When Glucosamine/Chondroitin Doesn't Work for You

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When Glucosamine/Chondroitin Doesn't Work for You

What can you do about unremitting osteoarthritis pain after you've

tried it all -- conventional specialists, assorted prescriptive and

over-the-counter pharmaceutical medications, and even the much talked

about natural substance glucosamine? More drugs may not be the answer.

But an alternate natural remedy could be.

As a nurse, 61-year-old Betsy knew better than most people about the

risks inherent in taking many OTC drugs, including the painkilling NSAIDs

-- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Betsy ached constantly from the

arthritis in her knees and hips, especially since her job kept her on her

feet all day. The hours she spent in bed at night had become painful as

well, making it difficult for her to sleep. Painkilling drugs seemed to

offer the only option for obtaining some measure of pain-free time and

for several years they did help -- but now they had ceased to be

effective, so Betsy made an appointment with Mark Stengler, ND, at a

friend's recommendation.

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION...

In their first meeting, Dr. Stengler discovered that along with the

pain-killing NSAID pills, Betsy had already started to use natural

substances in hopes of combating her arthritis. Several years previously

she had read that glucosamine sulfate would ease arthritis pain.

Consequently, in addition to the multivitamin and vitamin C she'd been

taking daily for years, she had added 1,500 mg of glucosamine to her

daily regimen. She continued to take the glucosamine faithfully, but she

admitted to Dr. Stengler it hadn't really helped -- in fact, she said,

her joints were aching worse than ever. Betsy was also 30 pounds

overweight, which exacerbated her joint pain. Dr. Stengler immediately

put her on a weight loss program, but now he also had to find a natural

substance that would address Betsy's joint stiffness and pain since the

glucosamine, which he says is helpful for many people, was not working

for her.

The substance Dr. Stengler determined would likely help Betsy was an oral

collagen-containing hyaluronic acid supplement. Collagen-containing

hyaluronic acid is less well known than glucosamine for treating

osteoarthritis. Dr. Stengler says that many of his patients have found it

to be extremely effective, since hyaluronic acid exists in all tissues

and fluids in the body with the highest concentrations of it in

connective tissues, including the collagen between bones that cushions

the joints. Hyaluronic acid supplements made from animal cartilage can

help with connective tissue formation and especially with production of

synovial fluid in the joints, another way the body protects the joints

from stiffness and pain. Dr. Stengler prescribed 500 mg of

collagen-containing hyaluronic acid twice a day for Betsy.

USING NSAIDs FOR PAIN CAUSES OTHER PROBLEMS

With an aging population, osteoarthritis has become more widespread than

ever. Many people reach for NSAIDs to ease their pain, but Dr. Stengler

cautions that overuse of these drugs -- as is frequently the case in

treating a chronic problem such as arthritis -- can be, as Betsy

discovered, ineffective. For some patients, they're even dangerous. The

drugs can be hard on the digestive system, the stomach in particular,

causing bleeding and ulceration. There is also evidence that NSAIDs are

associated with kidney and liver problems and possibly increased

cardiovascular risk. The problems they can cause may be far worse than

those people started with.

Dr. Stengler says that while many people find that glucosamine (the

original supplement Betsy took) helps soothe their arthritis pain, it's

not always successful -- and even when it is, it sometimes stops working

after a while. This is one reason it's so important to have a physician

trained in natural medicine oversee your use of supplements. Dr.

Stengler's prescription of collagen-containing hyaluronic acid, much less

well-known than glucosamine, offers relief for many who aren't finding

success with glucosamine. It should be used until symptoms subside. One

product Dr. Stengler uses often is BioCell Collagen II, which is a

patented form with research showing it to be well tolerated.

THE PATIENT'S PROGRESS

After just three weeks Betsy was feeling much better, says Dr. Stengler,

and after eight weeks of treatment, her improvement was considerable.

Betsy was also helped by losing her excess weight. Dr. Stengler

recommended a daily calorie intake of 1,500 calories -- moderate protein,

high fiber, balanced fats and avoiding most refined carbs. She was taking

a weekly aquaerobics class and biking several days a week, as well. At a

follow-up visit with Dr. Stengler one year after she first saw him, she

reported she was 80% better and that although she continues to take

collagen-containing hyaluronic acid, she no longer has any need for

pain-killing drugs.

Source(s):

Mark A. Stengler, ND, a naturopathic physician and leading authority on

the practice of alternative and integrated medicine. He is director of

the La Jolla Whole Health Clinic, La Jolla, California, and associate

clinical professor at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine,

Portland, Oregon. He is author of the newsletter Bottom Line Natural

Healing,

 

www.DrStengler.com.