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  • Natural Remedies?

    I went for a yomp around Derbyshire in early March, (something I do quite often) anyway, next day my ankles ached a bit (again nothing unusual). After a while the right ankle was fine, but the pain in the left just kept getting worse. I saw the doctor as I was worried that it was arthritis. My Nan was wheelchair bound by the disease from her late fifties. I'm in my late forties now so I can see me being in the same position by then and I really don't want to spend the last 20+ years of my life like that. It is arthritis and I've been given strong painkillers - not steriods, thank goodness, but ones with a high level of codeine. The thing is these tablets make me feel quite dizzy, so now I have a choice; be immobile because of the pain or be immobile because I feel giddy and sick. Does anyone know of any natural remedies? Perhaps something that I can use most of the time and just resort to the tablets when things are very painful. Also, I'm getting conflicting messages from the doctors, one says to keep as active as possible, the other says that by continuing gardening, walking, camping and what have you I will just cause further damage. I have to admit that I'm getting quite depressed at the thought, I'm just not a stay indoors kinda gal.
    Into each life some rain must fall........but this is getting ridiculous.

  • #2
    Bluemoon, that is horrible to hear, poor you, you totally have my sympathy x and hugs xx

    I have HMS and the worst pain is in my ankles where I have arthritis, this was found in my late 30's, so i know the fear you are going through, everyday i am in excrutiating pain, all they say to me is ibroprofen for the pain and nothing else, but i do have some nettle tables, for the joints, also good is cod liver oil.

    Take a trip to a proper herbal shop, not just holland & barrett, there are also foods that you can take more of,, you may have to google them, by friend is 43 and has the worst arthritis and its all over her body, she has already had many ops and the only drugs she can take is the ones from the dr's as she has tried everything else, herbal and all.

    I take each day as it comes, I will not give into my HMS and the arthritis, i have to go through the pain barrier everyday, i cant walk the kids to school as after 5 mins, i cant walk.......try to not let it get to you, i know this is so hard to do, everyone thinks you are ok as you seem perfectly normal.

    I am seeing a new rhuemetologist in October, but i know what they are going to say!! ask your dr for a referral to the rhuemy at the local hospital, there are different drugs to take and that may not make you feel so bad.

    Sorry i cant offer anything else, but if you are having a bad day and need to tell someone, then feel free to PM me anytime you like x

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    • #3
      Is it Osteo or Rheumatoid?There's a possibility that diet can effect how bad your symptoms are~but each one is possibly effected by different food groups.I did some dabbling in nutrition therapy several years ago~so a bit rusty now,but can remember that certain foods can encourage a flare up of arthritis.
      I think as far as staying active you need to learn your own limits & when you feel you're starting to overdo it then rest.There's a long history of arthritis in our family,so far I only suffer when it's cold & damp~mainly fingers & knees~but I totally know what you mean about worrying about the future.Take Care.x
      the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

      Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx

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      • #4
        Thanks Squashysu, that's so kind. I did have a couple of hospital visits where it was diagnosed. The trouble is it's only in one ankle and so many people are far worse, I feel such a fraud for making a fuss. It's osteo, probably linked to psoriasis (which Nan didn't have) and it's difficult to make a doctor understand that it's not so much what it's like now, but what you're worried it might become.
        Into each life some rain must fall........but this is getting ridiculous.

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        • #5
          With osteo the foods to avoid are acid fruits(except lemon which once digested has an alkaline efect)~(citrus,strawberries,rhubarb,toms,)Also red meats & cheese.And apologies but wine can also cause a flare up!Also toms peppers pots & aubergines contain "solanine" which once removed appears to relieve the symptoms for some~takes a few months to get out of system so don't expect results overnight.
          Finally,having given you a rather long list of what to avoid!!(sorry!)Up your intake of oily fish & maybe take evening primrose supplement & "niacinamide"(vit B3).&"glucosamine & chondroitin"could be tried instead of ibruprofen.
          BTW~never feel guilty that there's people worse off~it doesn't take your pain away!
          the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

          Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx

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          • #6
            I have worn a copper bangle for my Arthritis for the last 2 or 3 years. For a couple of years before that I took some expensive pills (chondroitin and something IIRC) and they made very little difference. The copper bangle, which was cheap-as-chips, has neutralised the discomfort. Dunno if it would work for you / your type of Arthritis though ??
            K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

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            • #7
              Originally posted by bluemoon View Post
              Thanks Squashysu, that's so kind. I did have a couple of hospital visits where it was diagnosed. The trouble is it's only in one ankle and so many people are far worse, I feel such a fraud for making a fuss. It's osteo, probably linked to psoriasis (which Nan didn't have) and it's difficult to make a doctor understand that it's not so much what it's like now, but what you're worried it might become.
              tell me about it, i have been suffering for the last 15 years badly and had ankle reconstruction 3 years ago and thats when they found the arthritis (MRI scan), the surgery was terrible and i wont have the other one done, because now i have found out that the op didnt matter anyway, cause the HMS only goes back to how it was and its happening now!!! but also the op never ever took away the pain! I also have the flatest feet (size 8's) and this doesnt help as i crush the bones in my ankles!!!!!

              it has taken me 2 years to get to see a rhuemy, as my GP kept saying you need to go back to orthopedics, which they just want to cut me open again and have multiple ops on left ankle!!!!!!

              you are not a fraud at all, my worries are also how i will be in years to come, they told me that before my last op, i would be in a wheelchair by the time i was 50!!!!! argh!!!!

              i have found that diet doesnt help because it will not change what my ligaments are like! i cant squeeze a cloth out much due to the pain in my fingers and my knees and hips suffer as well......

              oh damn it! i dont want to moan, its just cause i am suffering with my back at the mo and in agony that i am moaning sorry!!!!!

              there are people worse off than us, i know, it mad me realise when last year i worked with a little girl in a wheelchair that has cerebal palsy and she is gutsy and only 4! she was my ray of shining light and made my days easier, i am sure that one day she will walk, i am glad to say that i helped make her year at school and i will miss her so much next school year! but she gave me the strength to get through the day and help her as much as possible, it doesnt take away our pain, just makes it more bearable xx like i said, anytime you having a bad day just give a little whistle! x

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              • #8
                Su,you're right diet won't take away the arthritis but it can(for some)control the inflammation that causes a lot of the pain.Unfortunately it also takes several months to take effect so sometimes the results may seem insignificant.& if you're one of the 50% it makes no difference to then you could have gone 6 months avoiding your fave food for nothing!
                the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

                Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by bluemoon View Post
                  high level of codeine. The thing is these tablets make me feel quite dizzy,
                  Hi Bluemoon
                  You maybe having a reaction to the codeine. I had this when i feel and dislocated my ankle was given painkillers with high levels of codeine in and I too felt very dizzy and was sick within half hour of taking them and my skin felt very itchy. I was in hospital overnight but it wasn't till I got home and phoned GP that medication was changed. When I went for op on said ankle in May last year I told them I was allergic to codeine and they gave me different pain relief. Might be worth checking. I can take over the counter tablets that have codeine in as its not high enough to cause a reaction.
                  Might be worth mentioning to doc and they can try an alternative medication

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by andi&di View Post
                    Su,you're right diet won't take away the arthritis but it can(for some)control the inflammation that causes a lot of the pain.Unfortunately it also takes several months to take effect so sometimes the results may seem insignificant.& if you're one of the 50% it makes no difference to then you could have gone 6 months avoiding your fave food for nothing!
                    sorry i was talking about HMS not arthritis, yeah my friend tried this and it did work to some point, but hers is so bad that she looks like a 90 year old!! bless her

                    Originally posted by ailsasyl View Post
                    Hi Bluemoon
                    You maybe having a reaction to the codeine. I had this when i feel and dislocated my ankle was given painkillers with high levels of codeine in and I too felt very dizzy and was sick within half hour of taking them and my skin felt very itchy. I was in hospital overnight but it wasn't till I got home and phoned GP that medication was changed. When I went for op on said ankle in May last year I told them I was allergic to codeine and they gave me different pain relief. Might be worth checking. I can take over the counter tablets that have codeine in as its not high enough to cause a reaction.
                    Might be worth mentioning to doc and they can try an alternative medication
                    what a NN, i didnt realise it was codeine, i was the same and was feeling sick etc, its horrid stuff, defo get it changed love, it could change how you are at the mo. I am having a thicko day today lol x

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Turmeric can also be useful. Other possible herbal remedies include green lipped mussel extract, devil's claw, bromelain.

                      Essential oils to try include Plai, Ginger, Black Pepper (no more than 3 drops in 10mls of carrier oil), Lemongrass, Cinnamon, Clove, Rosemary or Sweet Marjoram (depends on your blood pressure).

                      Capsaicin cream can sometimes be beneficial but remember it is from chillis so precautions as for cooking with same when applying to the skin.

                      If you can't tolerate the codeine don't take it there are other pain killers your gp can prescribe.
                      Bright Blessings
                      Earthbabe

                      If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

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                      • #12
                        I cant tolerate codeine at all, it makes me feel awful, and sick. Theres a history of arthritis in my family and a copper bracelet certainly helped with my hips which get achy in the cold and wet.

                        I know devils claw works for horse with arthritis if thats any help
                        WPC F Hobbit, Shire police

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                        • #13
                          Thanks for all your suggestions. Last time I saw my doctor I did ask if it would be worth getting some of that pain relieving gel, but he was most adamant that the codeine was the best anti-inflammatory that he could give me. Looking back I wonder if he thought I was asking him to prescribe it, when really I was intending to buy my own. I'm definitely going back though and I'll ask for something other than codeine as it seems obvious that I don't tolerate it well.
                          Into each life some rain must fall........but this is getting ridiculous.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            PLEASE before trying ANY herbal remedies, oils or medicines, tell your doctor. They can interfere with other medication, interact with other conditions and cause serious reactions. Unless you have a trustworthy guide always see a herbal practitioner before taking ANY herbal medicine.
                            They are still medicines and can be as dangerous as any other medicine.

                            *That safety announcement was brought to you by remember, hemlock is natural too but you wouldn't eat it.
                            Last edited by Starchild; 21-08-2008, 07:13 AM.
                            http://www.freewebs.com/notesfromtheplot/ **updated**

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by bluemoon View Post
                              Thanks for all your suggestions. Last time I saw my doctor I did ask if it would be worth getting some of that pain relieving gel, but he was most adamant that the codeine was the best anti-inflammatory that he could give me. Looking back I wonder if he thought I was asking him to prescribe it, when really I was intending to buy my own. I'm definitely going back though and I'll ask for something other than codeine as it seems obvious that I don't tolerate it well.

                              Codiene is not an anti-inflammatory, it's an opaite. Ibruprofen and aspirin are antiflammatory.
                              http://www.freewebs.com/notesfromtheplot/ **updated**

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