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What diseases/conditions are related to overuse injuries of cartilage/discs/tendons?

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thevisi0nary
thevisi0nary

I have a reoccuring theme of bad health in my life, and I feel like they are all related to my body being highly susceptible to damage.

I have 3 herniated discs one which causes nerve pain - This became much worse after a car accident but it started before that

I have osteoarthritis - This is directly linked to guitar playing and the fingers I use most are the ones that are most visibly affected. I also get this kind of pain with doing anything too much with a specific finger, say using my pointer finger to control my laptop mouse pad.

I have what is likely IT band syndrome in the right hip - This is directly related to jogging and was never properly treated

Why is my body so easily damaged by specific stressors? I use the word damage because once the pain starts it often stays. Is there an underlying issue that could be contributing to this?

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3 Replies

  • sparkle1
    sparkle1 thevisi0nary

    Posted

    There are a number of theories on this.  The 'old fashioned one' is that its simply wear and tear.   However, the people at the front of research dont believe this.  They all believe it starts of bio-chemically and then becomes bio-mechanical.  There are a number of theories on what triggers the bio-chemical change and if it can be stopped or controlled.  The main triggers are thought to be injury and / or an infection and / or a gut issue such as food poisoning or IBS.  These cause chemical changes in the joint.. think about it this way - when you get flu your joints hurt yes? then the immune system kicks in and gets rid of the flu virus causing it. There is a link between the gut, vagus nerve and immune system. THe vagus nerve seems to be able to control the actions of the immune system so when this is depressed, possible that the immune system is depressed and not working properly to get rid of the issue in the joint. We know the inflammation in the joint is caused by the proteases (see Oxford arthritis Centre research on subject).  HIgh cholesterol / obesity also lowes the vagus nerve response.

    ​You may be genetically disposed but something is triggering it to occur - either repetitive injury / diet etc.  This is at the forefront and at the boundaries of current medical science. Lots of people working to find the links to work out how to really treat OA and other joint diseases. In meantime, go on an exclusion diet for 3 months. Then add 1 thing back in gradually etc. The top guys do this. i.e. fish, eggs, fruit, veg, nuts seeds. Cut out red meat, alcohol, sugar, dairy, wheat. I also cut out nightshades to start with (Aubergines, chillies, tomatoes, potatoes, Peppers).  Get a really good veg cook book.  If you have a gut issue which is influencing your vagus nerves response to inflammation then this will hep you - you just dont want to believe it might probably!!  After 3 months, add one thing in for 3 months (I added in chicken) but dont be tempted to add things in too soon as takes about 3 months to have an effect.  

    ​I have seen 2 top surgeons with generalised OA and they are both on the above and have largely halted progression.  Laptop use a known trigger for reetitive injury so get a bigger keyboard and make sure screen at eye level otherwise you will get damage in your neck, which you want to avoid and you clearly have a pre-disposition to this.   After the diet, go to pilates. The diet helps the bi-chemical aspect to heal and the pilates will help the bio-mechanical.   Sounds hard work but you may delay the progression long enough for the researchers to ultimately find either a unit to control vagus nerve or to find a drug to alter the bio-chemical change back or to re-grow the cartilege.  

    • thevisi0nary
      thevisi0nary sparkle1

      Posted

      This is really helpful. I am going to incorperate all of this starting with the exlusion diet. Thank you!
    • Enna1
      Enna1 sparkle1

      Posted

      I think this is brilliant advice and wonder whether it would help us all with nerve pain. I do know 3 guitarist with nerve pain in their hands/fingers - 1 a heavy rock star who lives near me in Spain. The other plays no more and the other now plays keyboard so obviously it could be repetative. I have used a key board forfor nearly 50 years and my hands seem to be OK but I can't get a decent seat to sit at my desk. We are not built to look at a computer all day - as I am told most days ...but I have heard or read something similar to what sparkle says - its worth a go.

      I just would hate to see the kids of today in 40 years time. Little 2 yes old playing games and no-one seems to care about their kids health. Look at the games on sale now. My daughter is a psychologist working in the games industry and as far as I know her employer isn't specific about how she should rest.

      Be interesting what you do....a blog????

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