33 million adults in the US have osteoarthritis, usually affecting the joints of the hands, feet, hips, knees and spine, or in my own case, all the above. If you are experiencing chronic joint pain, causes other than osteoarthritis could include autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or tendon and ligament damage.
Once these other conditions are added to the total, the number of people affected by joint pain goes up even more. It should be noted that most of the affected people are over 45 and 67% of them are women, in the case of osteoarthritis. This is probably because women are more likely to have hormone imbalances due to menopause and perimenopause. Women also report more stress in general than men.
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If you visit your doctor for joint pain, you will very likely be offered a corticosteroid, also known as a cortisone shot. Cortisone shots are commonly used to treat musculoskeletal conditions as they have anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce swelling and pain in conditions such as arthritis, tendonitis and bursitis. Unfortunately, what we now know from laboratory research is that corticosteroids restrict the delivery of nutrients to the wounded area and they slow the formation of new tissue. They also damage collagen and increase tissue degradation. Furthermore, they are cytotoxic to the joint because they interrupt protein metabolism in the synovium.
So, it kind of goes like this: Your knee or hip hurts. You go to the doctor who suggests a cortisone shot. You feel better for a short while, but your joint begins to dry out from synovial leakage and the prednisone, or other corticosteroid, starts melting down your joint. Around 6-12 months later you need another shot. Then maybe one or two more. Now you need a hip or knee replacement. Worse, you cannot exercise which is the ONLY thing, (combined with diet), that will save you from aging with pain and disease. In my experience, clients rarely make it back to the gym after this nightmare scenario.
This approach works for almost nobody but it makes a lot of money for Big Pharma, orthopedic surgeons and the joint replacement industry. And yes, it is a profitable INDUSTRY folks. Orthopedic surgeons make an average of $400,000 to $500,000 per year in the US. The total economic burden of osteoarthritis in the US has more than doubled over the last decade and is estimated at $136.8 billion annually, predicted to double again over the next decade.
So, what is the alternative? Early intervention in joint pain is key. When your joint hurts you have some other options. I chose these options and it has worked for me and for many, (but not all) of my training and pain clients. The key to these alternatives working is to get yourself optimized! The reason stem cells, peptides and semaglutide worked so well for me is I do ALL the “things”.
All the “things” include a nutritious low-sugar diet, strength training, sleep hygiene, hormone replacement therapy and stress management to make my body able to use biologics and GLP 1s with success. If you are a metabolic dumpster fire and want to continue pouring alcohol, sugar, rancid seed oils and processed foods into yourself, absolutely none of this will work for you. There are no shortcuts. Stem cells, exosomes, peptides and semaglutide will not do the job for you if you are not doing “all the things”.
In Baja California, we have affordable access to alternative therapies that will work for joint pain, including stem cell therapy, healing peptides and compounded GLP 1s. None of these are covered for you on your US or Canadian medical plan, so you pay out of pocket but don’t despair. I am on a budget as well and they are worth it! What good is your money if you are in constant pain? Here is what I spent my money on that worked for me:
Stem Cell & Exosome Therapies:
This is a category generally referred to as “biologics”. I have successfully used stem cell therapy on my lower back, (L-5-S1), my hip joints, my cervical vertebrae and my facial skin, (for vanity purposes only!). Procedures in my area of the Baja, (Cabo), can vary from $1000 per joint to $7500, depending on how much overhead the clinic has and what type of cells you choose to use. I have mainly used my own cells, drawn from my bone marrow and blood because they are cheaper. My doctor has low overhead and is pretty much a one-man show, so I can afford it. BTW if you are bone on bone already, this will not work for you. They need some tissue to work with. Stem cells of the type I used do not magically “grow” anything back. They initiate a healing cascade so your body can heal itself.
Semaglutide and Liraglutide:
These peptide-based drugs are best known for weight loss, (Ozempic and Mounjaro for example). They have been in use for 20 years to treat type 2 diabetes. Recent studies have shown them to prevent and alleviate osteoarthritis and to reverse the cognitive decline in Alzheimer's. My joint pain has disappeared completely by microdosing GLPs. Here again, I don't use them as a quick fix to being overweight and sedentary. They help me build muscle by giving my blood sugar a place to go when an insulin response is initiated by eating.
Healing Peptides:
These are not easy to get in Baja but I was able to procure some BPC-157, TB500 and GHK-cu through a research peptides company in the States. This peptide “stack” has eliminated joint pain for me and even my nagging tennis elbow. As a bonus, the peptides tightened up the “saggy baggies” on my 60-year-old face and upper arms. This peptide stack is called the “Glow” for its positive effects on collagen production, which is also why it helps your joints. It increases blood flow which is good for the whole body and brain.
If you have any questions about this article or related topics on aging, please WhatsApp me at +52 624 211 9435 or send an email to robynlittlewood@yahoo.com
