Ways to reduce the pain of Osteoarthritis

Jace

Jace

Well-known Member
Over 28 million Americans live with osteoarthritis (OA) and the affliction worsens over time.

Glucosamine: "glusomine sulfate"over other forms because it provides sulphur to the body...
not to be confused with sulfa, a drug many people are allergic to.

OA always involves pro-inflammatory cytokines; pain-causing chemicals... aren't bad until the body pumpsthem out in excess.
and that's exactly what happens with OA.
It's also what you need to control pain and improve range of motion.

Ibuprofen reduces the cytokines called prostaglandins and IL-1B.You want that.
Glucosamine is a precursor for glycosaminoglycans, and that is a component of joint cartilage.

Also consider:
MSM: A sulfur-basd component that is a by-product of DSMO (DSMO is applied topically)
MSM, an oral supplement is sold in health food stores.

Bromelian: A pineapple extract.

Devil's Claw: a herb that could block the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
It interacts well with other medicines.

Compounds in green tea reduce the cytokines called TNF alpha, often high in those
with arthritic conditions.

One cup of green (or matcha) tea could help.



Reproduced Article by registered pharmacist.
 

Last edited:
Sorry I thought the Abbreviation for Osteoporosis was OP>.. or OS...:unsure:

I suffer from OA..which is Osteoarthritis......and if anyone has any ideas how to relive the pain of Osteoarthritis in my fingers I'd love to know... seriously, this keeps me awake at nights now..
 
hollydolly said:
Sorry I thought the Abbreviation for Osteoporosis was OP>.. or OS...:unsure:

I suffer from OA..which is Osteoarthritis......and if anyone has any ideas how to relive the pain of Osteoarthritis in my fingers I'd love to know... seriously, this keeps me awake at nights now..
Click to expand...
T Y, HD.."good catch".... correction šŸ¤— made!
 

hollydolly said:
yes I do that Helen, thanks for the suggestion .. but I can't do that in the middle of the night when I'm asleep...:(
Click to expand...
There's those little hand warmers..(you "smack"to the inniate)...might help..and last hours..
although they might be too warm..or wrapped in a cloth if too warm.
Just a suggestion!šŸ˜‰
 
OA is no fun. I use Aspercreme plus Lidocaine. Itā€™s a farly inexpensive roll on pain reliever that has provided good relief for pain in my thumb joints. I use it during the day since it is easy to reapply after washing hands, etc. I also use Myoderm CBD cream on my knees at night. CBD is a hemp derived chemical that does not have THC which is the chemical that produces the marijuana ā€œhighā€ and is not legal in my state. I use the Myoderm brand because it is described to be transdermal, not topical. Works really well for me but is a bit pricy.
 
For the previous 2 months, I thought I had some type of arthritis in my right hand fingertips until last week when blood testing showed it was actually due to a rare bone marrow genetic disorder that sometimes causes ethromelagia a vascular peripheral pain disorder in which blood vessels, usually in the lower extremities or hands, are episodically blocked after cytokine flares, then become hyperemic and inflamed. There is severe burning pain in the small fiber sensory nerves.

Initially I had to consume 200mg Ibuprofen twice a day for several days. At the same time used Voltaren NSAID diclorofenac sodium cream every 6 hours. After a few days weaned myself from the pills just using the cream. About 10 days ago stopped using the cream too and have been pain free indicating the fingertip tissues had healed. The cream takes a few days to soak in through the skin adequately to be effective. I used maybe 1/4 as much each time as directed because it just needed to be on the fingertips and thumb, not the whole hand, and my hands are small.
 
hollydolly said:
Sorry I thought the Abbreviation for Osteoporosis was OP>.. or OS...:unsure:

I suffer from OA..which is Osteoarthritis......and if anyone has any ideas how to relive the pain of Osteoarthritis in my fingers I'd love to know... seriously, this keeps me awake at nights now..
Click to expand...
In 2017, the rheumatologist who diagnosed the OA in four of my fingers after blood work and x-rays said there isn't any reliable treatment to prevent or reverse OA, particularly in the fingers. Surgery does more harm than good. (The doc confided her feeling of helplessness in the face of OA because her own mother has fairly severe OA in her hands.)

She recommended anti-inflammatory OTC pain relievers when needed. Some of her patients believe they've been helped by glucosamine and chondroitin, others say it was of no value. Since I'm an optimist by nature, I've been taking Costco's Kirkland brand of G & C ever since. While it hasn't reversed anything, no additional knuckles have been affected during the intervening five years and I don't have as many painful episode. So I count the G & C as a big win. YMMV

When affected knuckles are especially painful or swollen I treat them with heat or cold depending on which feels soothing that particular time. Another tactic is finger sleeves with light to moderate compression. The packages come with an array of sizes so I figure out which will work best and wear it for the day. Having the sleeve on also reminds me to not bending that finger too much and that helps get me past the episode.


compression sleeve.com.jpg
 
I have osteoarthritis in my knees and have been seeing a Rheumatologist since 2015. My GP says they can take care of it too but I prefer the Specialist. I found a gem too - he carefully listens to what I say and has made some suggestions. Together we have tried a few things and it has been a good relationship.

I have used a brace, taken over-the-counter pain med and Dr.finally prescribed Mobic (generic form is Meloxicam). My blood has been tested regularly to monitor liver/kidney function and all is good so far. 2 yrs. ago I asked for the shots and they lasted 4 months for about a yr. Now the relief is down to 1-1/2 mos and I have scheduled surgery. I am just tired of the stiffness and pain. The right knee is down to bone-on-bone and the left is just about there. My sister had both her knees done and says it changed her life. Several other friends have also had the surgery and all recommend that I "don't wait too long."

I also have some osteoarthritis in my thumbs. I will continue to visit Rheumatology and Dr. says there is a fix for that too.
 
I see the original post has been edited. That's good because I was going to say 2 things. "Osteoporosis" doesn't cause pain or have symptoms and like others have pointed out, "OA" is for osteoarthritis. I have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. A rheumatologist recommended Tylenol for my OA two 650mg capsules twice a day and not to take over 3000mg per day. My dosage ends up being 2600mg per day. I have to say at least for me, I have taken GC daily for years and it does help to alleviate pain in my knees. If I don't take it, I wake up in the morning with stiff and painful knees!
 
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