Popular Supplements For Arthritis: What You Need To Know
Learn which supplements and vitamins might help with arthritis symptoms, and what risks some can pose.
Several nutritional supplements have shown promise for relieving pain, stiffness and other arthritis symptoms. Glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids, SAM-e and curcumin are just some of the natural products researchers have studied for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis .
Some of these natural remedies may offer arthritis symptom relief, especially when you use them in conjunction with traditional treatments. Heres the evidence on some of the most popular supplements used to treat arthritis, and how they work.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Glucosamine and chondroitin are two of the most commonly used supplements for arthritis. Theyre components of cartilagethe substance that cushions the joints.
Research on these supplements has been mixed, in part because studies have used varying designs and supplement types. A large National Institutes of Health study called the GAIT trial compared glucosamine and chondroitin, alone or together, with an NSAID and inactive treatment in people with knee osteoarthritis . Glucosamine improved symptoms like pain and function, but not much better than a placebo. Yet a 2016 international trial found the combination to be as effective as the NSAID celecoxib at reducing pain, stiffness and swelling in knee OA.
Fish oil
SAM-e
Curcumin
Vitamins
Supplement Risks
How to Take Supplements Safely
Complementary Therapies
Finger Or Hand Arthritis These 5 Nonsurgical Treatments May Help
Hand or finger arthritis can limit your ability to live your best, active life. And if you cant open a jar, grip your grocery bags or write a letter to a loved one without wincing in pain, it might be time to seek some solutions that may help. Many of these treatments are even safe and effective without surgery.
In fact, Nicholas J. Newsum, MD, board-certified orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training in hand, wrist, elbow and microsurgery, spoke to us about these five nonsurgical treatments for hand and finger arthritis.
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Nutrition And Dietary Supplements
For anyone with a chronic illness, eating a healthy diet high in antioxidant-rich foods, fruits and vegetables, is essential. Eating a poor diet may increase inflammation in the body.
Also, people with RA are at higher risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. A healthy diet and regular exercise can lower that risk.
Although diet cannot cure RA, studies show that people with RA report less pain, stiffness, and fatigue when they switched from a typical Western diet to a Mediterranean diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, fish, and olive oil, and low in red meat. Other studies link a vegan diet, with lots of uncooked berries, fruits, vegetables, nuts, roots, seeds, and sprouts with reduced RA symptoms. Vegan diets contain no animal products and get protein from vegetable sources.
Some people think food allergies play a part in the inflammation common in RA, and say their symptoms get worse after they eat certain foods. Although researchers are not sure if food allergies are to blame, you may want to try an elimination diet, which removes certain foods from your diet and then adds them back, one by one. You will need to keep track of your symptoms in a food diary. Usually its best to try an elimination diet under the supervision of your doctor or a registered dietitian.
These general nutritional tips can help you eat a healthy diet:
These supplements may help relieve inflammation and pain:
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The 10 Best Foods To Eat If You Have Arthritis
Arthritis is a term for a class of diseases that cause pain, swelling, and joint stiffness. It can affect people of all ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds.
There are many types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is one type that develops in joints with overuse. Another type is rheumatoid arthritis , an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks your joints .
Fortunately, many foods can ease inflammation and may help relieve some of the joint pain associated with arthritis.
One survey found that 24% of those with RA reported that their diet impacted the severity of their symptoms (
Q What Is Turmeric Curcumin Plus
A. Turmeric Curcumin Plus is a natural dietary supplement, formulated to aid in boosting joint health and function. Its formulated from Turmeric, which is Super food and it functions well in boosting the general health and wellness of the consumer.
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Articles On Natural Remedies For Ra Pain
Medication and other forms of treatment play a major role in managing rheumatoid arthritis. Supplements arenât a treatment they donât promise to cure or treat any condition, and they donât have to meet the same standards as medications. But if youâre looking into trying some in addition to your treatment plan, hereâs what you should know.
First, be sure you talk to your doctor before you begin using any supplement or herbal medication. They may interact with other drugs, supplements, or herbal medicines you are taking and cause serious side effects. They may also put you at a higher risk for certain conditions.
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Symptoms Of B12 Deficiency
Patients with B12 deficiency experience symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, pale skin, coldness in hands and feet, mouth soreness, sore tongue, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, abnormal heart rhythm, constipation, loss of appetite, weight loss, numbness and tingling of extremities, confusion, depression, poor memory and problems maintaining balance, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Untreated B12 deficiency can cause permanent nerve damage, psychosis, severe dementia and problems walking.
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Dosage And Side Effects
Generally, glucosamine should be taken with meals three times per day.
Doses usually range from 300500 mg with each meal, adding up to a total daily dose of 9001,500 mg. Most studies used 1,500 mg per day.
Salts of glucosamine sulfate or the Rotta formulation only need to be taken once per day. Make sure to follow the instructions on the packaging.
These supplements are considered safe and no serious side effects have been reported. Flatulence is the most common complaint.
Studies also indicate that glucosamine injections may worsen insulin sensitivity, but supplements do not seem to have the same effect (
Whats The Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis And Vitamin D
While studies show an association between RA and D deficits, researchers dont yet have solid evidence of causality. That means we dont know if low D contributes directly to the autoimmune disease, or if its just the consequence of a dysfunctional immune system. But ultimately, it may not matter so much which is correct. By getting enough D, Youre feeding the immune system what it needs to limit attacks, says Dr. Hylland.
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How Long Does It Take To Recover From Hand Surgery
Recovery time depends on many factors, including the severity of your condition, type of surgery you had, the skill of your surgeon and your compliance with therapy. Most people can return to their activities about three months after joint reconstruction surgery. Your team of caregivers can give you the best estimate of your particular recovery time.
What Is Pernicious Anemia
The term anemia refers to medical conditions in which the body cant make enough healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen.
Pernicious anemia is a type of anemia mainly caused by an autoimmune process that attacks the cells that produce intrinsic factor, a substance the digestive system needs to absorb vitamin B12 from food.
Intrinsic factor is needed to absorb dietary vitamin B12 in the small intestine. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin, and you need it to allow for proper red blood cell production and function, as well as to keep nerve cells healthy.
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Best Vitamins For Arthritis In Fingers
The best vitamins for arthritis in fingers are B-complex, C and D. These vitamins can help reduce the pain and inflammation of arthritis.
Vitamin B-Complex
Vitamin B-complex is a group of eight water-soluble vitamins. These vitamins help maintain a healthy immune system and also promote energy production in your body. Vitamin B-complex is also important for building new red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. If you have low levels of vitamin B-complex, you may have symptoms such as muscle weakness or irritability.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is another essential nutrient needed by your body to function properly. Vitamin C helps protects the cells in your body from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are produced when your body converts food into energy through metabolism. Free radicals can destroy cells in your body and lead to chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease if they are not eliminated properly through antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables or supplements like vitamin C tablets or capsules.
The best vitamins for arthritis in fingers are vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin E. These three vitamins can help reduce joint pain and swelling as well as prevent further damage to your joints.
Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins when it comes to fighting arthritis. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect your body from free radicals. These are molecules that cause damage to cells and tissues in the body.
Q What Causes Pain In The Finger Joints
A. Imagine your fingers aching every time you use them. That could be awful. You cannot push a key on your laptop, complete a message on your Android phone, hit those guitar chords, thoroughly and thoroughly clean your body or the plate you used last night..
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Managing Hand And Wrist Pain
Research shows it is effective for providing symptom relief for people with carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition that causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand because of a squeezed nerve in the wrist.
A study reported in 2017 in the journal Brain found people with carpal tunnel can experience improvements in pain and numbness using acupuncture. In addition, researchers suggested acupuncturewhen done correctlycan also offer long-term benefits and continued improvements in hand function.
These findings could hold promise for hand pain associated with arthritis.
Can Lack Of B12 Cause Leg Pain
Numbness, Twitching, Tingling, and Painful Spasms In 2009 I learned how dangerous deficiency of vitamin B12 in the body is. I had no idea that the numbness, twitching, tingling, and painful spasms and cramps that my hands, legs, and toes were experiencing for over a year was caused by severe B12 deficiency.
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Apple Cider Vinegar For Arthritis
Apple cider vinegar is believed to be anti-inflammatory, so this could be helpful for those who live with arthritis. Try adding a spoonful to your next glass of water.
The advice in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying any supplements, treatments or remedies. Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
: 9 August 2021
Causes & Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can result from trauma or from repetitive use, although there is often no single identified cause. It is typically divided into two broad categories:
- Primary osteoarthritis commonly occurs with aging, as the water content in the cartilage increases and the protein portion degenerates.
- Secondary osteoarthritis is usually due to another disease or condition, such as repeated trauma, infectious disease, gout or surgery on a joint. Obesity is a frequent contributor, as excess weight puts additional stress on the cartilage, particularly on the joints in the knees and hips.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
- Pain in the affected joint after repeated use, especially later in the day.
- Swelling, pain and stiffness after long periods of inactivity, such as waking in the morning, that subsides with movement and activity.
- Continuous pain, even at rest, is a symptom of advanced osteoarthritis, when there is total loss of cartilage.
In osteoarthritis of the spine, pain can occur in the neck or lower back. If bony spurs develop, the nerves exiting from the spine can be irritated, causing numbness, tingling and severe pain in the back or limbs. Osteoarthritis in the fingers can result in hard bony enlargements, and bunions can form at the base of the big toe if the feet are affected.
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Risk Factors For Hand And Finger Arthritis
According to Dr. Newsum, finger or hand arthritis can occur years after of an old injury, but most of the time, it affects people age 50 and older.
By age 60, 70% of people will have arthritis based on X-rays. By age 75, 90% have arthritis on X-rays, but the important thing to note is that many dont have severe symptoms and are not debilitated by it.
If you do, however, its important to get medical help to find your path toward relief.
Other factors that can increase your risk of arthritis in your hands and fingers include:
- Enlarged bumps at the fingers knuckles
Its also important to distinguish between the different types of hand or finger arthritis.
Dr. Newsum explains, Osteoarthritis affects the middle knuckles and knuckles near the nails and can appear as large bumps on the knuckle, which are bone spurs that are caused from bone rubbing on bone when the joint moves.
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease that attacks tendons, ligaments, the joint lining and bones.
Meditation For Pain Management
Meditation is an ancient mind and body practice in Buddhism and other Eastern religions. It puts your focus and attention on the current moment so life’s distractions do not get in your way.
Meditation has many benefits, including:
- Increases calmness and relaxation
- Helps people cope with illness
- Enhances overall well-being
In addition, research shows meditation can help manage chronic pain associated with conditions like OA and RA.
In a 2016 review of literature, researchers evaluated the use of mindfulness-based mediation’s effects on pain management. They found that mindfulness meditation reduced pain for people with chronic conditions. However, researchers found that short-term was more effective at pain control than longer-term meditation.
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What Is Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and the hand and wrist joints are among the most commonly affected. A joint is a part of the body where two or more bones meet. The ends of the bones are covered in a smooth and slippery surface, known as cartilage. This allows the bones to move smoothly against each other and protects the joint from stress.
Everyoneâs joints go through a cycle of damage and repair, and often the repair process is quite effective. But sometimes it can cause changes in the shape or structure of the joints.
Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in your joints to thin and the surfaces of the joint to become rougher, which means that the joints may not move as smoothly as they should, and they might feel painful and stiff.
You may have firm, knobbly swellings at the finger joints. These are known as Heberdenâs nodes or Bouchardâs nodes depending on which joints are affected. Theyâre caused by the growth of bony spurs called osteophytes.
Osteoarthritis can affect anyone at any age, but itâs more common in women over the age of 50.
Some of the factors that can make you more likely to develop osteoarthritis in your hands include:
- carrying out repetitive tasks over a long period of time.
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What Is Glucosamine
Glucosamine is a natural amino sugar produced by your body. It is also a dietary supplement marketed as an alternative treatment for osteoarthritis.
The highest natural concentration of glucosamine is in joints and cartilage where it makes up the structure of glycosaminoglycans, compounds essential for joint health (
2 ).
They are widely available and sold in the form of tablets, capsules, soft gels or drink mixes. There are two main types: glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride.
The way glucosamine affects arthritis is unclear. Scientists believe naturally occurring glucosamine helps protect the cartilage inside your joints (
5 ).
The supplements may also work by reducing inflammation, which is one of the main causes of joint cartilage breakdown in osteoarthritis patients (
However, the effectiveness of these supplements is debated.
Summary: Glucosamine is a dietary supplement often used to treat osteoarthritis. Scientists are not entirely sure how it works, but studies suggest it may reduce cartilage breakdown.
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What Does It Do
The glucosamine in your body helps keep up the health of your cartilage the rubbery tissue that cushions bones at your joints. But as you get older, your levels of this compound begin to drop, which leads to the gradual breakdown of the joint.
Theres some evidence that glucosamine sulfate supplements help counteract this effect, although experts arent sure how.
Some people have also used glucosamine to try to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, allergies, chronic venous insufficiency, sports injuries, temporomandibular joint problems , and long-term low back pain. So far, though, theres not much scientific evidence that it works for those problems.
Topical Or Oral Nonsteroidal Anti
Dr. Newsum explains that topical over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications in the form of gels or creams can be even more effective than similar medications taken by mouth.
Since the finger joints are right under the skin, topical anti-inflammatories can deliver the active ingredient quite well and even offer less side effects compared to oral anti-inflammatories.
Though, oral anti-inflammatories can be an effective treatment, too, if needed.
Your doctor can help you determine which is best for you, says Dr. Newsum.
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