Managing joint disease and pain.

Help your arthritis symptoms with exercises, healthy diet and supplements.

Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are the most commonly recommended dietary supplements in our practice. Next is Omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish oil. These have been proven scientifically to reduce inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation by blocking production of initiators and triggers of inflammation in the joint like the prostaglandins and leukotrienes. In rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials Omega-3 fatty acids show modest benefit.

Other less proven herbal products for arthritis are available over the counter such as the ever present ginger, curcumin, bromelain, evening primrose and borage oils, feverfew, willow bark, cat's claw, and Boswellia. These are natural products that have helped patients with arthritis .

Additionally, we would refer select patients for therapy - physical and occupational therapy. Physical therapy can be an adjunct to pain control and management at various stages of a joint disease process, reducing pain and disability in many instances. Occupational therapy tailored to improving and restoring function with a goal of full or partial rehabilitation of the affected joint and limbs has the added benefit of putting patients back to purpose driven activities for a healthy productive living .

Tai chi, Yoga and acupuncture acupuncture, meditation, deep-breathing exercises, guided imagery, hypnotherapy, progressive relaxation, and qi gong have found various utility in managing disease.Tai chi have been proven to reduce pain and disability, improve functions in a subset of patients

Lastly when disease is unmanageable with different combinations of the above and medications, when joint diseases is end-stage and pain  unbearable, when pain occurs even at rest and interrupts sleep, accompanied with significant disability and dysfunction, surgery such as a total joint replacement may be the only intervention that can bring relief to such patients.

 Tip: Are you on a cholesterol lowering medication and have to take medicine like colchicine because of a new diagnosis of gout ?