Posted , 6 users are following.
I’m very active, but the arthritis is due, mostly, to poor posture—seated at desk and piano (music educator).
I work out regularly, take periodic NSAID’s, cortisone shots have been mildly successful. Anything that has been helpful for you would be welcome! Chris 
0 likes, 7 replies
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Anhaga Cvenes
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thisolegirl Cvenes
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I agree with anhaga. The exercises are a pain but they do make a difference. It is vital to have as strong muscles as possible to offset the arthritis. I use to hate people who were always fiddling w/themselves and now I am one! The catch is there is usually discomfort while you are building those muscles & the process is constant & continual. OA is not for the feint of heart & you have to have discipline & it is hard, very hard. Hot showers help with my back. Stay away from pain meds & surgery & be judicious with the cortisone shots. Improve that posture! I'm sure bad posture doesn't cause OA but it doesn't help it either.
Anhaga thisolegirl
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thisolegirl Anhaga
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Anhaga Cvenes
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amkoffee Anhaga
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You are always such a wealth of information. And I learned something new from you today. I did not know that about NSAIDs. I don't take most NSAIDs because most of them make me sick to my stomach but it's good to know that in case my doctor suggests it.
Anhaga amkoffee
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Oddly enough I have known this since my OA diagnosis at age 40. This was long before internet, of course, so I must have read it somewhere. My doctor had suggested I take coated aspirin which I did for a while, but on reading about it I stopped and have never taken painkillers specifically for OA since. I have enjoyed the relief of OA as a side effect from taking painkillers for headaches.
Recently I looked it up, to make sure I had been telling the truth, and, yes, there has been research showing that NSAIDs do have this unfortunate effect.
I've been taking glucosamine for years, at a fairly high dose, and I suppose this has helped me, although in this case the research seems to be somewhat equivocal. It's a long term treatment, won't have any effect quickly, and isn't a painkiller. However, be warned, some people claim it upsets their stomach, but I've been taking a kind which is a powder in a capsule, not a solid pill or caplet, and have never had any problems. I bought the solid kind by mistake a couple of times and found I couldn't even swallow them!