Kitchen Garden Forum

I was diagnosed earlier this year with acute arthiritis in both feet, at the moment in my big toes. On Monday I underwent an injection in my left big toes to try and relieve the pain. I have today been for a walk, about 5.5 miles. I dont think the pain is much different much to my disappointment. The specialist injected into my large joint around my second joint but did not inject the first joint next to my toe nail (not very good at explaining) during the injection he bent my big toe downwards to open the second joint which has now upset that joint. Does anyone else have or had this problem if so does it work, does it take time to work or am I wasting my time as I have another appointment to have my other foot.

A friend in Kefalonia sent me an email to say that she had heard that ginger worked does anyone know if this works.

Any information gratefully received as we do lots of mountain biking and walking but the way I am going I feel like I might have to give up the walking.

Dear Catherine I can offer no remedies but I do offer my sympathies and I hope you find some relief soon.I so hope you don't have to give up your walking.I don't know about ginger but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.

Hi Catherine, yes I believe ginger is good for arthritis, also turmeric which can be bought as a supplement, as well as using the powdered spice used in food. Using the supplement does have the advantage of not having to incorporate it into your meals every day! A relative of mine has been taking it for a few weeks now and says it's really helped her. Also it might be worth having a look at acidic foods (that is foods that become acidic in the body rather than foods that are acidic before they're eaten, which can be a bit confusing I know!). Acidic foods can contribute to arthritis, and eating fewer of them, and at the same time increasing alkaline foods can be really beneficial.
Hope this is of some help.

Thanks ATS I agree with you I must look at what we eat and drink. How do you decide what is acid! Is it oranges, lemons which we eat on a regular basis on dressings, I will have to look into it very seriously. We only drink white wine as a spritzer half and half wine and either soda or sparkling water. May be this h as an affect on my feet. We eat quite a few vegetable currys, not a lot of meat, spag bols, pasta, salads, lots of chicken and fish.

Sorry you're having arthritis problems. It is horrible. On the bright side, it does seem to flare up and then settle down again for a while.

I've had it in my knees, ankle, hip, hands and neck for years.

I find that eating lots of celery, both raw and in cooking helps very quickly. It apparently gets rid of the crystal deposits in the joints that cause the inflammation. Also as has been said anything that increases the body's acid makes it worse and can cause a flare up. Tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, strawberries and red wine and alcohol in general, and red meat are noticeable triggers in my case. But I like them, so I enjoy eating and drinking them and suffer the consequences - and up the celery intake to calm it down again. I can avoid red meat altogether and cut down on the alcohol easily, so it isn't a problem.

Also I take Glucosamine with chondroitin tablets and a high dose codliver oil capsule daily and they really do work.

As soon as the joints aren't too painful try and keep up the exercise, but don't overdo it. If you exercise in moderation it keeps the joints working whereas if you stop altogether they will sieze up.

I hope this helps.

Thanks plumpudding. Do you know if there are tablets with celery in that I could take as I dont much like the taste but hell, if all else fails I will begin to like it. I eat Tomatoes, I've grown aubergines for the first time but will have to be more careful about how many times I eat it. I think there is something about the night shade plants that cause a problem I seem to remember reading something somewhere about them, dont eat many strawberries and dont drink red wine I do like my white wine and soda or sparkling mineral water I do like spag bols, chillies and casseroles in winter but will start cutting down for a while to see if this works. I have just come back from a couple of hours out walking and my feet feel like they are on fire. I also have it in my neck and left knee and hands but they are managable. I take glucosamine and chondroitin when I remember but will have to really concentrate on this every morning. I have some cod liver oil in the cupboard so I will start taking that again and see what I can do to help myself.

Dear Catherine, and try and remember the most important thing, try to keep positive, as i really do believe this helps loads.

Thanks OH I do try to stay positive but sometimes it is very difficult I just worry about what will happen in maybe five years time will it get so bad that I wont be able to walk. But I am trying. (My OH says I am very trying)

You have my sympathy too, Catherine. I'm experiencing limited movement at the moment, as I twanged a muscle in the groin early this month [the day before my walk, in fact] and this has sparked off an inflamation in the hip. Hip and muscle have been bothering me for the whole month now and work on the lpot has had to be limited.

I'm gong to the quack on Friday and if nothing else works I'll consider acupuncture. A diet of sodium diclofenac does not appeal to me, but the pills certainly do the trick in the short term. Have you considered acupuncture?

Good luck; hope it eases.
mike

What sort of arthritis? Remedies recommended for one sort can sometimes aggravate the other.

Arthritis Research Campaign www.arc.org.uk publish a booklet called "Diet and Arthritis".

Try taking celery in a soup, might be more palatable if other vegetables are added, then put in a blender.

I too have arthritis in my big toes, which sometimes is agony and the rest of the time unnoticable. It's when it's not bothering me that I forget to take the pills and eat properly

However, I try and take Glucosamine with Marine Chondroitin (no BSE risk) and Omega 3 every day, plus wear a copper chain around my ankle on the worst foot.

I also drink (although not as often as I should) Organic Honey, Organic Cider Vinegar and hot water.

I now grow 50% yellow tomatoes as they are supposed to cause less problems than red ones; don't know if it's true, but they taste the same and look pretty mixed with the red ones in a salad.

http://www.arc.org.uk/arthinfo/patpubs/6010/6010.asp is the link to read "Diet and Arthritis"
Sorry to hear of your troubles Catherine. I think it is arthritis which prevents the little finger on my left hand from bending.

My Gran used to have terrible arthritis. She found green lip mussel
supplements good but then found acupuncture which helped
enormously. Doesn't last for ever you do have to go back. When
she couldn't afford treatments while she was saving she kept on
the supplements which keep her ticking over and mobile.

I think it is something you have play around with as we are all
different but there are loads to get started with thanks to our
friend 'google'. (+ positive attitude)

Westi