Well, I don't have great knees, but they are still working. I do a lot of exercises to strengthen the joints and the core. Along with arthritis (never specifically diagnoised, but I am guessing from the looks of my hands that mine is osteoarthritis), I have several badly bulging disks and degeneration of the spine. Also torn muscles in both shoulders - I grew up a farmer, remember. So far, the exercises and a mild anti-inflammatory have kept me mobile and relatively pain free. Like you Kate, I will do anything to keep from taking medicine. In my case, my doctors - orthopedic doc, spinal specialist, and physical therapist - agree the exercises are the very best treatment. I know I would also benefit from a diet similar to yours or at least cut out the sugar. I do eat healthy foods generally, but I do have sweets every day and I know sugar is the worse thing I can put in my mouth.
sandra -- enjoy the sweets as long as you can!!!
I take something you may have heard of called msm which stands for a long scary sounding word -- I take the 'no boundaries' brand organic crystals dissolved in hot water -- tastes like bad liquor or worse but it has done wonderful things for me -- athletes take it too --
I started at 1 teaspoon daily and slowly raised to three a day for about six months -- now I take 1-2 teasps/day -- prolly should raise it back to three -- the benefits for me have been outstanding -- a wonderful side effect is my hair has Never ever grown this long -- my nails are nice for first time too --
this article gives the nitty gritty about it --
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324544#promoting-recovery-after-exercise
I am not familiar with it, Kate, but will go to your link right now. I am not opposed to suppliments, if they are helpful.
well it goes without saying you'd want to do your due diligence and determine if it is right for you -- but it's been great for me 
Well Sandra osteoarthritis is no joke. Anyone who suffers knows that. And farming does take a toll on the body, as do other professionals. Still have lingering shoulder pain from tearing my rotator cuff twice. Considering how many clients I rolled in bed, lifted, etc, I’m thankful because of good body mechanics my back wasn’t affected. This might surprise you. My gynaecologist said that my hysterectomy/bladder/rectal wall repair was brought on by the nature of the job I did. Lifting people out of wheelchairs, transferring, bed care, etc. Who’d a thunk that!!! Speaking of diets, eating, I haven’t had any sugar for almost 3 months. Using erythritol mostly. Of course starches contain sugars, but I’ve severely limited them also. Everything I’ve read says sugar fuels arthritis. My hands have been sore because of the cold weather. That’s why I try and keep my hands busy, form of exercise. Which kind of plank do you do Sandra. On your knees? I do the full upright, using my hands, not forearms, and on my toes. We do a plank worm in class. Do a plank, using hands walk back up to standing, take a step walk out to a plank, repeat till we’ve crossed the room. It’s a killer. I need to do more weight. That strengthens. The Pilates I take, the teacher, although my daughter’s age, gears her Pilates for seniors. For strength, agility, mobility and balance. Still can’t do a darn roll up tho. Weak stomach muscles!!
Kate thanks for the link on msm. Definitely going to investigate. My daughter is into anything natural, be it food or supplements. If this could help my arthritis, I’d definitely take it. I stated taking glucosamine sulfate . We’ll see if I get any positive results.
I do planks with my weight resting on my forearms and toes, hold the face down on both arms for two minutes, then switch to one arm and toes and hold for one minute, change sides and do the other. I have not been doing the planks very long. I started doing weights for my arms and shoulders, but torn another muscle helping Mike take the steps out of the pool, so that's on hold right now. I have two tears in my left rotator, one in the right and this latest one was right below my collar bone. Boy I break easily since I got old!
Ahhh...I don’t do the forearms for planks..resting totally on my hands. So far I can do comfortably, but eventually I will probably use my forearms. Good thing about the plank...whatever position, it works. I know, that I know once I start up with our Pilates teacher at the seniors centre, it ain’t going to be easy. Think everyone will have to ease in and work up to the hard stuff!!!
Wow Sandra, that’s a lot of tears. You really have to curtail weight bearing exercises until those tears heal!!! Otherwise, you’re adding more chances for further injury. Do you have coverage for physiotherapy?? Think that would be a good option for you to try.
Haha, yes, I recently finished two months of physical therapy for the bursitis and tendonitis in both hips and the pinched nerve from the bulging disks. It worked like magic! A lot of work, but it beats the heck out of surgery and is more effective. All three doctors said so and they were right.
hey sandra, you guys got power and internet over there? that blast in nashville looks pretty bad for communication in several states -- you all ok???
Yes, we are fine, but we have Spectrum instead of AT & T. Some of my friends who do have AT & T are having major problems. The explosion was horrific. I am just glad there were only minor injuries.
so glad to know you all are ok! just an unimaginable crime -- but yes could have been so much worse -- God help us!
Sandra I thought of you and Mike right away when I heard about the blast in Nashville. Of course I know you were a long ways away. But more about internet/cell phone service. Obviously after reading this post, you were not affected. So glad no one was seriously injured.
lynne -- was just thinking of you, my friend -- those butternut squash tortilla chips are great -- but oh my goodness -- these are even better! even non-gluten free folks would love these!
Plant Snacks Grain Free Sea Salt Cassava Chips, 5 Oz. - Walmart.com - Walmart.com
and there's a bunch of different flavors -- i just tried the salted ones mmmmmm mmmmm mmmmmm
I am happy to hear only communications suffered in Nashville and minor injuries. That blast made me sad and also so angry !
We had a quiet Christmas Eve and Christmas Day since we did not get together with either my siblings and family or my husband's sister and family. One of my sisters and her 17 year old daughter has Covid, minor symptoms so far but my sister has some chest pains. So I did a drop of gifts and some food at the same time as one of my brothers on Christmas Eve morning and then a chaotic Facetime later that night. Ughhhh but better than nothing! And on Christmas Day a little Facetime with my sisterinlaw and her family. But P and I ate well and sat down for dinner on Christmas Eve which we never get to do because we are always the ones cooking. I mean mostly the Royal We because it's mostly me! We talked about a Christmas Re-Do maybe in the summer when it's safe to do so!
But yesterday I got into my head that a colorful (not green) Christmas tree on clearance was just what we all needed. After sharing around some pictures in text messages, I ordered trees for my local siblings. 2' trees: hot pink, lavender, white, royal blue and black/purple. Yep one of my sisters wanted a black one!! All the trees were $19 or less even pre-lit -- 1 of them was $10 ! Wouldn't the pink one look sweet in the summer with seashells and other summery items on it. Anyway it was a fun thing to order and after ordering it I found out my other sister is sick and tested negative but her live in boyfriend tested positive. So we all needed a pickmeup! This Fg Covid. Enough already!!!
Anyway if the thought of multiple colored Christmas trees makes you laugh or smile, I'm glad. And an extra prayer for those who are sick would be great too!
Come on 2021!!
T
Well Hallelujah.....I managed to log on. CC has shut me out for 2 days!! Wouldn’t let me sign in. And I’m still not getting any notifications...grrrrrr
i was extremely...EXTREMELY fortunate and blessed to celebrate Polish Christmas Eve dinner with my kids/grandkids. Our part of the province went into 2nd lockdown on Boxing Day. Which for you Americans, is the day after Christmas. Many of my friends, and Kowalczyk family couldn’t celebrate with family, period. We kinda cheated as you were only allowed 5 in your family bubble. We had nine, including myself and hubby. But we only ever see my kids/grandkids exclusively. No one else. So I didn’t think we had broken any rules. We continue to help babysit our grandkids. This was the first time in 43 years the whole Kowalczyk family didn’t get together for Christmas Eve. Of course this was the same for so many others as well.
kakeladi/Lynne....did you not celebrate Christmas with your daughter.. some gifts, a Christmas meal??
K8memphis/Kate...did you and hubby celebrate Christmas...gifts, a Christmas meal?
Teresa....I hope you’re family members get better soon. I sent a 10” decorated tree to my nephew/niece years ago that they still enjoy today. Those trees sound like fun!!
I don’t think Sandra would mind...thought you should know she lost her very, very best friend yesterday. Sandra is understandably distraught. Been praying for Sandra and her friends family.
oh sandra, so sorry to hear about your dear friend -- love and prayers to you and all -- and a big hug
June -- we had a lovely meal with our daughter and son-in-law -- got a smoked turkey from one of our famous barbeque joints -- it was great -- I got my doggie some new toys --
theresa -- a christmas do-over sounds like a very good idea! wish we could expand it to a 2020 do-over!
Thank you, my dear friends. This has been a horrible blow and it will take a while for the reality to soak in.
it’s my tracing of a picture from alamy for my friend sandra
Thank you, Kate! This is beautiful and so kind of you. I am going to see if I can save it to my pictures so I can print it. Big hugs XOXO
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