More than 5 years ago, I was beginning to experience difficulty in walking.
I now realize that my condition was hereditary. My mother had always complained of pains whilst walking, and was only correctly diagnosed with arthritis, a few years before she died. Her doctor said, in the past, that these pains were normal, and a painkiller would help. Ah! That was the wartime spirit, grin and bear it. There are those, who are far worse off than you!!! I remember her, sadly, not being able to walk well at all, and always taking the bus.
I love walking, and by the age of 50, I was experiencing a pain in my right foot. Trying to ignore the symptoms was impossible, as I could no longer go for a walk with friends. It became embarrassing to ask fellow walkers, not to walk as fast!!!! I too, began to think that this was normal, and was just the aging process.
In seeking medical advice, my first port of call was the local hospital. My foot was X-rayed, and, the doctor said, it was nothing. Just take a painkiller if you have pain. Do not bother us again, was the suggestion! Not satisfied by this prognosis, I visited another doctor, and new X-rays were taken.
This time, it was clear that there was a problem, and I visited another two specialists. The first doctor suggested it was too early for surgical intervention. Shoes with fitted insoles might alleviate the problem. I was grateful for this advice as the second doctor advised the standard surgical remedy. Removing the pain by eliminating its cause. That is, to operate on the joint of the big toe, the HALLUX, so that it no longer moves. The condition was diagnosed as, HALLUX RIGIDUS. This meant that the big toe was unable to move, because of an arthritic joint, and that in turn was causing pain. He advised operating on both feet at the same time. The doctor stressed that I would be able to walk, but not run afterwards. At the same time, he gave the standard risk warning for all surgical interventions. No guarantee of success first time, and a low chance of infection. I thanked him profusely, and hobbled out...
For many years a health supplement based on glucosamine and chondroitin had been available. I was not convinced it would work, but, as I was taking vitamin tablets at the time, I thought that I could try the glucosamine/chondroitin together with extra vitamins. I started taking Chondrosan, two tablets with meals, twice a day, as advised. After 18 months the pain eased, and about a year later I was able to walk normally. I can now walk and run, although I no longer take Chondrosan. They made some changes to the product, and, as I was very happy with the original formula, I sought another brand that was similar. Although I suspect that the new Chondrosan may be more effective in the early stages of using the nutrient, I now feel that a reduced dose is all that I need. I am still taking these nutrients, but I am using a product from Healthspan, and taking just one tablet per day.
There can be side effects in taking this supplement, stomach pains being one of them. Changing to a different brand could help, as each manufacturer does not produce an identical product. The research conducted so far is interesting, but comparative studies using product and placebo need to have a duration of at least a few years to be conclusive. In my experience, there was very little improvement in the first 12 months. However, one can find many anecdotal accounts, such as mine, on the internet. Certainly, I am not the only one who has benefited from taking this supplement.
One of my concerns is that this treatment is not fully recognized by the medical profession. The nutrients do not have to pass the same controls as do regulated medicines, thus there is scope for uneven standards. You will find that some doctors are unwilling to declare that this product has any benefit at all. The reason for this may be, that when a joint condition is advanced, there is no way that the cartilage can be repaired. In general, doctors are treating patients who have neglected their health, and in many cases surgical intervention could be the only remedy. There are of course are factors too, diet, exercise, lifestyle and last of all, but not to be forgotten, inherited conditions!!!!
