Alcohol was worsening my joint pain…I didn’t know this was a thing.

[Anonymous]

OP-- I am 51, had a recent breast cancer scare (benign thank goodness) plus was diagnosed with mild arthritis.

I've curtailed my alcohol to about 2 glasses of wine per week and sometimes not at all. It's really made a positive difference. Drinking is highly compartmentalized and not a regular part of my life (I can take it or leave it). It took about six months to change my habits.

I would take advantage of your health reasons-- worrying about cancer and arthritis were extremely motivating and gave me the push to make the change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP-- I am 51, had a recent breast cancer scare (benign thank goodness) plus was diagnosed with mild arthritis.

I've curtailed my alcohol to about 2 glasses of wine per week and sometimes not at all. It's really made a positive difference. Drinking is highly compartmentalized and not a regular part of my life (I can take it or leave it). It took about six months to change my habits.

I would take advantage of your health reasons-- worrying about cancer and arthritis were extremely motivating and gave me the push to make the change.

Wow, I’m grateful you’re OK, PP! Thank you for sharing.

It’s impossible to deny that I feel remarkably better after only a few days of no drinking.

[OP]

[Anonymous]

This is literally me, but I don’t drink alcohol at all (not OP). Can a rheumatologist really do anything

Yes, they can test your blood work and if that’s negative they can look at your joints. Some people have autoimmune arthritis with perfectly normal blood work ( seronegative). It’s still causing damage, just something your primary would likely miss if labs normal. Ask me how I know…. There are medicines to stop damage but early diagnosis is key.

[Anonymous]

try adding magnesium and vitamin d to your diet. as well, collagen peptides. Zero alcohol, consider edibles (cannabis)

[Anonymous]

OP, my older family members (I was a late in life birth) all take an herbal capsule called Full Life Reuma Art X Strength. Look it up on Amazon. I benefit at age 50 from having older siblings 12-16 years older than me who are able to offer up what works. They swear by this supplement. I started having occipital headaches and have noticed I no longer have them since starting this. Other family members have reported no more hand pain, back pain, knee pain, etc.

There are a lot of reviews online as well. It’s worth checking out. I was skeptical but it’s delivering for me too.

Drop the alcohol and start taking this and who knows - you might shave 10 years off!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:try adding magnesium and vitamin d to your diet. as well, collagen peptides. Zero alcohol, consider edibles (cannabis)

I wish! I’m a fed, so I can’t. (It’s a major point of frustration, I might add.)

[OP]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, my older family members (I was a late in life birth) all take an herbal capsule called Full Life Reuma Art X Strength. Look it up on Amazon. I benefit at age 50 from having older siblings 12-16 years older than me who are able to offer up what works. They swear by this supplement. I started having occipital headaches and have noticed I no longer have them since starting this. Other family members have reported no more hand pain, back pain, knee pain, etc.

There are a lot of reviews online as well. It’s worth checking out. I was skeptical but it’s delivering for me too.

Drop the alcohol and start taking this and who knows - you might shave 10 years off!

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is literally me, but I don’t drink alcohol at all (not OP). Can a rheumatologist really do anything

Yes, they can test your blood work and if that’s negative they can look at your joints. Some people have autoimmune arthritis with perfectly normal blood work ( seronegative). It’s still causing damage, just something your primary would likely miss if labs normal. Ask me how I know…. There are medicines to stop damage but early diagnosis is key.

+1 . I have seronegative RA. Blood work is fine but before I got on meds, the symmetrical joint swelling in my hands and feet was quite obvious and every major joint in my body hurt. Once I got started on meds it improved so much. If you get started on meds early enough and you catch it early enough, the meds can actually reverse damage.

[Anonymous]

Early-onset OA (degenerative joint disease). Not drinking alcohol does not make my joints hurt any less. I am 100% sober and I am in excruciating pain at all times. I also do not use narcotics. No point, at this level of pain. Train your mind to deal with it, OP. My pain is on a level that only a morphine drip would help, it is debilitating, there is no cure, all of my joints are affected at this point, and I'll probably be in a wheelchair in 5 years. I'll be 50 in 3 months. Grin and bear it. Makes a warrior out of you. Good luck. I am an alcoholic, btw. I have my drinking 100% under control, by my own sheer will and determination and by using God's strength to fight my hardest battles.

[Anonymous]

Alcohol-induced gout.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gout/symptoms-causes/syc-20372897

[Anonymous]

OP can you get up a little earlier and go for a walk to start the day? I don't know if early or late would suit you better but it really can help both with the not drinking and the combating mid-life spreads. Am in same boat, or as Greta Grundberg puts it - we are all in the same sea, but in our own boats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP can you get up a little earlier and go for a walk to start the day? I don't know if early or late would suit you better but it really can help both with the not drinking and the combating mid-life spreads. Am in same boat, or as Greta Grundberg puts it - we are all in the same sea, but in our own boats.

Agree with walking - if your body is changing, trying to do your old gym workouts may result in injury (it did for me). I’ve lost weight just by walking briskly and regularly. I actually saw some Ted talk on how ageing bodies need to exercise differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, my older family members (I was a late in life birth) all take an herbal capsule called Full Life Reuma Art X Strength. Look it up on Amazon. I benefit at age 50 from having older siblings 12-16 years older than me who are able to offer up what works. They swear by this supplement. I started having occipital headaches and have noticed I no longer have them since starting this. Other family members have reported no more hand pain, back pain, knee pain, etc.

There are a lot of reviews online as well. It’s worth checking out. I was skeptical but it’s delivering for me too.

Drop the alcohol and start taking this and who knows - you might shave 10 years off!

You might also try cutting back on gluten. I was having mild inflammation in many joints (hands, knees, hips). Around the same time, I had also started to make and eat seitan (which is made with vital wheat gluten). I stopped eating seitan and the inflammation stopped. googled it and gluten can cause inflammation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP can you get up a little earlier and go for a walk to start the day? I don't know if early or late would suit you better but it really can help both with the not drinking and the combating mid-life spreads. Am in same boat, or as Greta Grundberg puts it - we are all in the same sea, but in our own boats.

Agree with walking - if your body is changing, trying to do your old gym workouts may result in injury (it did for me). I’ve lost weight just by walking briskly and regularly. I actually saw some Ted talk on how ageing bodies need to exercise differently.

Oh, wow, guys. That’s a very interesting point.

Yes, I’ve got dogs, so I have every reason in the world to walk more. I walk some, obviously…but I could most definitely walk more.

[OP]

[Anonymous]

Alcohol or sugar inflame my joints. I can have an occasional glass of red wine or some gin. Doesn’t Teuqila have a lot of sugar? For me, it’s the sugary beverages that cause the most problem.