Hello Sue, and thank you for your comments.
I'm 77 yrs. young... and have had a very active and athletic life in my youth. Running miles without a thought as to how this would later in packed my life as I aged. I'm always looking into alternative ways of healing and not relying on what big Pharma has to offer up to the masses as 'cures'. I have looked into the data on far , near and infrared devices and to me..it looks interesting as well as ameliorative for certain ailments. The technology behind it has been tested for many years now and has been ok'd by the FDA for medical usage. I've been using a hand held wand one on my knees for awhile now with results of less pain. Reading about the horrors of TKR is frightening to me at my age if there is any other way of dealing with the damage already done. My back compression fracture was not of my doing. I caught myself from doing a 'header' when I tripped over a mismarked step and caught myself on a fence..right about T-8 height. Today...I've had no pain at all in that area..yesterday it was hurting me a lot...try and figure this out! So...since I'm getting good relief using the wand on my knees..I figure getting the right kind of infrared device I can use both on my knees and back would be a good thing for me to try.
I also have osteoporosis in my lower back and hips...I'm using the vibration plate not only for exercise, but also for stimulating the entire areas to cause the muscles and bones to work together and help with re-building bone density. I realize that these modalities are new to most..I can appreciated that. I also have a great deal of faith in one's own body's ability to correct as much damage as it can if we allow it to do that. I have switched to a plant-based way of eating and feel much better these days..along with no alcohol and as little sugar as possible. I do a collagen powder in the am and have totally relieved a trigger finger from being a problem..so I can feel that difference. I try and get enough protein in my day to aide in bone building as well. One meal dedicated to a plant-based protein shake with oat milk, banana, blueberries, sweet peppers, hemp seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, baby greens, pea protein powder.
Since making these changes, I can honestly say that I've never felt better, both emotionally as well as over all health and vitality.
I lost the love of my life of 47 wonderful years...a little over a year ago and thought it was the end for me as well, but I guess I have more to do on this 'plane'..so I decided to see about getting my health back, as being a caregiver for the past 15 years took it's toll on me, big time. I am starting to see the results of this 'self caring' way of living and I'm thriving...still grieving, still quite sad at times...but, overall I'm bouncing back to a more normal way of aging and enjoying my life..best I can. There are always contraindications for everything we do..whether it be a drug, surgery, diet, life in general...but at least I'm feeling peace of mind with the decisions I've made and hopefully I will also feel the benefits of taking better care of myself. I've found that most doctors don't really have the time, interest or knowledge for the more 'esoteric' types of healing...but I do....I wish everyone to have peace of mind no matter what their individual choices are..that's the most important thing for me to keep alive and well.
I have been a member of this 'thread' for awhile now and read the stories of real lives and what so many go through....with not such good results, most of the time.
Please continue to do your own investigations and find your own answers that make sense to you...and go for it. With due diligence, you will be able to work your way through the 'noise' to find the right answers for yourselves.
Keep searching! God's speed.....