3.08.2010

224 - Joints

Knee joints that is.

My knees have been bothering me for the past several months. One day I was walking, put my foot down, and there was pain. I didn't do anything weird to cause it, but for the next three days my knee yelped at me any time I put weight on it unless I put one of those rubbery knee supports on it. Those things are magic. Luckily I had two of them already, because whenever I went hiking and walked down a hill for any length of time, one of my knees (they took turns), would always cause me problems. I hate going down hill more than most people hate going up (Brian...). But it always went away. And it was always from going down a steep hill for an extended period of time. Never from just walking.

When I went to Scotland, knowing that it was hilly, I pre-emptively packed one of my supports and was very glad for it. Pretty much right after we landed (probably due to the legroom, or lack thereof, on the plane) one of my knees started hurting.

It's one of the many reasons I started working out. I figured that if I exercised, maybe the joints would strengthen and/or the weight loss would help take some of the strain off my knees. I'm overweight, I need to lose about 30 lbs, but I'm not big enough that I thought my knees would suffer for it. But they are... lucky me. Unfortunately, as you may have supposed might happen, exercise also put stress on my joints... squats, knee bends, jogging, pretending to jump rope... all bad... My knees constantly feel tight, but they haven't reverted back to that almost grinding feel from several months ago. I haven't been to the doctor. I'm one of those people who suspects that I might have a problem, but doesn't want to hear it from a professional, because then I might have to do something about it... which is completely illogical, because if I do have a problem, it's just going to continue to get worse... How can I know I'm doing something ridiculous and still do it anyway? Guess I'm human after all...

Anyway, as I was scanning the ads this weekend I noticed that Walgreens has Osteo Bi-Flex on sale, buy one, get one free ($29.99 less a $5 coupon, so about $12.50 each when you get both). Hadn't considered it before, but it says it helps lubricate joints and rebuild cartlidge, and that sounds like a good thing. I read the user reviews, and everyone rated it at 4 and 5 stars, like it was a Godsend... usually there's a negative review thrown in somewhere. What the hell. I'll try it, but I was skeptical. Took two pills yesterday before lunch (supposed to take four), and this morning I could already feel a difference. All the tightness, gone, even when I do a knee bend. I'm astounded. Was it really this simple all along??? I'm going back tomorrow to get two more bottles (with my $5 off coupon *smile*), and I've already convinced one of my co-workers to try it out.

So I solved one of my problems. Bully for me. It will make exercise easier, and life less painful all around (well... I wouldn't call it pain... more like a dull ache... but a nagging dull ache).

Tomorrow I get to go to the orthodontist to have impressions of my teeth made. That's step one in the 'clear correct' process (my braces apparently aren't InvisAlign). Then once my trays come in, I'll be wearing a new set every two weeks for about two years. From the front my teeth don't look that crooked, but when you look at them from underneath, they're pretty bad. I know it's not going to be the most pleasant process, but I'm looking forward to having straight teeth, and even more forward to having my jaw properly aligned. I wonder what that's like...

14 comments:

  1. I've tried Osteo, but I just usually go with straight Glucosamine. Works well for me, and it's cheaper. But yeah Osteo is pretty good.
    I also play around with mixing essential oils that tend to give pretty quick relief.

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  2. Something to think about with exercise if you have bad knees...Strengthening the muscles around that area is key, and like you said maybe not so easy to accomplish. Two really good ways to do that are swimming pool exercise and those dumb stationary bikes. They both offer up a grat way to strenghten your legs without destroying your joints...Good luck!!

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  3. typing sucks tonight *great* way to strengthen your legs....

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  4. So glad you found some relief for your knees, and you're on your way to a happier smile. The body is such high maintenance!
    Cheers,
    Robyn

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  5. I blame it all on Jillian! It's all her fault!

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  6. You mean to tell me you didn't try WD-40 first?

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  7. And when you started taking about 'joints' my mind was in a completely different place!
    (of course, my mind usually IS in a different place than most people).

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  8. Since I have a serious knee issues my ortho suggests using eliptical (which we bought and I love) and swimming. He said to avoid squats and such until the thigh muscle is stronger. He also reccomended more potassium so I eat a banana a day and have incorporated more greens. I think after your experience with that supplement I may go buy it!

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  9. If it wasn't for Osteo Bi-Flex, I couldn't get out of bed in the morning, let alone hit the gym five days a week. It's like magic or something. I blew both knees out, my left while playing baseball in high school and my right during a particularly nasty skiing accident about ten years ago.

    It works. Just keep taking it. Really. :)

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  10. I have problems with most of my joints. I always just figured I was falling apart as I got older.

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  11. My FIL uses that stuff for his knees and SWEARS by it - so I am glad you are feeling better :-)

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  12. I was on glucosamine for years and then I ran out and it didn't hurt. I waited for it to hurt and it didn't. Of course the difference is that I moved my office downstairs so I am not trudging up and down (which is worse) 500 times a day. Those rubbery things are lifesavers. I have one for each knee. I don't need them often but when they are needed they seem to fix the hurt pretty fast. I had braces as a kid and so thankful I did. There are not a lot of things I thank my parents for but letting me have braces is one I do. You will love the results. My son has braces right now, the regular kind, he gets them off in a couple of months.

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  13. Knee problems are such a pain, since you use them all the time! I'm glad you found something that helps relieve it! Do you do warm-up exercises before the full-blast hard-core exercise? Maybe that could help?

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  14. It is nice having straight teeth, I am excited for you! I am happy I went through braces and all that comes with it, because people compliment my smile all the time. It's nice :)

    And poop about your knees :( but I am glad you found a solution! xoxo

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