This is a classic example of being caught between a rock and a hard place. You're getting older, your joints are creaky and you're in some pain. So, like many of us, you take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (commonly called NSAIDs). But then you develop another problem: erectile dysfunction.
Do your joints feel achy and stiff when you get up in the morning? If so, you may be suffering from osteoarthritis, a disease that grows unfortunately common at midlife. There are lots of remedies available — some legit, many not. One of the most surprising is practicing an ancient Chinese exercise called tai chi.
Do your joints feel stiff and achy when you wake up in the morning? If the answer is yes and you're over 45, you could be suffering from osteoarthritis, a disease in which the cartilage between bones breaks down, causing joint pain.
According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 22 percent of American adults have been told by a doctor that they have arthritis – which means that nearly 50 million people have been diagnosed with the disease.
You might have more control over the pain and stiffness of arthritis than you imagine. Some interesting research shows that patients with osteoarthritis who have a positive attitude or who have faith in a cure often feel significantly better — physically — than those who are negative or hopeless.
Exercise, it seems, is good for everything that ails us — including the pain and stiffness from osteoarthritis.
Exercising may seem like the last thing you want to do if you're hurting. But the research is clear that moving your joints is beneficial to improve range-of-motion, ease pain and stay strong.