What to Do When the Joints Aren't Jumpin'

Remember the good old days when you could play and exercise seemingly forever? We all could spend hours running, riding a bike, skiing, swimming, playing ball, dancing, gardening, or even jumping rope. I remember feeling invincible, like there was nothing I couldn't do…until one day when soreness set in. Then stiffness came along, with aching following closely behind and lasting for days. Like me, you now probably notice more cracking and popping in your joints. You also suffer stiffness when you wake up in the morning, and a general loss of fluidity in your movement.

Welcome to aging joints. No one likes to acknowledge the fact that as we age, we have to live with joints that no longer want to jump and move like they did when we were 20. But aging can be a lot more graceful with some care and lifestyle changes.

At least 80 percent of people over age 50 have joints that aren't what they used to be—that's about 12 percent of the U.S. population. I could be counted among that group because my joints took a beating as a result of participating in high school and college athletics. The difference is that I don't suffer. I know what to take and when to take it for maximum joint mobility and comfort.

Your life can be miserable when your joints aren't operating as they used to. Many of my patients try popular medications for relief. While they usually work for the short term, you should never rely on them long-term due to their side effects, many of which are serious, such as gastrointestinal bleeding. On top of that, they don't get at the cause of your problem—they simply mask the symptoms. 

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