Joint pain is one of the most common problems among people over 50. This is good to know, but this knowledge doesn’t alleviate the pain and swelling in your joints. Taking NSAIDs like Ibuprofen can help, but you’re worried about the long- use effects, such as gastrointestinal bleeding. These concerns have led many joint pain sufferers to consider natural remedies as a complement or replacement for their current treatment. Some natural remedies and supplements have shown some promising results, and Chondroitin is one of them.
What is Chondroitin?
Chondroitin (also known as Chondroitin Sulfate) is a chemical compound produced naturally by your joints. Chondroitin helps nourish the cartilage between your joints and acts as a natural shock absorber.
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Studies have not conclusively proved that Chondroitin helps the body to repair or produce more cartilage, or that it stops further loss of cartilage. Some studies have shown it to be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis, especially osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. A recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (the gold standard in research studies) showed very positive results for patients with joint pain in the hands. Patients who were given Chondroitin reported significant reduction in hand joint pain and reduced joint stiffness than those given the placebo.
Are There Any Risks or Side Effects?
Chondroitin is generally safe and has a low risk of side effects. Studies and doctor/patient experience show some risks for people with asthma, diabetes and people taking blood thinners or NSAIDs.
Most studies show that you need to take Chondroitin for at least two to four months before you experience benefits. Chondroitin may be beneficial, but it is not a quick fix for your chronic joint pain. Fortunately, you can take NSAIDs with Chondroitin while you wait for the effects to kick in, but talk with your doctor first. While we wait for more conclusive results, you may be one of the people who find significant relief from this dietary
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Glucosamine, and particularly Glucosamine sulfate, has is commonly used to treat osteoarthritis, and is the form most widely studied for this use. Your body’s glucosamine levels as you age and taking glucosamine supplements may help you to restore damaged cartilage, the fundamental cause of osteoarthritis pain.
Some studies have shown that glucosamine is as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in reducing mild to moderate osteoarthritis pain. These studies also show that Glucosamine takes more time to relieve pain, reducing pain in 4 – 8 weeks as compared to common NSAIDs like Motrin and Advil, which reduce pain in about 2 weeks. the prestigious British medical journal, Lancet, recently published the results of a three-year study that found glucosamine sulfate was effective in relieving pain and in stopping further joint cartilage damage
While the evidence is very promising for its use in the treatment of osteoarthritis, studies of glucosamine for treatment of other joint pain related disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic low back pain have been much less compelling.
What are the Risks or Side
Glucosamine stimulates production of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans, the two essential building blocks of cartilage. Advocates of the treatment say that artificially synthesized glucosamine supplements can jumpstart glucosamine production within joints. Choindroitin is made of many of the same molecules as glucosamine, and essentially serves the same purpose. The long-lasting pain relief and functional improvements that are reported by users of the supplement come as a result of anti-inflammatory agents, an increase in cartilage building activities, and a reduction in the enzymatic destruction of cartilage. Along with a termination in the progression of joint damage, reversal of damage is also highly likely. The rapid pain relief upon initiation of a glucosamine
Chondroitin: This substance occurs naturally in the connective tissues. Chondroitin supplements are effective at helping treat osteoarthritis,
In only severe case do extreme symptoms present which are very rare. There is no complete cure to any of the condition however using Meloxicam can decrease pain as well as lessen the symptoms. Meloxicam is used to treat both of these conditions for an extended period of time, but osteoarthritis is treated (with Meloxicam) only on a short term bases. Osteoarthritis is a condition which almost everyone will eventually suffer from. Currently 8/10 people aged over 50 suffer, every joint can be effected as the cause of osteoarthritis is the extended use of the joints which causes the cartilage to become thin and uneven. The synovial fluid also becomes thicker and excess is also produced which cause the joint swell, bony spurs can also grow which also lead to further inflammation in the surrounding tissue. All of the conditions mentioned above have one similarity in that they all cause an inflammatory response. Meloxicam inhibits the production of prostaglandins which are the chemical messengers which stimulate an immune response and results in inflammation. It specifically inhibits the cyclo-oxygenase process which is the process in which prostaglandins are produced.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the foundation of medical treatment for osteoarthritis (OA). It is the most common medication taken by an individual experiencing pain due to this degenerative joint disease. Not to mention, NSAIDS are prescribed for pain management in older adults since they are more efficacious than acetaminophen with the absence of central nervous system side effects of opioids
There are very few, if any, side effects to taking glucosamine and chondroitin joint supplements. There is also some evidence that NSAID's can actually INCREASE the progression of arthritis! This is a big risk to take if you are trying to reduce your arthritis symptoms. Glucosamine chondroitin on the other hand can protect the cartilage leading to long term relief from arthritis symptoms.
The following are some of the best smoothy that helps to prevent chronic knee and joint pain
Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is most prevalent in older patients. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative bone disease due to the gradual loss of cartilage. A primary type of osteoarthritis is hip arthritis where it is caused by joint injury, increasing age, and being overweight (“Hip Osteoarthritis,” n.d.). However, osteoarthritis can also be caused by immature joints, inherited defects in cartilage, and extra stress on a patient’s joints (Hip Osteoarthritis,” n.d.). As a result, hip arthritis becomes a huge detriment in patient’s social, emotional, physical lifestyles. In order to treat hip arthritis, doctors choose from a variety of non-drug treatments, medications, and surgeries. Uniquely, I was inspired to research about the treatments of hip arthritis because my very own brother was pronounced with hip arthritis a few years back. Therefore, his determination to battle this disease encouraged me to investigate about the treatment of hip arthritis.
Curcumin is a very active compound and is responsible for the yellow color of turmeric which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can have a significant effect on osteoarthritis by the protection of chondrocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of curcumin in reducing the symptoms of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. In this interventional study, curcumin and placebo will be prescribed to the groups and a random number table will be used for treatment allocation by the statistical analyzer. Patients and researchers will not know the group of the patients and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) will be completed for patients in 0 and 6 weeks of drug using. In this study, WOMAC questionnaire will be completed for 80 patients (40 patients in curcumin group and 40 patients in the placebo group) with knee osteoarthritis in 0 and 6
Arthritis is a chronic medical condition characterized by the inflammation of the joints.It encompasses many conditions that affect the joints and the connective tissues. Effects of arthritis are mainly joint pain and fatigue leading to limited movement. A population-based survey has shown that arthritis has an impact on the daily lives of Canadian. Cold weather increases pain to joints making it harder for you to accomplish daily activities. It appears that the risk for developing arthritis increase with age but it can occur in young adults with severe symptoms. Healthy Planet Canada can help you manage your symptoms and take care of your joint health. Here are some supplements that have shown to be beneficial in the treatment of joint pain
The type of treatment chosen depends on the type of arthritis and the effects it has on the patient as well as the severity of the disease. Other factors to consider are the age of the patient and the joints affected. Bearing in mind that different people exhibit different reactions to different medications, treatment in this case is individualized but includes a combination of joint protection methods and medication. For rheumatoid arthritis, the Initial treatment starts with non steroidal ant inflammatory drugs and other simple analgesic but as the inflammation progresses, slow acting anti rheumatoid drugs which are aimed at modifying the disease are introduced. They are added progressively as the inflammation progresses in order to suppress the process that leads to chronic inflammation (Amin 1995).
This essay is aimed to critically appraise the article about “comparing the effect of glucosamine and glucosamine with alendronate in symptomatic relieve of degenerative knee joint disease” (Hamid Reza Arti & Mohammad Ebrahim Azemi, 2012, p. 87-92). The study talked about the Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) or osteoarthritis, which is the most common destructive joint disease and causes of chronic disability in human beings. Osteoarthritis is often caused by aging, frequent use of knee joints or obesity. People with osteoarthritis are normally treated by glucosamine. On the other hand, alendronate is used to treat osteoporosis. People with osteoporosis will have brittle or fragile bones due to deficiency in calcium or vitamin D. As both osteoarthritis and osteoporosis have higher chances of being found in elderly patients, it might not be an unusual thing for them to exist together in the patient at the same time. Combining glucosamine and alendronate together in the treatment may bring out unexpected therapeutic benefits. The objective of the study is to find out the differences between the effects of glucosamine alone and combination between glucosamine and alendronate administration in relieving knee degeneration. The study hypothesised that combination of glucosamine and alendronate will be more effective in treating knee degeneration.
Rheumatic or musculoskeletal conditions comprise over 150 diseases and syndromes. One condition called Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease that affects the cartilage. In developed countries it ranks among the top ten for disabling diseases. It is associated with aging and affects the joints that have been continuously stressed throughout the years. This includes the knees, hips, fingers, and lower spine region. The condition presents itself as a loss in flexibility, stiffness, and a deep, achy pain. Treatment of this condition requires a variety of components to fit a person's needs, lifestyle, and health.
Glucosamine is one of the biological components that helps to create more support for the joints and helps to exert a protective effect against joint destruction in conditions associated with osteoarthritis. In healthy glucosamine is produced in the body naturally. Because one of the ingredients of glucosamine is glucose, a naturally occurring sugar classified as an amino sugar. However, glucosamine does not behave in the body as an energy source. Instead, it serves to blend sulphur into the cartilage and other body tissues. It is involved to maintain and repair the bones, joints, cartilage & in the treatment of degenerative joint diseases (Chiusaroli et al., 2011; Distler and Anguelouch, 2006; Rangle and Sawitzke, 2012). Glucosamine is also involved in constructing nails, skin, eyes, bones, ligaments, tendons, heart valves, discharging mucous from the respiratory system, digestive system, and urinary tract.
Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder, and more than half of all Americans who are older than 65 have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. However, recent US data has revealed knee osteoarthritis does not discriminate age, and there is growing evidence that osteoarthritis affects individuals at a young age. The annual cost of osteoarthritis due to treatment and loss of productivity in the US is estimated to be more than 65 billion dollars.1 With no cure currently available for osteoarthritis, current treatments focus on management of symptoms. The primary goals of therapy include improved joint function, pain relief, and increased joint stability. Although the exact cause of osteoarthritis is unknown, many risk factors have been identified including increased age, female gender, obesity, and trauma.2 Within these risk factors, the etiology of osteoarthritis has been divided into anatomy, body mass, and gender.
Arthritis is a joint disorder, which affects one or several joints in the body. The condition has more than one hundred types of diseases with osteoarthritis being the most common. Osteoarthritis results from joint infection, or age. Patients that suffer from arthritis complain about pain in the joints. In most cases, the pain remains constant in the affected joint. It is worth noting, “The pain from arthritis is due to inflammation that occurs around the joint, damage to the joint from disease, daily wear and tear of joint, muscle strains caused by forceful movements against stiff painful joints and fatigue” (Reid, Shengelia & Parker, 2012, p. 40). However, joint pain could result from various diseases, and in such