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I intentionally didn't take my Aleve this morning.
That may seem like no big deal, but I have been taking Aleve, or some pain reliever for at least 10 years, maybe closer to 20 years, both morning and night. I have arthritis in my knees, hips, ankles, back, shoulders, neck...you name it.
I had been noticing that my pain has been much less recently, so I figured I would see how I felt unmedicated. Had a few aches and pains through the day, which was pretty active, but not much different than how I used to feel medicated. That is amazing to me.
What has changed? My diet. Eliminating foods that I had intolerances to, and I recently added collagen in the morning to my version of bulletproof coffee. I had read a lot recently about collagen being helpful in healing muscles and joints, so I decided to give it a try. Don't know if it is strictly diet, or the collagen, but whatever it is, I am loving it! I will continue to monitor and see if I can only occasionally take something. Fingers crossed!
Diet Calendar Entries for 16 August 2014:
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1977 kcal
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Fat: 172.38g | Prot: 70.10g | Carb: 49.26g.
Breakfast: Applegate Farms Organic Uncured Sunday Bacon, Purity Farms Organic Ghee Clarified Butter, Now Foods MCT Oil, Trader Joe's Coconut Cream, Coffee (Brewed From Grounds), NeoCell super collagen, type 1 & 3. Lunch: Trader Joe's macadamia nuts, australian, dry roasted and salted, Fennel Bulb, Applegate Farms Organic Uncured Sunday Bacon, Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Mixed Salad Greens, Cucumber (with Peel), Hass Avocado, Celery. Dinner: Balsamic Vinegar, Trader Joe's Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon, Leeks, Bacon Fat (Cooked), Brussels Sprouts, Chicken Leg Meat and Skin (Broilers or Fryers). more...
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3275 kcal
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Activities & Exercise:
Walking (moderate) - 3/mph - 30 minutes, Resting - 15 hours and 30 minutes, Sleeping - 8 hours. more...
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 Comments
That's great news about the pain killers! Congrats! I'm a huge proponent of alternative methods, if you can. I'm glad you are doing well without them. I'm curious do you actually add collagen to your coffee or is it a pill you are taking? What kind of foods have you eliminated?
16 Aug 14 by member: Instantcrazy
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The collagen is actually a powder. Found it on Amazon. Neocell is the brand. I use a stick blender to mix it in with my coffee, with ghee, MCT oil, and coconut cream to make my version of bulletproof coffee. Can't handle regular butter anymore, so I have concocted my own variation! If you never heard of bulletproof coffee, google it. You have to try it to experience why anyone would drink it. The collagen does not seem to have much affect on the coffee, but it may be helping my joints...time will tell.
I had already eliminated sugar, gluten and corn (more than 2 years now), and ate very little soy. But in addition to those I eliminated and tested peanuts, dairy, eggs,and the nightshade vegetables (tomatoes and peppers, as well as eggplant and white potatoes; which I don't eat anyway). I reacted to everything. Sadly. Eggs were the least problematic, so I may be able to eat those occasionally if I give my gut some time to heal. But for now, they are out.
16 Aug 14 by member: yduj57
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Another thing that will help with relieving pain is continuing to lose weight. Something I wish I knew before I had a total knee replacement. For every lb. you lose, you eliminate 4 lbs. of pressure on the joints. It's true. Wish I knew this before the surgery and got my act together and lost the weight. Now I will work to keep them from replacing my left knee. Keep up the good work.
16 Aug 14 by member: ClassicRocker
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17 Aug 14 by member: BuffyBear
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Classic Rocker, you are right. I know this from past experience. But it has been more of a struggle to get the weight to leave my body in recent years. I have persisted making adjustments, to try and find what is right for me. I think I am getting closer to the right mix to support the weight loss. Finally!!
Have you ever tried going down the stairs backwards? I only do this when I am at home, or another place where I feel comfortable doing it...no crowds, stairs aren't too funky,etc. It puts less strain on your knees. There is actually more pressure on the joint going down than up. Go figure.
17 Aug 14 by member: yduj57
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17 Aug 14 by member: yduj57
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I'm okay with the stairs now. Once in a while pain in the left knee, but I ignore it. But I did do that exercise post-op to strengthen the right knee. Looking for exercises easy to do. Consumer a recumbent bike.
17 Aug 14 by member: ClassicRocker
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Both of my knee joints hurt, standing or lying down. Especially at night. that pain is gone. Three things happened. I've been going to the pool to swim, I lost 15 lbs, and I've eliminated the habitual consumption of wine since May. Personally, I think processed sugar is bad for the joints. Just a feeling I have. It's hard to pinpoint what does for what, because lifestyle changes are on many levels. It's good that you're not taking meds, they are usually bad for the liver.
17 Aug 14 by member: NowIunderstand
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Nice result. You'll soon know. I think sugar is very hard on us. Always good to get off anything you're taking if not needed.
17 Aug 14 by member: northernmusician
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Yes, taking medication like that can do a number on your liver. Glad you stop taking it.
17 Aug 14 by member: toppy24564
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Thanks all for all the support! Definitely heading in the right direction of healing, and better health, and by the way, perhaps losing some weight!
17 Aug 14 by member: yduj57
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That is wonderful! I hope it continues. Its not fun being in pain all the time, nor having to take medication which affects other parts of your body. My fingers are crossed for you too!
17 Aug 14 by member: newkim
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When I injured my shoulder I was told by at least two doctors to stay away from Aleve. They told me to throw away the pills that they were not good for you. I did not get information on what it does to you...but I was told that up to eight ibuprofen at a time was ok...That seemed a bit odd.
17 Aug 14 by member: kmunson
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My orthopedic doc told me almost 2 years ago to lose 50pounds, walk and do strength training, or I would be looking at a knee replacement. Could barely walk in the am, limped constantly. Lost 60pounds, have been exercising, no longer living on pain pills, no longer limp. No knee replacement looming in the near future.
18 Aug 14 by member: wholefoodnut
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Good for you! I hope it gets a little better every day!
18 Aug 14 by member: kristyanne3
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Bravo wholefoodnut and kmunson! My doctor has know about my taking Aleve for many years. For awhile I was on a different anti-inflammatory med (prescription), that was combined with another med to protect the stomach. But that one, forget the name, is associated with a higher risk of heart attacks. I have a high family risk, so went off of that and onto Aleve, because of the anti-inflammatories, it poses the least heart risk. But that doesn't mean it is not without other risks. But in the past, life was not manageable without some sort of pain management. I used accupuncture for a while, and it helped, but can't afford it right now. Glad to be finding ways to eliminate the pain through diet. Wish I knew 30 years ago how powerful a drug our diets can be!
18 Aug 14 by member: yduj57
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Thats great Yduj57! I have recently started having some knee pain in my "noisey" knee due to my strength training. I will check into the collagen and see if that helps me any. My mom had both of her knees replaced at age 60 so anything I can do to try and save my knees is important to me. Thanks for sharing and congrats on becoming pain and drug free!
18 Aug 14 by member: bigbassbrent
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