On Fire and Over 50
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Health and Wellness: Arthritis, Walking, and Hyaluronic Acid - For Over 50s

7/19/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
For the last several years I have suffered with arthritis in my left knee. When I started exercising again after a nine year hiatus from it, I noticed that while I couldn't do some of the things that I used to do because of pain, on days when I exercised the pain was reduced significantly and I could do more. On days when I didn't exercise, my knee was stiff and if I sat too long it was painful to get up.


A lot of people who knew about my knee would ask why I just don't go ahead and get a replacement knee. That was not a choice for me, yet. I thought it might be an option in the future, but I didn't want to go that route - yet.


As I became more fit and lost more weight, I walked more, exercised more, and even started Zumba and Cardio Dance classes. Some of the moves were difficult with my painful knee but in the long run, the movement was good for it. It still hurt, but not nearly as much. The more I did, the more I was able to do.


Walking is good for weight loss and overall health, but it is also good for arthritis in knees and hips.

According the Arthritis Foundation these are the benefits to your legs, knees, and hips when you walk:

- Walking improves circulation:
blood flow increases to the joints,
increases the circulation of the synovial fluid that
lubricates the joints

increases the
nutrients to the joints

- Walking shores up your bones:
joint-repair genes are switched on
cellular waste is removed
- Walking strengthens muscles:
muscle is built
- Walking supports your joints
- Walking helps you do more, longer:


"physical activity is the best non-drug treatment for improving pain and function in Osteoarthritis" (arthritis.org article "Benefits of Exercise for Ostearthritis" )


The arthritis Foundations recommends the following exercises for maintaining or improving movement for the arthritic person:
- Range of Motion or Flexibility Exercises: Stretching and full span movements
- Aerobic/endurance Exercises: Walking, jogging, bicycling, swimming, elipticals
- Strengthening Exercises: Walking and aquatic (water) exercises
How much exercise does the Arthritis Foundation recommend in a week?
150 minutes of moderate intensity
75 minutes of vigorous intensity
This translates into:
a 30 minute walk or bike ride five times a week
jogging, swimming, or biking for 25 minutes three times a week
or any combination.


Note: Exercise is good, but exercise intelligently. Low impact exercises, like walking, cycling, or using an eliptical machine are smart choices. Listen to your body and don't hurt yourself. Start slow.


After exercising for the last four to five years, my pain level was cut by about 80% and range of motion increased about 50%. I had done research on what I could do myself to help my arthritis.


Exercise was the major recommendation, but there were two hopeful treatments in the horizon that I couldn't wait to try:


One is stem cell therapy. While it is approved for certain things including tennis elbow, it is still not FDA approved for knees. When it is approved, I will be first in line to try it. It is supposed to the rebuild your joint to the joint of a healthy 20 year old.


The other one is Hyaluronic acid injections into the knee. These were recently FDA approved for the knee and most insurance will pay for it. It is a natural substance that our bodies make naturally.

Naturally, I asked for it. My doctor said yes and confirmed that results have been good with it's use. I thought what do I have to lose? Nothing. What do I have a chance to gain? Painless use of my knee.


So, for five weeks I took one injection per week. They were a little painful, but after the first shot, the next day, my knee felt wonderful. The next two injections didn't change the feeling of my knee very much. The final two made as much difference as night is to day.


I am so excited! It's been over a month since my last injection and my knee continues to improve. I am able to do two hours of Cardio Dance and Zumba back to back without any suffering.

In fact, I feel almost no pain in that knee. These shots were miracle workers for my arthritis. I would do it again in a heartbeat and sooner. I recommend anyone who has arthritic knees, hips, elbows, etc., to ask their doctor about Hyaluronic acid injections.


Do you have arthritis in a knee? Is it preventing you from doing activities that you love? Do you walk everyday? What have you done to alleviate painful joints? Share your stories on this important subject, so that others my be helped.
​


XOXO 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    My mission​

    Sharing thoughts and ideas for the woman over 50 that are helpful, fun, creative, inspiring and interesting. Over 50s who want to remain relevant, happy and loving their life.
    On fire for your own life!
    ❤ Sheryl ❤

    Categories

    All
    Beauty
    Book Review
    Creativity
    Empty Nest
    Encouragement
    Grieving Losses
    Health And Wellness
    Life
    Money Over 50
    Product Review
    Relationships
    Sex After 50
    SPECIAL
    Travel

    Archives

    July 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

About

​Who Am I?


Blog

​​Read or Comment
​

Contact

Contact Me
​

All content and photographs/artwork/graphics are the property of On Fire and Over 50. Feel free to share if you  give credit to this site. 

Growing older, but not up!
On Fire and Over 50 ®
is a Registered Trademarked TM 2015
© COPYRIGHT 2015-2016-2017-2018-2019-2020
​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
.