Arthritis Support Group

Try a knee brace why exercising, it will help. I haven't tried it but my Mom did for yrs. Didn't work for her. Any of them out back about 5 yrs ago.
I am currently trying elations and it does help.
Rhea

"while exercising" LOL!

I went to my RA dr yesterday for my Remacaid treatment and she also gave me a cortisone shot for my knee and I am much better today. Worked in the yard, may have overdone it but I feel so much better. It's great to just have normal aches & pains not throbbing pain.

Popular Supplements Don't Work Against Arthritis: Study
By Ed Edelson
HealthDay Reporter Tuesday, Sep. 30, 2008; 5:00 PM


Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.


TUESDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- The popular supplements glucosamine and chondroitin are no better than a placebo at preventing cartilage loss in knees of people with the form of arthritis caused by wear and tear, a new study found.

Still, the researcher who led the study said glucosamine may help some people with osteoarthritis.

The researcher, Dr. Allen D. Sawitzke, an associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine, also acknowledged that the trial
Sawitzke said that what struck him as possibly significant was the lower rate of joint loss for participants taking only glucosamine -- 0.013 millimeters, about one-tenth as much as found in those taking either other supplements or a placebo.

"That is not statistically significant, but it hints to me that there might be something going on," he said.

"It was a null study that didn't show a difference," Sawitzke admitted, before adding: "That's not the same as saying there is no difference. The result was influenced by the slow rate of progression for everybody. The study actually says more about what we need to do for the next investigation than for what patients should do."

The new findings, published in the October issue of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism,, was a continuation of the earlier Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial Trial (GAIT), led by University of Utah researchers.

Arthritis sufferers take glucosamine either to reduce pain or to slow progression of the condition, Sawitzke said. "Controls pain -- this study says nothing about it," he said. "Slows progression -- the study says we weren't able to show that."

For the new study, GAIT participants were given the chance to continue their original study treatment for an additional 18 months, for a total of two years -- 500 milligrams of glucosamine three times a day; 400 milligrams of chondroitin sulfate three times a day; or a combination of the two supplements; 200 milligrams of the pain killer celecoxib (Celebrex) daily; or a placebo.
X-rays were taken at the start of the study and again at one and two years. Joint space width was measured on 581 knees from 357 patients. None of the trial groups showed significant improvement. But the group taking glucosamine had the least change in joint space width, followed by the groups taking chondroitin, celecoxib, a placebo, and the combination of both supplements, the study found.

If someone with arthritis asked his advice about taking glucosamine, Sawitzke said, "I would ask you why you want to. If it is pain, I would try it for a month and, if you felt better, continue. If it is to slow progression, I would say there is insufficient data. It might be years before you know if there is benefit or no benefit
Andrew Shao, vice president for science and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the supplement industry trade group, said the study "has some severe limitations, because the decline in joint space was much less than the researchers expected."

"The message for consumers," Shao added, "is that this study doesn't provide us with any meaningful insight whatever, and people should continue to use their products."

Previous studies have not been favorable for glucosamine. A Dutch report earlier this year said the supplement didn't help people with arthritis of the hip. And a 2007 review of 15 studies found no convincing evidence that glucosamine works against arthritis.

The picture remains unclear
unclear, Sawitzke said.

"I'd hate to give up on something that might have benefit across the board, but at the same time, we don't have evidence that it's there yet," he said.

More information

Learn more about osteoarthritis and its treatment from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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I took Osteo-Bi-Flex for a few years. It worked wonderfully. I don't need it any more. I had pain in my knees and in my shoulder joints. You have to take it for 2 or 3 months before you might notice a difference. If it's too bad in your knees, my Grandma had Synvisc shots. It says it works for 6 months, but hers lasted 2 years before she started having pain again.

This is one thing where the brand really makes a difference. I tried the cheap one. It did not work at all. Sis told me to try the brand. it works pretty well.

I have noticed a difference in pain level so far. I'd like to think this is the reason. It can't hurt and so far I like the results. I had Synvisc last yer and did notice some improvementbut insurance didn't want to pay for it.

I just started taking this tonight...I am hopefull...

am new here...with oa in my left shoulder...the pain is awful...

saw my Orthopedic Dr 2 days ago who gave me a shot of cortisone right into the top of that shoulder...and a script for Tylenol with codeine...need to go back in 6 weeks...

he says worst case scenario is the surgery where he would shave part of the bone ?...to make more space for less friction

My wife takes osteo bi flex and she swears it makes a big difference for her. She has mild arthritis in the knees. I have severe OA and have taken glucosamine and chondroiton for years, but I have not noticed any help from it to be honest. My ortho doc wants me to keep taking it though. So I do. I've already had one knee replaced, and one ankle worked on surgically. Surgery is not a good thing for OA. I think it just makes the joint worse. Unless you are going for the whole replacement - that does seem to be beneficial once you get to that point. I had my knee scoped 3 1/2 years before it was replaced and it never recovered. I had to wear a brace on it for 3 1/2 years until I got it replaced. The ankle I had worked on is now worse too and I expect I am going to have to do something drastic with it too. These "minor" procedures they want to do for arthritic joints are not worth it in my opinion. Once they start messing with the joint, it just gets more arthritic.

The cortisone shots help most people. I had one in my ankle a couple weeks ago, and it has not helped me. The pain is still really bad. It did take the swelling down some. For most people, it does take the pain away for a while. If you had an injection, chances are that is what is helping more than the osteo bi flex.

Braces can really help. Ask your ortho doc what kind of brace might be useful. THe ones I have had were custom made to take the stress off one side of the joint. I am getting another one for the other knee now. The guys that do the prosthetics and braces are really good and can often help make you something to get you through. Check into it.

Vanyel

I was taking Flex-a-min. But quit when my hives seem to increase. It did cut the pain down when I took it! Good luck and God Bless! : )