Do your knees pop when you stand up? Or do your joints hurt when you wake up in the morning?

We see this complaint all too often at our clinic. Our patients aren’t living life to the fullest because it’s difficult to get up and get moving.

If this sounds like you, there are several reasons why you’re experiencing pain, stiffness, tenderness, or swelling in your joints. Here are the 5 most common reasons we come across every day.

Why Do Your Joints Hurt?

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of degenerative joint pain. When you age, the cushion between your joints, called the cartilage, begins to wear down. Your bones to rub together, triggering pain, tenderness, stiffness, and swelling.

While this mostly affects people who are middle-aged or older, you can be at a higher risk if you’re obese or overuse a joint due to sports or intense exercise. Over-the-counter pain relievers, braces, and gentle exercise can reduce symptoms and help you maintain an active lifestyle.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis also affects the joints, but for a different reason. Your immune system mistakenly attacks your body’s tissues and affects the lining of your joints. This causes painful swelling, inflammation, bone erosion, and joint deformity.

People usually feel symptoms in their smaller joints first, for example, the fingers and toes. And then as the disease progresses, pain and inflammation can spread to wrists, knees, elbows, etc.

You may feel pain more frequently in the morning or after you’ve been resting; however, symptoms can also last all day. While it may seem difficult to get moving, gentle exercise can help you maintain your strength and flexibility.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D is considered a pro-hormone and not a vitamin because it can be synthesized when sunlight hits the skin. So, if you needed another reason to head to the beach, here’s your sign.

Either way, it plays a vital role in many functions of your body, particularly bone health. In fact, research shows low levels of vitamin D can increase the risk of arthritis. And studies found low blood levels of vitamin D in patients who have osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.

If you want to improve symptoms of arthritis or your overall health, increase your sun exposure or consider a supplement.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism indicates an underactive thyroid gland. Due to an autoimmune disease, radiation treatment, or surgical removal of the thyroid, your body isn’t getting enough of the hormone. Your thyroid, which is located in the lower front of your neck, produces hormones that help your body use energy, stay warm, and keep organs working as they should.

Approximately, 10 million Americans have this condition, but It’s more common in women who are over the age of 50. You may experience swelling in certain joints, joint pain, stiffness, and carpal tunnel syndrome. But, symptoms also include fatigue, weight gain, and decreased libido.

Hypothyroidism is diagnosed with a blood test and treatable. Thyroid hormone replacement is the best treatment, but pain relievers, like ibuprofen, can help relieve some pain.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder, often triggered by emotional or physical stress. It affects the muscles and soft tissues and causes pain and tenderness to touch, sometimes over the entire body. It affects 2-4% of people, most of whom are women.

There’s no test to detect fibromyalgia, but it has shown to be genetic. Symptoms include sleep disturbances, fatigue, muscle pain and aches, and pain in the joints. While there’s no cure, medication, cognitive behavioral therapies, and gentle exercise can help relieve symptoms.

Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, vitamin D deficiency, hypothyroidism, and fibromyalgia are four potential reasons your joints count hurt, but there are many more possibilities.

While this will help you ask your doctor the right questions, we suggest scheduling a consultation to explore all the possibilities. To learn more about the benefits of hormone replacement therapy, check out our recent article here.

Recently, the Endocrine Society issued an updated clinical practice guideline on testosterone therapy in men with hypogonadism. Awareness and attention to men’s health issues have been growing rapidly, but surveys say men are being prescribed testosterone hormone treatment without an appropriate diagnostic workup or monitoring plan.

The Endocrine Society is hoping to address issues, including:

• Avoiding testing and treating healthy men
• Individualizing treatments
• Increasing lab accuracy

These guidelines ring very true at our clinic — it’s how we’ve always done things. We start with a long, initial consult to dive into your medical history. Because, if what we depended on was just the lab work, you’d be in and out the door in five minutes. But, that’s not how we care for our patients.

You can read more about our customized hormone therapy plans here and how we treat the whole person here.

Today, what we really want to focus on is the importance of knowing your testosterone levels and taking time to make a decision that’s right for you.

Why You Should Know Your Testosterone Levels

Low T has been associated with diabetes, high cholesterol, excess weight, and other metabolic syndromes. It’s unclear if those conditions cause low T or if low T contributes to those conditions (chicken before the egg dilemma).

When your body is fighting off a chronic health issue or infection, it may simply put less effort into testosterone production. But, because we don’t know if it’s the cause or side effect, it’s crucial to know your numbers.

When other health conditions are at play, maybe low testosterone doesn’t sound like a significant risk to you? But, it could contribute to poor long-term health.

Not to mention, low testosterone can affect your:

• Sex drive
• Sperm production
• Muscle strength
• Fat distribution
• Fat density
• Red blood cell production

What Can Cause Low Testosterone

You may experience a drop in testosterone for a few different reasons, including an injury to your testes, a tumor on a hormone-producing gland, stress, or medications like corticosteroids.

However, testosterone levels also just fluctuate naturally. They peak around 8 am and decrease throughout the day with the lowest levels being around 8 pm.

Several things can nudge your levels in either direction. For example, a high-intensity workout can increase testosterone. But tough exercise (coupled with lack of sleep and nutrition) can significantly drop levels. And men who are 40 years and younger will experience more substantial climbs and drops.

How to Prevent Low Testosterone

You can make positive lifestyle changes, including:

• Healthy diet
• Exercise
• Adequate sleep
• Stop smoking
• Manage stress
• Limit alcohol
• Follow your doctor’s advice and management plan

But, do you need a testosterone therapy plan?

Maybe not. In young men, testosterone therapy can prevent natural production from returning. Once you’re on it, you can’t get off it. It may affect your sperm production too. So, there are other ways to treat low T (including the lifestyle changes mentioned above) that won’t decrease your natural ability. Consult your doctor to learn more about those options.

There’s no urgency when deciding if you need treatment. And there’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. We encourage all our patients to book a one-on-one consultation, research the facts, and think about it.

Understanding what’s going on with the physiological processes is important. It can help you make an informed, careful decision.

If you decide testosterone therapy is right for you, follow up with your blood work and keep track of your symptoms. Do you feel better? Do you feel worse? Are you noticing any unusual side effects? Is it helping? Instead of relying on the numbers, check in with your body too.

Have more questions? Or want to know your options? Book your one-on-one consultation today.

How hard could it be to manage your medication? You fill the prescription, read the instructions, and place the bottles in your medicine cabinet.

Sure, that part is child’s play, but remembering to take those pills, following the instructions every day, and keeping an eye out for adverse interactions is difficult.

As personal care physicians, we’ve realized there are three types of patients:

If you’re the third person, pat yourself on the back, and move along to one of our other blog posts. Like this one on balancing your hormones naturally.

But, if you’re here, it’s likely you fall into the first or second category. Don’t worry — most people do!

In fact, we aren’t perfect either. Yet, we do have a few tips when it comes to organizing and managing your medication, vitamins, and supplements.

Use a Pill Organizer, Like this One

Hear us out. We’re big fans of the old lady pillbox. Pillboxes help you take medication every day, even when you’re rushing out the door or on vacation in the Galapagos islands.

Lucky for you, we’ve found a stylish, discrete, and tech-savvy pillbox.

The Sagely Smart Weekly Pill Organizer has seven containers which sit on a magnetic tray. The dispensers are large enough to hold fish oil or vitamin D supplements. It’s easy to open, ‘pleasing to the eye,’ and has AM/PM dispensers. Each container is detachable from the tray, so you can tuck it in your purse or pocket.

You can also download the free reminder app. You type in your medications, set a reminder, and a notification pops up on your phone when it’s time to take your pills. No excuses, right?

Create a Schedule and Reward Yourself for Sticking to It

Speaking of reminders — the instructions wrapped around the bottle aren’t suggestions.

Take it from us. We write prescriptions for natural progesterone frequently and advise our patients to take it at bedtime. But, often, the patient pops the pill in the morning (when they’re more likely to remember).

While the intention is admirable, the execution leaves them feeling sleepy all day long.

Timing is important. Sit down with your medication and create a schedule based on the instructions. Set reminders or alarms on your phone (for every day), so you don’t forget.

Or try setting some “not until” parameters. For example, you’re not allowed to brush your teeth until you take your statin drug. Choose a method (or tasty reward) that’ll work best for you!

Fill All Your Prescriptions at One Pharmacy

If you’re taking several prescriptions, we understand the need to hunt down savings. But, there are risks involved when you fill one prescription at CVS and another at Kroger.

When you go to one location, the pharmacist is aware of all the medications you take. He or she can inform you about potential drug interactions. If you fill your prescriptions at different pharmacies, it may be overlooked.

They’ll also review the instructions with you so you can stick to that schedule we talked about earlier.

Be Your Best Advocate and Make Your List

Of course, your doctors and pharmacists all have your best interest at heart. But you know your body better, and need to play an active role in your healthcare.

Create a list of all the medications you take. The record will speak for you in case you can’t. Plus, it can be hard to remember everything!

WebMD has a drug interaction tracker. You enter the names of all your medications, vitamins, and supplements. It will tell you if there’s any overlap, and you can discuss with your doctor whether any interactions are a significant concern or not.

These are a few best practices to manage your medication, supplements, and vitamins.

Use a pillbox to get organized and keep your medicine at top-of-mind. Take time to create a list of your medication, the instructions, and if there are any potential drug interactions. Then, create a schedule and stick to it!

Did we miss a tip? Share how you manage your medication below!

You’re home from the doctor; a packet of information in one hand and a prescription bottle in the other.

You’re on strict orders to lower your fat and carbohydrate intake. Plus, add exercise to your daily routine.

We’re sorry to say; you’re not done yet.

If your primary care doctor prescribed a statin drug, such as Lipitor®, Zocor®, or the like, you need to check your coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels.

While your body will produce less CoQ10 as you age, you’re at a higher risk of depletion when you take statin drugs.

When this depletion occurs, the side effects of statin drugs can increase.

Those side effects include:

Your body makes CoQ10 naturally. In short, it’s the Energizer bunny to your cells.

Your cells need the energy to repair, build, and fight off intrusion. On any given day, muscle fibers break down and rebuild to get stronger. Old cells are shuffled out the door, and new cells move in.

But, when your CoQ10 levels go down, the whole system begins to collapse.

You’ll notice when you’re in short supply of CoQ10. It’ll affect your mobility — your knees might collapse, or you might experience joint pain.

To replenish CoQ10, you can try adding oily fish and organ meats (like beef liver) to your diet. Or, you can take a supplement.

CoQ10 is readily available. We won’t go into how to choose a supplement today, but you can read this post for quick tips.

CoQ10 comes in two forms: ubiquinol, the active antioxidant form, and ubiquinone, the oxidized form.

Some might argue ubiquinol is a better supplement. Basically, it saves your body one step in the breakdown process. Price wise, there’s no difference. We suggest speaking with your doctor to see which option (and what dosage) would be right for you.

When you take statin drugs, you’re improving one thing but taking away the benefit of another. But, it’s important not to be leary of taking statin drugs.

If you add CoQ10, you can protect yourself from the depletion and enjoy the benefit of strong muscles and a healthy heart.

However, we do recommend seeking more in-depth testing if your primary doctor suggests statin drugs. A cardiologist can perform a higher level of testing to see what would be the best plan for your body — and statin drugs might not be a beneficial option.

Your physician might also recommend following up with additional blood work. It’s essential you do this, so you know your liver is functioning well.

Many of our patients book a consultation with us after a physical exam with their primary care doctor. We help people make sense of their lab work and create a customized plan that treats the whole body.

If you’ve been prescribed statin drugs and are concerned about your CoQ10 levels, schedule a free consultation with us today and we’ll talk to you about the options you have for maintaining quality of life.

When you’re feeling fatigued, distracted, or depressed, who do you go to for a solution?

A nurse practitioner? Your primary care physician? A gynecologist or urologist?

Unfortunately, when it comes to your health, knowing where to go isn’t always clear-cut.

In fact, one of our most frequently asked questions is

“What’s the difference between a primary care physician and you?”

The short answer is with personalized care, you get:

But the real benefits go beyond the waiting room. And while we aren’t here to replace your primary care doctor, we offer a different look at the bigger picture.

Below are some of the key (and often unknown) differences between seeking care from a primary care physician and a personal care physician.

You get solutions that don’t require a prescription pad (or invasive procedures)

Many of our patients visit us after seeing their primary care doctor, gynecologist, or urologist. Usually, it’s because they’ve received lab work but can’t make sense of the results.

Their doctor may sign them off with a clean bill of health or write a prescription — either way; there isn’t a clear understanding of why.

So, here’s how we approach it — we examine the lab work, spend time getting to know, and then walk you through the numbers. For example, why is your vitamin D low? Is the deficiency connected to current medications or a pre-existing disease?

Why is it important to raise it? How can we do that without changing your current medication or adding more pills to the mix?

Our goal, in the long-term, is to help you get off medication. We explore alternative options, such as supplements, dietary changes, and exercise.

Plus, the better you understand what’s going on with you, the more likely you are to participate in improving your health.

You have time to ask questions and get answers

How often do you sit in a waiting room for 30 minutes? An hour? Maybe longer? All to see the doctor for a fleeting moment?

Nothing is more frustrating than arriving to your appointment armed with questions/concerns — just to be hurried out the door.

Healthcare is our expertise, but listening is our priority. Our days are scheduled to give personalized, quality time to each patient.

For example, one of our patients was experiencing bladder irritation. She was visiting her doctor for solutions and taking supplements. But nothing was changing. During our consultation, we evaluated every possible cause — from her diet to her bathroom habits.

By taking the time to investigate the subtle details of her health and lifestyle, we discovered the issue was blue dye in her supplement capsule. Then, we found a non-medicative solution — that’s easily implemented. Our patient now avoids blue dye in her food and supplements.

You get customized weight management and nutrition plans

Mythbuster: Not all of our patients need hormone replacement therapy.

In fact, we may only see you one time. Even if you’re experiencing signs of menopause or andropause, it may not be time to treat your hormones.

Maybe in ten years, but we may see other areas that can be improved first. Like your sleep, mood swings, weight gain, or deficiencies. We’ll make suggestions on your health, the type of exercise your body needs, and your diet.

This approach is unique to what we do. We have the training and experience to understand what you’re saying and how it affects your body. We focus on you and not whatever shot or pill is trending.

Our goal is to work with patients, so they can become a whole person, real person, and vital person. What other questions do you have about personal care? Ask us on Facebook or email us!