are many natural dietary supplements that claim to reduce arthritic pain, and improve range of motion, but none have had the scrutiny of the combination of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate.

With millions of Americans suffering from osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis), it is no wonder that this alternative holistic approach has gained in popularity.

As the US population ages, and becomes more obese, the wear and tear of our joints is becoming an epidemic. As with most medication, people take natural supplements to help relieve pain.

Chondroitin sulfate is naturally found protein in the body that gives cartilage elasticity and inhibits an enzyme that breaks down cartilage.

Glucosamine is a combination of glucose and an amino acid called glutamine. Glucosamine is naturally found in cartilage and helps in the formation and repair of cartilage.

It is thought that the combination of these two supplements help reduce pain in arthritic joints, improve range of motion, and help restore damaged cartilage.

There have been some studies that show that people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis report some relieve of pain compared to people taking NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories).

Lab studies have shown that glucosamine may help stimulate cartilage building proteins.

Whatever the outcome on further research, it is best to consult with your doctor first, before taking any medication or dietary supplement. Some supplements may interfere with diabetic medication and blood thinners. People allergic to seafood should also be careful when taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin as they may derived from cartilage of shellfish. Women who are pregnant should not take any dietary supplement without the approval of their treating physician. Children should also not take any dietary supplement unless consulted with a physician.

One of the best approaches when taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin is to take it three months to judge the effectiveness of the supplement. Do not discontinue taking your current medication. If there is no improvement in your condition, you should stop taking it. A typical dose is 1,500 mg of glucosamine sulfate and 1,200 mg of chondroitin sulfate per day. Please check the label on your supplement bottle. Do not take more than the recommended allowance.

Both supplements appear relatively safe when used as directed. Side effects are usually mild if any, and consist of loose stools and intestinal gas.

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate have wide appeal as a natural supplement in the treatment of osteoarthritis. For patients that cannot tolerate traditional medication due to side effects (GI upset), it is an alternative that should be evaluated.

Thanks to Dr Kenneth Shapiro for contributing this article to our Arthritis blog:

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting about 40 million Americans. It is also the most common cause of disability.

While more than half of patients older than 65 years of age have osteoarthritis changes in the their knees on x-ray, osteoarthritis is not considered a “normal” part of aging.

Certain activities and occupations increase the likelihood of osteoarthritis. For instance baseball players have an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in the elbows and shoulder. Football players have an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in the hips and knees. And ditch diggers have an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in their wrists.

Obesity is a risk factor for osteoarthritis developing in the knees.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that arises from biochemical changes in cartilage which include a decrease in glycosoaminoglycans, an important constituent of collage, an increase in water content, and an increase in the content of destructive enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases.

These changes lead to structural weakening of cartilage. Small fissures develop, then larger cracks and irregularities also occur. Ulceration of cartilage and further deterioration occurs. The end result is a premature wearing away of cartilage with exposure of underlying bone. Along with this wearing away of cartilage is an increase in inflammation of the lining of the joint, the synovium.

The joints that are affected most in osteoarthritis are weight-bearing areas such as the neck, low back, hips, and knees.

Stiffness and pain are the moist common symptoms.

On physical exam, there are signs that point towards the diagnosis including bony swelling, and distribution of joint problems.

Laboratory testing is usually normal. X-rays may show changes.

Treatment for osteoarthritis is aimed at five primary goals. They are relief of pain, maintenance of function, prevention of disability, control of co-morbid conditions, and avoidance of medication side effects.

Non-drug therapies include patient education, physical therapy, thermal modalities, weight loss if indicated, and exercise.

Drug therapies include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, injections of glucocorticoids or viscosupplements (lubricants), and disease-modifying drugs.

Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, balneotherapy (spas), glucosamine/chondroitin, massage, chiropractic, etc. all have their advocates.

One area that has received much attention is the use of mechanical shifting devices that can unload specific joints. For instance osteoarthritis of the knee, a common problem, has received much scrutiny lately.

A recent study showed that the use of shoes that mimic barefoot walking may help because there is more pressure placed on the middle of the knee joint when people wear shoes as opposed to when they walk barefoot.

Also, the use of a simple device like a cane also reduced the load on the knees.

(Kemp G, et al Arthritis Care and Research 2008; 59: 609-614).

Other studies have found that lateral wedge insoles worn inside shoes can also reduce the load on the medial side of the joint.

Until the day comes when new cartilage can be grown… and that day may be closer than we think, particularly with the emphasis on stem cell research, the above modalities may have to do.



Thanks to Nathan Wei for contributing this article to our Arthritis blog:

Arthritis Pain Relief Cream

Arthritis is a disease that causes pain and loss of movement of the joints. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people over the age of 55. Arthritis affects the movements you rely on for everyday activities. Arthritis refers to a group of more than 100 rheumatic diseases and other conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. There are many forms of arthritis, each of which has a different cause. Inflammatory arthritis is characterized by inflammation of tissues associated with joints. Connective tissue diseases, crystal deposition diseases, infectious arthritis, and spondyloarthropathies are examples of inflammatory arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune diseases in which the body is attacking itself. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection. Gouty arthritis is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint that results in subsequent inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is traditionally considered a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. It is a disabling and painful inflammatory condition, which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. Arthritis sufferers include men and women, children and adults.

RA is a systemic disease, often affecting extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and muscles. Psoriatic arthritis (or arthropathic psoriasis) is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects around 20% of people suffering from the chronic skin condition psoriasis. It occurs more commonly in patients with tissue type HLA-B27. Treatment of psoriatic arthritis is similar to that of rheumatoid arthritis. More than 80% of patients with psoriatic arthritis will have psoriatic nail lesions characterised by pitting of the nails, or more extremely, loss of the nail itself (onycholysis). Psoriatic arthritis is said to be a seronegative spondyloarthropathy. Degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) is a ubiquitous joint disease characterized pathologically by deterioration of cartilage lining the joints and new bone formation beneath the cartilage. The disease is very common in older persons and is thought to be inherent in the aging process.Degenerative joint disease is marked by a progressive stiffness, loss of function, and destruction of the larger, weight-bearing joints of the body.

Nonarticular rheumatism is a group of diseases, also called soft-tissue rheumatisms, that includes tendonitis, bursitis, tenosynovitis, and fibrositis. Septic arthritis is the invasion of the joint space by an infectious agent. The usual etiology is bacterial, but viral, mycobacterial, and fungal arthritis occur occasionally. Bacteria are either carried by the bloodstream from an infectious focus elsewhere, introduced by a skin lesion. For bacterial infection, Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been found to infect joints, for example in children who have sustained a puncture wound. This bacteria also causes endocarditis. Septic arthritis should be suspected when one joint (monoarthritis) is affected and the patient is febrile. Gout is a painful condition that occurs when the body cannot eliminate a natural substance called uric acid. The excess uric acid forms needle-like crystals in the joints that cause swelling and severe pain. Gout most often affects the big toe, knee and wrist joints. Gout is a form of arthritis (an inflammation of the joints). Symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited function of joints. Inflammation of the joints from arthritis is characterized by joint stiffness, swelling, redness, and warmth. Tenderness of the inflamed joint can be present.

Arthritis Treatment and Prevention Tips

1.Treatment options is depending on the type of arthritis and include physical and occupational therapy, and medications (symptomatic or targeted at the disease process causing the arthritis).

2.Arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery) may be required in eroding forms of arthritis.

3.In conventional treatment, painkillers, such as paracetamol, are essential. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, can help with episodes of more severe pain.

4.In recent years a new type of NSAID treatment, called Cox-2 inhibitors, has been launched. These were initially claimed to be less harmful to the stomach and many patients have found that they provided good pain relief for their arthritis.

5.Physiotherapy relieves pain and strengthens muscles around the damaged joint, helping the joint to work better.

6.Regular exercise is beneficial for the same reasons and, once pain is under control, easy to do.

7.Hip and knee replacements are common and usually involve a short hospital visit.

8.Disease-modifying drugs that slow disease progression are available for people with rheumatoid arthritis.



Thanks to Juliet Cohen for contributing this article to our Arthritis blog:

Arthritis Pain Medication

There are many different types of arthritis that people suffer from everyday. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the most common forms of arthritis which cause many people discomfort. There are over 100 types of arthritis that people suffer from each and every day. There are many different types of arthritis with different names but they all common in the terms of pain. Many elderly people experience this pain and also young children as well. Any bone, joint or muscle that has been through trauma or stress can develope arthritis pain. Arthritis pain at times can be unbearable. How come arthritis is so painful?

Arthritis is the inflammation or swelling of the joints. Over time arthritis can hinder movement of the effected joint to the point where the joint will not be able to function properly. Tarthritis will cause a great deal of swelling if the cartilage is wearing away. The joint will move with a great deal of friction once the cushion and padding of the joint has deteriorated. The joint and muscles around the joint will become inflamed if there is no padding or lubrication to keep the bones from rubbing against the joints.

when the joints have experienced trauma or a great deal of stress the cartilage tends to wear out over a period of time and the joints tend to become. This can even be the effect from a past sports related injury. Hip joints, knees, wrists and ankles are the most likely to get arthritis. Many people use different types of treament for arthritis.

Some types of arthritis can be treated naturally and some cases will have to get a prescription from their doctor for arthritis pain medication.

Exercise is one of the bestnatural arthritis treatments a person can do in order to prevent arthritis in the future. Most people believe exercising is the best and natural way to keep arthritis away in the future and also help relieve the pain for the people who alre. Exercising can increase a persons health but also is a huge benefit in fighting arthritis pain

There is also new natural arthritis healing products that can help provide relief from arthritis pain. some of these products can be purchased without a prescription and they can help ease your pain or arthritis. Did you know that certain foods help lower the inflammation of arthritis? Some foods that are high in fat and cholesterol can actually cause you to experience more arthritis pain. Healing can be improved along with extra energy to help you through the day can be the benefits of a good diet.

Aromatherapy can also help give relief from arthritis pain. An example of aromatherapy is when aromatic oils or creams are applied to the infected area and these oil gentle settle in the muscle providing pain r. These aromatic oils penetrate deep inside the muscle to provide a soothing sensation and also hasten the healing of the joint. It will not cure the pain over night but it will help relieve the pain so yuo can complete the tasks of everyday life.

There are tons natural new arthritis healing products for people who experience chronic arthritis such as osteoarthritis. Electric heating pads and moist heat packs are very beneficial in relieving the pain that arthritis causes. Swimming also provides relief from arthritis pain if the body part is used under the water. Swimming so beneficial because it adds just enough resistance to make your body work so that your tendons, muscles and joints will get stronger over a.

There are over 43 million arthritis sufferers out there in the world today. Fortunately there are many different forms of treatment for arthritis that will help people fight the pain of arthritis. Its always recomended to visit your doctor before any medication is taken. Although there is no cure for arthritis yet, scientist are still looking to find a cure for arthritis just as they are still looking for a cure for ca.



Thanks to Markus Skupeika for contributing this article to our Arthritis blog:

Arthritis Treatment For Hands

Rheumatoid arthritis has different symptoms in different individuals. What most people tend to complain when suffering from rheumatoid arthritis differs greatly, based on each individual. A lot of people suffer various symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis that is not similar with others. So, don’t be surprised if you find someone else having different symptoms than you are having.

Most people believe that acupuncture is a painful solution for arthritis, but this is not true. Also, they think that since acupuncture involves the use of needles, the pain will be unbearable. This is however not true. Contrary to the belief that acupuncture is painful, it is less painful than most methods of pain treatment.

Although rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the joint, it can affect the entire body. So, don’t think that it’s only a particular part of your body that can be affected by arthritis. Far from it. The whole parts of a human body usually suffer as a result of rheumatoid arthritis even though it affects the joints more. If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, be informed that you could generally suffer tremendous pain, not just in your joints, but other parts of your body as well.

Patients of Rheumatoid arthritis can access the RP program “Let’s Talk” organized by The American Arthritis Foundation. If you are an American or stay in the United States, ensure you avail yourself to The American Arthritis Foundation to learn effective ways of getting relief from arthritis. If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, check out the American Arthritis Foundation for their RA program ‘Lets Talk’. In conjunction with Bristol-Meyers Squibb, The American Arthritis Foundations helps arthritis victims to get enough information about the best and most effective ways to get relief from arthritis pains.

Don’t forget that arthritis is a chronic disease that can wreak havoc of pains on you for many years, if you don’t know what to do about it. There is no specific period for arthritis as it can attack when it feels like and stays as long as it pleases. But thanks to medical breakthroughs, we can kick it out when we feel like as well. What’s important is to acquaint yourself with the right kinds of information about arthritis, including knowing the right kinds of arthritis medication to take. As you know - information is wealth any day and any time.

People who suffer from ankylosing spondylitis are usually bent from the chest. Whenever you experience any kind of problem or pain in your chest, see your doctor immediately. Some of the symptoms affecting victims of ankylosing spondylitis include bending in the chest and hip pain. Because victims of ankylosing spondylitis are often bent in the chest, they usually have a problem of breathing freely.

As difficult as it sounds to believe, simple orange and other fruit and vegetables are not only effective in treating arthritis, but also popular. The use of fruit and vegetable, such as oranges can minimize the effect of arthritis. But don’t forget to seek your doctor’s advise before taking any kind of fruits or vegetables.

Gout arthritis can be trigged by a substance in the body. Although there are other causes of gout arthritis in the body, the most common is a particular substances naturally found in the body. Foods like mushrooms, asparagus as well as excess alcohol can trigger gout arthritis beside the natural body substance known to trigger gout.



Thanks to Bercle George for contributing this article to our Arthritis blog:

Pain Relief For Arthritis