Problems diagnosed as Osteoarthritis CAN be cured in some cases.
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If you're a proactive individual that's been diagnosed with incurable Osteoarthritis it's *possible* that you can in fact beat the diagnosis and get back to full fitness and functionality. It happened to me.
I should add that I was diagnosed at age 42 and was very fit and active at the time. I think it might be very different for older individuals, people who's condition is advanced, or people that don't enjoy exercise.
Here's my story. I can't make any promises that it'll be the same for you. But I will if people are interested share some of the resources that helped me to beat what I considered to be a life shattering diagnosis, for which I was assured there was no possibility of a cure. I don't know whether to believe I was misdiagnosed and never actually had Osteoarthritis, or whether they're wrong when they say Osteoarthritis is incurable. What I can say is that I was told my symptoms were 'classic' and that the diagnosis was certain - that my symptoms couldn't be explained by anything else. The whole area is so poorly defined and slap-dash that it's impossible to tell. Either way, it means there's at least hope of beating it if that's what you want to try and do.
I've spent 8 years battling against the people that were hell bent on brow beating me into believing I had Hip Osteoarthritis when I knew I didn't. My real problems were ignored - I was essentially left to rot. I was treated like an idiot. Told I researched too much. That I was in denial. Told that I was making my problems worse by training to keep myself fit, strong and active. Told I should swim and cycle and give up all other sports. I was asked repeatedly "You've had numerous experts try to help you - don't you think one of them would have succeeded if this really was curable?".
Finally I've been vindicated. I figured it out for myself. A simple, treatable muscle imbalance causing all of my problems. Obviously I wanted to let the people know that have tried to help over the years. I expected them to be amazed - a breakthrough that could help lots of people. These cases that we think are incurable can in fact be fixed!!
My excitement was met with apathy: [paraphrasing]. "The reality is that most people are inactive and unwilling to put in the work needed to address muscle imbalances like this. Even if the correct diagnosis was made, for most people the end result would be the same. People who are willing to put in the work necessary to reverse the condition are so few and far between that they aren't statistically significant to make it worth the cost of training and research. We were unable to solve your problem because we've not been adequately trained to do so. But well done for hanging in and figuring it out yourself."
Why wasn't I told this BEFORE I discovered the solution for myself? Why did they try to convince me I had incurable OA when they knew how determined I was to beat it?
Here's the reality as I now understand it (as it's been explained to me). This may not reflect every health professionals view, but it is a summary of what I've been told by various health professionals:
GP's are responsible for diagnosing OA. Yet they know very little about bio mechanics (unless they've got an interest and educate themselves).
They don't understand the condition in great detail, but they don't need to. They're working to a script. It seems not to be widely known who writes that script (so who to go to with questions or doubts)...which is a little bit of a worry.
Some know that often it's a misdiagnosis - more forward thinking GP's are aware that it's frequently a treatable soft tissue issue. But like the physios, think it doesn't matter too much as for most patients it makes no difference. They lead inactive lifestyles and any attempts to restore them to full functionality will fail. There is little point in wasting resources trying to give an accurate diagnosis when the end result will usually be the same regardless. So OA is the 'catch all' category you put them in. There is no cure - you manage with drugs and operate if and when necessary.
Even when someone is in great shape, keen to be proactive in their treatment and has an active lifestyle worth preserving there's nothing to be gained in finding the correct diagnosis as there is no one to refer them to to get it fixed. People worth bothering with (because they can be restored to a good, active life) aren't statistically significant enough to be worth the research and training needed to put systems in place to help them.
So, the GP's make the OA diagnosis despite not necessarily knowing much about OA. Who are the specialists then if you're determined to find the real cause of your joint stiffness or pain? Well, there's a bit of an oversight there. There is no one.
Orthopedic surgeons know about surgery. If your problem is an easily curable soft tissue issue they probably won't know enough to detect it. They may well put you under the knife unnecessarily. Or tell you that you have an incurable problem that will deteriorate over time - that your active life is over (that's what happened to me). But this is more a case of them forcing your problem into something that fits their specialist knowledge. Not a proper diagnosis.
Then there's physios. They aren't trained to detect and treat curable soft tissue problems that lead to joint wear and might otherwise be diagnosed as OA. However, some are better than others. Some might actually be very capable. It's pot luck. I think it's unlikely to find someone with these skills working for the NHS, but I may be wrong. I have been told (by a physio) that the failure rate in these cases is 99% within the NHS.
There are people out there that do know how to diagnose and treat these soft tissue problems. And there's plenty of info on this on the internet that you can use to help yourself. It's down to the individual to separate the wheat from the chaff. Contrary to what we are led to believe, OA isn't an incurable degenerative disease. Strictly speaking it doesn't exist. It's a 'catch all' diagnosis used to put people with joint problems in when there aren't resources and training to find out and fix what's really wrong with them. Contrary to what we're led to believe, there is no category of the medical profession with expertise in the multitude of conditions commonly labeled as OA. If you think you've seen an expert and had a reliable diagnosis of OA - think again.
There is no easy fix - that's true. There is no way of knowing if yours is a curable soft tissue problem without trying to fix it. I'm led to believe that official research into OA is centered around keeping this 99% of people that are deemed incurable (because they are perceived to be inactive and unwilling or unable to adhere to the required rehab plan), as pain free and independent as possible at minimum cost. It's simply not cost effective to put time and effort into finding the cause, the cure, or training people to make diagnosis and cure soft tissue problems in the cases where how to do so is already known by some.
But there are people out there that have figured out how to diagnose and cure at least some of these cases. Some speculate that all OA is initially a soft tissue dysfunction. However, this is mainly in the private sector - or perhaps in the NHS, but on an unofficial level. You're faced with the dilemma of separating the fakes from the real deal. Most will claim to be able to help - and many will diagnose incurable OA when they fail. That doesn't necessarily mean you can't be helped. Many tried and failed with me before I figured it out for myself.
But if you're willing to work at it yourself - or maybe even find the right person (which is very difficult) then it is quite possible that what you have is very curable.
31 likes, 607 replies
Marcy1973 susan67756
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altochoir susan67756
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in the chemo. If it didn't go away in 2 yrs., would never go away. That was it. I fell once outside during chemo, never paid no mind. This was 8yrs ago. Hip was never sore. Leg would give out and I'd fall. Went swimming all the time, at least 3 times a wk. Thought it was nerve damage and took VitC therepy with something extra in it for year and half and pain went away with 12 of them a day and weaned off of them. Pain came back. The muscle of the right leg, top, tightens when I get up from sitting, or happens when I'm sitting. My best is when I walk (with my walker now, cane inside.) The pain make me scream when I get into bed. I cry a lot. Had a hip xray and told I have advanced osteoarthritis
in right hip. Both my knees are bad. Just had second cortisone shot in left knee and just waiting a little more time to get it in the right knee. Waiting for the hospital to call for me to get 2nd cortisone in my hip. No pain pills work, no rub and hip needle only lasted 2 mos. I walk out everyday. I'm 170 lbs, 74yrs. old and want to do a lot more living but it seems I just wait for replacements. I will be continuing my swimming shortly and I do exercises at home. I hate them but know I should do them. I'm on blood pressure pills although I'm at 134 and antidepress.
pills. I went to a holistic woman and she told me I'm sometimes anticipating pain but she took my right leg, had me relaxed, and brought the knee right down to my chest level. I can't do that but I can't afford her. My doctor has apologized for not knowing that I had advanced arthritis. It's mind boggling and I need help. I still don't know what you did for yourself. Exercise was it. The groin pain has disappeared but not the muscle pain.
Marie T.
susan67756 altochoir
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It's so frustrating when the people that are supposed to help just want you to take pills or wait for surgery!
The older or less fit you become I think the harder it is to address this kind of thing. I was very fit when my problems started and my first symptoms were more stiffness than pain. So I was always able to attack things aggressively which helps a lot. When you're in a lot of pain (something I have only experienced for a short while) it does make things SO much harder.
The exact exercises etc that have worked for me are very unlikely to work for you. Partly because you're in a more tricky situation (more advanced), but also because your exact cause of symptoms will be different from mine.
Don't let the xray findings frighten you. Lots of people have badly degenerated hip joints and zero symptoms. It's possible that you can get a lot of relief without surgery.
Regardless of whether your doctors are right (that the problem comes down to joint degeneration) or that it's just a severe muscle imbalance with complications there are things you can do that should help a lot.
Keep doing as much exercise as you can tolerate without aggravating symptoms. Get out and walk, move regularly at home etc. If you can swim then great. Is there some kind of fitness class that you could manage? Don't think about exercise as a cure right now as it's probably going to be to difficult to find the right exercises. But movement is good for joints, good for mood, good for pretty much everything - so find things you can enjoy and tolerate and do them every day. When you find the right exercise for you then you should find your tolerance increases and your pain decreases.
The thing that I think will help you most with your symptoms right now is self myofascial release or trigger point therapy. The good news is it's free and you can do it yourself. And it really can work miracles if you're lucky! You can Google this for info, but I would however recommend you purchase one book - "The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook" (You'll find it on Amazon - it's not expensive). This will teach you how to locate and self-massage little knots in various muscles. You'll be amazed at the degree to which these persistent little knots can wreak havoc with your body causing pain, restriction, numbness, tingling, weakness - a whole variety of symptoms that are often misdiagnosed as more serious conditions - such as arthritis. Regardless of the cause of your symptoms this can only help you. If you're lucky you might get tremendous relief from this. Everyone will get some relief.
You say it's been suggested to you that the pain is partly down to anticipation / in the mind? Google for this phrase: "Pain. Is it all just in your mind? Professor Lorimer". Watch the video as I think it might help you to see how your mind could be making things worse. I'm not saying you're nuts!! LOL It happens to all of us. The video will help you understand the mechanisms behind pain and should rob it of some of it's power.
Try this. If it helps I might be able to suggest other things you can try, but this should be your first step I think.
Good luck!
Susan
altochoir susan67756
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Thank you again for being so diligent.
Marie
susan67756 altochoir
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Trigger points in muscles are a sign that they're being put under too much strain. This can be caused by habitually moving or sitting in a bad position, working too hard or (as is probably in your case) due to a long established muscle imbalance.
If you do too much exercise you'll put more strain on the muscles and make things worse. It's extremely unlikely that you'll be capable of doing corrective exercises the right way because your nervous system can't remember how to fire up the muscles in the right sequence.
That said, exercise is good for lots of other reasons. So you just need to find that balance where you're getting the benefits without making your symptoms worse. The rule of thumb I use is:
1. It's OK if the exercise makes me a little bit stiff and sore for a day or two PROVIDED the long term trend is improvement.
2. If the long term trend is to stay the same then that's better than nothing but try to tweak your exercises until you're getting at least some improvement over time.
3. If things get worse over time cut back on volume, intensity or try other exercises until you achieve either 1 or 2 above.
Good luck and please do let me know how things go!
cat00524 susan67756
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I am so glad that you are a fighter and great hope for anyone willing to endure for health, also that you succeeded. Such healers are what world needs.
I would like to know what your exercise routine was, if that was all that it took you to heal. I have 1 leg a tad longer too. Please tell me how I could get your programme asap, because it's been months since I tryed to write to you ( in februry) , but then some registration problems distracted me and I couldn't find this page until yesterday. Thank you in advanceand all the best on your path.
susan67756 cat00524
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It's very unlikely that your imbalance is identical to mine as mine was a result of years of one-sided karate practice. However, the fact that you've found this thread suggests that you recognise similarities in yourself. I think an awful lot of these issues ultimately come down to a 'twist' in the pelvis. But the pelvis can twist in lots of different ways for lots of different reasons.
Explain your symptoms in as much detail as you can and I'll do my best to give you some pointers towards things that might help. But be warned - it's not an easy fix. I've been 100% dedicated to resolving this and whilst the hip symptoms are gone I'm still not correctly balanced - that twist hasn't gone completely. It is however getting closer and closer to 100% so I do firmly belive it will get there soon. I can at least guide you away from some of the dead-end approaches that I tried and that might speed things up for you.
Susan
cat00524 susan67756
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susan67756 cat00524
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But it won't be something that you can simply work through and expect results as each case is different.
The summary version is that you need to establish :
a) that you have a twisted pelvis or sacral torsion.
b) what type of sacral torsion it is.
(Google for 'sacral torsion' 'right on left sacral torsion' 'right on right sacral torsion' - there are a few variations but those searches will get you up to speed a little).
From there you'll be able to find the appropriate sacral torsion correction exercise that may yeild excellent results or you may find (as in my case) that there's so much other stuff going on that you need to use lots of other approaches in addition to the correction.
Generally speaking the muscles likely to be involved are the obliques, psoas, iliacus, TFL, glutes. Some will be weak, others overactive. You can't just dive in and stretch the tight muscles - you need to understand why they're tight. Usually because of a weak inactive muscle.
For me both psoas and glutes were weak. So it's probably a fairly safe bet to start working on isolating and activating both of these muscles. Google for psoas activation and glute activation exercises and see how they feel. But don't expect miracles and always be meticulous over form as the liklihood is that your muscle imbalance will result in you doing the corrective exercises incorrectly!
Twisting/rotating stretches will help. You'll have a tight side if you have a sacral torsion. Try lying on your back on the floor with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Stretch your arms out by yourside. Turn your head to look at your right hand and let your knees drop sideways to the floor on your left. Repeat on the otherside. This should identify your tight side. So you need to spend time mobilising and stretching that tight side. If it makes you tighten up even more it's simply because your nervous system is trying to protect you - it knows there's a weak muscle somewhere and won't let you get into a position where you'd be at risk (probably - there are other possibilities too!).
Lots of self myofacial release on the tight bits. As I keep recommending - the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook will help guide you with this.
Single leg kettlebell swings and lots of rotational exercises can work wonders. This is why I like the Functional Patterns material. That focuses on working the anterior and posterior oblique slings - these are seriously messed up when you have a sacral torsion. Something about rotational movements under load seems to be a bit of a miracle worker when it comes to these kind of imbalances. You could have a look through the available exercises on the Functional Patterns youtube channel. Single arm kettlebell swings is a good one if you're reasonably fit and active. Also some of the rotational work with cable machines.
This is such a rough guide though. It's hugely complex. I'll do my best to put a comprehensive document together that will hopefully be helpful to lots of people.
cat00524 susan67756
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susan67756 cat00524
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cat00524 susan67756
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jen29360 susan67756
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Do either of you have swollen joints in your big toe? I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and it was suggested to have surgery and take all the traditional meds...NO thanks...
I am a very healthy, active person. I hike, bike, run, kayak and just lead a clean healthy lifestyle.
My symptoms: I have swollen joints in both of my big toes. I am not sure if that is the correct anatomical location. Interphalange joint of both big toes...? perhaps that is the correct term. Anyway, just below my big toe, the round bump. I thought is was a bunion, but don't think so now. It is almost always swollen. I cannot bend it ( like in downward dog yoga... can bed the toe). It does not hurt to run, and usually does not swell further after running. Walking upsets it more as I have to bend the toe area more with my gait. Heals... forget it sadly. That completely aggrivates and will be swollen for 2 days.
Have you had this? ANY ideas, suggestions? Info.
I want to try to treat naturally.. tumeric, ginger, any ideas would be appreciated. Thank you.. I notice lots of joints hurt today... fingers, and wrists.
susan67756 jen29360
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This turned out to be yet another symptom of the REAL root cause of my hip OA diagnosis. Because I wasn't walking normally (due to twist in my pelvis) there was a lot of stress and torsion down my legs and into my foot. The pain wasn't actually coming from the joint (although it felt as if it was).
Have you tried digging your fingers into the tendons running along the top and bottom of your foot to your toe? Just get in with your fingers and press hard - between the toes, into the tendons, between the tendons. Just dig around your whole foot and see if you can find any painful areas. If you find them just use massage - so dig in and hold pressure for 10 seconds or so; little circular movements on the sore tissue. Do this regularly and if it doesn't make things worse (it probably will do at first) gently stretch them afterwards.
If you do find that these tendons are sore then chances are what you have is simply a result of a wonky gait. Very fixible (although probably not easily fixable). Massage will give temporary/symptomatic relief but it probably won't eliminate the problem. For that you'll need to fix the wonky gait.
A few people have asked me to put this info in a more structured way into a book as it's hard to spell it all out clearly on a forum. What I'm doing is working on a website initially - I may then transfer the info into a book. Nice thing about a website is I can put links to video etc. If you (or anyone) is interested in seeing this just follow this thead and I'll let you know when it's online. Or send me a pm and I can work through and reply to everyone interested when it's ready.
susan67756
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