Osteoarthritis: Bad Pain in knee and weak joints & muscles

Bad Pain in knee and weak joints and muscles in entire body. Doctor saysOsteoarthritis but no medication suggested. Any ideas? RSVP

Have you had your vitamin D checked?

Exercise is my suggestion. Walking, Weights, etc. I have osteo in hip and right knee. Strethening the muscles ligaments and tendons around the joint helps tremendously. I would ask my doctor or a script for Physical Therapy so you can learn appropriate and safe exercises that we can do at home.

@felicia2 I literally feel your pain as I have osteoarthritis in my lower back and hips. My joints feel stiff especially in the mornings. Moving helps and so I have specific stretches that I learned through a PT and through Yoga that I do. Walking helps too at your own pace. The only medication that helps me (sometimes and when I do I take it sparingly) is ibuprofen. When I do take ibuprofen I make sure to take it with food so that I can digest the medication better and it won't affect my stomach and liver as you need to be careful with that over-the-counter medication.

I agree with @denisejones00 that getting a referral to physical therapy can help you to learn what stretching and exercises are best for you. You can also experiment with yoga on your own. My favorite online yoga is Yoga with Adriene:

Yoga with Adriene:

What are you currently doing on your own that helps you?

I have a friend who uses CVS lidocaine patches for the arthritis in her knees. They're sold over the counter. I haven't tried them. Perhaps they'd help you?

I’ve had osteoarthritis in both knees for years and have been taking Glucosamine (1500mg.) with Chondroitin (1200mg.) since I was diagnosed and it has helped me tremendously. I also walk 5 miles/day and workout with weights. I initially did PT to learn exercises that also helped. I do avoid squats, lunges and anything that puts added strain on my knees and I can say that I have been pain free for years once the inflammation was under control. I also don’t take any otc meds unless absolutely necessary. I hope this helps and you are pain free soon!