Our weather is supposed to cool down too because rain is predicted for several days in a row. But if it doesn't rain the temps will be back in the mid to high 90's.
I cooked a pound of navy or great northern beans last week. I think we ate on it for about 3 days. I didn't care for them, but ate them anyway. I had forgotten about the ham seasoning that I have. I finally added some chicken seasoning to mine and they were better. This week I'm cooking a pound of baby limas and will remember the ham seasoning this time.
I've got another package of deer steak thawed up, I may bread it this time, DH really likes it breaded. I made spaghetti last night with deer burger, it was good. There was only a little freezer burn on it which I cut off. These packages are dated 2016. DH didn't say anything about it being off tasting. I didn't notice anything myself.
When I wake up my knee hurts a lot and it takes a couple of hours for the anti inflammatory to kick in, along with the voltaren rub, Then its almost pain free for a few hours. I'm still trying to get as much done as I can during that time. I called the VA to make an appointment but the soonest that was available was the end of the month. So when DH goes Thursday I'm going to do a walk in. No telling how long I will have to wait, but at least I'll get a referral to Ortho, then that will probably take weeks. I think a shot would help alot.
I am sorry to hear about your knees, Nomifyle.
I suffer alot with my knees, too. My ortho says he has replaced knees in much better shape than mine are in, yet we are working together to push off my surgery as long as possible.
Some things that can help with the pain include:
Taking curcumin (aka, turmeric) - preferably with a bit of pepper - at least once a day. Twice is better. Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory, which just happens to be one of the best anti-cancer supplements as well. My wife takes a large dose of it daily (Life Extension brand - the version that has pepper and ginger mixed in with it), and I really think that the curcumin s part of what is keeping her alive. I take it too, for my knee pain. It takes a month or two to really get into your system, but it is worth it.
Cortisone shots in the knees offer some temporary relief, but at a cost - cortisone acts to thin your bones over time. Not a good thing for older folks with osteoporosis or osteopenia.
The better shot is something that alot of people call the “rooster shot” ( cuz at one time, they really did make the gel out of processed rooster combs. ). I would have to look the accurate name for you - it is several syllables, and begins with an “h”), but if you ask an ortho for a rooster shot, they know what it is that you want.
You can only get a rooster shot once every six months, and it takes about a month to take full effect. But it is long lasting after it fully takes effect. Keep the shots up on a regular six month schedule, and they can give you uninterrupted, long time pain relief for years.
Medicare now requires that you try rooster shots before they will approve knee surgery, because for many people, surgery becomes unnecessary as long as they keep up the rooster shots. The VA might have a similar policy. I really do not know, as I do not use the VA for medical treatment.
Rooster shots ARE costly, though - and as a result, many private insurers will refuse coverage for them unless knee surgery is absolutely imminent. My provider charges about $1,300 per knee, but my insurance does cover 80%. Expensive as thse shots are - they ARE alot cheaper than knee replacement surgery.
One othe thing, Nomifyle — strange as it may sound, EXERCISE is probably the single best medicine for arthritic knees!
Oh, am not recommending that you run marathons like I did before the lockdowns. In fact, few people with arthritic knees choose to run at all (even though, if you are a trained runner, it IS a great way to reduce knee pain over time).
What works best for most people is a stationary, recumbent bicycle (the kind where you lean back in a comfortable chair, extend your legs ahead of you, and pedal.)
But really, any kind of stationary bicycle can work. Pedaling a bike strengthens your leg muscles without putting weight on them.
Amazon sell a kind of gizmo that allows you to sit in the chair of your choice (for example, while working at your computer desk), and pedal while you sit there and work at whatever you need to be doing.
IF it gets to the point where you MUST get knee replacement surgery, I strongly suggest that you go to a Physical Therapist BEFORE your surgery, and build your leg muscles up as strong as they can be before you get the surgery itself.
Recovery from knee replacement surgery is both difficult and (temporarily) painful.
But the stronger your knee and leg muscles before surgery, the less pain after surgery and the better the ultimate outcome.