My typical day starts at 2:30 or 3:30 AM each day, and sometimes even earlier, regardless of what time I go to bed. This is due to my Osteoarthritis condition in both of my knees. Long hours of idleness, like when sleeping, cause my knee joints to stiffen and start the knee pain. After about 30 to 40 minutes of tossing around in the bed, the pain goes away. Unfortunately, by that time, my alarm clock goes off because it is 4:30 AM, and I must leave home for work at 5:05 AM to start at my office work at 6:30 AM. I asked my doctor whether I should make myself wake up and get out of bed when the knees pain that early. He advised me not to. Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis prevalent among people. It is associated with a breakdown of cartilage in joints between bones and can occur in almost any joint in the body. Cartilage is a firm, rubbery material that covers the ends of bones in normal joints. Its main function is to reduce friction in the joints and serve as a “shock absorber.” Currently, there is no cure for this joint disease; and it can only be maintained to reduce pain with medical help and will power. There is another type of arthritis called Rheumatoid arthritis which affects blood cells, however, I will continue to discuss in my article only Osteoarthritis which is affecting me personally and my struggle with it.
My arthritis started about three and a half years ago. In the beginning, I did not know the cause of this pain in my knees. I consulted two doctors, but they did not prescribe me any medicine or therapy. In my trip to India in January 2003, my knees were getting worse and I began to limp, giving a visual representation of the knee pain I was feeling. In Guwahati, my Sister Duldul introduced me to a weight exercise for the knees. At that time, Duldul had one knee with arthritis and her doctor had prescribed such exercise. That weight exercise did help to some extent: my knee was getting a little more flexible. On the advice and recommendation of a gentleman whom we met at Siliguri Railway Station on our return from Gangtok (he noticed my limping), I went to see an Ayurvedic doctor and started a course of medication. The gentleman’s family member had successfully used Ayurvedic treatment to help their joint problems. When I returned to the US, I continued the Ayurvedic treatment, in total for about a year. This was against the advice of my regular physician in the US. Eventually, I discontinued the use of the Ayurvedic treatment as it did not provide much relief and I also came to know that Ayurvedic medicines contained potentially harmful quantities of metallic substances.
Also on returning to the United States, my daughter Jina took me to see a doctor specialized in arthritis. This specialist did a series of tests including blood, knee joint fluid, knee X-Ray, etc. The doctor extracted the joint fluid himself. Looking at the test tube of the joint fluid, he smiled, and told me, “Polly, you do not have Rheumatoid arthritis.” Unlike Osteoarthritis, which is primarily wear and tear of a joint or joint injury, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system erroneously attacks parts of the body as foreign. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered more debilitating than osteoarthritis, but they are both serious chronic conditions which require immediate and long-lasting treatments.
This specialist prescribed me total body exercise, asked me to loose weight and to not carry heavy bags. When the knee x ray result came, I could see how my bone Cartilage was thinning. I went to see an Orthopedic Surgeon to discuss knee replacement options, which are widely advertised. My entire family, including my husband, and Jina, and others advised me to go for knee replacement, where the surgeon replaces the human knee with a non-organic replacement. I refused to do this. I have met a few persons who replaced their knees but were still in pain. The Surgeon also advised me that with proper exercise and proper food, I could rebuild my knee joints’ supporting muscle, which would help to alleviate knee joint pain.
The doctor also prescribed me a one tablet a day regimen of Vioxx medication (an antiinflammatory which has since been banned for serious side effects) for pain relief but did not help me at all. In February 2003, I joined the Sport Club, an exercise club, and started water aerobics three times a week and also weight lifting exercises. Between February and April 2003, I went through severe depression. I was like a machine with no emotions. There was a constant pain in my knee. I could not stand for long periods, I could not walk well or sometimes at all, and if I was sitting for a while, the pain started as soon as I got up. My husband and my daughter were always supporting me in those months. I could not read anything, could not do any of my hobbies and had sleepless nights. At the same time, I went to work everyday. I even used a cane for support by that time, to walk around in San Francisco where I work. My daughter Jina taught me to eat more healthily. That and the exercise enabled me to loose 20 pounds. I gave away all of my heavy pocket books and fancy shoes. I felt like I was done with this life.
Exactly after about three months to beginning my exercise program in May 2003, one fine afternoon while coming back from my work, my knee pain went away, and at the same time I was not limping. My knees were flexible again. I was thrilled with joy. I called my husband and Jina to give them the news. I hugged my water aerobics instructor and showed her my walk without limping.
Everyday I get up, take my supplements and get ready for a busy day. One of the supplements I take for my joints is an over-the-counter called Glucosamine Chondroitin Sulfate; which is a biological component of the joint cartilages that is made from animals’ joints. It has been shown in studies to relieve joint suffering. I have continued to routinely do my exercise. I do not like to dwell on anything negative anymore. I go to the gym three to four days a week and perform weight lifting exercises at home. I eat well, take vitamins, try to maintain a good physical condition and do the best that I can to live each day to the fullest. I started my hobbies and reading. Once again I got a life.
In the Sport Club, I met several people of all ages with some kinds of ailments and have become friends. We all help each other deal with our situations. I rush back home from San Francisco on Tuesdays and Thursdays to attend the water aerobics classes at the Sport Club. The exercises in the class are performed in water about 4 and 1/2 feet deep and are best for the relief of arthritis pain management. One hour of exercises includes jogging, jumping, running, weight lifting, etc.; all in water to reduce pressure and strain on joints.
I still have limitation in my mobility. In San Francisco, I take underground trains and there are escalators and stairs to get up to the street level. Before 3 and 1/2 years, I never took the escalators. Now I always look for running escalators. Sometimes, none of the escalators work and in that case, I climb up or down the stairways slowly by holding the hand rails. Climbing down is rather difficult for me. Part of my duty at work is construction site visiting, requiring climbing ladders and stairs. About three months ago while climbing down stairs from a fifteen storey building; I barely escaped a fall due to my unsteady knee condition. I requested the management in my company to exclude me from field site visits and I was refused. I immediately resigned from that company and applied to another company. In this company I told management upfront that I have limitations due to my knees to go to site visits and they agreed to the condition. It is always wise to let the management know your limitations. I could have taken my previous employer to Court for refusing my request, but somehow I am still in this industry and did not want to go through the hassle and be entangled in a Court case.
Presently, I am not taking any other medication except Glucosamine and Calcium with Vitamin D. I have noticed that as long as I am keeping my weekly exercise and am free from tension in the family my knees are ok. There are still instances for some strange reasons I do not get sleep entire night and in the morning while walking in the street my knees get stiff. When I called my doctor, she said this is due to some tension and stress, which are powerful regulators of inflammation in the body. In such cases, I stop wherever I am and try to do some movements. It is very scary. I have discussed this with my husband and together we are working to reduce tension.
I may not be able to make arthritis pain totally go away or do everything that I used to do before, but I don’t have to dwell on those facts. I make the most of what I can do, which includes fully utilizing the medical therapies available to me, leading a joint-healthy lifestyle, and maintaining a positive attitude toward life.
By Polly Saikia, California
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