Guest guest Posted December 31, 2003 Report Share Posted December 31, 2003 Gaining on Joint Pain JoAnn Guest Dec 31, 2003 15:01 PST Making Alternative Medicine Work for You By Elizabeth Krieger Gaining on joint pain How to ease your aches and pains-with natural supplements For more than a decade, Alice Meyers climbed the 20 stairs to her Madison, New Jersey, apartment and winced in pain each time. Her knees ached and her back stiffened. Her doctor finally diagnosed her with osteoarthritis, a joint condition suffered by 20 million Americans, and put her on a regimen of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The pills did little to relieve the pain, and they also upset her stomach. Increasing numbers of men and women with joint pain are finding relief from natural supplements. The research on alternatives to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS, which are notoriously harmful when used over long periods of time, is mounting, and conventional and alternative doctors alike are gaining a better understanding of which ones work and why. Dozens of substances claim to ease joint pain, but separating what works from what only wastes good money is key. Before you fork over your money, take a good look at what you're getting. Glucosamine is thought to work by increasing production of new cartilage molecules and decreasing production of enzymes that degrade cartilage, says Jason Theodosakis, M.D., preventive medicine specialist and author of The Arthritis Cure, the 1999 bestseller that brought talk of glucosamine and chondroitin to the mainstream. Chondroitin probably works in a similar way, he says, and it also has an anti-inflammatory effect. While some lucky people experience relief within a few days from glucosamine or chondroitin, for most, it should take about three weeks to judge if the supplement is working. The recommended dosage is 1500 milligrams per day for glucosamine and 1200 milligrams for chondroitin. For the most part, both glucosamine and chondroitin are safe. It's the anti-inflammatory drugs that people are sucking down that drive them to the hospital, says Marc Darrow, M.D., of the Joint Rehabilitation and Sports Medical Center in Los Angeles. More than 100,000 hospitalizations each year can be attributed to NSAID use, and last year 13,000 people died from complications. The most common side effects from glucosamine and chondroitin are gas and softened stool. Children and pregnant women should not take the supplements, notes Judith Horstman, since studies determining their effects on a child or developing fetus have yet to be conducted. Because glucosamine is an amino *sugar*, people with diabetes should *check* their " blood sugar " levels more *frequently* when taking this supplement or discontinue it altogether. A final warning: If you take chondroitin sulfate in addition to a blood-thinning medication or daily aspirin therapy, have your blood clotting time checked regularly. This supplement is similar in structure to the blood thinner heparin, and the combination may cause bleeding in some people. Its high sugar content may worsen existing blood sugar problems as well. A popular European import: SAM-e Perhaps you've already heard of SAM-e (pleasinglypronounced " sammy " ). Europeans have been swallowing these pills for some time, and in the last few years, Americans have jumped on the SAM-e bandwagon. It's often prescribed for an entirely different sort of ache-SAM-e has shown remarkable efficacy as an antidepressant. But doctors in Europe have been studying it as a treatment for joint pain for more than two decades. They have conducted dozens of studies, including controlled clinical trials, that show it relieves joint pain just as well as non- steroidal anti- inflammatories. SAM-e is an amino acid that occurs naturally in living cells. Our bodies usually make all the SAM-e we need, but the amount we produce decreases with age. While the exact mechanism by which SAM-e works has yet to be entirely delineated, scientists know that SAM-e helps our bodies make and regulate hormones, and contributes to the building blocks of cartilage and cell membranes. SAM-e has some downsides, though, says Dr. Theodosakis. It's quite expensive-a hefty $4 to $7 per day for the doses shown to be effective (about 800 to 1600 milligrams). It's also extremely unstable; any exposure to heat, light, or moisture will destroy SAM-e. Don't take SAM-e if you suffer from *bipolar* disorder, notes Horstman, as it can cause a *manic* episode. Try to choose a SAM-e product that is stabilized-look for " SAM-e butanedisulfonate " printed on the label-and packaged in an airtight, lightproof container. Horstman also recommends coated tablets, which will dissolve more slowly than uncoated ones, breaking down in your intestines rather than in your stomach. (If the SAM-e dissolves in your stomach, your stomach acids will destroy some of it before you can absorb it-an expensive waste.) Side effects are uncommon, but some people experience nausea. MSM MSM is related to dimethyl sulfoxide, or DMSO, a solvent veterinary product approved for human use by the Food and Drug Administration for the bladder condition interstitial cystitis. MSM is thought to help ease joint pain by supplying the body with sulfur. Plentiful in fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, fish and grains, sulfur is quickly destroyed when foods are processed. According to Horstman's research, MSM's major benefit for those with joint problems is pain relief. Experts suggest starting with a low dosage (500 milligrams or less, in capsule form or dissolved in liquid) twice a day. Gradually increase the amount until you notice some effect. Most sources suggest working up to 1000 milligrams twice a day. The most common side effects, especially at higher doses, are diarrhea, stomach upset, or mild cramps. Lowering the dose may help. In the end, while there is a downright dizzying array of products that claim to help ease nagging, often just plain debilitating joint pain, patients like Alice Meyers are happy to have found something safe and natural that works. " I feel better than I did before starting on these supplements, " she says of her daily glucosamine, " and that's what matters to me most. " Elizabeth Krieger is a freelance writer and editor in San Francisco. Pill picking: Choosing a good supplement When it comes to supplements for joint health, quality is key. The shelves are stocked with products ranging from creams to pills to sweet, brightly colored juice drinks, but not all are created equal. Here are some guidelines. - Pills are the most stable and well-regulated supplements, so don't expect to guzzle or slather your way to relief. Drinks aren't concentrated enough and creams don't penetrate skin. (Theodosakis compares using joint creams to sleeping on a dictionary to increase your vocabulary.) - Since the amount of the actual substance varies widely from brand to brand, try to find out which product a reputable study used and take that one. - Choose products sold by well-established companies that can be held accountable. - Read each product label carefully to make sure the ingredient list makes sense to you. http://www.alternativemedicine.com/AMHome.asp? cn=Catalog & act=SearchAttribute & crt=Name1=HCArticleList% 26Value1=Arthritis%20and%20Rheumatoid%20Disorders%26Op1=EQ% 26StartPage=1%26PageSize=925 & Style=\AMXSL\HCDetail.xsl _________________ JoAnn Guest mrsjo- DietaryTi- http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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