Creaking joints!

As we get older, it seems to be expected that we need to suffer from stiff, aching joints.

My question is, why? Why do we need to suffer? Does everyone suffer?

Aching joints are diagnosed as arthritis. By definition, arthritis is an inflammation of the joint.

The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis causes cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint — to break down and usually results from wear and tear (age) or injury.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, beginning with the lining of joints, can strike at any age and is usually more crippling.

Uric acid crystals, which form when there's too much uric acid in your blood, can cause gout, which is a type of arthritis too.

Infections or underlying disease, such as psoriasis or lupus, can cause other types of arthritis.

Treatments vary depending on the type of arthritis. The main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

The most common signs and symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. Depending on the type of arthritis, signs and symptoms may include:

?Pain

?Stiffness

?Swelling

?Redness

?Decreased range of motion

Risk factors for arthritis include:

?Family history. Some types of arthritis run in families, so you may be more likely to develop arthritis if your parents or siblings have the disorder.

?Age. The risk of many types of arthritis — including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout — increases with age.

?Your sex. Women are more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis, while most of the people who have gout, another type of arthritis, are men.

?Previous joint injury. People who have injured a joint, perhaps while playing a sport, are more likely to eventually develop arthritis in that joint.

?Obesity. Carrying excess weight puts stress on joints, particularly your knees, hips and spine. People with obesity have a higher risk of developing arthritis.

?Severe arthritis, particularly if it affects your hands or arms, can make it difficult for you to do daily tasks. Arthritis of weight-bearing joints can keep you from walking comfortably or sitting up straight. In some cases, joints may gradually lose their alignment and shape.

I have suffered from arthritis in the past myself, but fortunately managed to start treating early with supplements and lifestyle changes and not medication.

Please note, I am not making any medical claims in this article, nor advocating cures, but simply stating what has worked for me. Please consult your primary healthcare advisor for better advice in your particular case.

What I found has worked for me is the following -

• Glucosamine - is an amino sugar (a combination of an amino acid – glutamine, and a sugar – glucose) normally found in healthy cartilage. It is synthesized by many cells in our body but is concentrated in joint cartilage. Glucosamine functions as the basic building block of cartilage. The particular product I use also contains food sourced anti-inflammatory properties, painkiller properties as well other things that assist the bone strength.
• Omega-3 - in the form of fish oil, which I have found to be an excellent natural anti-inflammatory without any adverse side effects.
• CalMag - a combination of chelated calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.
• Vitamin D - from a vegan source.
• I also took up trail running in the form of our local Parkrun. This is a 5km (3.1mile) run on relatively soft ground, including a beach. This has allowed me to add good stress to my bones for strength, maintained flexibility in my joints as well as releasing natural dopamine.

Ensuring you are sufficiently well hydrated also makes a huge difference as it acts as lubricant for your joints.

The earlier you can get arthritis diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. If you think of arthritis as rust, you don't want to keep your joints immobile for too long as otherwise they will seize up. Keeping your joints warm also helps tremendously.

This is just a brief summary. I will be covering this subject in more depth in my YouTube talks soon. Please feel free to contact me for the link if you are interested.

Should you want to know the exact products that I have used, please reach out as well.