Thank you both. I've done a bit more research (and of course, my facebook feed is now fit for survivalist). Thinking to stock in some backpackers food and maybe a couple of the big cans of vegetables that some of the emergency food sites have. That should all be good at least a couple of years and I can eat them as they near expiration. Water is a good point. I do always feel so silly storing water but it's important.

Hello, again.   I found this supplement at Amazon that works astoundingly well for pain.  The three B vitamins in it, Thiamine B1, Pyridoxine B6, and Cobalamine B12, when taken together relieve pain as well as Nsaids.  Not only do I get joint pain (especially in my fingers and can't knit 😿), I get back pain from crushed vertebrae (osteopenia), and this combination works very well.  You can also take these three vitamins separately.  I find it convenient to have them all in one pill. Takeda ALINAMIN EX Plus Vitamin B1 B6 B12 Health Supplementary from Japan  I have Type Two Diabetes.  Thiamine is low in people with both types of diabetes.  We lose lots of Thiamine through urine because our kidneys don't reuptake thiamine properly.  Taking Thiamine helps with my blood glucose levels.  I have been able to stop taking pharmaceuticals for diabetes (metformin, glypizides, glyburides, etc.)  Thiamine is a natural substance and cannot be patented, so pharmaceuticals, that can be patented and therefore profitable, are used instead.   References: Mechanisms of action of vitamin B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalamin) in pain: a narrative review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35156556/ Thiamine and diabetes: back to the future? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8505293/ Association between diabetes and thiamine status - A systematic review and meta-analysis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37094704/ Thiamine Level in Type I and Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Comparative Study Focusing on Hematological and Biochemical Evaluations https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7282352/ Hope this helps!!!

Thank you Scott! I'll look into that.

Thanks Scott. I have been using CBD creams, etc. and I do think they help ease the swelling a bit. And thanks so much for creating this forum and for helping those of us who are dealing with a very scary and challenging diagnosis. My path was a bit similar to yours, without so many invasive tests though. I suspect many people suffer for years before getting a diagnosis b/c I don't think the medical community is very well informed. If only they made the diet/body connection... So thanks again for all your help and the effort you put into helping so many of us.

You might want to look into CBD based products (without THC). These are legal in most states and can help with pain and inflammation.