What Can You Do About Joint and Muscle Pain?

One of the most common questions I receive: "I'mHave your hormone levels checked. A few simple
having pain in my knees and joints. My knees evenblood tests will let your doctor know if you are
hurt when I get on the bikes at the gym. Is there ahypothyroid (be sure to run free and reverse T3/T4 -
certain exercise that can help in strengthening mymany doctors only run TSH, which is not adequate) or
knees, or any other advice you can give? Someoneif you have other hormonal issues. Resolve those first.
said to take fish oil."Again, and I cannot stress this enough, many hormone
Osteoarthritis, or "wear and tear arthritis", is actuallyissues are resolved naturally through exercise and
common at any age, although more common as wenutrition. Trust me, as I have ALL of them. My
get older and remain physically active.hormones took an early nosedive in my 20s. Even
May people suffer joint pain because of the opposite -though I require natural hormones to make up for a
inactivity. In fact, I believe this is the root cause of mostdefective pituitary, my hormone requirements are now
joint issues that have nothing to do with injury. Likeless than half of what they were. Through training and
anything else, we either use our joints or we loose oureating properly, I have managed to cut my medications
joints. Over the years, if you've lived a sedentary life,in half from the time when I was obese. That's the
you'll find that the body shifts its biochemistry topower of exercise and nutrition.
support only what you are requiring it to do.Let's assume that your hormones are fine. What if
One of the things I speak about is how the body andyou're just having "natural" wear and tear? Well, there
mind work together. Unfortunately, this is one of thoseare some great places to start before you go diving
times when the mind has a mind of it's own. I'm goinghead-long for the cortisone injections.
to go out on a limb here and voice my enthusiasticFirst, do consider fish oil. Fish oil (EPA/DHA in the
opinion on what's going on. Some doctors will pitch andcorrect ratios, such as in Carlson's Brand) works
scream about this, but others back me 100%. I'll let youwonders for the joints and connective tissues, as well
decide. Then I'll give you some great solutions foras being one of the healthiest substances you can put
helping knee and joint pain that's not being caused by ain your body. Fish oil has been shown to reduce
chronic injury.inflammatory markers related to heart disease, reduce
First, there's our old friend calcium. Calcium is toutedblood pressure, lessen the likelihood of stroke, and
heavily for conditions such as osteoporosis - however,even control blood sugar levels. Many Type 2 diabetics
the media is only giving you one segment of the story.have removed themselves (under a doctor's care)
The real culprit here is your hormones. As you age,from medication with the help of fish oil, exercise and
unless you remain physically active (even more-soproper nutrition.
than when you were young), the body alters itsAgain, "proper nutrition" is not a one-size-fits-all
hormonal production. Thyroid levels and testosteroneprescription. If you're 55 and obese, you do not want
levels decrease. Low testosterone has been directlyto role model a 25-year-old personal trainer whose
linked to problems with bone density. The lower theonly fat resides between his ears. Listen to someone
levels, the more brittle the bone can become.who's been there. That makes for certainty, and
Enter osteoporosis.certainty is the key to success.
These hormones also cause a drain on the body'sNext, look into a three-supplement "stack" I
nutrients, including calcium. However, replacing calciumrecommend to some of my clients who really suffer
will no more cure the problem in many cases than, say,from joint pain: MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane),
replacing water from a bucket with a hole in it. YouGlucosamine and Chondroitin. Each works is a slightly
have to plug the hole - and that is best done throughdifferent way. Glucosamine has the most amount of
hormonal management, dietary shifts, and exercise.medical research behind it, but MSM is deemed as a
Let's take thyroid: the Mayo Clinic published an article"miracle cure" for a lot of people. For others, it has
just last week on the connection between low thyroidlimited use - but the 'stack' is the best natural approach
and joint problems and muscle pain. I overcameI've found, when combined with fish oil, for relieving
hypothyroidism and the associated joint pain thatjoints and muscles from non-injury-related pain.
accompanied it. You can, too. It takes some work, andDosages vary, but a good start would be:
in some cases some medical intervention, but oftenGlucosamine: 1,000mg per 100 pounds of body weight
thyroid levels can be managed naturally.Chondroitin: 400mg 2-3x per day
A friend of mine, Jackie Lee, at age 72, looks 52 atMSM: 1,000mg 2x per day
best - and acts 22. She still tumbles, dances, teachesFish oil: 2-4 grams per day in liquid form (Carlson's
yoga, competes in figure and even bodybuilding showslemon-flavored fish oil actually tastes good)
- and she's been hypothyroid for decades. SheAgain, be sure to pass these recommendations by
manages it through a combination of specific aminoyour physician.
acids, her lifestyle nutrition plan (she's a vegetarian; I amLast, but not least, move. You may want to start with
not), and of course exercise. Her story is quite inspiring.Yoga, believe it or not. Yoga can relieve joint and
Now, since we know that thyroid, testosterone, andmuscle pain like you would not believe. I used Yoga
other bodily hormones have a lot to do with joint andstretches when I injured my lower back in 2002, and
muscle pain, doesn't it make sense to start there andthe healing was remarkable.
work our way outward to a solution? I think so.