I am losing fat or maybe collagen around my knees and elbows - the bones are really prominent now which is worrying, also terrible cracking noises in my knees and feet. Does anyone else have this problem? I've put on over a stone in weight so I don't understand this at all. Thanks.
Posted by sienna (Member # 10980) on :
Up
Posted by johnlyme1 (Member # 7343) on :
All of my good fat was the first to go. I had been an endurance athelete most of my life and alwasy had this very nice layer of good fat between my muscle and skin. Now there is just bone and whats left of my muscles. My LLMD did a body compositons on me and according to the calculation for an average man my age I need to gain about 14lb of fat.
Posted by Littlesprout (Member # 7406) on :
I have the same problem, my skin is looking older than a women twice my age What's up with that? Would a collagen powder help?
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Try looking up ACA. It is the chronic form of Lyme.. a "rash" of sorts.. but with other complications.
Also look up scleroderma. I think it is undiagnosed Lyme.. as I have exactly what they describe as scleroderma.. and I don't have scleroderma.. just chronic Lyme. Others have the same thing. It is suppose to be more prominent on your side of the big blue waters... but I think that is because they are too stupid to recognise it here.
But the fatty layers can "disappear" with ACA.. and it is usually seen on the backs of the hands.. the tops of the feet.. the knees and elbows.
You can search the Lyme Net site for ACA and scleroderma... as I have posted a good bit on it in the past... as have others.
Posted by clairenotes (Member # 10392) on :
Lately, I have been fascinated by and reading about copper deficiencies because I test low for it. Dr. K in WA believes that it is one mineral that is often low in lyme patients.
In my internet research, I noticed that collagen is one thing that seems to be affected by a copper deficiency, among many others.
((You have to read carefully, to find the information on collagen)).
But too much copper brings other serious health issues. So it is important to know what exactly is what before trying to supplement. Testing for it can be tricky. Not sure if hair analysis tests are always accurate because metals are detoxified through the skin, so the hair may naturally show higher amounts.
I think I have been feeling better in general since supplementation.
Also, vitamin C is involved in collagen formation.
TC's thoughts on ACA and scleroderma seem important to research further, too.
Claire
Posted by jif (Member # 9215) on :
elbows
Posted by tabbytamer (Member # 3159) on :
Absolutely, beyond a doubt, haven't lost any fat any where.
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
There are many supplements that help with collagen. I am on one called Flexcin. Google it. They are giving a free bottle to trial and then a buy 2 get 1 free to follow and after you have taken all 4 bottles, if you do not see significant improvement in your joint pain, they will refund your money. They really believe in their product and are trying to get the word out.
I took 3000 mg Vit C for many months but have finally muscle tested poorly for it so have stopped for awhile.
I take hyaluronic acid orally which is good for the joints. You can get this also from making your own chicken broth. They HA is extracted from the bones during the cooking. Lots of good things in chicken noodle soup but probably not so much from the canned store bought versions.
It is easy to stick a chicken or turkey breast or even beef bones in a crockpot all day. I add 1 cup filtered water, carrots and celery. I use the broth in soups. All to keep my joints healthy as I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and I am doing everything I can to stop progression of this disease. So far, I have no joint damage, though I am not yet in full remission.
Luvs
Posted by sienna (Member # 10980) on :
Thanks everyone. I've tried to do a search on here for ACA but can't find anything as yet. Could you tell me what ACA stands for please. Thanks.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
I just heard this morning there is a new product you can get from a dermatologist.. the NEW version of Retinol (?).. I THINK that is the word.. but it helps replace collagen and is much safer than the other medication (Retinol?) they use to use.
I will try to look into it as the fat on my hands and feet and shin bones is so thin you can almost see though it. I think the fat ain't gone.. it just moved to my hips and belly!
The new product also started with an "r".. but I can't remember what the word actually was.. of course.
Oh.. I was going to post a few abstracts for you to get you started.. but all of my ACA files are MANY pages long.. and I don't have time at the moment to sort through. But here are a few.. and I haven't even read them.. but they may get you started?
Sorry I sound so doinky right now. My new computer just arrived! I'll be off line for a while.
Hope some of this helps?
TC
J Am Acad Dermatol 1993 Aug;29(2 Pt 1):190-6 Related Articles, Links
Localized scleroderma associated with Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical observations.
Buechner SA, Winkelmann RK, Lautenschlager S, Gilli L, Rufli T.
Department of Dermatology, University of Basel, Switzerland.
BACKGROUND: Recent reports have implicated Borrelia burgdorferi infection as a possible cause of localized scleroderma (LS). OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to describe the clinical, histologic, and immunopathologic features of patients with LS who had serum antibodies to B. burgdorferi. METHODS: Ten patients were examined clinically and by routine microscopy. Biopsy specimens from seven patients were studied immunohistochemically with monoclonal antibodies. The proliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to B. burgdorferi was investigated in seven patients by lymphocyte proliferation assay. RESULTS: Seven patients had plaque-type morphea, and three patients had linear scleroderma. Two patients had a history of previous erythema migrans. One patient had coexistent acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, and in two patients lichen sclerosus et atrophicus was observed. Histologically, a prominent inflammatory phase with sclerosis of the connective tissue was shown in all patients. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that the inflammatory infiltrates consisted of both B and T lymphocytes, predominantly of the CD4+ subset. All 10 patients had strongly elevated serum antibodies to B. burgdorferi. Patients with LS showed significantly elevated lymphoproliferative responses to B. burgdorferi when compared with healthy control subjects. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that some cases of LS are linked to Borrelia infection.
PMID: 8335737 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
1: Dermatology 2001;202(4):373-5
Chronic borreliosis presenting with morphea- and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus-like cutaneous lesions. a case report.
Kaya G, Berset M, Prins C, Chavaz P, Saurat JH.
Department of Dermatology, DHURDV, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland. [email protected]
We report on a case of chronic cutaneous borreliosis with manifestations clinically compatible with morphea and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. The histopathologic features of these lesions were those of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. Our case illustrates the concept that clinical aspects of morphea and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus pertain to the spectrum of cutaneous borreliosis. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel
PMID: 11455165 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :