Well it’s time to stop being irritated and just embrace my current situation which, thankfully, is pretty damned good. I only have intermittent finger pain, and today it’s completely normal. So I’ll just be thankful that all I need is the occasional Advil.
So for no particular reason here is a cute photo of two of my kids. You may all fawn over how cute they are.
Curcumin can be bought in bulk from a store with good turnover for freshnesh.
I sprinkle some in most meals and the real stuff always beats the pill option.
I have not read the whole thread but it sounds like gout big toe and lentils and or beans to replace part of your meat intake is a prevention for sure.
Hey - just a thought.
Get Uric Acid looked at for gout. I was taking BCAAs and they made my gout flare up really bad. Not sure if that applies to you or not…
Good luck with it.
I have arthritis in my hips and live with constant pain, So I know what you are running into with Doctors who just want to pain manage. Keep at it.
Hey,
Just registered so that I can post.
As mentioned above arthritis is a symptom, not a diagnosis. There are many forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. Some of them can be aggressive but nowadays very well managed with medications. It would be really a shame not getting diagnosed and eventually treated for something that could result in joint destruction and loss of function.
On the other hand it could be something as benign as osteoarthritis. My advice to you would be to get your family doctor refer you to a rheumatologist if he/she doesn’t think the whole thing is just osteoarthritis.
Best of luck!
I really do appreciate all the ideas being shared. Let me address all y’all directly.
petz - My GP tells me the rheumatologist won’t take my referral without a positive test of some kind. The backlog is significant enough that they only take active cases. Also, unlike the US there’s no opportunity for me to pay my way into the cue.
GoodManners - That is a VERY interesting observation about BCAAs. As a matter of fact, the time when my joint pain was the worst I was taking quite a lot of BCAAs. I was cutting and was also putting in a lot more exercise and losing more sleep (both triggers for me). So this is an interesting little tidbit of information.
I’m starting to think I have early signs of gout… Although my uric acid tested fine.
Rheumatoid arthritis usually gives elevated ESR or CRP. But in some cases, where only small joints are involved, all tests are negative. And rheumatoid factor or ACPA can be negative as there are seronegative arthritis.
If one could see osteoarthritis or some damage on the x-rays then it would be obvious what the cause of the problem is. But in this case a normal x-ray doesn’t exclude anything. Early RA hasn’t had the time to damage the joints, so there is nothing weird to see on the x-rays (I suppose you have x-rays of hands and feet).
The end point is that if the GP is sure that you don’t have synovitis in your hands or feet then you should be glad. But if he/she is not sure about it (since not all GPs are used to examining small joints) then you should get a referral to a rheumatologist.
I don’t believe that any supplement or diet will solve your problem if it is some rheumatologic arthritis we are talking about.
Good luck!
My Uric Acid was “within range” on the high end. But I was having gout flare ups. Again just something to consider.
I like Petz observations as well. And I usually find that referrals to specialists is the way to go.
I’m not saying it’s not arthritis…
Also petz - do you mean that if arthritis shows up on an xray then it’s osteoarthritis? I have arthritis in my hips - showed on xray - but I was never told the type or anything. Just given pain meds and told “use these when you need to” (sound familiar Canada_K)
Good discussion anyways.
Osteoarthritis in the hands usually gives symptoms when it is visible on x-rays. Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that can eventually lead to destructions that can be seen on x-rays, which means that a blank x-ray does not, by it self, eliminate arthritis.
About arthritis on the hip. I would guess it is osteoarthritis and then the only thing to do is take NSAID when needed and physiotherapy, or be operated if the destruction of the joint has progressed so much that there is significant loss of function and pain. Arthritis of the hip is serious, can lead to major problems for the hip and is usually treated with cortisone orally or injections.
These are my daughtersplaying in a couch cushion fort. That is all.
Merry Christmas!
Fun!
Merry Christmas to all!
Well I haven’t been around a lot because I’m basically symptom free. So that’s a very good thing.
Training update: I’m doing a quick cut through January to strip off the fat i gained in december (cake is freaking DELICIOUS), and then I’m going to buckle down and do a PROPER surplus… meaning no cookie binges.
This is the state of the hotness this morning. And no, I don’t look contest-ready year-round.
I cant handle all the sexy 
Aw shucks, Don. You’re making me blush. No wait… is that chlomidia?
Apparently the diet is working. I’m starving, I’m draggy, and the sexiness is improving.
[quote]Canada_K wrote:
Aw shucks, Don. You’re making me blush. No wait… is that chlomidia?
Apparently the diet is working. I’m starving, I’m draggy, and the sexiness is improving.[/quote]
Im right there with you Kent, down 24 lbs in 10 days ugh. I want a burger and a beer.
[quote]Canada_K wrote:
Aw shucks, Don. You’re making me blush. No wait… is that chlomidia?
Apparently the diet is working. I’m starving, I’m draggy, and the sexiness is improving.[/quote]
I swear I went to the doctor and the test results came back negative…
I’m on a 3/1/2/1 program at the moment, which I have to execute as a 5/2 because the ridiculous number of kids I have prevent sme lifitng on the weekends. Today I forgot to set my alarm and slept in two hours.
IT WAS AMAZING!!!
I just bought one of these custom babies. And I paid through the nose. Have I mentioned I’m a degenerate comic geek?
[quote]Canada_K wrote:
I just bought one of these custom babies. And I paid through the nose. Have I mentioned I’m a degenerate comic geek?[/quote]
You’re still my hero.
Good to see you around.
[quote]Canada_K wrote:
I just bought one of these custom babies. And I paid through the nose. Have I mentioned I’m a degenerate comic geek?[/quote]
Spider man …spiderman …does what ever a spider can 
