Arthritis and cycling

phelim21

How do ppl manage with arthritis especially around the knees.

giropaul

I have arthritis in my shoulders that is painful and restricts movement. I don't know about knees as such, but I have learnt a few things about managing the condition, and more importantly for me, the side-effects of the medications. My one shoulder is described by the Physiotherapist at the pain clinic as " as bad as it's possible to be". What I have learned is:

- NSAIDs ( non-steroid anti-inflamitories) can affect breathing at high levels of effort. Typically this takes the form of a kind of stress-induced asthma.
- the drugs that stop the NSAIDs damage the stomach can affect your ability to absorb Magnesium in particular-I use transdermal magnesium( Better You)
- pain killers may also affect breathing at high levels of effort.

However, with a good, cycling savvy GP and some good research cycling is certainly possible at a decent level.

reds99

A lad who i knew, had 2 knee replacements over time. He said cycling relieved the pain, it was when he was stood still it was painful.

cyclingsheep

I have arthritis in my left knee and no ACL either. I went through a really bad patch after being off the bike for 6 months where I almost couldn't handle the pain and knee replacement was discussed. Being only 40 that was just a bit too early so I slowly started cycling again. Now I ride pain free mostly, can even ski with no difficulty but if you asked me to run across the road it'd be a no no....just too painful because of the impact. My wife insists I take homemade turmeric pills which are supposed to be good for joint inflammation but otherwise no other medication

phelim21

I'm forty as well and knee knee has been sore for a few weeks after cycling. Thought maybe it was bike position but physio said my knee was swollen and because I've psoriasis he suggested that I might have psoriasis arthritis then doctor told me to strap it up and take pain killers. 2 weeks later there is no change so getting piss ed off.

phelim21

How do you make tumeric tablets

tomb57

I have acute osteo and rhumatiod arthritis this time last year wife described me as walking like
a decrepit old man. ( I was 61) , after a large kick in back side I Feb I brought a mtb and have
been doing at least 50 Klics a week I can now walk 2 or 3 k with out too much probs and although
I am taking a biological (humira) for the rhumatiod It don't effect the Osteo so the improvement
is down to the biking so use some pain killers And keep riding best thing I ever done
Spelling and typing are still crap though
Tom

tomb57

Also brain going sorry meant to say Ostieo is in knees really the excersize is helping me
To keep my own knees
Tom

phelim21

That's good to know.

stoveman

Was diagnosed with osteo arthritis 2 years ago though a mixture of cold water surfing when I was younger and also having a career as a chef where I can average upto 14 hours a day at work at the height of the season.
Also being over 16 stone didn't help,took up cycling casually last year and more seriously after last christmas and this has significantly improved my life.

Previously after a busy week at work my first day off I would be unable to walk as the knee pain was that bad.After taking up cycling,I now no longer get any pain in my knees and regularly ride 30 miles plus on my first day off after a 60 - 70 hour working week.Have to say it really has changed my life,can't remember the last time I had a flair up.

fat daddy

shmoke and a pancake ?

go get some weed, I know a few arthritis sufferers that suffer badly from pain, and self medicate with the use of canabis/Marajuana/weed/a joint .. what ever the cool oldies are calling it these days

the other advantage is you won't get so stressed about traffic almost killing you on the road .. "ah man, whatever"

Chrisj22

I would absolutely keep moving to keep the joint as warm/loose as possible.

As others have said, it's when you're still that it gets real bad.

StillGoing

I have osteoarthritis in the fingers of both hands making gear changing difficult to impossible on long rides. I've had 2 arthroscopies in one knee and both shoulders are impinged. The left arm also gets restricted blood supply due to a completely blocked subclavian artery. Cold and damp are a pain in the proverbial backside. Does it stop me riding? No.

The knees don't hurt as long as I'm spinning around 90rpm or higher. Grinding up hills definitely doesn't help. The shoulders I get by by ensuring a change in position frequently and riding no handed where safe and possible for a short while. Same with the fingers; move the hands around and clench and unclench the fingers plenty. The restricted blood flow to the left arm though I can't get around and eventually, I'm unable to change gear on the front when the hand goes completely numb. Going to an electronic shifting set up might help, but I can't justify the expense.

I can't take cox 2 inhibitors (NSAIDs) like Dyclofenac, Ibuprofen, Volterol etc due to anaphylaxis and instead have to rely on Arcoxia, but can only take one 40mg tablet a day for pain or Paracetamol. Arcoxia is pretty pathetic at numbing pain unless you take it at the very early stages of pain setting in and when it normally wouldn't bother you.

kingrollo

Try and build up the muscles around the knees.

Hamstring stretches are also good for the knees ....

A carbon Fibre bike, with deep section wheels, and electronic shifting will also help !

phelim21

I need to start turning a higher cadence which should help. Starting back out tomorrow will let you know how it goes.

phelim21

Have carbon bike and deep section wheels just need sram etap

cyclingsheep

Phelim21 I've sent you a pm with the recipe

BarleyPointer

Many many dog and horse owners will attest to the efficacy of turmeric, especially in the form of golden paste. So much so, that they use it on themselves and their loved ones :-)

The shop bought extracts are strong and more suitable for short term use, but for everyday ingestion the golden paste recipe is brilliant. The recipe as in this link...
https://www.davidwolfe.com/turmeric-gol ... efore-bed/

You do need to source good quality turmeric with at least 3% curcumin, but with the wonders of google this is easily available. A teaspoon mixed with juice is pretty unnoticeable in taste, but give it a good few weeks and working up to a couple of teaspoons a day is usually enough to start feeling the effects.

The recent Trust Me I'm A Doctor show on the BBC did a trial with a teaspoon of turmeric added to food and the results in terms of gene markers for the prevention of cancer was very good. They never mentioned the anti inflammatory effects! It is important to take it with the oil and pepper to get the most out of it.

Anyhow, your old dog will love you forever :-)

phelim21

Tjanks Will try to make it over the next few days

stuyd

As a registered physio i can tell you arthritis is 100% good for arthritis. The positives will far out way the negatives, but you must stretch as well and this is the bit people forget. With knee OA have a good look at your hip stability and glutes strength, another area that is often neglected. In fact its in the NICE guidelines as a key treatment for oa.

kingrollo

stuyd wrote:

As a registered physio i can tell you arthritis is 100% good for arthritis. The positives will far out way the negatives, but you must stretch as well and this is the bit people forget. With knee OA have a good look at your hip stability and glutes strength, another area that is often neglected. In fact its in the NICE guidelines as a key treatment for oa.

I take it you mean cycling is good for arthritis.

I have minor hip arthritis and knee (but the knee doesn't bother me) I asked my specialist if cycling would speed up my hip arthritis - He said probably not - and that to stop cycling would probably lead to weight gain which would do more damage to the hip and my health overall.
I go to the gym 3/4 times a week - and do weights - but apart from the odd twinge the hip doesn't bother me at all now.

pmannion9

Was told I had Osteio arthritis in my hip about 3 years ago aged 37.
Was a bit of a shock as thought I had just pulled hip flexor muscle running.
X-rays confirmed it...

Was told to stop running immediately and that I would need hip replacement with 10 years..
Luckily i cycled cycling also and enjoy it.
Was told to keep that up - i.e keep moving the joint..

At recent hospital appointment I was told it hadn't got worse in last 12 months and only go back for a review if it got too painful !!!

I now cycle 5 to 6 days a week - Average over 100 miles week...
To be honest I'm not sure if it (cycling) doing much good. Of course I love cycling and only thing that keeps me fit - usually no pain while doing it put it seems pain is there now more often when not on the bike. A little playing with my son will leave me in pain for 24-36 hrs...
I have tried stretching etc...but htis seems painful even to do and not surei f it causes more damage...

Just wondering if anyone has looked in diet changes ,different exercises/sports etc to try pain relief.
At the moment I am trying to stay away from painkillers...

Cheers...