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Glucosamine
and Arthritis:
Glucosamine
is a chemical substance contained in many dietary supplements.
It is distributed by many pharmacological centers as
a salt, including Glucosamine HCI, Glucosamine sulfate
potassium, and Glucosamine sulfate sodium.
Glucosamine
is the main substance responsible for the stimulation,
formation, and repair of ariticular cartilage. For this
reason, the substance is marketed as a nutritional supplement
used to relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis.
The
studies that have real research behind them and produced
real results are so far specific to Glucosamine Sulfate.
The Glucosamine Complex and HCL and others may also
work well but to date no studies have relevant data
on them.
Here
is an online source for the Glucosamine Sulfate at a
very good price.
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Common
Forms of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
(OA), at one time called degenerative joint disease, is
the most common type of arthritis in older people. Symptoms
can range from stiffness and mild pain that comes and goes
to severe joint pain and even disability.
OA usually
affects the hands and the large weight-bearing joints of the
body: the knees and hips. Early in the disease, pain occurs
after activity and rest brings relief; later on, pain occurs
with very little movement, even during rest.
Scientists
think that several factors may cause OA in different joints.
OA in the hands or hips may run in families. OA in the knees
is linked with being overweight. Injuries or overuse may cause
OA in joints such as knees, hips, or hands.
Rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) can be one of the more disabling forms
of arthritis. Signs of RA often include morning stiffness,
swelling in three or more joints, swelling of the same joints
on both sides of the body (both hands, for example), and bumps
(or nodules) under the skin most commonly found near the elbow.
RA can occur at any age and affects women about three times
more often than men.
Scientists
don’t know what causes RA but think it has something to do
with a breakdown in the immune system, the body’s defense
against disease. It is also likely that people who get RA
have certain inherited traits (genes) that cause a disturbance
in the immune system.
Gout
occurs most often in older men. It affects the toes, ankles,
elbows, wrists, and hands. An acute attack of gout is very
painful. Swelling may cause the skin to pull tightly around
the joint and make the area red or purple and very tender.
Medicines can stop gout attacks, as well as prevent further
attacks and damage to the joints.
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Treatments
Treatments
for arthritis work to reduce pain and swelling, keep joints
moving safely, and avoid further damage to joints. Treatments
include medicines, special exercise, use of heat or cold,
weight control, and surgery.
Medicines
help relieve pain and reduce swelling. Acetaminophen or ACT
should be the first drug used to control pain in patients
with osteoarthritis (OA). Patients with OA who don’t respond
to ACT and patients with RA and gout are most commonly treated
with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
People taking medicine for any form of arthritis should limit
the amount of alcohol they drink. (For more information, see
the Age Page "Arthritis Medicines.")
Exercise,
such as a daily walk or swim, helps keep joints moving, reduces
pain, and strengthens muscles around the joints. Rest is also
important for the joints affected by arthritis. Physical therapists
can develop personal programs that balance exercise and rest.
Many people
find that soaking in a warm bath, swimming in a heated pool,
or applying heat or cold to the area around the joint
helps reduce pain. Controlling or losing weight can
reduce the stress on joints and can help avoid further damage.
When damage
to the joints becomes disabling or when other treatments fail
to reduce pain, your doctor may suggest surgery. Surgeons
can repair or replace damaged joints with artificial ones.
The most common operations are hip and knee replacements.
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Unproven
Remedies
Arthritis
symptoms may go away by themselves but then come back weeks,
months, or years later. This may be why many people with arthritis
try quack cures or remedies that have not been proven instead
of getting medical help. Some of these remedies, such as snake
venom, are harmful. Others, such as copper bracelets, are
harmless but also useless. The safety of many quack cures
is unknown.
Here are
some tipoffs that a remedy may be unproven: claims that a
treatment like a lotion or cream works for all types of arthritis
and other diseases too; scientific support comes from only
one research study; or the label has no directions for use
or warnings about side effects.
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Common
Warning Signs of Arthritis
- Swelling
in one or more joint(s)
- Morning
stiffness lasting 30 minutes or longer
- Joint
pain or tenderness that is constant or that comes and goes
- Not
being able to move a joint in the normal way
- Redness
or warmth in a joint
- Weight
loss, fever, or weakness and joint pain that can’t be explained
If any
one of these symptoms lasts longer than 2 weeks, see your
regular doctor or a doctor who specializes in arthritis (a
rheumatologist). The doctor will ask questions about the history
of your symptoms and do a physical exam. The doctor may take
x-rays or do lab tests before developing a treatment plan.
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Resources
For more
information on arthritis contact:
National
Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Building 31, Room 4C05
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 496-8188
The Arthritis
Foundation
P.O. Box 19000
Atlanta, GA 30325
(800) 283-7800
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