Managing Joint Inflammation (Long Term Strategies)

[Deleted member 16014]

How much of what we think is "Bad Joint" pain is really referred pain from muscle imbalances and tension and adhesions?

If your muscles are flexible then the connective tissue is not under stress or pulling joints out of alignment.


Of course if you have torn cartilage already you know what the problem is. But I think early intervention on muscle issues will prevent many joint issues. Massage and Active Release have been my go to's so far.

This is true in my case, I have some imbalances and dystrophy in addition to the tear. I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease (Mayo Clinic) which is directly and indirectly related to my injuries and lower leg kinesthetics. I also have had a slipped vertebrae since I was a little kid that caused muscular development problems. CMT Disease expression varies a lot, and as a teenager I got sick of the vibe I got from specialists, which was basically limit physical activity and get poked at by a nerve doctor periodically for the rest of your life.

I would rather be in pain than do nothing any day of the week, but if some ideas like those you and others note can help me be more effective and have healthier joints then all the better. The disease isn't treatable, but I'm optimistic that I can use some of the ideas here to work on improving function and symptom severity.

 

[jryoung]

I forgot to add, you might want to see about PRP injections as well. My wife had been bothered by ankle pain after a bad sprain and one of her colleagues that is an ortho did an injection on her ankle and it worked amazingly well.

 

[ZMT588]

I forgot to add, you might want to see about PRP injections as well. My wife had been bothered by ankle pain after a bad sprain and one of her colleagues that is an ortho did an injection on her ankle and it worked amazingly well.

Ain't there other uses for PRP too??

 

[jryoung]

Ain't there other uses for PRP too??

Yes, in our office we use them for aesthetic services like facials and hair restoration. Joint injections need to be done by an ortho or similar under imaging. The regenerative effects of the platelets is pretty rad.

 

[reesej]

I suggest a book. you can get it from your public library's interlibrary book loan. Author is Claire Davies. Title "triggerpoint massage therapy". I"ve found it to be very helpful. When joints screw up, it tends to lock up the tendons and muscles also. The massage, if done right, helps with the pain. I use Naproxen, the big 800 mg ones, when it's bad. The orthotics help me, but stay away from tomatoes. Some say any acidic fruit is bad, or any member of the nightshade family, which includes green peppers. potatoes, eggplant.

 

[jbowlin]

I'm not sure where you live in Wyoming but I have heard good things from some of my patients about Bare Physical Therapy in Laramie. https://barephysicaltherapy.com/

 

[ida homer]

I tore ligaments in both my knees wrestling as a kid—and have been, uh, let’s say, husky all my life. My knees are pretty bad for a 38 year old. Like was said above, the absolute best anti inflammatory for me is eliminating sugar, and doing regular area-specific stretching. It’s tough, because I’ve got a hell of a sweet tooth, but I notice a huge difference in the way I feel after a couple weeks of no sugar. If I eat a donut or a bowl of ice cream, I know I can expect to have knee pain for a couple days afterward.

My FIL is the exact same way. His inflammation is so bad throughout his entire body the next day
if he has desert the night before. It's like a light switch with him, which sucks because he has a sweet tooth. So for him, it's
no sweets and CBD. He likes the CBD a lot, although it's not cheap. It might be worth a try.

 

[Irrelevant]

He likes the CBD a lot, although it's not cheap. It might be worth a try.

^See @SnowyMountaineer ... I'm not crazy. Smoke more dope.

I mean even if you're just after the cbd, you might as enjoy some other stress reducing chemicals too

 

[3855WIN]

OP, have you ruled out gout?

 

[Deleted member 16014]

Good question, but yes they/we have basically ruled it out.
Edited to add: "they" as in the docs

 

[PNWGator]

My wife takes Aloe Vera oral supplements as an otc anti inflammatory for her jacked up back from a horse wreck. She swears it’s been of great benefit and without side effects.

 

[ccc23454]

I have numerous joint issues and several spinal and neck injuries so i understand concerns but swelling usually only in feet and ankles. I take daily a pile of pills if pain is bad but mainly a anti inflammatory and muscle relaxer do all the work. When knees hurt i use heat, when feet hurt i use cold water everything else I use drugs. After a long hike i often stand in river for couple minutes to get swelling down in my feet and ankles, makes a world of difference. I know i have to drink lots of water, lots of stretching and always have meds with me or else effects only magnify. I would suggest get a second opinion if you havent yet, swelling can sometimes be a easy fix with minor surgery and healing only gets harder with age i am learning. Good luck!

 

[Slm864]

I take glucosamine primarily for my knees due to having 4 surgeries and Mobic for the accute arthritis in my back and other joints.
I have been pain free for the first time in about 4 years after being put on Mobic last fall.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

Thanks everyone for your input, much appreciated!

 

[wyoboypt]

Hey man, I didn’t read all of the replies so sorry if it’s already been mentioned. I get swollen/inflamed knees, especially on descents. Now (when I remember) I wear very snug knee sleeves on my hikes. They make me a new man! Not sure if they would work for ankles too but I did see some in the same section as knee sleeves at dicks the last time I was there. Might try that out?

 

[ChaosOneZero]

road running gives me bad ankle and knee aches...not sure if it will work but I'm going to start taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin. I have some elk bones that I'm going to make into broth which is supposed have a bunch of collagen.

I'm told turmeric is helpful but add black pepper...probably just a bill of goods but it's worth a shot

I’ve found glucosamine/chondroitin helpful, but got tired of paying for it. But I drink turmeric tea and ginger tea, which seem to help (but don’t taste so great), along with eating more berries and fish.