Glucosamine For Knee Pain

Glucosamine for Osteoarthritis

One of the healthiest and most readily available supplements for osteoarthritis is glucosamine for knee pain. Knee osteoarthritis is well-known as a disabling condition. Roughly one third of senior citizens suffer from knee pain resulting from degenerative forms of arthritis.

Typically osteoarthritis strikes individuals age 55+ but it can begin much earlier. Knee pain also results from overuse injuries and chronic auto-immune conditions which eat away at the connective tissues in the joint of the knee.

Glucosamine for Knee Pain Treatments

Many restorative agents are recommended to improve knee health. These include weight loss, exercise, physical therapy and corticosteroid injections. Injections of steroid agents come with many side effects. Another popular treatment protocol that comes with side effects that may be life-threatening despite the seeming benign application is NSAIDs. Ibuprofen, COX-2 inhibitors and other anti-inflammatory agents carry with them huge implications when used over the long-term to treat chronic pain.

Glucosamine as Alternative Treatment

Some osteoarthritis patients are prescribed very powerful pain medications, including narcotic pain medications to treat severe osteoarthritis. This can lead to addiction and dependence on pain medication. These types of pain medications can become overpowering, and not address the root causes of pain.

Natural Knee Pain Relief

There are many natural pain relievers on the market today, including glucosamine for knee pain. Other topical agents exist for knee pain including menthol and capsaicin cream. Capsaicin cream, while natural, may burn skin and cause irritation. Some studies report permanent nerve damage following application of this remedy.

Long-Term Effects of Glucosamine For Knee Pain

Glucosamine has been shown to have long-term effects on knee pain. It reduces swelling and inflammation, but may have other health benefits as well, including restoration of damaged connective tissues and cartilage. For this reason glucosamine is gaining a reputation as a disease modifying agent. Researchers are scrambling to gather more evidence to prove that glucosamine can heal pain but also begin repairing the connective tissues that are damaged in diseases including osteoarthritis. There is some preliminary evidence suggesting that glucosamine may reduce inflammation and restore tissues in other areas of the body as well, including in the eyes. Glaucoma is one area of research that scientists are focusing on; in all likelihood research will uncover many benefits glucosamine has yet to offer.

Glucosamine for knee pain has many benefits and few side effects, making it an ideal health food and supplement for taking away pain and inflammation, so knee pain sufferers can once again enjoy a happy, health, safe and active lifestyle.

References:

Ringdahl, E; Pandit S. Treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Am Fam Physician. PubMed. Available: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21661710

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