Arthritis Treatment
Taking painkillers is not the optimal treatment for arthritis. A comprehensive treatment program customized to your particular needs is the better approach.
Conventional Treatment for Arthritis
- Non-drug management consists of patient education and support, exercise, weight loss, and joint protection.
- Arthritis medications
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is frequently recommended to control pain.
- NSAIDs (e.g. Advil, Aleve, ibuprofen, indomethacin,
naproxen) are often recommended if additional pain control is
needed.
- Treatment of arthritis with NSAIDs often results in unpleasant side effects including gastrointestinal upset, headaches and dizziness.
- While use of aspirin or these drugs may relieve pain, they also inhibit the synthesis of collagen which actually accelerates the destruction of cartilage and advances arthritis.
- Additional medications such as a proton pump inhibitor are often needed to prevent development of ulcers in patients taking NSAIDs long term.
- According to the Merck Manual, “there is no evidence that widely used NSAIDs have any long-term benefit on osteoarthritis.”
- COX-2 Inhibitors (i.e. Celebrex and Vioxx) are anti-inflammatory medications which may be added.
- If the knee joint is swollen, the joint may be aspirated (fluid drawn off) and a steroid injection may be given
- Surgery: surgery may be recommended to debride or lavage the joint, or for total joint replacement.
Natural or Alternative Treatment for Arthritis
Treatment Strategy
- Enhance collagen repair and regeneration
- Control pain
- Decrease inflammation, when appropriate
- Balance endocrine system, where appropriate
- Identify and treat nutrient deficiencies
- Identify and treat food sensitivities.
Lifestyle
Gentle exercise that does not aggravate joint pain will help to keep joints limber and promote circulation through joints. Exercise is an essential adjunct in the treatment of arthritis. Exercise also helps to attain and maintain a healthy body weight.
Arthritis Diet
- Adequate hydration is necessary for proper cartilage formation and function.
- Identify and eliminate food sensitivities.
- Make dietary changes to attain optimal body weight.
- Consume a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and high quality protein.
- Limit simple carbohydrates and sugar.
- Vegetables in the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers, tobacco) contain alkaloids that inhibit normal collagen repair or promote degeneration of the joint. When these foods are removed from the diet, osteoarthritis often improves.
Nutritional Supplements for Arthritis
Not everyone will take every supplement listed here for osteoarthritis. Consult your nutritionally-oriented physician for personalization of a treatment plan and for a proper, safe and effective doses of nutritional supplements.
- Antioxidant nutrients. A high intake of antioxidant nutrients may reduce the risk of cartilage loss and disease progression in people with osteoarthritis.
-
Glucosamine sulfate. Glucosamine is a component of healthy
cartilage. As people age, they lose the ability to make enough
glucosamine and cartilage loses its natural gel-like texture
and its shock-absorbing abilities.
- Glucosamine must be taken for at least 6-8 weeks at proper doses to get benefit.
- When compared against ibuprofen, the ibuprofen group experiences faster relief, but the glucosamine group experiences fewer side-effects and greater long-term pain relief.
- Glucosamine sulfate not only improves symptoms, including pain, but also helps the body to repair damaged joints (whereas NSAIDs may actually promote the disease process).
- Chondroitin sulfate. May be used instead of or in addition to glucosamine sulfate.
- Niacinamide. Results in improved joint function, range of motion, increased muscle strength and reduction in sedimentation rate (a measure of inflammation). Liver function must be monitored periodically.
- S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) is an amino acid derivative.
- A deficiency of SAM in the joint tissue results in a loss of the gel-like and shock-absorbing qualities of cartilage.
- SAM has demonstrated increased cartilage formation, pain relief, and anti-inflammatory effects.
- SAM can also help relieve the depression associated with osteoarthritis.
- Methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM).
- Omega 3 fatty acids provide anti-inflammatory and lubricating effects.
- Deficiencies of vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, zinc copper, and boron are all associated with cartilage degeneration and these nutrients are all required for the synthesis of collagen and maintenance of normal cartilage structures.
- Flavonoids such as curcumin and quercetin and enzymes such as bromelain are of benefit in osteoarthritis.
Botanical (Herbal) Medicine
Many herbs are of benefit in the treatment of osteoarthritis including boswellia serrata, harpagophytum procumbens, and ginger.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is frequently of benefit in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Consult a physician trained in homeopathy for a personalized evaluation and selection of the appropriate homeopathic remedy for you.
Supplement Quality Is Important
Nutritional and botanical supplements used in these treatments are intended to have a physiological effect and clinical benefit, i.e., they are effective and your health improves.
The quality of nutritional supplements in the general marketplace is suspect. In order to get the maximum benefit to your health, be sure you purchase the highest quality nutritional supplements.
What Should You Do Next?
The doctors at The Connecticut Center for Health are very experienced in the treatment of arthritis. If you have (or suspect you have) arthritis symptoms and want to learn more about natural treatments for this condition, we recommend that you contact one of our clinics for a free consultation about arthritis or an appointment.
