What
is rheumatoid arthritis?
RA is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body's natural immune system
does not operate as it should; it attacks healthy joint tissue, initiating
a process of inflammation and joint damage. Like OA, the exact cause of
RA is not yet known. Scientists have determined that many factors may
contribute to the development of RA., and hereditary factors play a role
in many cases. Scientists have shown certain genes that play a role in
the immune system may be involved in determining whether or not you develop
RA. However, some people with RA do not have these particular genes, and
other people who do have the genes never develop the disease. Environmental
factors may also contribute to the cause of the disease. Researchers have
found that RA can be triggered by an infection, possibly a virus or bacterium,
in people who have an inherited tendency for the disease.
While there a number of drugs available to alleviate the symptoms and
pain of arthritis, they are not without risks, and many people experience
side effects from even the most benign over-the-counter products. Naproxen
sodium can be effective in relieving the pain of OA and RA, and is sold
under the brand names Anaprox and Naprelan, as well as the over-the-counter
product Alleve. However, ulcers or internal bleeding can occur without
warning, and patients taking naproxen sodium are encouraged to see their
doctor frequently while taking these drugs.
Since there is no
cure for arthritis, these drugs simply mask the pain of arthritis. Many
doctors and scientists have recently embraced a strategy of holding off
the disease through maintanence of the joints and cartilage with glucosamine.
What is Glucosamine?
Glucosamine is found naturally in the body. Glucosamine is a form of amino
sugar that plays a role in cartilage formation and repair, and has been
shown to be beneficial to sufferers of arthritis pain -- both humans and
animals. It has been proven effective in easing osteoarthritis pain, rehabilitating
cartilage, renewing synovial fluid, and repairing joints that have been
damaged from osteoarthritis.
Your body produces a certain amount of glucosamine naturally, but as you
grow older, your body loses the capacity to make enough glucosamine. The
cartilage in your joints is slowly worn and degraded, then hardens and
forms bone spurs, causing pain, deformed joints, and limited joint movement.
There have been many double blind placebo controlled trials and studies
done on glucosamine. In study after study, glucosamine has shown to be
very effective at:
* Easing osteoarthritis pain
* Easing articular joint pain
* Rehabilitating damaged cartilage
* Slowing deterioration of cartilage from osteoarthritis
* Improving mobility
* Stimulating the production of proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, and
synovial fluid
Best of all, glucosamine
has been shown to be one off the safest supplements available. Some studies
have reported more issues from placebo sugar pills than from glucosamine!
What is MSM?
Methyl Sulfonyl Methane (MSM) is a form of organic sulfur that your body
uses in the repair and maintanence of your body's cells. The body uses
MSM along with vitamins and amino acids in the process of rebuilding and
repairing cells. If your diet lacks sufficient sulfur, this process is
inhibited. Sulfur is a required structural mineral in hair, skin and nails.
It is also one of the main "building blocks" that keeps connective
tissue intact. It is necessary to help maintain flexibility and elasticity
of tissues. It is also essential for maintaining cell membrane permeability,
or the ability for nutrients to enter cells and waste products to exit.
Sulfur is also a necessary component in the healing and repair of most
tissues in the body, and is essential to protect the cells of your body
from damage from free radicals.
MSM has also been
shown to relieve pain and imflamation and ease joint function in arthritis
sufferers. In a double blind study conducted by Dr. Ronald M. Lawrence,
M.D., Ph.D. at the UCLA School of Medicine, patients with degenerative
arthritis showed marked improvements over patients taking a placebo. After
four weeks, the patients on the MSM showed a 60% improvement on average,
and after six weeks, these patients showed an 82% improvement in pain
on average!
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