I maybe combining this site to my main blog at https://chronicallygratefuldebla.com/
Please join me over there as I am hoping to have the transition completed by May31,2023
Lots of content to move.
Thanks
Update
What to Expect When Living With Spondylolysis that has progressed Spondylolisthesis — Chronically Grateful Me by Deb Andio
I had back pain off and on for about 14 years, doctors usually thought I was too young for such intense pain, one doctor accused me of being a pill seeker. I was so frustrated I reported him to the local hospital administrator. I also fired a couple doctors because they acted as if I […]
What to Expect When Living With Spondylolysis that has progressed Spondylolisthesis — Chronically Grateful Me by Deb Andio
Join my new Clubhouse Room
All things arthritis
Since late stage Osteonecrosis leads to severe osteoarthritis I feel they are under the same umbrella although different in some ways and the same in other ways.
Link to join The Clubhouse New spot
Do you have Osteonecrosis, Arthritis, Diabetes or Cancer Heart Disease or Any other chronic condition ? You don’t want to miss this connect group Zoom Event
Below is a link to my connect group and is always held in eastern standard time.
What is a Live Yes! Connect Group?
A Live Yes Connect group offers local connections, education and empowerment. Adults living with arthritis from our local community come together for professional- and volunteer-led sessions on a variety of topics, as well as fun group activities.
We offer a place of understanding and encouragement for both people living with arthritis and their loved ones. Group participants become self-advocates, develop self-management skills and learn how to not just survive life with arthritis but to thrive.
Join Us
- Saturday October 8th 2022 at 10 AM ET until 11:30am
- Virtual Event
- You must register for it
- You MUST have your name in the screen
Food is medicine – that’s the mantra of culinary medicine. The first line of defense against chronic disease and inflammation could be your dinner plate. The science of culinary medicine combats illnesses like chronic inflammation and pain, heart disease, cancer and diabetes with recipes and meals designed to help the body heal.
Chef Jim Perko was Drs. Oz & Roizen’s YouBeauty.com’s culinary expert columnist for 4 years, creator of hundreds of delicious and healthy recipes, and is a co-author with Michael F. Roizen. M.D., and Michael Crupain M.D., M.P.H., in the groundbreaking lifestyle guide What To Eat When Cookbook.
Chef Jim Perko has been a part of Cleveland Clinic for over 36 years. During his time at Cleveland Clinic, Chef Jim has collaborated with numerous physicians to develop the first evidence-based, technique-driven culinary medicine initiatives for the Cleveland Clinic.
He has developed culinary curricula and recipes for six patient programs including Culinary Medicine for Chronic Disease. He is the creator and provider of the first Cleveland Clinic Culinary Medicine patient consult program to help patients execute prescribed nutritional plans and find true enjoyment in their new and tailored culinary plan.
We will be discussing easy, budget friendly meals to help inflammation and ease pain. Chef Jim’s passion is to implement culinary medicine that’s evidence-based in both clinical and culinary disciplines to educate how foods can be powerful medicine without compromising the flavor of your meals or your health. Remember anything you eat you are either feeding or fighting disease
https://connectgroups.arthritis.org/groups/mahoning-valley
Poor Diet and Being Overweight doesn’t help Osteonecrosis
I lived for 20 years with osteoarthritis but nothing was as scary and painful as my Osteonecrosis diagnosis. I gained a lot of weight because I. Oils no longer work and I won’t lie I stuffed myself with food to comfort myself. I went up to 293 lbs. I can’t believe I let myself get that big. Something had to change because I was too fat for a joint replacement and honestly I didn’t want one. So I had to do something, so I changed the way I ate I noticed a great improvement. People thought I was crazy but I had less pain.
I didn’t quit everything cold Turkey. I did stop smoking cold Turkey best decision I ever made.
I added more plants raw and cooked and lessened the meat intake. I started out having meatless Monday Wednesday and Friday soon it was meatless Saturday also.
I cut out 85% of all the crackers and cheese puffs all the stuff that we love but know it’s not real food. When I wanted chips I made a baked potato or a baked sweet potato. When I wanted chips and dip I made my own bean dip and hummus and dipped peppers, celery and sometimes a few crackers. I wasn’t perfect but I really began eating to live not living to eat.
My cholesterol dropped to fantastic numbers I went from total cholesterol of 210 to a total of 172 in a matter of months then down to 158. My good cholesterol went from 38 to 60. So I was on the right path. It wasn’t easy, it still isn’t easy because let’s face it junk food is every place. My next post I will post about how to eat healthy at fast food restaurants and yummy food fast that’s healthy!!
I became a flexitarian meaning I ate mostly plant based and once a week ate chicken and fish. Backed or grilled .
Good bye to greasy fried food, I also cut out 80 percent of processed junk .
Stopped all cola and sugary drinks I never was much of a pop drinker.
Many thought this was crazy and would not do much. But it did.
Then in 2019 there was a study that also confirmed similar findings .
I got off blood pressure medication and my bones didn’t feel like a tourniquet around them.
I also with the ok if my Ortho started taking Cureamed curcumin 375 1-2 times a day for 2 weeks then just once a day. It seemed to help my pain and thinned my blood some. So if you take blood thinners don’t just try this.
Always talk to your doctor before doing anything new.
Fast forward to 2022 thank God still no joint replacement (knee)
Below is some info on poor diet and obesity is not good for Osteonecrosis. Actually obesity and poor diet cause our body to have more inflammation and that gives us more pain. And can lead to many things.
So see a nutritionist get your diet in check and if you are a compulsive overeater go to some OA meetings , see a counselor what ever it takes to reclaim your health.
I lost about 95 lbs regained 16 during covid lock down. But back on track in May 2022 I am hoping by May 2023 I am at goal weight of 145 -150 lbs. it’s not easy and the older I get ( soon to be 60) the harder it is to lose especially when you have bone and joint issues.
But trying and still no joint replacement.
If you have a problem with food like binge eating, or just an unhealthy relationship with it check out https://oa.org/
See link on study below.
Click to access 1100002678220.pdf
Exercising with Osteonecrosis and Osteoarthritis and Spondylolisthesis the trifecta
If you have Osteonecrosis of the knee like me exercise should and can still be a part of your lifestyle. But we must must must use caution and we just can’t go all willie nillie and do this or that on our own. We need to always first consult our ortho and then see a trained physical therapist one who understands osteonecrosis. The key is to know the right exercises and the right way to do them.
Generally, long-term exercise is safe for adults with knee pain from Osteonecrosis but as we know we can go from stage one to stage 3 in as less as weeks and as long as months even years, that’s why it’s imperative we keep in contact with our pcp and orthopedic.
Exercise when performed correctly, the right exercises can even help decrease our pain of osteonecrosis and osteoarthritis and other bone and joint conditions
It can improve our ability to carry out ordinary physical activities. We have to to keep our muscles strong as they support the joints and keeps them stabilized.
It may seem counterintuitive for exercise to decrease knee pain, because when our knees hurt we don’t really feel like exercising, but for me that’s when I have to push through because it will help my pain
But it’s helpful to understand how it works.
Exercise improves:
- hormonal balance
- lowers blood sugar
- improves articular cartilage tolerance
- strengthens muscles and muscles are what supports our bones.
Exercise also improves your muscle strength. Stronger muscles are able to carry your body weight more efficiently, relieving some of the burden put on the joints.
However, performing the “wrong” exercise or using poor form may increase pain or inflict irritation to the joint.
“Pain with exercise isn’t normal,”
That said, it’s important to note that when starting a new exercise program, you may experience “muscular soreness,” which is different from joint pain.
It’s normal to experience muscle soreness fir a day or even two after exercises, when I first started a simple walking program I walked every other day. I gave my muscles a chance to rest.
I liked my PT sessions and afterwards I got the Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) device which helped my muscles relax and recover.
I highly suggest a physical therapist, they will be guiding you through the process. An expert will analyze your form and make suggestions. They show you how to properly do the exercises.
You don’t want to injure something else in the process of trying to stay active.
Biking , swimming water aerobics are much easier on the joints.
Corticosteroid‐Induced Osteonecrosis in COVID‐19: A Call For Caution A Call For Action
I think with the new Pandemic and all the new strains emerging patients, physicians surgeons and respiratory specialists should be paying close attention because I feel that there will be a sudden influx of men women and some children developing Osteonecrosis because of the treatment of Novel Coronavirus aka Covid19.
It seems that I see far more studies and concern over individuals getting osteoporosis that they overlook Osteonecrosis causes and complications.
And I really think it’s time we not only study and examine the effects of corticosteroids on the bones but we really need to start warning patients verbally.
Avascular Necrosis-Osteonecrosis Awareness Day 2021
Hard to believe another awareness day has arrived.
It’s been a struggle and challenge to get all 50 states to issue a proclamation: but being persistent is becoming rewarding. We now have about 1/2 the USA on board as 29 November being AVN-ON
To all those living with Osteonecrosis like myself, know I will not give up until every state has issued the proclamation.
We live with pain and uncertainty every day. But I assure you I will not give up until it’s recognized in every state.
Happy AVN-ON Awareness Day.
Wish you all a pain free day
Be on the lookout !!!!Instagram Scammers Stealing your info or Hackers taking your account.
With online scams reaching epidemic proportions, Instagram is just the latest channel for fraudsters to make a quick buck. With over 1 billion active…
Instagram Scammers Stealing your info or Hackers taking your account.
New App for Smartphones called VIM Pain Mgmt
This is a really good app, it’s new released by the arthritis foundation just a couple weeks ago.
It’s a great way to connect with others that understand what it’s like to live with pain.
It provides tips to help ease the stress and anxiety that come with chronic pain.
Discusses various treatments from diet to meditation, to acupuncture to prp and stem cell injections to joint replacement .
The app tries to help those living in pain have options to have a better quality of life. It helps track your pain so you can discuss this with your doctor or surgeon.
It also gives you ways to register to get connected with National and at Some point Local connect groups in your area . All this is free. Ypu can even link to the podcast.
I am the Facilitator for the Boardman Ohio LIVE Yes Connect. I try to provide support, and patient education via information as well as guest speakers as well as group interaction.
Right now we are on zoom, but will be at some point back face to face as well as remain on zoom also. I think zoom is good because you can attend right from your hone or work or pulled over in your can.
That’s why I volunteer for the Arthritis Foundation, they provide so much to so many.
Give it a try…. one of the best apps I have.
If you use it. Use the same email as your arthritis.org email for Live Yes Connect. That way you can be up to date and linked to all great things the AF has to offer in one easy app.
Wishing you all a pain free day
Deb
Avascular Necrosis-Osteonecrosis Education and Resources 