Falling Apart at 40? Not So Fast!

Conventional wisdom holds that osteoarthritis is an "old person's" disease, you know, something your grandmother might have. It is also widely regarded as an unavoidable part of the aging process. But what if you have OA and you are not yet old (relatively speaking, of course)?

I was diagnosed with OA of the knee exactly one week after my fortieth birthday.  I've spent the last five years coping with chronic pain from cervical spondylosis, but my neck problems began after an injury, so even though I don't like it, at least I understand why it hurts. This knee pain really caught me off guard. I'm not overweight, and while I've always been active, I've never participated in a marathon, competitive gymnastics, or any other type of extreme sport that I imagine would prematurely wear out your joints.  I just woke up one morning and my knee was stiff and swollen. X-rays revealed significant OA, which surprised me, as I had never had any symptoms, or any discomfort. Less than two months later, my knee completely locked-up and I couldn't walk. I was promptly scheduled for arthroscopic surgery, and because the damage was so extensive (I had very little cartilage left), the surgeon performed  micro-fracture surgery which left me on crutches for almost three months. To add insult to injury - and I mean this literally -  at my final surgical check-up with my physician, when I asked whether I should avoid certain activities, because, as I said "I don't want to make it worse", his curt reply was "Oh, it's definitely going to get worse. I didn't even work on the bad side of your knee".

Say what?

Since being diagnosed with OA, I have spent many hours searching the internet - in vain, it seems - for, if not necessarily a cure, then at least some type of therapy that could slow the inevitable joint damage associated with this debilitating disease. The thing that struck me during my research is that the majority of information available on the web addresses arthritis care primarily as an aging issue. This makes sense, considering that arthritis is very common after age 65 and quite rare prior to age 40, but it's nonetheless frustrating. What about those of us who aren't quite old, don't need to lose weight, already eat well (most of the time!) and who are active and want to stay that way? Just tell me what to do and I'll do it!


This quest for better information was my main motivation for starting this blog. I know there are others out there like me who probably know a lot more than I do. My wish is to connect with and share ideas with my fellow active arthritis sufferers who want more than to merely cope: we want more details, more options, more opportunities.

Got some great tips for dealing with arthritis? I'd love to hear from you!

Got Arthritis? 5 Ways Yoga Can Help You Stay Active

1. Yoga improves balance.  People with arthritis often adopt subtly out-of-whack postures to protect injured joints, which can lead to more aches and pains and decreased strength in affected areas. (When my left knee is aching, I notice that my right hip often hurts worse than my knee by the end of the day.) Yoga promotes symmetry and proper alignment to avoid muscle imbalance.

2. Yoga increases flexibility.  Inactivity can cause muscles to shorten and tighten, which may cause joints to become further misaligned. Increased flexibility can result in better range of motion in your joints.

3. Yoga strengthens muscles. It's understandable that many people avoid exercising when their  joints hurt, but this unfortunately leads to decreased muscle strength, which in turn contributes to decreased joint motion and ultimately greater pain. Vicious cycle, eh? A gentle yoga practice can help you maintain and build muscle without adding undue stress to your joints. 

4. Yoga helps keep joints healthy. Range of motion exercises help "feed" cartilage by squeezing out old, stale fluid and allowing the joint to soak-up fresh, nutrient-rich fluid. You can't rebuild or regrow damaged cartilage, but you can help slow further deterioration.

5. Yoga improves posture.  Poor posture can lead to added stress on joints and muscles. A regular yoga practice helps you become more aware of your body positioning, and more mindful of maintaining proper posture.

Namaste!

Welcome to down-dog amy! This is my very first post, on my very first blog, and I appreciate you for coming to check it out.

Visit this blog frequently to read and share information for coping with arthritis and chronic pain through yoga practice. I'll also share puppy training tips, and information on how pet ownership can help you live a fuller, healthier life.

I am a 40-year-old mother of three very - um, how do I put this nicely? - "spirited" children! We have a lively household, and at times things veer into downright chaos! My greatest struggle in keeping up with my active family is that I suffer from severe arthritis in my neck, knee and hands. It's frustrating when your body won't let you do the things you want and need to do! Along with various other coping skills, I've found that yoga helps me deal with the pain, stay centered, and somewhat calm.

Like a lot of folks, I took some time at the beginning of the new year to think about my goals, reflecting on things in my life that I'd like to change, things I'd like to try, and how to best take advantage of all of the opportunities available to me. You know, the dreaded New Year's resolutions -  Get fit, learn a new hobby, etc., etc. Unfortunately, this little exercise, instead of inspiring expectant optimism, caused my thoughts to turn dark as I began to think about all of the things that I can't do, and I indulged in a mini pity-party: a lot of my friends are participating in Marathon Makeover or Couch to 5k - well poor, poor me, I can't run. Maybe I could finally learn to play guitar and be a mommy rock-star? Oh, wait, my fingers hurt too bad. And so on, and so on. I had a excuse for everything, and pretty much decided that I would spend this next year wallowing in self-pity.

Good thing that's not an option!

So here's the new plan: recommit to a regular yoga practice, make time each day to update my blog, house-train our new puppy, and take care of myself when I don't feel good - without feeling guilty!
What are your new year's resolutions?