Who is getting ready for your trip? That, of course, should include torturing yourself now (working out) so the the trip isn't a physical bummer later and you can actually enjoy yourself.

How many struggle with arthritis? How many struggle with joint stiffness and pain? I have had some issues in that department the last few years myself.

Arthritis isn't something you should just accept as a consequence of living and growing older. "Do not go gently.......etc. etc. " but rather fight. Lots of things are contributing factors. Sugar being right at the top of the list........but genetically modified wheat is also very bad for your joints (and your belly) and pretty much all bread these days is not so good. Throw in high acid foods that we all know and love and the stage is set. Drinking lots and lots of coffee is also not so good as are alcoholic beverages (particularly IPA's).

So limit that stuff and start eating more vegetables (since they are alkaline and benefit your body substantially).

I am not as disciplined as I should be about what I eat and see coffee as liquid courage to get me through the afternoon and night shift at work. So I have been taking Fish oil, 1200 mg at least per day as well as an anti inflammatory product called Joint lax. It seems similar to another product called Arthri D but is cheaper. There is also "Relief Factor" which gets much praise but I haven't tried. I believe these all natural remedies help reduce inflammation which is key in establishing good health. (inflammation is believed to be the root of many maladies).

Anyway, I am certainly no expert when it comes to this sort of thing but it seems to be helping substantially and I thought I would pass it on. The fish oil is widely known remedy but was pressed home after I met an older guy who was sailing his big, beautiful homemade sailboat around in Lake Superior. He used to play hockey and stated he had some serious knee issues and started taking a "horse pill" of fish oil every day and he is now good to go. Who knew?

Get into a stretching routine for 10 or 15 minutes per day as well. It will be bothersome at first but little by little you will get looser and it will get easier. Tightness is also a contributing factor to lower back issues. Remember, its all mental wether you eat right or do stretching. If you are wondering how to stretch correctly just pick a body part (hamstrings for example) and go to Utube........lots of good instructional videos.

Good advice, MT. I would add that taking tumeric pills for joint pain is also beneficial.

And, stay active...

Agree. And WATER. Drink lots of WATER.

I'd add Glucosamine, supposed to help slow or prevent the degeneration of cartilage in the joints. I take Glucosamine and Turmeric, along with Gin Soaked Raisins , and Pectin and Grape Juice, for a little arthritis in one knee, and some stiffness in the fingers if I spend a little too much time on the guitar. There were two times recently when I stopped the raisins, and pectin for about a week and I could feel the difference. Interesting, I like the idea of avoiding pain relief medications if I can.

this all sounds like something i SHOULD be doing but hate taking pills. can the pills/capsules... be ground in the blender with something and drank like a smoothie? (that tastes like ice cream, of course!)

Mocha: "...can the pills/capsules... be ground in the blender with something and drank like a smoothie? (that tastes like ice cream, of course!)"

Not unless you like your ice cream tasting like fishies. I take the fish oil capsule and sometime if you burp there is a definite after taste. (probably TMI)

I take fish oil regularly, primarily for heart/cholesterol and don't notice any real improvement in joint pain, but then maybe everything else I do negates any effects.

In the winter of 2016, joint pain struck me whenever I had to reach up higher than shoulder level. It came on suddenly and it hurt like hell. It was a new ache to my 67 yrs old body so I'd forget about it till I'd reach up again--only to be humbled by the sharp stab of pain. Here is what worked for me at some point within 4 months of dosing. I might have missed a day here and there but daily intake for most of the time. Result: the shoulder joint pain is gone and has not returned.
($13) plus ($24)
Both can be purchased from WalMart in the vitamin aisle(s). It's a hellova lot cheaper than surgery. A word of advice: Introduce the Collagen Hydrolysate to your system SLOWLY otherwise you'll have stomach issues. (bloating and discomfort) It is a white, tasteless powder that dissolves easily in any liquid. I took it with my morning coffee. I started with a teaspoonful for first week and added a teaspoon more each successive week till I achieved a dosage of 1 rounded tablespoon.
The Joint Movement Glucosamine is a liquid which doesn't taste bad nor good. I drank it with carrot juice. No adjustment period on this one.
Also sold on online through Amazon. Resupply in about 1.5 months (give or take).

arctic: "Good advice, MT. I would add that taking tumeric pills for joint pain is also beneficial.


And, stay active..."

Yes I believe the products I have mentioned, Joint lax, Arthri D and Relief factor all include Turmeric which is widely recognized as an anti inflammatory. But the overall effectiveness is amplified by the inclusion of many other natural substances as well. It is believed (without FDA study) that the combination of the ingredients, all working in concert, is what is so beneficial.

Some folks do have a bit of a reaction to fish oil including tasting it after burping. Fortunately that does not seem to be usual although it is not entirely uncommon. All fish oil labs are not created equal as well. I would change to a more highly refined product.

mjmkjun it sounds to me that you might have had some rotator cuff issues. Not that uncommon in older folks who want to stay active. It also explains the length of time it took to heal as that sort of damage is slow to heal. I would suggest warming the cuff up before using your shoulders for any type of work or you risk another injury. Rotator cuff surgery, from what I hear, is unpleasant with long recuperation including lots of therapy.

A good way to warm up is with arm circles. Arms directly out to your side, palms up, twenty small circles (pie plate size) in one direction and then palms down, opposite direction but large circles (beach ball size) for 20 revolutions. You will feel some warmth develop in your shoulders which is exactly what you want. Don't go crazy doing it, just nice easy pace, let the repetitions do the job.

Thanks for posting your products. I will give them a peek.

I will look into the fish oil.
While I am only 44 my body is degrading quickly. I spent most of my life working hard labor jobs. I started as a 10 year old in the family business hanging off the back of a garbage truck throwing trash every summer and from there (once the business was sold) went into landscaping and did very hard labor for 20 years, building paver patios and retaining walls made from 200 lb boulders that I would manhandle all day long.
Form there I went onto automotive assembly building firetrucks for the last 13 years. 11 of which I spent online, wrenching. (carpal tunnel). I have now made it up to management level where I sit in the chair most of day and it all has taken a toll. Even/especially the chair. Weight gain and inactivity are not helping.
My first BW trip is this August and I plan on shedding a lot of weight and getting fit again.
I keep telling myself, mind over matter, but when it's hard to get out of bed or walk my mind is telling me I'm stupid.

I have been taking collagen peptides for a couple years now to avoid rotator cuff surgery. I failed to bring it with me on my opening day solo trip last year and while in the BWCA I attributed my increased soreness to paddling 5-6 hours per day when I got home the soreness continued. I had a sudden realization that I had gotten out of my collagen habit and have been very committed since. I do triathalon training year round which is tremendously beneficial for canoe tripping. Throw in a lot of xskiing during the winter and I’ve avoided injury by not focusing too much on any single exercise. Ten days until my permit!
Jon

Bushman: "I will look into the fish oil.
While I am only 44 my body is degrading quickly. I spent most of my life working hard labor jobs. I started as a 10 year old in the family business hanging off the back of a garbage truck throwing trash every summer and from there (once the business was sold) went into landscaping and did very hard labor for 20 years, building paver patios and retaining walls made from 200 lb boulders that I would manhandle all day long.
Form there I went onto automotive assembly building firetrucks for the last 13 years. 11 of which I spent online, wrenching. (carpal tunnel). I have now made it up to management level where I sit in the chair most of day and it all has taken a toll. Even/especially the chair. Weight gain and inactivity are not helping.
My first BW trip is this August and I plan on shedding a lot of weight and getting fit again.
I keep telling myself, mind over matter, but when it's hard to get out of bed or walk my mind is telling me I'm stupid."

And I thought I had worked 2 lifetimes already! When God made us he intended that our bodies would hold up for at least 100 years. But we get into bad motor rhythms and postures, repeat them over and over again for decades, and then pay the price. Throw in high acid diets which tend to crystallize the synovial fluid which is the lubricant needed for everything to work properly and we can have some "issues".

The first thing I would do Bushman is not agree that "my body is degrading quickly". I am a firm believer in spoken words having power. Life and death, blessing and cursing, is in the power of the tongue. Besides, that self talk only leads to hopelessness and concession of what your belief of reality is. Why not turn back the clock?

Naturally as a Christian I believe in Gods power to "restore your youth" and "heal your body". Faith that He is able, AND willing is 1/2 the battle. Then VERBALLY agreeing with what he has promised allows the power to flow into your life. God will not go against your own words. But if you don't know what He has said you cant agree with it ;-) Hint; Google can be helpful i.e. "Gods healing scriptures" "God restoring my youth" etc.

But if that is not in your wheel house (or even if it is) I would strongly suggest you start by fasting one day per week. That will help break any vicious cycle you have going on. Drink plenty of water but don't eat. You won't die ;-)

Losing weight is all about what you eat. Its not about how hard you work out, been there done that! Fast one day per week, eat 60% vegetables and don't eat past 6 p.m. and you will start feeling much better within a few weeks. Write down what you eat each day........as time goes on and you have a good track record you will be loathe to have to write down that big bowl of ice cream at 9 p.m. LOL

There are real benefits to fasting. I believe the human body is adapted to cycles of feast and famine but now famine is rare. Never ending feast for most of us.
Jon

Glucosamine/chondroitin plus fish oil is what I've been using for better than a decade.

I tried the glucosamine/chondroitin after trying it on my dog and seeing him go from having to be carried up a couple of steps to chasing a frisbee.

My fish oil use is primarily for cholesterol and any arthritic benefits are coincidental.

I have been drinking turmeric/cinnamon tea for general health purposes.

I don't know about the gin-soaked raisins but a reply to a Paul Harvey suggestion for its use was interesting:

"Dear Paul Harvey News,
I couldn't remember whether you said drink seven pints of gin and nine raisins or nine pints of gin and seven raisins, so I did both. Now I can't find the raisins....BUT NO PAIN!"

Appreciate the warm-up advice, Mastertangler. Rotator cup pain it was/is!

Great post, but I gotta say, you need to work on being more concise;-) Next post: 100 characters or less!

I need to try this stuff. Sounds like it will be just the thing for my pain.

Frenchy19: "Great post, but I gotta say, you need to work on being more concise;-) Next post: 100 characters or less!"

OK, I will give it a try...........How was that? ;-)

Jeriatric: "Glucosamine/chondroitin plus fish oil is what I've been using for better than a decade.



I have been drinking turmeric/cinnamon tea for general health purposes.



"Dear Paul Harvey News,
I couldn't remember whether you said drink seven pints of gin and nine raisins or nine pints of gin and seven raisins, so I did both. Now I can't find the raisins....BUT NO PAIN!""

Ha! Thats funny. I was always a big Paul Harvey fan.

The Turmeric / cinnamon tea is that something pre made or do you add the ingredients to something like green tea?

I know that Chamomile tea has good anti inflammatory properties and is not acidic. Drink enough of that stuff and you start to feel sort of relaxed and mellow.

Frenchy19: "Great post, but I gotta say, you need to work on being more concise;-) Next post: 100 characters or less!"

Some of us like details and/or online "conversations". Carry on!

Shoulder pain long ago - acupuncture took care of that and it hasn't returned. Use acupuncture for knees also and it helps but hasn't eliminated the pain.

Knees have horrible problems after injuries 17 and 9 years ago... last Fall I switched to eating mostly low-carb and it has made a HUGE difference. Low carb = low sugar and voila, inflammation goes down and joints FEEL BETTER, so you are more active and then you FEEL EVEN BETTER.

Agree with other posts and always have fish oil and turmeric and glucosamine in the house... but it was the low carb that really made a difference for me though it took me a long time to make the connection.

Hoping by the time I need to consider knee replacement, they have the stem-cell-cartilage solution perfected. Hopefully that is a long ways off for me.

BW Paddler check out Rouge Fitness "voodoo floss".........yup I know it sounds weird. It did to me as well. I picked up a book to address my issues > "How to Become a Supple leopard"

I know, who would buy a book like that (hardcover no less). But it came up in a google ad as I was researching all this joint stiffness I was having and I thought I heard a still small voice instruct me that I needed to get it. Excellent book BTW.

In it I came across one of many techniques including using a 2" latex band to wrap various body joints. Actually, you leave the joint exposed but wrap rather tightly all around it. Leave it on for about 2 minutes or until things get tingly from lack of blood flow. Work the joint slowly in and out and back and forth while the banding is on. Then remove.........the blood flow blasting back into the area seems very helpful and clears some issues up. Its not a sliver bullet but I could definitely tell a difference.

Voodoo Floss bands

mastertangler: "BW Paddler check out Rouge Fitness "voodoo floss".........yup I know it sounds weird. It did to me as well. I picked up a book to address my issues > "How to Become a Supple leopard"


I know, who would buy a book like that (hardcover no less). But it came up in a google ad as I was researching all this joint stiffness I was having and I thought I heard a still small voice instruct me that I needed to get it. Excellent book BTW.


In it I came across one of many techniques including using a 2" latex band to wrap various body joints. Actually, you leave the joint exposed but wrap rather tightly all around it. Leave it on for about 2 minutes or until things get tingly from lack of blood flow. Work the joint slowly in and out and back and forth while the banding is on. Then remove.........the blood flow blasting back into the area seems very helpful and clears some issues up. Its not a sliver bullet but I could definitely tell a difference.


Voodoo Floss bands "

Okaaay... Are you going to be my ride to the emergency room afterwards? Sounds interesting to me!

No really, try it. I was super apprehensive at first too. Sort of nervously I slapped the thing on the first time and I didn't really flex anything. I let it sit there for about 2 minutes and then took it off. You must make sure that the joint itself is not taped, just around the area. The idea is to pretty much stop the blood flow and let it back up and then blast through. You should either get the book or learn on their website how to use.

Then the next time I put it on and gently bent my knee, no problem. That big joint is tougher than you think. Now I am almost fearless, I don't do anything fast but I certainly bend my knee through a broad range of motions with it on with no ill effects.

The other thing they have are those big bands. Sort of like a huge rubber band. If you have hip issues they work great. Anchor the band down at one end to something immovable and then turn sideways and put the band around your leg up near your crotch (easy does it ;-). Then apply a whole bunch of pressure. It really opens your hips up and allows for some freedom of movement.

You can also use the big bands to help stretch your hamstrings. Just lay on your back with the big band pulling on your leg (from above), let the band do all the work. Pretty sure all the Rouge fitness mobility moves (including the voodoo flossing) is on Utube.

I also have two bad knees. One is bone on bone and the other full of arthritis. They hurt sometimes.
I use fish oil and chondroitin glucosamine daily. Not sure if they help or not.
In my case what seems to work better than anything is simply exercise. Rowing, stair climbing, various knee exercises, hiking, etc. The more I do the better I feel. So I do a lot.
I also use dark virgin olive oil from time to time. Seems to help also.
But the good old Ibu is what is the most helpful in the short run. I rarely use it out fear of the long run side effects.
For now it all fits together and works for me anyway. Someday will likely have to get a couple of replacements but for now it is "carry on."

GraniteCliffs: "I also have two bad knees. One is bone on bone and the other full of arthritis. They hurt sometimes.
I use fish oil and chondroitin glucosamine daily. Not sure if they help or not.
In my case what seems to work better than anything is simply exercise. Rowing, stair climbing, various knee exercises, hiking, etc. The more I do the better I feel. So I do a lot.
I also use dark virgin olive oil from time to time. Seems to help also.
But the good old Ibu is what is the most helpful in the short run. I rarely use it out fear of the long run side effects.
For now it all fits together and works for me anyway. Someday will likely have to get a couple of replacements but for now it is "carry on.""

Yes, same here with the knee status. Doc said The more you do the better your quality of life. But I tell you if I walk on an asphalt Trail or spend the day on the concrete in Home Depot, I really regret it later. So much easier on the joints if I hiked a dirt or grass path! Might consider getting more into biking as I think that would be good exercise without as much stress on my knees.

Flax oil is a preferable product to fish oils. It offers all that same benefits, doesn't give one the fish burps. Can be acquired as an organic, fish oil can be a nasty product!! Can be bought in a bulk oil , tablespoon a day. Some comes seasoned not my preference.

BWPaddler: "

GraniteCliffs: "I also have two bad knees. One is bone on bone and the other full of arthritis. They hurt sometimes.
I use fish oil and chondroitin glucosamine daily. Not sure if they help or not.
In my case what seems to work better than anything is simply exercise. Rowing, stair climbing, various knee exercises, hiking, etc. The more I do the better I feel. So I do a lot.
I also use dark virgin olive oil from time to time. Seems to help also.
But the good old Ibu is what is the most helpful in the short run. I rarely use it out fear of the long run side effects.
For now it all fits together and works for me anyway. Someday will likely have to get a couple of replacements but for now it is "carry on.""

Yes, same here with the knee status. Doc said The more you do the better your quality of life. But I tell you if I walk on an asphalt Trail or spend the day on the concrete in Home Depot, I really regret it later. So much easier on the joints if I hiked a dirt or grass path! Might consider getting more into biking as I think that would be good exercise without as much stress on my knees."

Oh man! I thought my rotator cup was rough-going. I feel bad for both of you guys.
And, myceliaman, thanks for the tip on Flax Oil. Hate those nasty fish oil burps. Can use flax oil as dressing on daily salads!