The Use of Glucosamine for Joint Pain and Inflammation

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Glucosamine is a naturally occurring chemical in the body that is found in the fluid around the joints. The body produces this amino sugar which is then distributed to the cartilages and other connective tissues. It is now one of the most common dietary supplements used by adults. There are various types of glucosamine including glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochrloride, and N-acetyl-glucosamine.

For arthritis and joint pain, glucosamine sulfate is frequently used. Because the glucosamine found naturally in the body is utilized to make and repair joint cartilage, glucosamine supplement is widely used to augment the glucosamine supply in the body and help repair damaged cartilage.

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage, or the material that cushions the joints, loses its natural elasticity. It can become very stiff, thus prone to damage. When there is damage to the cartilage, it can lead to swelling, pain, and loss of movement. It usually occurs later in life and most commonly affects the hands and knees.

Aging brings along natural wear and tear that leads to degeneration of joints and loss of cartilage. The cartilage cushions the ends of bones and over time, the smooth surface of the cartilage becomes rough. As the cartilage wears down, the ends of the bones are damaged and this is then felt as joint pain and stiffness.

There is really no cure for osteoarthritis. The goals of management are to relieve pain, preserve function of the joints, and reduce physical disability. Among the medications used are pain killers and cortisone shots. Therapy is likewise helpful. To avoid excessive stress on the joints, maintain ideal weight and use assistive devices.

Some studies have revealed that glucosamine sulfate provided joint pain relief. It is recognized as one of the leading supplements for keeping the joints healthy by providing strength and elasticity. It has also gained popularity as a safe alternative to NSAIDs for relieving pain and inflammation.

Maintaining Healthy Joints with Glucosamine Supplement

Image via Wikipedia

Glucosamine is a naturally occurring chemical in the body found in the fluid that is around the joints. The body produces this amino sugar and distributes it to the cartilages and other connective tissues. It is now one of the most common dietary supplements used by adults. There are several forms of glucosamine including glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochrloride, and N-acetyl-glucosamine.

Glucosamine sulfate is commonly used for arthritis and joint pain. Since the natural glucosamine found in the body is used to make and repair joint cartilage, glucosamine supplement is widely used to augment the glucosamine supply in the body and help repair damaged cartilage.

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage, or the material that protects the joints, loses its natural elasticity. It may become very stiff, making it prone to damage. When the cartilage is damaged, it can lead to loss of movement, pain, and swelling. Most often, it occurs later in life and usually affects the hands and knees.

The natural wear and tear that comes with aging leads to joint degeneration and loss of cartilage. The cartilage cushions the ends of bones and over time, the smooth surface of the cartilage becomes rough. When the cartilage wears down, the ends of the bones are damaged and this is felt as joint pain and stiffness.

There is no real treatment for osteoarthritis. The goals of management are to relieve pain, preserve joint function, and reduce physical disability. Medications include pain killers and cortisone shots. Therapy is likewise helpful. Avoid stressing the joints, maintain ideal weight, and use assistive devices to reduce stress on the joints.

Some studies have shown that glucosamine sulfate gave relief from joint pain. It is recognized as one of the more popular supplements for keeping the joints healthy by providing strength and elasticity. It has also gained popularity as a safe alternative to NSAIDs for relieving pain and inflammation.

Things You Need to Know About Ankle Arthritis

Image via WikipediaArthritis is the swelling and inflammation of the joints. It comes from the Greek work "arthro" meaning joint and "itis" which means inflammation.

Ankle arthritis is a condition where the ankle joint has been worn out due to the natural wear and tear process and can cause moderate to severe heel pain. Our bones are lined with cartilages inside the joints, very similar to the white stuff seen on a chicken drum stick. If you will notice, this cartilage is very smooth and slippery, very important in reducing any friction during articulation.

Now if your ankle joint develops arthritis, the cartilage bone loses its smooth and slippery qualities. This causes severe pain and can lead to secondary complications in the joint called synovitis. This also occurs when the soft tissues within the joints get inflamed.

Common conditions that can lead to ankle arthritis:

    * Previous injury to the ankle like frequent sprains can damage the cartilages.

    * Being obese can put a lot of stress to the ankle. These patients also accelerate the extent of damage to the joints.

    * Infections. Infection to the joints can eat away the smooth surface of the cartilages.

    * Genetics

There are several treatments for ankle arthritis. Resting is the simplest yet effective way  to manage ankle pain due to arthritis. Taking pain killers help but are not recommended since you are masking the pain therefore can lead to further injury. Ankle Distraction is a technique where the ankle joint is literally pulled apart for several weeks. This promotes healing of the damaged cartilage and has a very good success rate in reducing pain.

Also, our joints begin to stiffen as we age. During this time, Omega-3 fatty acids also help support healthy joints, joint flexibility and range of motion.Glucosamine is a natural compound that is found in healthy cartilage. It has been used in the complementary therapies in osteoarthritis, available joint smoother supplements.

Knowing Ankle Arthritis and How To Treat It

Image via WikipediaArthritis is commonly seen among the elderly and can affect any joints in the body. The usual symptom of arthritis is joint pain. There are two types of pain associated with arthritis: acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is temporary. Chronic pain is persisting pain, it doesn't go away. The severity of pain may lessen but it's still there. Chronic pain is always associated is osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Chronic pain is always occurs on weight bearing joints. Arthritis affecting the ankles is an excellent example. This involves joints between the shin bone and ankle bone or better known as tibiotalar joint and can cause severe heel pain.

Ankle arthritis almost always affects the elderly because of the natural degeneration of the joints. Every joint has a special tissue called cartilage bone. Every joint has this type of bone and it has a very smooth surface. As we get older, the smooth surface kind of roughens a bit and this is the cause of the arthritis pain. In worse cases, the cartilage can get totally worn out and the actual bones are rubbing against each other. Obviously this causes excruciating pain.

Ankle arthritis can also be found in the younger age group especially if the joint got injured. Cartilages can get damaged due to frequent sprains and causes a condition called osteochndritis dissicans. Being overweight can also put too much stress to the joints and the cartilages get to rub hard at each other because of the weight.