Gentle Reader, My morning routine of lying on the floor, legs over the Back2Life machine, followed by several gentle yoga poses gets my body functioning. I am then ready for the chair chi gong exercises, free weight lifting both standing and the lying on an ethafoam bolster and more stretches with a theraband, emphasizing the …
Author Archives: Betsy Bell
Ankle replacement? How bad is it?
Gentle Reader, Have you dried off from your most recent visit to the Y’s water aerobics for arthritics? Not there yet? Today I want to share information about replacing those joints that just keep hurting so much that you prefer to sit or lie down rather than try to move through the pain. …
Water Aerobics for Osteoarthritis
Dear Gentle Reader, Around the time when our youngest child was born, my parents put a swimming pool in their back yard. We used to joke that it was the only way they could get their children to bring their grandchildren to Muskogee, OK in the summer. Like bees to honey, it certainly attracted us, …
More Travel tips for a healthy back
Gentle Reader, A month ago, reflecting on managing arthritis when traveling, http://nowheelchair.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/pain-free-flying/, I promised more hints for healthy travel. Here they are. Overnight flights: these are the killers for a bad back, especially when you really do need that sleep to begin your first day functioning. I can usually sleep with the help of a …
The Fat Trap
Dear Reader, I have been thinking a lot about weight and arthritis, about weight loss and how challenging it is to begin and maintain a healthier relationship to food. In my last post, I talked about the study that found our hypothalamus may be running the show. If this regulating organ has been damaged by …
Speaking of weight
Dear Reader, Have you sat with your plans for the New Year and included weight management? If you are suffering from arthritis pain and stiffness, and you are even 15 pounds over-weight, your plans will turn out better if they include weight management. The bloggers are full of advice on this topic. I would like …
The 2nd most popular New Year’s resolution and the power of excuses: guess writer Lisa Stubing
Dear Reader, I have mentioned this energetic trainer, Lisa Stuebing in a former blog post. She and I walked the 3 miles around Greenlake at a quick pace. I was impressed with Lisa’s own story of sitting at a desk most of her professional life and slowed putting on weight and losing mobility. You should …
Pain free flying
Avoiding increased pain when on vacation. This is the first of a series of posts on staying pain free while traveling. I just spent 10 days in Mexico with 4 friends, enjoying my time share and a few extra days in Isla Mujeres, a tiny island off the coast of the Yucatan as 25 minute …
Let’s Get Motivated Ladies And Gentlemen!!!
Let’s Get Motivated Ladies And Gentlemen!!!. Hi, from Mexico, the Yucatan’s tiny island, Isla Mujeres where sister in law Joan and I have just finished the most relaxing time in the sun, surf, sand and seafood. I switched on my computer and found that Sweetopiagirl (link above) had put my last posting on her blog …
Continue reading “Let’s Get Motivated Ladies And Gentlemen!!!”
Does it matter What I Eat?
Does it matter what I eat? You bet it does. But what specific dietary precautions a person needs to take to ease painful arthritis depends on a number of conditions. First of all, there are 5 types of arthritis: Degenerative (Osteoarthritis) Inflammatory (rheumatoid arthritis, allergic autoimmune) Toxic (gout) Traumatic (old fractures, etc) Infection (Lyme disease) …