Dorothy found the Tin man in the forest immobile and sad and she released him by oiling his rusty joints. You might have been amused by this particular scene from the Wizard of Oz but soon this little episode might be your reality. Our bones will become brittle and our joints will become stiff. It is estimated that most people suffer from varying degrees of arthritis quite simply just by living beyond the age of 50.
Arthritis is commonly perceived to be a singular disease but it is essence an umbrella of medical disabilities. Joints connect bone and they contain fluids and cartilage that keep it flexible. Arthritis manifests itself in swollen, inflamed joints or stiffness in joint or alternately sharp pain that breaks out during any form of joint activity. There is no exact cure for Arthritis but pain can be alleviated. It is advocated that even the most severe of conditions can be allayed by employing a complete lifestyle approach. Improving bone strength and joint activity is a priority for most patients and while some people resort to acupuncture others resort to spinal injections.
Joint pain supplements and medications are often used as substitutes or in conjunction to combat the damaged cartilage and ease pain. These have associated risks and therefore it is a necessity that these prescriptions are closely monitored by physicians. Arthritis supplements can be made of natural substances present in the body and taken as an additional dose to ensure healthy cartilage growth. They aren't bereft of risks and there are studies that are looking into these supplements and their potential side effects.
The more popular of these supplements, Glucosamine and Chondroitin are found naturally in the human body and they have been widely researched. Some surveys disavow their efficacy while other researches consider it one of the safer and more effective supplements available to the arthritic patient. Joint pain supplements and arthritis supplements extend to bone health supplements such as calcium, vitamin D3 and vitamins K2. Along with the over the counter supplements, certain foods are natural supplements which aren't risky and effective in providing relief.
Omega-3 fatty acids are reputably beneficial in reducing tenderness in joints and fish oil supplements contain these friendly acids. The flip side being the benefits aren't noticeable automatically and they have related to blood thinning. Of course there is also the concern of bad breath and flatulence that are incidental side effects. Then other foods such as ginger, turmeric, dairy products all contain agents that are either anti-inflammatory or collagen consolidating. They can be easily incorporated into the meals and have modest effects on combating joint pain.
These supplements are effective albeit in a modest capacity and therefore it is advisable to seek medications and painful cortisone injections for severe cases. There is also the fact that there are over 800 known supplements that are continually injected into the health industry. Therefore a careful analysis of which are the right supplements and which are the harmful or ineffective ones is an important step before leaping to buy them. For arthritis patients it is a difficult life and a multi-dimensional approach to the condition is most successful. This should ideally involve a well-balanced diet, an endurance exercise routine, and the cautious use of medications and supplements.
