

Meanwhile I will guarantee you this: your wife has arthritis of the
knee. I can say that because arthritis isn't a diagnosis but a symptom.
It only means swelling / pain / often redness of a joint.

Your wife's knee pain / arthritis can be caused by anything from
osteoarthritis to an infection to poor gait.

Your probable next stop is an orthopedist.

-paul

..fir..

<sweetpickleNO@SPAMknology.net> wrote in message
news:83d0c$48548eb2$45491df5$29213@KNOLOGY.NET...
>I would suggest a rheumatologist instead of an orthopedist.
> Gwen
>
>
That's a close call when you have one problem joint rather than
problam joint plural.

I saw orthopaedic doctors before RD's THey were quick to recognize
and repair my carpal tunnel syndrom. I still see then fairly often.
One of my ortho guys was to one to say my acid readings might be in
the high normal range but they were still high enough to cause the
sausage joints I kept getting. He added alopurinol to the mix and I
haven't had one of those toes or fingers in three years.

Too bad the specialties often don;t play together nicely.

In this case, there is a suspision of a mechanical problem with the
knee. I'd want an ortho looking at that first.

Ortho's are ususlly better at shooting up knees than RD's or GP's

Jo




************************************************** *********
> Don't worry about tomorrow. God is already there!
>
>
> "Paul C***el" <pc***elremove2@comremovecast.net> wrote in message
> news:d6KdnZAvZvnd28nVnZ2dnUVZ_gqdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Jeev wrote:
>> "High Miles" <2Blues17@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:3fWdnd6A5txPe87VnZ2dnUVZ_h3inZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>> Perhaps her knee cap is running out of its groove.
>>> That action sometimes causes similar symptoms.
>>> If that's what it is, simple exercises can correct it and she
>>> will be able to squat once more.
>>
>> I don't understand - can you elaborate?
>>
>>
> Search on Chondromalacia.
>
> Look, the knee is the largest and most complex joint in the body.
> Nobody
> here is going to give you a diagnosis worth spit. It's impossible.
>
> Meanwhile I will guarantee you this: your wife has arthritis of the
> knee. I can say that because arthritis isn't a diagnosis but a
> symptom.
> It only means swelling / pain / often redness of a joint.
>
> Your wife's knee pain / arthritis can be caused by anything from
> osteoarthritis to an infection to poor gait.
>
> Your probable next stop is an orthopedist.
>
> -paul
>
>