Playing with Arthritic knees

[scooter]

With the season fast approaching, and me in the middle of a bad flareup I am looking for tips for playing with arthritis in my knees.

I usually use A535 on them to get them good and warm while I'm dressing. I use a compression pant and two neoprene braces during the game to maintain the warmth. Ice afterwards.

For those of you with the arthritis is there anything that you do to help control the pain, and get them feeling less angry?

[RonHextall27]

Originally Posted by scooter

With the season fast approaching, and me in the middle of a bad flareup I am looking for tips for playing with arthritis in my knees.

I usually use A535 on them to get them good and warm while I'm dressing. I use a compression pant and two neoprene braces during the game to maintain the warmth. Ice afterwards.

For those of you with the arthritis is there anything that you do to help control the pain, and get them feeling less angry?

well my friend join the club. I have Psoriatic Arthritis and it has been a battle for 16years. If it real bad go to a doctor first and get some drugs to help with the progression Now

2nd for me I take ENBREL, it's a hard core drug but has been wonders for me.
3rd I take a NSAID a couple hours before I play like Advil or Alieve ( not sold in Canada but you can get thru prescription as Naproxen)
Then I have a Ice wrap I wear on my bad ( favorite leg) before I play ( this is on flare up days)
4th, I wear some volleyball knee pads under my UA long johns and then wear 2 knee pads. Yes 2.
I wear the Bauer GPX and rigged them up to my pants and attched to my pants are my Mckenney knee pads. Sounds alot of bulk on my knees but I am well protected from any shots and they give me a nice cushion. I can't afford getting hit there. Hurts alot more when you have RA like me.
I also try to ( it's mental) use my weak leg to get up this helps out the bad knee
And after the game I will have hot bath in Epson salts. This really helps out the aches and reduces the pain.
Last is losing some weight. I have dropped 17 punds since last Feb and what a difference.
Hope that helps just my personal routine I do, due to having this lame disease ...could be worse.
Good Luck

[jambon20]

Originally Posted by RonHextall27

well my friend join the club. I have Psoriatic Arthritis and it has been a battle for 16years. If it real bad go to a doctor first and get some drugs to help with the progression Now

2nd for me I take ENBREL, it's a hard core drug but has been wonders for me.
3rd I take a NSAID a couple hours before I play like Advil or Alieve ( not sold in Canada but you can get thru prescription as Naproxen)
Then I have a Ice wrap I wear on my bad ( favorite leg) before I play ( this is on flare up days)
4th, I wear some volleyball knee pads under my UA long johns and then wear 2 knee pads. Yes 2.
I wear the Bauer GPX and rigged them up to my pants and attched to my pants are my Mckenney knee pads. Sounds alot of bulk on my knees but I am well protected from any shots and they give me a nice cushion. I can't afford getting hit there. Hurts alot more when you have RA like me.
I also try to ( it's mental) use my weak leg to get up this helps out the bad knee
And after the game I will have hot bath in Epson salts. This really helps out the aches and reduces the pain.
Last is losing some weight. I have dropped 17 punds since last Feb and what a difference.
Hope that helps just my personal routine I do, due to having this lame disease ...could be worse.
Good Luck

You have both RA and Psoriatic Arthritis?

Though meds may help you with your arthritis, they may not help with his. RA and Psoriatic are inflammatory diseases, whereas osteoarthritis is the more common wear and tear. Both may react well to anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs, however, anti-inflammatories can be dangerous to the joint as they can mask the pain and allow you to do the things that caused you grief in the first place. Inflammation is usually a sign of the body saying "stop that... it hurts me". Masking this can allow you to continue the action until the joint get REALLY hooped. (Not to mention what these meds can do on your guts and liver).

Relative rest is key... you have to find the "happy median". A combination of doing at least some activity to keep the joints moving, while not doing so much as to aggravate and inflame... varies for everyone.
Ice, heat, stretch, lose weight, not weight bearing or pounding actvities... all good.

...and sometimes, meds will help you as well. Just depends on the case. The odd ibuprofen shouldn't harm you. Taking six just to get mobile daily to go to work... not so good

[paulsmachetti]

What is A535?
Paul

[scooter]

I think in America they call it BenGay.

Thanks for the tips. I think I am having a hard time with the balance portion right now. Exercise but not too much..I have a pretty physical job as well which doesn't help much.

[jambon20]

Originally Posted by scooter

I think in America they call it BenGay.

Thanks for the tips. I think I am having a hard time with the balance portion right now. Exercise but not too much..I have a pretty physical job as well which doesn't help much.

REALLY GOOD FOOTWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and possibly orthotic footbeds.

Keeping things in line will put less stress on your joints.