Arthritic Hip Pain, OUCH!

In June 2012, I just got diagnosed with OA, Osteoarthritis. I guess it is a part of aging and women are more prone to this. The pain in my spine got to be cronic and it starting to affect my daily living. I would be sleeping and my hip pain would wake me up. I do not like long car rides because sitting causes stiffness. OA affects all the weight bearing joints like your knees, spine and hips.

I was given Naproxen and Flexeril. I took it for 3 days and then decided that O needed another alternative to the cronic pain. It just so happened that my daughter wanted grilled pineapple with chicken, so I bought one, cut it up and threw it on the grill. YUM!

I ate the pineapple for 3 straight days and did not take any Naproxen or Flexeril. I was pleasantly surprised. I went to bed with little pain and woke up with little pain.

Pineapple has bromelain and is a natural anti-inflammatory food. I wonder why more doctors do not suggest to their patients pineapple versus a drug. Naproxen can cause intestinal bleeding with long term use and it is toxic to our liver. Flexeril can cause dizziness and constipation. Again why do doctors push these types of meds? It is far healthier to eat 1/2 a cup of fresh pineapple than a pill.

There is no real cure for arthritis, just rememdies you can try. The one that i have implemented is a diet change. I love shellfish like clams, lobster and shrimp. I have eliminated it from my diet. I may cheat and have shrimp as a treat, which is once a month when I cook it for the kids in stirfry. But I will limit it to two pieces of shrimp. "Something is better than nothing." Another food I have eliminated are eggplant and potatoes. They are night Shade veggies and cause inflammation. For years I would make baked eggplant with melted cheese and tomato sauce and or I would eat potatoes, scalloped, panfried, baked, boiled and who doesn't love yummy fries.

To confirm those theories, I also went to my acupuncturist /herbalist and he said," Yes, shellfish and night shade veggies may contribute to arthritis." I also contacted Tina Dea in Boston, a well known acupuncturist in the Copley Sq. Area.

I also try to eat what my blood type is. I am an AB which means I can't eat too much of anything in extreme, especially meats. My diet must be balanced with veggies and some grain. I rarely eat red meat anymore. The reason is red meats are high in omega 6. Omega 6 in red meat is also a known to be a huge contributor to arthritis.

My hip pain is painful. I will avoid surgery at all costs. I have heard stories where you end up with one leg shorter than the other and then you never walk the same. You are actually worse off.

In 2008, there was a week i purchased a whole bunch of meats on sale. I made stew, meatballs and we had steak over a two week period. By the 3rd week all of a sudden I developed hand pain. I went to the hand clinic to find out what was wrong. I could not bend my index fingers in my right hand, I could not hold even a coffee cup. I fumbled for car keys and had zero grip. The doctors thought i sprained my hands. X-rays showed nothing. I wore a splint on my wrist and hands, spent hundreds of dollars and they gave me a cortisone shot. The cortisone shot helped as a temporary measure. Due to the fact the docs could not diagnose and I went to the best hand doctor in my area, I decided to just figure out on my own what was I eating differently, it was any RED MEAT.

If anyone out there has to have red meat, please only buy antibiotic and grass fed meat. Any cows that are fed corn are injected with growth hormones, may develop health issues with pain in their extremities likes hands. It sounds bizarre. But this pain can affect any of your joints. When it attacked me, it was my hands.

I have eliminated many of my starches like breads and pastas. I know everyone thinks that whole wheat pasta an whole wheat breads are so rich. What they do not know is that it is also higher in gluten. The gluten that lines your intestines is like a thick GLUE. I know after I eat a bowl of pasta or a sandwich I feel so bloated and I get severe gas pain.Your stomach distends. many think it is because they ate too much. For me, I am certain it is a sensitivity to gluten.

When you intestines are all knotted up with glue, you do not digest or absorb other foods properly because your body is out of balance trying to figure out what to do with the gluten. The next set of problems may be improper removal of bowels, constipation. Most people eat too much pasta, breads, donuts, bagels, cookies and pizza. If you are gonna load up on starches you need to eat veggies and lots of fiber stuff to help digestion and to prevent constipation and distension.

Take notice of people who look pregnant from the breast bone down. It isn't all just fat, their intestines are filled fecal matter built up over time. A good sign your intestines need an overhaul.

I myself have limited the starches to rice. It is a gluten that I can digest. I stay away as much as i can from wheat products. That isn't to say, I do not eat or relish a slice of cake or yummy cookie. I just eat very little of it. When most people eat 6 cookies at a serving. I have one. Another mazing thing occurred. My facial skin cleared up from having dry scaly patches under my chin! AMAZING!

I love cheese! Imagine having to eliminate cheese. Cheese is an animal product. If the milk came from a corn fed cow, you can imagine why there are so many people out there with joint pain. Did you know that cheese is also a big culprit of causing all kind of white heads in your skin, it causes your skin to have more eczema and it causes many allergies. Cheese is binding and clogs your system. Try giving up cheese for a month. Your skin will clear up.

I myself do not eat hardly any cheese anymore. The only pizza I eat is super thin crust. If you combine the cheese and the gluten from pizza dough, it makes it extremely difficult to digest.

LOL when I make anything with red sauce, I eat it with plain rice.

I use two tennis balls and what I do is roll and press the balls on my hip. You can do this by laying on your back for 12 minutes. Place the tennis ball (s) in the area of pain. Use your own weight to press against the ball. In doing this, it helps to relieve the pain. It hurts a little, but anything to release the pain always feels better. Another thing you can do once you feel confident is to do mini-circles on the ball. Anyone who has had a professional massages will know what I mean. You can do this while watching tv. I like doing it first thing in the morning and at night. Try this and let me know what you think. It takes a little practice.

Another thing I will do is take a tennis (s) ball and press against it if i have a long road trip. Its like acupressure on the go. Anyone with hip pain knows what I am talking about. When sitting for long periods of time, the hips get sore and stiff. The tennis ball again helps to alleviate the pain.

If you have a job that requires a lot of sitting, I would recommend the tennis ball too. Often times you sit in those task chairs with wheels. Take two tennis balls and place them against the hip area of your back or if the sciatic pain runs under your thigh place it there. You can do this for 5 minutes at a time. Use your own discretion.

Tennis balls are inexpensive and you can keep them in your car, in your hand bag, at the office.

Hard to believe but this is an incredible food that has all kinds of benefits. I started eating this as a regular staple. Instead of breads, pastas, or rice, just substitute this. It acts as as an anti-inflammatory. Click here and read all the benefits. It is full of beta carotene, magnesium, fiber, it lowers insulin level, lowers inflammation, great for digestion in that it heals your stomach, the juice of potatoe can be rubbed on joints for arthritic pain.

Sweet potatoes can be microwaved and eaten at work as a meal. It is a super food in my opinion. Give it a try to please let me know what your results with pain are. I would be curious to know.

I have reduced my sugar intake. Yes, i love candy, cakes and Ice cream. But I have relaize that sugar is a big contributor to my hip pain and I would rather feel good than bad. Please read about sugar. I know it is the one thing people love.

OK Sometimes I feel like I have to eat like squirrel because my body can't tolerate a lot of animal products. And rightfully so, my body tells me. I know yours does too. It is so important to pay attention to our own bodies. We are what we eat!

I eat rarely eat any red meat but will give into a great burger once in a while with fries. I eat edamame, tofu, any dark green leaf veggies like kale, dandelion, love sushi, drink vinegar with water and honey, snack on hummus with carrots, I eat a lot of apples with peanut butter. I try and maintain a diet closer to my Asian diet because it is lower in sugars, and carbohydrates. Yes, I have that bowl of rice, but I balance my plate with more veggies, chicken, fish, eggs tofu and sweet potatoe.

I just read that chewing on Celery seeds are also something to consider in helping joint pain. It is a natural diuretic.Celery contains a compound called 3NB which is very effective in helping arthritis & fibromyalgia.Another added bonus is it can help lower blood pressure.I loved eat fresh celery. I think it is worth trying. You can toss it in your salads, spread peanut butter on it and eat as a snack.

I think it is worth a shot. Several members of my family are taking the plunge to try this. It comes highly recommended by health enthusiasts. I think much depends on how svere your inflammation is. My sister said she just grinds it up in a protein shake.

recipe:

1/4 cup frozen strawberries unsweetened,

one banana

2 Tablespoon Hemp seeds

1 scoop protein powder

1/4 apple juice

Throw all this in your blender. Then pour and drink.

Try this for a month to see if it helps you.

1. I avoid any and all shell fish.

2. I drink pineapple juice at lunch and dinner in addition to the 1/2 cup of fresh pineapple.

3. I eat minimal dairy. Dairy products like ice cream, cream cheese, cheese, cheese spreads create acid in the joints which cause pain. The only cream I eat daily is in my one cup of morning coffee.

4. I now broil kale. You cut the stiff vein out and chop the leaves. Toss with oil, salt and garlic powder. Broil for 3 minutes . It is yummy. It is like stir-fry without the mess. This is high in calcium and fiber. I will devour 1 cup at dinner.

My body hates this type of weather because it causes pain in the joints. It is especially awful when it is rainy. My solution is to drink a cup of hot tea with lemon and honey. Lemon has a drying effect in the body. It helps with mucus build-up(acids) and it cleanses. Plus you feel better drinking a hot liquid to stay warm.

I am no spring chick. At 51 my bones and muscles are seeing more aches. Being a woman and over menopause adds another kicker to the aging process. I am recommending all women practice Tai Chi. It is great for balance. It is gentle. It helps with poor circulation, digestion, concentration. Look at your local colleges, clinics and recreation centers to see if classes are available. I loveTai Chi because I do not like chlorine or water aerobics. You can practice tai chi anywhere once you understand the form. It is especially great for anyone living in an apartment.

If you live in Boston. Check out

Calvin Chin's Martial Arts Academy: CalvinChin.com

Calvin teaches Tai Chi and has many dedicated students.