Alternative treatment for arthritis?

my dad’s been taking glucosamine for years for osteoarthritis in his fingers and wrists. It takes a while to start working and the improvement was so gradual that he actually wrote it off as ineffectual new agey bollocks. It was only when he stopped taking it and the pain got significantly worse within days that he realised how much it had helped. I dont know if you can booze much with it or not. my pa’s not one for the swig so it wasnt an issue for him.

good luck with whatever treatment you go for.

Posted 9 months ago by WeeGillie tipped with 1K

Ben? Ben…? Where’ve you got to?

Posted 9 months ago by esotericbadger

My Dad also takes Glucosamine. He drinks like a fish, so you should be ok.

Also, check this out:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4111047.stm

Dont start ben

Posted 9 months ago by Babb

Thanks guys. I have taken Glucosamine in the past as a preventative measure because of my mum’s history, so may add that into the mix as well. The vinegar, however, did not enhance my morning honey, lemon and ginger!

Am considering acupuncture, just found out that there’s a college of natural medicine across the road from my office, so I can get really cheap treatment from (closely supervised) students. Website is here if anyone’s interested:

http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/home/resources-clinics/

Posted 9 months ago by Tallulahlula

My mum has arthritis and I bought her a bedsheet with magnets in it which was supposed to help. Ma not being a stupid woman was frankly very skeptical about the whole thing but went along with it to humour me. She basically forgot the thing was on the bed and then a couple of months later was telling me how her arthritis was hardly bothering her at all and how all illness is mind over matter etc… in the particularly annoying way she has. I asked her if she thought the magnetic undersheet had helped. Having forgotten it was there she then admitted that yes, it could have played a part… Who knows? It wasn’t that expensive so it may be worth a try and the benefit is you don’t have to remember to take anything or change your habits at all, which is the thing that would scupper me.

Posted 9 months ago by gorillagram tipped with 1K

A friend of mine has psoriatic arthritis and takes very low dose chemo drugs which seem to help – would these be the meds you’re referring to? The thing with side effects is that everyone experiences them differently so don’t be afraid until you’ve tried it.

I saw a doco recently where a group of people with arthritis took Omega 3 capsules and it helped some of them. I think it’s one of things where you either do get a result or don’t, but if you do it’s quite good…

Posted 9 months ago by agox tipped with 1K

My grandmother was a doctor and she invented this diet to cure rheumatoid (I think) arthritis. It basically involved eating absolutely no salt, and lots of raw vegetables (I think that’s right), and my dad says there was loads of film of her wizened little patients transforming into Olympic athletes (that might be an exaggeration) within months of starting the diet. This was back in the day, like in the 1930s, back in the days when only men were doctors. Apparently one of her associates stole her diet and made a fortune by setting up a clinic in Austria and curing arthritics.

Anyway, if it’s not rheumatoid then this is probably a load of useless bollocks.

Posted 9 months ago by PrincessBride tipped with 1K

My dad wore one of those copper bangles for a very long time, so presumably that was helping him. I’ve had reasonable success with magnets around my dodgy knees, although that’s not so much arthritis as just being a bit knackered.

Be a bit careful with the glucosamine, as there has been a recent case of a patient who dropped dead while taking it. Could be entirely unrelated, of course, but worth doing a bit more research into it before gleefully taking it willy-nilly.

The diet thing probably also has some truth in it – again, in the last few weeks there have been reports that arthritis sufferers should take up a vegan diet. Personally, I’d rather live a shorter life and enjoy myself, but I guess it depends how badly you’re hurting.

Posted 9 months ago by Floatykatja tipped with 1K

I just remembered that I also read somewhere that if you take Glucosamine then you need to be quite careful to ensure you’re taking a proper quality one, as otherwise you’re just wasting your money.

Posted 9 months ago by PrincessBride

ashitaba

tea

Posted 9 months ago by akabushi

Agox: Yes, mine is psoriatic arthritis and they are the meds, but probably I’ve just heard the horror stories on another forum I used to frequent!

I’m very much liking the idea of the magnetic bedsheet though, have never heard of that, and that ashitaba sounds like something I should be taking anyway…

I tell you, I’m starting to become so into these alternative remedies that I’ll soon be calling in shamans and white witches to boil me potions and lotions and cast ‘spells’.

Posted 9 months ago by Tallulahlula

Doesn’t necking aloe vera help, too?

Aloe vera evening primrose

Posted 9 months ago by willster

ashitaba

Bless you.

Posted 9 months ago by Babb

“Quote: My grandmother was a doctor and she invented this diet to cure rheumatoid (I think) arthritis”

Sorry – far as I know – could be wrong, happened before – there’s no actual CURE for RA: It’s chronic and progressive, albeit with occasional remission.

Apologies for being picky – I know its not a lot of help. (Although I’ve taken tablets containing Omega 3, Glucosamine and Chondroitin for several years to keep the old joints working properly. Chondroitin effectively keeps joints lubricated to aid Full Range Of Movement.)

Posted 9 months ago by The-Saint tipped with 1K

How does one tell if one has arthritis or rheumatism or whatever? Apart from the discomfort/pain obviously. I’ve had problems with shoulder joints for some time now, where, like Tallaluhlah, it can be painful trying to put on/take off things like sweat shirts/t-shirts. Even lying down on my shoulder can be unpleasant.

Is it something doctors can properly test for, or is it just a hit-or-miss type thingy?

Of course it may just be an age thing I still have most of my own teeth though

Posted 9 months ago by pottytime tipped with 1K

Arthritis tends to affect joints (for instance osteo-arthritis tends to be called “wear and tear arthritis”), generally – though not specifically – weight-bearing joints. As it’s a inflammation, NSAIDs {Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) are usually prescribed/used. Normal Ibuprofen etc can be bought over the counter, but stronger NSAIDs are usually prescribed by the GP.

Rheumatism does not really exist any longer as a general illness: it tends to have been over-taken by specific things like Bursitis, Tendonitis etc, and also is not related just to joints. I’ve also experienced the old stiff shoulder nightmare of getting dressed – NSAIDs usually do the trick for me, along with trying to move it that little bit further every so often, to stop it stiffening up.

However, having said that, only a doctor can really tell you what it is, and blood tests detail how much of the Rheumatoid Factor you have.

Hope that helps.

Posted 9 months ago by The-Saint tipped with 1K

I hate to be negative, but I suggest you take a healthy dose of skepticism before considering giving up proven, or even best-shot allopathic remedies.

It sounds to me as if you’re looking at complementary as opposed to alternative medicine, which generally can’t hurt, but there’s a new book out in a week or 2 – Trick or Treatment – Alternative Medicine on Trial (aamzon link) which might give you some of the science (or possibly pseudoscience) behind alternative remedies. The author, Simon Singh, is doing a talk at the next Skeptics in the pub meet in Holborn (!!) on Tuesday – while the talk’s remit isn’t specific to alternative medicine, I’d imagine he’s promoting his book, so he may be amenable to discussions of that nature.

As far as I know, no alternative medicine has any affect greater than placebo, despite many trials. It’s certainly the case for homeopathy.

Whatever you decide, I hope it makes you feel better!

Posted 9 months ago by flippy tipped with 1K

I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis for 15 years (since I was 14). I’m currently taking methotrexate (a very low dosage) and hydroxychloroquine and drink like a fish. You’re not meant to drink on methotrexate according to some doctors, then I changed hospital and met one who said it was ok to have the odd weekly glass of wine, which I took to mean my weekly half bottle of rum, and as I have blood tests every 6 weeks still after a year of taking it (stupid low white blood cells) I can confirm that there is absolutely bloody nothing wrong with my liver :) I also haven’t had any other side effects.

I would certainly consider taking something, as DMARDs supposedly also have the benefit of curtailing future damage to your joints (a bonus for me as both my wrists are already fused straight) but if you want to try alternative first, I would very strongly recommend osteopathy. It will make a big difference to your mobility and hopefully will ease off some of the symptoms that are side effects of favouring sore bits. You may have to try more than one osteo before you find one you like though. I’ve also just started acupuncture but can’t comment after only one session :) I know people who’ve sworn by devils claw, evening primrose oil, cod liver oil and all that other stuff up above… they did nothing for me but they might for you. Similarly diet doesn’t affect me but you may find you have a reaction to some foods which exacerbate it – red meat, citrus, wheat and dairy are common triggers (which doesn’t leave much eh!) From what I understand glucosamine is only helpful for osteo or for old people but you never know. Stuff like pilates is also very helpful for stretching and mobility. I assume you’re already chugging down the anti-inflammatories.

Anyway, this time 18 months ago I had to ban some tshirts to the bottom drawer because they were too tight for me to be able to remove (made especially hard when you’re wrists don’t bend!) and since going back to the osteo and obviously taking these delicious tasty nasty cancer drugs, all my tight t shirts are being put to good use again – I’ve put on half a stone too, which is a sure sign I wasn’t very well before!

Posted 9 months ago by Amerella tipped with 1K

Sorry for not spotting this thread sooner.

I’d basically just agree with what flippy said. There’s a reason the doctors are suggesting the course of treatment that they are; they’ve been proven to work.

Alternative therapies have no evidence base to support their claims of efficiacy.

Magnet therapy is a load of bollocks, as is homeopathy. Acupuncture does have some merit, but it’s got fuck all to do with chakras; it doesn’t actually matter where they stick the needles.

Alternative therapies are usually harmless in themselves, but when someone rejects proven treatments in favour of quackery they’re asking for trouble.

Posted 9 months ago by Ben tipped with 1K

but it’s got fuck all to do with chakras

Quite right. Everyone knows that accupunture works on meridians rather than chakras.

Posted 9 months ago by Babb