An example of these repetitive impacts would be running as it pertains to the knees and hips especially. If this is your issue, you really should change to a non-impact exercise such as bicycling, which is an unbelievably effective endurance enhancing cardiovascular regime. Swimming is another excellent substitute for running. With small joints especially in the hands, simply engaging in a repetitive activity will negatively affect the joints if they already have underlying damage. Constant knitting is a good example of this, but for most of us, non-impact repetitive activity describes our work! Some things are unavoidable.
Although, exercise is crucial for our health, we have to modify our exercise programs to avoid the activities that are detrimental to our arthritic joints. Posture and position as well as safety equipment should be used in work environments as well as correct form and tools for the job. Protecting ourselves from further injury means avoiding impact exercises that cause further damage. Also, before engaging in an exercise routine, warming the joints up is very important especially in cool to cold weather. Bottom line, find an activity that promotes cardiovascular health that doesn’t cause you joint pain either then when the activity is being done or upon waking the day following the exercise. There are many different types of exercises as well as exercise equipment/machines in order to be able to accommodate all folks. Many companies in the exercise equipment business specialize in fitting the right equipment to their individual customers, so they are a very good place to start before going out and just buying a treadmill because you neighbor has one.
A word here for bowhunters is in order. Macho is the cause of many bowhunter's problems with their shoulders. It really doesn’t take the huge poundage’s most of us use to put a big ‘ol hole in the chest of a whitetail, muley, bear or elk. It doesn’t and we know it. Sure there's a flatter trajectory, but if we're honest, it's a macho thing and not a physics thing. Once you get a tear in the amphiarthroses that is the junction of the Clavicle and the Scapula (collar bone and shoulder blade) it will take a long time to heal up. Each and every winching pain you get is another microscopic tear. Each tear brings on a fresh wave of inflammation and well, you know the rest by now. The dreaded Rotator cuff tear is not technically a joint injury, but oh boy, talk about long-term problems and rehab!
Treatment of this “degenerative” arthritis is multifaceted and often indirect. Primary is the reduction of further injury. Rest the affected area and let some healing go on, even if you have to rifle hunt this year instead of bow hunt; even if you have to leave the weight room or the treadmill unused; even if the running shoes remain in the closet. All this having been said, most of us aren’t able or willing to completely rest our aching joints either because of work, family responsibilities or, well, it’s deer season!
An accurate diagnosis is of primary importance. Is the back pain a neurologic issue, a muscle issue or an arthritis? In one study over 50% of MRI’s showed a “bulging disc” yet there was no pain or neurologic involvement. So if your back hurts, and your MRI shows a bulging disc, do not make the assumption of cause and effect. Don’t you know somebody with “failed” back surgery? You probably also know somebody with successful back surgery as well and now you may know something about why the outcomes were different!
Non-medication approaches include the application of heat. A warm paraffin dipping is awesome for hand and wrist. A hot shower or bath (or hot tub) followed by a gentle stretch routine really helps. Heat or warmth producing balms like “Icy Hot” are very useful not only in alleviating pain but also in warming up joints prior to exercising especially in winter. Watching posture, proper lifting, the right chair height and simple things like these make a huge difference.
Medications are our usual recourse, but are not without possible problems. Narcotics have a very limited, very limited, role in the treatment of degenerative arthritis. Narcotics cause a physical dependence and the daily use will start a cycle of intermittent withdrawal (experienced as pain) leading to increased intake to reduce the pain (take you out of withdrawal) and on you go. Tylenol will safely reduce the pain, but does nothing for the inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen and Asprin work. There's a whole list of these, but they're not as harmless as their over the counter status suggests. Consult your doctor, monitor the quantity used, and be on the lookout for side effects and complications. A newer class of anti-inflammatory drugs known as COX2 inhibitors is more effective, but carries higher risks. Celebrex is the only one still on the market. It's usually safe, it's very effective, but it's not without real risk. Partner with your doctor about this class of meds. Glucosamine Chondrotin Sulfate (GCS) has been shown in many studies to help folks with arthritic pain but the dose of the Glucosamine must be at least 1500 mg per day. Luckily, this compound is widely available, cheap and without known side effects.
More invasive treatments such as Synvisc joint injections haven’t panned out as hopeful as when they were introduced. The topic of joint replacement is beyond our scope here.
