Jul 17, 2019
Osteoarthritis
Last Thursday I saw my doctor about a few issues and it has taken me until now to feel comfortable to talk about it.
I have to say that I was shocked to hear that this growth on my finger on my left hand was likely due to osteoarthritis. That lump seems to have developed while we were in Europe. It is larger in real life than on the photo. Perhaps I never noticed it before. It only hurts if I squeeze it. That finger is stiff to bend.
This finger on my right hand has been crooked with no pain for many years.
My doctor suggested that I wasn’t taking enough supplements and wants me to take 2000IU ( I was only taking in 1200IU per day ) of Vitamin D which is needed to help the body absorb calcium. In addition to my normal calcium intake I am to make sure that I take in 1200mg of elemental calcium. Elemental means calcium taken from food. So I Googled elemental calcium and discovered that I am not taking in enough through the foods that I eat. I might as well admit that I have been remiss since last fall in taking in any vitamins whatsoever, nothing, nada. So it really is my own fault that I have come to this. Bottom line, I was too lazy to pull out the 8 – 12 vitamins/supplements that we each need on a daily basis. We have been doing this systematically for years and years but I just stopped last September. Often I would pull them out but neither of us would take them. No other reason than laziness.
Colin recalled that our friend Jocelyn ( for the story of how we knew this couple from our Acapulco days way back, click here ) who we visited a year and a bit ago in Bucerias had trouble playing his guitar. His fingers did not want to cooperate and now he is doing great. He eventually discovered Genacol Bone and Joint and Colin was able to find that online today. Have any of you tried this? I Googled the product and read all the customer testimonials and it seems like the right thing for me to try.
We have not been out for a restaurant meal since June 19th and I felt the need to get out. So last Sunday we headed to the local Greek restaurant.
The food was so good that I neglected to take a photo until more than halfway through the meal. Everything including the Greek house wine was excellent.
Honestly the salad was so much better back in Athens and the wine prices were at least 4/5ths less. I think that it is difficult for local restaurants to have the tomatoes at the correct ripeness to serve so many people day after day. Also an English cucumber was used opposed to field cucumbers back in Greece. It still was a fabulous meal and we will be going back.
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Yup the golden years, things are changing, too bad you stopped your supplements. hope things get better.
They will get better….
So very sorry for your joint pain – with all the sun you get why is it necessary to take vitamin D – is it to help absorb the calcium? I have been taking Curcumin2K (1330mg) for several years to help with joint pain in my hips and for me it works. I would not be without it. Until you have had joint pain you do not understand how very painful it can be for you. Hoping better days and years are ahead for you and soon. That was a yummy looking Greek dinner
I looked up what you are taking. Tumeric is a very good thing for inflammation. I really don’t have any pain right now but I want to do something to prevent the degeneration of my bones and the onset of osteoarthritis.
We too take supplements but I am often lax because my digestive issues pop up and make taking them difficult. I have them all portioned out in a monthly pill box. I do know that all the studies say Vitamin D is the most important. I was taking a natural calcium called MRM bone max which my chiropractor was selling until he retired. I must now order it from the USA. As we age our stomach acid wanes and we don’t get all the nutrition from our food that we did when we were younger. Always fighting some new ailment.
Hmm I will have to look into that MRM bone max. When we were kids we wanted to be older and now it is the reverse.
Getting old is hell!
While we were in Prague I experienced severe pain in my buttocks …not hips. I think it was the cobblestone streets and uneven surfaces. I went through lots of ibuprofen and intend to get it checked out when we get home. We usually take glucosamine chondroitin for our joints but have been lazy too. I’m considering a collagen supplement…I’ve read good things and just need to figure out the right one. Let us know if you find something that works. I’ve been to the fountain of youth in St. Augustine FL …that didn’t work either…lol
Oh no, sorry to hear about that pain. I actually had buttock pain two years ago and it all stemmed from tight muscles in my shoulder area. Massage helped. This particular supplement has collagen in it. Hope the rest of your trip goes well.
Do you ever notice it is rare to get a crappy meal in a Greek restaurant? Our favorite restaurant here is Greek as well. I hope the supplement works for you. I have a bump on my finger but have had it since I was a kid so not too worried about it. Every year something new hurts or goes haywire. For me my eyes water for literally no reason all the time. I likely need a tear duct replacement (glass tube) but the Dr says not to do it unless it gets really terrible.
True but it is a bit trickier for us as we don’t eat meat. I went thru a period of watering eyes and then very dry eyes. No logic at all. I would hold off on that surgery as long as possible.
Off topic, but on your advice ordered the coyote from Home Depot. It is being shipped from the US. It can’t get here soon enough, have regular visits from at least 20 geese. The devils sneak in when we are not home or at dusk! We let the doxies out to chase them away, but… they are persistent and MESSY!!! Some days over an hour to collect the the mess. Hope the coyote works!!!!
I think you will be very happy once you get your coyote. Other than the odd time ( less than 5 ) since we got it we are goose poop free.
It’s not wise to stop taking supplements but be careful not to take too much Vitamin D as it can other problems especially in men. You can find a lot of information On-Line.
Be Safe and Enjoy!
It’s about time.
MY MD suggested 2000 IU per day. It is needed to break down calcium in the body.
Hi Contessa, I don’t take a calcium supplement but I do add sesame seeds (which are high in calcium) to pretty much everything! My favorite snack is sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, chopped walnuts and almonds and chia in a tiny bowl mixed with raw local honey. Kind of a deconstructed baklava!
I have enjoyed your trip posts (well all of them really!) sorry I only seldom comment. Cheers!
Hi, Contessa! I also have osteoarthritis in my hands and wrists. The Arthritis Society offers seminars on living with arthritis and avoiding pain and further stress on the joints. Plus there is lots of information on their website, http://www.arthritis.ca. Vancouver Coastal Health has a practice group called OASIS, Oseoarthritis Service Integration System. I was referred there by my primary care doc and they were great. They even had physiotherapists specializing in hands! Don’t know if Interior Health Authority offers anything similar, but it’s worth enquiring. Good luck, and don’t despair — this isn’t the end!