Arthritis is a common rheumatologic disorder. It is estimated that 40 million Americans and 80 percent of persons older than 75 years are affected by osteoarthritis. Although symptoms of arthritis occur earlier in women, the prevalence of osteoarthritis among men and women is equal. The diagnosis of osteoarthritis is largely clinical because radiographic findings do not always correlate with symptoms. Also see rheumatoid arthritis information.
Natural supplements,
herbs
and remedies for
arthritis
The most commonly used alternative or
complementary nutrients for arthritis are
glucosamine pill for
joint support and
chondroitin sulfate. Several other
nutrients and herbs may potentially help reduce symptoms of
osteoarthritis.
Boswellia joint pain
helper, is an herb used in Ayurvedic medicine.
Hyaluronic acid is
taken orally but little research is available on the oral form
Certain herbs to consider include
cat's claw or devil's claw.
Lyprinol mussel extract
often used for arthritis, although Joint Power Rx could be helpful for joint
problems.
Yoga helps with joint
flexibility and reduces injury through improvement of balance.
Pau darco herb for
medicinal treatment
What causes arthritis?
The exact cause of arthritis is not fully understood. Multiple
factors (e.g., heredity, trauma, and obesity) interact to cause this
disorder. Any event that changes the environment of the chondrocyte has the potential to cause
osteoarthritis. Although usually occurring as a primary disorder, osteoarthritis can occur
secondary to other processes. The pathophysiology of osteoarthritis involves a combination of mechanical,
cellular, and biochemical processes. The interaction of these processes leads to changes
in the composition and mechanical properties of the articular cartilage. Cartilage is
composed of water, collagen, and proteoglycans. In healthy cartilage, continual internal
remodeling occurs as the chondrocytes replace macromolecules lost through degradation.
This process becomes disrupted in osteoarthritis, leading to increased degenerative
changes and an abnormal repair response.
What is the standard medical
treatment?
Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory medications remain first-line traditional drugs for the
treatment of osteoarthritis. Salsalate (Disalcid) or
choline magnesium trisalicylate (Trilisate) are good alternatives. Agents such as
cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (COX-2) and sodium hyaluronate joint injections offer new
treatment alternatives. Complementary medication for osteoarthritis use has also increased.
Knee replacement surgery
People often gain weight after undergoing a knee replacement and this could put
both their new and old knees -- and their overall health -- at risk. It's been
the long-standing idea of doctors and patients that when joint pain is relieved
after surgery, the barriers to exercise will be ameliorated and weight loss can
be achieved. "Our findings do not support this notion," say Joseph Zeni, Jr.,
and L. Snyder-Mackler of the University of Delaware in Newark. People typically
undergo knee replacement to treat severe osteoarthritis. Due to pain, stiffness
and muscle weakness, say Joseph Zeni, Jr., and L. Snyder-Mackler, people with
severely arthritic joints may become sedentary, while excess weight in and of
itself can worse osteoarthritis by stressing the joint. If a person is still
experiencing knee pain that makes exercising difficult, they can try water
aerobics, swimming, or upper body exercises to get the cardiovascular workout
they need. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2010.
Arthritis studies
Safety of Vioxx
An increase in
blood pressure may be more likely when the painkiller Vioxx rather than other
similar drugs are used to treat arthritis.
Safety of NSAIDS
Just because aspirin, ibuprofen and similar pain relief medications can be
purchased at a local supermarket or gas station without a prescription does not
mean people should not take basic precautions when using them, according to the
National Consumers League and the US Food and Drug Administration. The two
groups joined together to launch on Thursday their "Take With Care" campaign to
educate consumers about the safe use of nonprescription pain relievers.
"Although these medicines are safe when taken as directed, many consumers don't
realize the potency of OTC pain relievers," Peter J. Pitts, associate
commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration said during the campaign
launch. Some of the potentially serious side effects associated with the misuse
of over-the-counter pain relievers include an increased risk of liver problems
and kidney damage.
High levels of fat and (n-6) fatty acids in cancellous
bone in osteoarthritis.
Plumb MS, Aspden RM. Lipids Health Dis. 2004.
Arthritis is strongly linked with obesity and patients with
osteoporosis (OP) have a low body mass index. Anecdotal evidence, clinical and
laboratory, suggests that Arthritis bone contains more fat. However, conversion
of osteoblasts to adipocytes is reported in OP and this would suggest that the
more porous OP cancellous bone would have a high fat content. Objectives: To
test the hypothesis that Arthritis bone contains more fat than OP bone. Methods:
Cores of cancellous bone were obtained from femoral heads of patients undergoing
surgery for either Arthritis or OP. Lipids were extracted using
chloroform-methanol, weighed and expressed as a fraction of core mass and
volume. A fatty acid analysis was performed using gas chromatography. Results:
Arthritis bone contained twice as much fat per unit volume of tissue as OP.
Levels of n-6 fatty acids were elevated in Arthritis, especially arachidonic
acid (C20:4 n-6) which was almost double that found in OP. These
data support the hypothesis that lipids may play a significant role in the
pathogenesis of Arthritis and may provide part of the key to understanding why
Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis lie at opposite ends of the spectrum of bone masses.
Readers ask
Does the combination of glucosamine and
chondroitin in an arthritis formula interfere with the use of
yohimbe bark about once a week?
There should not be a problems if the herb is used once a week.