Question
I was told years ago that I have arthitis in my hips, and also that anytime I have injured myself, as I get older arthitis will setup.  Sometimes the pain in my tailbone is so extreme, it takes my breath away and the same with my lower back.  I have noticed since these pains flared up, that my left foot and ankle bother me alot, I've had alot of sprains and strains over the years with that foot and same thing with my right knee getting really stiff and if I bend down on my knees it's hard getting up, I actually have to hold onto something or have someone help me up.  I tried taking the glucomasine and chronditin tablets every day and after taking them for a few months is when my joints seem to hurt even worse so I stopped.  I am on heart medication so I'm kind of stuck that I can't take alot of things for the pain and stiffness.  I have read up on my asthma medication that I take everyday(Advair Diskus 250/50) that it can cause osteoarthitis which I have been on Advair for 4 years now, and I have also been taking Liptor 20 mg tablet everyday for the past 6 months.  My cholorestol is really good, they have me on it as a precaution since I've already had a mini stroke and I have malformations in my heart valves and arteries.  Can you tell me anything that would help this.  I go see my family physician on 8/22 and I am going to discuss this with him, because there is the family history of rheumtoid arthitis in my mother, father and numerous sisters, plus my grandmother had osteoarthitis, and there is also the family history of lupus.  I know I do have arthitis just how bad I don't know, what type of test can I ask the physician to do to find out what the levels or severity of it is?  Thank you for any help or advice.  I use to go to the tanning bed for 2 months for 4 minutes to 15 minutes a couple of times a week, the heat worked so wonderful on my joints and I never hurt like this but because of the heart medicaiton I now take I was told to be careful with sunlight so I haven't been in a year and half and I know that is part of the reason I hurt so bad, I'm thinking of going back to relieve some of the pain since the medications I can take are limited.  Thanks for any help you can offer.

Answer
Hi Martha,

Laser light therapy that is FDA approved can help pain. Long term, you must find a glucosamine that is agreeable to you. Try taking Glucosamine Hydrochloride instead of Sulfate. Some people absorb different compounds more efficiently.

To see if you are having an autoimmune response, an ANA test will show it.

To see how inflamed things are a CRP will show it.

To rule out RA, you need a RA latex or Rheumatoid Factor.

You must take 3000mg of glucosamine to have any effect, as shown in the federal study, unless you are asymptomatic and take it for prevention.

It is clear you are past that point, so the more you can take, the better.

GS is the only proven tablet that is shown to stop or reverse OA. It is not proven to work for RA or PA, this is because the study isn't finished. This doesn't mean it won't be effective, it is simply the fact that the study was expanded to include other arthritis causes. Since there is no known negative side-effects, unless you're diabetic, then I would try the Hydrochloride.

Good Luck,
Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com