Knee arthritis is a painful condition but many people would rather defer any kind of surgery for as long as possible, for any number of different reasons. So how can you effectively relieve knee arthritis pain without having to resort to surgical measures:

Moderate Exercise – Activities such as running or team sports may increase your knee arthritis pain but doctors recommend that you still remain as physically active as you possibly can, as total inactivity will lead to muscle wastage and bone loss, two things that could aggravate your problems.

A Cane – An old fashioned and simple solution that can be very effective, if only people were not too vain to use one.  Make sure that the cane you use is the right height (many of those available today are adjustable to accommodate different footwear) and always use the cane in the opposite hand to the affected knee.

Cortisone Injections – Mild to moderate knee arthritis pain can often be relieved rather effectively with a course of cortisone injections. Should an initial shot bring pain relief it is usually recommended to repeat the treatment every three to four months. The amount of cortisone in each shot is very small and harmful side effects are rare. Unfortunately cortisone shots are usually of little benefit to those with very advanced knee arthritis though.

Knee Supports – Most knee arthritis sufferers get little benefit from a traditional knee brace but specialized braces that are becoming available have had better results, as have certain wedges to be worn in the shoes.

NSAIDS – Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs have been demonstrated to be rather effective for treating mild to moderate knee arthritis pain. There are a number of different kinds of NSAIDs available from over the counter medications such as Aleve to stronger drugs available only with a prescription. You should discuss which one of them might be right for you with your physician and discuss the possible side effects before taking them on regular basis.

All of this said if your knee arthritis pain is simply not responding in any way to these kinds of conservative treatments you may want to give knee replacement surgery a second look. If you find a surgeon who you feel comfortable with and is experienced in the field knee replacement surgery may indeed free you of any more years living with the misery of knee arthritis pain.

These days some retirees are doing far more than just continuing to live after retirement, they are instead really living it up in retirement. After years of hard work and some savvy financial planning there is a growing trend for people all over the country and from all walks of life to sell up their old residence and make the move to a retirement community.

The retirement communities of today are a cry from the nursing homes of old. These communities are not for the sick and infirm (although such care becomes available if necessary) but for active seniors looking to get the most out of their golden years.

Amenities in many retirement communities include world class golf courses, gourmet restaurants, all manner of sporting activities and some even feature onsite movie theaters and shopping malls.

Although all of these luxuries are wonderful an even bigger benefit for those who choose to move to a retirement community is the notion that all levels of medical care will be easily available to them, something that brings an extra sense of peace of mind to the families of retirees as well as to the seniors themselves.

The average continuing care retirement community offers three levels of care. Independent living sees a healthy person or couple move into their own townhouse or condo, free to live alone but take advantage of on campus health services on an as needed basis.  If a person begins to need help with daily living tasks if they develop an aging related impairment daily nursing services are made available to them within the home for as long as it is possible. If independent living becomes an impossibility there is then the option to move into a supervised nursing home where patients can receive all the care they need.

This is not an inexpensive option for retirement though. Upfront move in costs vary wildly, anywhere from $20,000 to $1 million for the very luxurious retirement communities. After that there may be rental expenses on top of daily day to day living costs. For this reason seniors should do a good deal of research before choosing a retirement community or even making the decision to live in one. This involves going beyond glossy brochures and actually finding out how pleased others have been with all levels of care. Some retirees have been delighted with independent living at a certain retirement community only to be disappointed by the levels of advanced care.

Bodybuilding does not mean that you have to build your muscles to the level of Arnold Schwarzenegger in his heyday but a well toned, defined body looks good on both males and females. To aid their efforts and maintain their overall health and stamina many people who are into body building take a supplement or two.  The majority of these are natural and safe (we are not talking about steroids here) for most people but for those who suffer from Type 1, or insulin dependent diabetes,  need to take a little more care when choosing which supplements to take, as maintaining the correct nutritional balance is so crucial to their wellbeing.

Before beginning to take any dietary supplement a Type 1 diabetic should really discuss the matter with their usual doctor. There are though certain substances that both the ADA and the NIDDK (the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) have deemed to be safe and effective for most people with Type 1 diabetes. Some of them are listed below, but remember to check all the ingredients in a certain supplement as most of them contain a blend of many different substances in a single capsule.

Alpha Lipoic Acid – This is a substance that has been found to be very effective for increasing insulin sensitivity, which helps keep blood sugar levels at their most efficient .

Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf Extract - Also considered efficient for balancing blood sugars as well as to achieve increased energy and fat loss

B Vitamins – Great all around energy boosters that can also help prevent some of the nerve damage associated with Type 1 diabetes.

Manganese – Protects muscle tissues against damage

Creatine is a substance that is very popular with body builders but the medical community is somewhat divided about whether or not the substance is safe for diabetics.  Some studies have seemed to suggest that such supplements can be taken without any ill effects by Type 1 diabetics in small doses but there is the concern that the left over creatine which is extracted from the body as creatinine and could put undue stress on the kidneys, which are already very vulnerable in diabetics. This is one issue that certainly must be discussed with a physician before any action is taken.