Dietary Supplements For Treatment of Arthritis From the Cleveland Clinic

WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic

Many people with arthritis -- especially osteoarthritis -- use supplements to ease the pain of arthritis. Glucosamine and chondroitin are the most well known and best tested. Methyl sulfonylmethane, or MSM, is another supplement used to ease the pain of arthritis, but it has not been through as much rigorous scientific testing.

What Are Glucosamine and Chondroitin?

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are components of normal cartilage. In the body, they are the building blocks for cartilage and appear to stimulate the body to make more cartilage.
There are conflicting studies on glucosamine and chondroitin, some demonstrating a beneficial effect on osteoarthritis pain. Others, including the NIH-sponsored multicenter

Glucosamine/Chrondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), did not show benefit for the primary outcome measure of osteoarthritis pain measured by WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMacster Universities). However, a smaller subgroup of study participants with moderate to severe pain did show significant relief. Due to the small size of this subgroup, these findings should be confirmed in larger studies.

The supplements, which are available in pharmacies and health food stores without a prescription, are well tolerated and appear to be safe. However, there are no long-term studies to confirm their long-term safety and effectiveness. Many physicians may still recommend a trial of glucosamine at this point, and if there is not apparent improvement by 3 months, it would reasonable to stop the treatment.

It is important to check with your doctor before starting any new treatments. Your doctor can review the other medications you are taking and help you decide whether or not these arthritis supplements are right for you. In addition, always follow the instructions on the medication label. Do not take more of the supplements than is recommended. Continue Reading ...

All About Osteoarthritis and Women

By Jeanie Lerche Davis

WebMD Feature

Reviewed By Charlotte Mathis, MD

If you've just been diagnosed with osteoarthritisosteoarthritis (OA), you're not alone. Many women past age 50 discover OA is the reason for their creaking knees, aching backs, and sore fingers. Suddenly life is all about osteoarthritis -- but luckily, arthritisarthritis doesn't have to take control.

Arthritis is "the most common form of disability. It's also a natural part of aging," says Primal Kaur, MD, director of the Osteoporosis Clinic at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

In the U.S., one in five adults has osteoarthritis -- 24 million women and 17 million men, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Continue Reading ...

The New Face of Smoothies

Smoothies have taken on a healthier and tastier flare!

By Star Lawrence WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

This year, Americans will guzzle down $6 million worth of commercially blended smoothies and countless vats of homemade snacks and meals contained in a single glass.

Smoothies have jumped out of the health food stores and into tony cafes, duking it out with specialty coffees as the "grande" drink of choice. The chalky powders and additives with the funny aftertaste are gone. Even the humblest street vendor is offering upscale jolts like wheatgrass and whey.

What role does this popular drink have in a healthy diet?

Pat Crocker, a home economist, culinary herbalist, and author of The Smoothie Bible, tells WebMD that smoothies are a valuable way to get the recommended daily intake of 5-10 fruits and veggies. Smoothies are filling, portable, and quick -- all pluses in this busy society.

Basics of Smoothie Construction

Crocker recommends each smoothie contain at least half a cup of liquid. Possibilities include:

Water
Orange juice (could be juice concentrate diluted as directed)
Apple juice
Yogurt (unflavored or natural is best)
Kefir (enzyme-enriched yogurt-like milk product)
Soda water (this creates "sparklers," especially delicious with veggies)
Ice chips
Since smoothies are soft, often sweet, and milkshake-like, what about ice cream? "Not if you are interested in healthy smoothies!" Larrian Gillespie, MD, author of The Menopause Diet, exclaims to WebMD.
Once the liquid is in the blender, it is time to add the fun stuff. Gillespie reels off a produce department of yummy ingredients you could try:
Bananas (almost a must in smoothies because they thicken the mixture. Crocker says to cut into 4 sections -- she includes almost all peels, except banana peels)
Grapes
Strawberries
Blueberries or other berries
Oranges and citrus (skip the yogurt with these)
Raw or cooked veggies (cooked are fine, don't forget those)
Papaya
Apples (the pectin can carry off toxins, Crocker says)
Nuts
Flaxseed
Kelp
Split peas
Tofu
Goat cheese

Continue reading ....

Just Plane Stiff

by Linda J. Brown

Posted 2/17/07

Stiff, achy joints and muscles can be felt by anyone who sits through a long airline flight, but especially by those who have arthritis.

"You have to keep moving to keep your joints from getting stiff and painful," says Marilyn Moffat, PhD, professor of physical therapy at New York University. Moffat, who advises walking the aisles as much as possible during flights, developed the following simple moves, each repeated five to 10 times, for the American Physical Therapy Association.

Heel raises. Sit with feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart. Lift heels off floor, hold for five to 10 seconds and lower heels to the ground.

Ankle circles. While sitting, lift right leg slightly off the ground and circle your foot clockwise. Circle 15 times clockwise and 15 times counterclockwise. Repeat with the left foot.

continue reading ...

ASG-SLC Next meeting & Summer Vacation 2007 (no meetings)

The next Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County meeting will take place May 4th, Friday, at 12-1:30PM, located in the National Training Center/ Education Department on the South Lake Hospital campus in Clermont. Elizabeth Morse, MDiv, Spiritual Care Coordinator at South Lake Hospital, will be giving a presentation on “Relaxation and Guided Imagery”. She is licensed as a Guided Imagery specialist and is very knowledgeable about reducing chronic pain thru relaxation. Come join us and maybe leave with LESS pain! Bring a friend, sweater and snack. Fee: FREE. Brochures, pamphlets and literature are available during the meeting.

We will not meet during the summer (June, July & August) and resume our monthly support group meetings starting again on September 7th, Friday with Dr. Kenneth Stark, Rheumatologist, as our special guest speaker.

For more information call Meg King (352) 243-2098.

Omega-3s Revealed

Researchers have long known omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation. Now they know how.

by Linda RichardsPosted 2/12/07

Understanding how your body benefits from eating omega-3 fatty acids is an important part of understanding why you should eat them. But, until recently, no one really knew what made omega-3s so beneficial. Researchers, however, have uncovered the secret of omega-3 fatty acids. A study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston revealed that omega-3s actually convert into compounds that are 10,000 times more potent than the original fatty acids themselves. So what does this mean to us? The new compounds include resolvins, which help bring the inflammatory response to an end, says the study’s lead researcher, Charles Serhan, PhD, director, Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury at Harvard Medical School, Boston. Continue reading ...

New Drug for Arthritis?

New drug for arthritis?: Merck seeking FDA approval for Arcoxia, a chemical relative of Vioxx, which was linked to heart attacks

Kathleen Kerr, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

Mar. 21, 2007 -- In a bid to recapture a piece of the arthritis pain-relief market, Merck & Co. is seeking government approval for Arcoxia, a chemical relative of Vioxx, the drug pulled off drugstore shelves in 2004 after being linked to heart attacks.

In its last full year on the market, Vioxx brought in about $2.5billion in sales. If the Food and Drug Administration approves Arcoxia, Merck could recoup some of those sales.

On April 12 an FDA advisory panel will consider approval of Arcoxia for osteoarthritis; it is already sold in 62 other countries. The FDA usually follows advisory panel recommendations. Continue reading ...

FDA Whistle Blower Blasts New Arthritis Drug

FDA whistle-blower Graham blasts new Merck arthritis drug

Updated 9/12/2006 9:51 PM ET

By Rita Rubin, USA TODAY / Health & Behavior

The arthritis drug that Merck has developed to compete with Celebrex may be as risky for the heart as Vioxx, writes Food and Drug Administration whistle-blower David Graham in an editorial posted online Tuesday by a medical journal.

In considering whether Arcoxia should be approved, "the FDA, academia, and the medical research enterprise are once again faced with the opportunity to forsake common sense by willfully accepting misdirection and disinformation presented in the guise of science," Graham writes on the Journal of the American Medical Association's website. Continue reading ...

Reminder - Next Arthritis Support group Meeting is April 6th, Friday

Reminder - Next Arthritis support group meeting is March 2nd, Friday ...

The Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County will meet Friday, March 2, Friday from 12 noon till to 1:30 pm. The Arthritis Support Group meeting takes place at the National Training Center / Education Department, 1109 Citrus Tower Blvd., Clermont.

All afflicted by Arthritis (there are more than 100+ types!), family, friends and those interested are welcome. Fee: Free. Brochures and literature is available at the meeting.

Guest Speaker will be Jennifer from the Clermont Herb Shop and Day Spa located in Historic Downtown Clermont. The topic and presentation will be about “Aromatherapy.” For more information, please call Meg King at (352) 243-2098.

Arthritis Support Group Meeting Reminder

The Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County will meet February 2nd, Friday, at the National Training Center / Education Department, 1109 Citrus Tower Blvd., Clermont. The meeting will start at 12PM - 1:30 PM.

The Topic will be “Exercise and Nutrition Can Help Relieve the Pain and Inflammation Caused by Arthritis.” Put your sneakers on and bring a snack to share. We are going to have some fun!

Those that have Arthritis or those that are not sure, family, friends and anyone interested in Arthritis are welcome to attend the support group. Fee: Free. Brochures, literature and books are available at the meeting.

The Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County meets the 1st Friday of each month at the NTC. For more information, please call Meg King at (352) 243-2098.

Social Security Disability Q&A Meeting

Coming Soon!

Carol Ponton, Attorney, from Hill and Ponton, Orlando, will be the special guest speaker. Ms. Ponton specializes in SSD benefits and will be available to answer your questions on how you can survive the procedure to obtain your benefits; whether you are just starting to consider or are far into your SSD application process.

Where: Watson Realty / Community Room
2nd Floor - Handicap accessible
1390 N Hancock Rd.
Clermont, FL 34711

When: February 3, 2007, Saturday, 10:00 AM - Noon

RSVP: Limited seating. Fee: Free.
Call Meg King at 352-243-2098 before February 1st.
Signing for hearing impaired available. Call for service.

Sponsored by the Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County, FL

Reminder - Next Arthritis support group meeting is January 5th, Friday

The next Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County Meeting is this Friday, January 5th, at 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM. Located at the National Training Center/ Education Department, 1109 Citrus Blvd., Clermont. Dr. Michael Visconti, from Visconti Acupuncture and Natural Medicine in Historic Downtown Clermont, will be our guest speaker. Hope you will come! Bring your lunch and a sweater!

In addition some of our members that also are diagnosed with FIBROMYALGIA (FMS) will begin a NEW “FMS Brunch Bunch” in 2007. They will meet for the first time at Perkins Restaurant in Clermont starting at 10:30 AM – Noon on the SECOND SATURDAY of each month. Ergo, January 13th, Saturday will be their first get-together.

Call Lisa Lawrence for more information regarding this new support group at (407) 276-2997. Fee: Free.

Look for our purple ribbons (for FMS) they will be wearing January 13th, Saturday, when you enter Perkins Restaurant (map)!

Massage May Help Knee Osteoarthritis

Less Knee Pain and Stiffness Seen With Swedish Massage in Preliminary Study By Miranda Hitti

WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD
on Monday, December 11, 2006

Can A Massage Improve Your Health?

Dec. 11, 2006 -- Knees hurt? Massage may cut the pain and improve function if you have knee osteoarthritisosteoarthritis, a new study shows.

Massage therapy "seems to be a viable option" as an addition to other treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee, write the researchers.

continue reading...

November 3, 2006, Friday / Arthritis Support Group Meeting

REMINDER: Next Meeting December 1st, 2006, Friday

Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County

DATE: December 1st, Friday

TIME: 12:00 – 1:30 PM FEE: Free

LOCATION: National Training Center
Education Department
1109 Citrus Tower Blvd.
Clermont, FL 34711

TOPIC: "Tips 'n Tricks on how to Survive the Holidays"

Welcome to everyone that is effected by Arthritis (100 + Types),
Family, friends, medical, community businesses & college students.

Eliminating Nightshade Foods Will Reduce Inflammation in Arthritis and Chronic Illness!

I received an email this week from a new friend in our Arthritis Support Group asking more about certain foods that cause inflamation and pain. She told me after eating some eggplant she experienced an increase in her pain level. Knowing that one of our group topics was about the "No-Nightshades Diet" she asked for more information. Here is my reply to her:

Thanks or the email and I am so sorry you hurt after eating an eggplant sub-sandwich! Maybe the Nightshades Diet will be good for you too. I have been on this "food plan" for almost a year and it has really helped me (I don't use the nasty word "diet"... yuk!). Reduction of inflamation / chronic pain can occur by eliminating the NightShades food group for many people.

Certain foods can help us stay healthy - but they can also create problems with Chronic Illnesses such as Arthritis each day.

The Nightshades food group includes:

Tomatoes
Potatoes
Peppers (except black pepper – it’s O.K.)
Eggplant (as you probably found out L)

Use Hellman’s Mayonnaise because it doesn’t have paprika in it.
Hot dogs are out because they have paprika in them.
No more spicy foods that have peppers in them (boo).

I find it helpful to bring my own foods to parties and make special requests in restaurants. On airlines plan ahead and order a special diet plate too.

Several of our Arthritis support group members have purchased and started using the recipes in a No-Nightshades cook book called: Arthritis-Free Cooking by Joan Vogel and Pat Claudio.

Here are some web pages and attachments above that I hope will help you with your new journey in Arthritis and learning about eliminating foods that are called Nightshades:

Nightshades Research Foundation

I personally do NOT believe the Nightshades food group causes arthritis or takes it away. I take everything I learn about Arthritis and chronic pain with a "grain-of-salt", use what helps me and I don’t believe all that I hear from others. Be cautious. There are some insane websites and false cures out in the real world that are myths and filled with quackery.

When it comes to chronic pain I really believe we can live a more comfortable and less painful life by watching what we eat, include vitamins and supplements, choose open minded doctors, find medical treatments and therapies that help us as individuals. Be careful to NOT do what everyone else is doing – it could be a quack or a fad for the moment. Also exercise whenever we can. This is a healthy journey I would prefer to take for my OA, FMS, CFS, SS, DDD. Yes, chronic pain is also a pain in the a$$ (butt) too! A sense of humor helps a lot… LOL!

I do realize you are a busy woman with work, being a college student and a single mom. I want to share with you that at times I have to re-evaluate my life and clear my plate off occasionally by putting some goals on the "back burner" for awhile. That is to say ~ NOT ‘quit’ but maybe return to those plans later when I am feeling better.

For instance, I do love reading, college and sculpture (I am a frustrated artist) but I am not able to do all of them right now. After 5 years of adjusting to my life's new journey - I am just starting to read books again and I joined a book club this fall. I am going to return to my other goals at later dates. I have seen other people with Arthritis do the same. This keeps ‘hope’ in our lives by not dashing our dreams but still keeping them in sight for the future. I also want to learn to scuba dive! Of course with a little help because of my disabilities. I will sign up for a scuba diving class next summer, God willing. :-)

Sometimes we are doing too much at the initial onset of our Arthritis / Chronic Pain and need to simplify our life until we settle in with our new journey. Oh, yes… I know it is NOT at all pleasant initially when painful diseases land on our doorstep and refuse to leave. That’s the GRIEF process we will need to go through. Maybe Arthritis / Chronic Pain support groups could consider having a special guest speaker attend their meetings and discuss the grieving process for people with chronic pain. It is a life process that can not be ignored in order to gain a healthy balance in our lives again. This has been proved over and over gain.

Hope this information helps lift yor spirits, friend. All that I share is from my personal experience and researching Chronic Pain for many years. Our Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County in Clermont, FL, is a vital part of my healing process and getting on with my journey in life. All of the group members spiritually inspire me every month that we meet and for that I thank them dearly. See you December 1st, Friday, at our next monthly Arthritis Support Group meeting.

Until then,my friend ...

Warm Thoughts and Breezes,
Meg King
Volunteer Support Group Leader
Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County, FL

Reminder - Next Meeting 11/3, Friday

November 3rd, 2006, Friday

Arthritis Support Group of South Lake County

monthly meeting @ 12-1:30 PM

National Training Center

1109 Citrus Tower Blvd., Clermont, FL 34711

* Guest Speaker: Dan Bordenkircher, Manager of Sego’s Home Medical Equipment, 120 Citrus Tower Blvd. Suite #135, Clermont. (352) 242-9004 Web site: http://www.segohomemedicalequipment.com/

Topic – “Gadgets and Devices to Use at Home and Traveling”

1st Year Anniversary! October 6th, Friday

RSVP for Luncheon: (352) 243-2098

On / Off Switch for Pain Discovered

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Those who suffer from chronic pain have a choice: let your life be disrupted by constant pain or take pain medications that can also disrupt your life. Now new research reveals there is a new way to turn off the pain.

Chronic pain often begins with an injury or illness. Initially, the damaged nerves send pain signals to the brain. Once the damage has healed, the pain signals stop ... unless a kind of pain switch gets stuck in the on position. Until now, scientists did not know what that switch was.

Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center in New York discovered that the pain switch is a protein called protein kinase G (PKG). Their next goal is to discover the best way to block PKG and turn off the pain.

About 48 million Americans suffer from chronic pain.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Neuroscience, published online August 2006