[Philmont] KNEE PAIN (am seeking non medical self-help advice)

As a 59 year old arthritic grumpy person who has in his will that when
he dies to be roasty toasted and the ashes spread on the Appalachian
Trail I am determined to hike until they crank up the bar-b-q.

The right NSAID helps. Response to NSAIDS varies and you might need to
try several to find the one that provides the best relief with the least
side effects. I tried several before settling on the one that works
best for me. I also found that I had to be careful to give each drug an
adequate trial. All of them worked wonders the first few days I tried
them, but not all of them held up over a month or so. Maybe the placebo
effect is strong with me, but that's what happens. You might do best
with one of the prescription NSAIDS.

I am less convinced that the glucosamine type products are worth the
expense. Lots of testimonials, paucity of scientific evidence.
However, they are safe and if you don't mind the drain on your
wallet,you can try them without concern over adverse effects.

Poles are wonderful if you have knee problems. Use them enough to
learn how to use them without having to think about them.
Try different types of poles - some outdoor places will rent them. I
prefer a plain jane plastic handle and no shock absorbers. I use them
full grip on the uphills to drive forward and them turn the head of the
handle into my palm to buffer the impact on the downhills. Not standard
technique as per the manuals, but it is what works for me.

That said, the last Philtrek I went on, I carried the poles in my pack
except for one morning when we had to hike through deep mud and the
poles helped keep me upright. The difference in that trek, compared to
earlier treks, was lifestyle changes. Weight loss and conditioning are
the most important elements of controlling my arthritis.

Most effective is hiking, hiking, hiking. Started out slow - 2mph,
increased to 3mph and on to 4mph average speed. Find hills to hike up
and down any time you can.

Second is strength conditioning. I do upper and lower body exercises
daily - but the ones that help my knees the most are leg lifts and calf
curls.

Third is an aerobic component. I like either a stepper - which really
seems to help me on uphills later on, or stationary bicycle - I can read
a book, but any thing would help.

I'm not naive enough to suggest that every knee ailment can be solved
with conditioning, but for most of us old folks it is the best medicine.

Happy hiking
Doug

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Received on Sat Jul 26 09:13:48 2008