How Effective are Arthritis Supplements?

In discussing arthritis supplements, it's necessary to know more about the disease they are up against. Arthritis is a crippler of older adults which causes immense amounts of pain and joint degeneration. Patients will also experience major swelling and stiffness in affected joints as well as pain when the joint is used.

Weather can affect arthritis. If it starts to rain, or the temperature changes drastically to cold or hot, arthritis can flare up and cause a great deal of pain for the patient. You may find that the area surrounding some joints has turned red. The most severe effects of arthritis include joint and bone damage.

The most common form of arthritis, and the one most often found in older Americans, is osteoarthritis. This virulent form of arthritis is caused by the years of stress that have been put on the cartilage in the joints. Arthritis supplements may be beneficial in reducing pain and regenerating some flexibility back into the damaged joint.

People who suffer from Gout are enduring excessive amounts of pain. This condition stems from concentrations of uric acid building up in joints. Some affected joints can also swell to huge proportions which can only be decreased by surgery.

Rheumatoid arthritis develops when the body's immune system mistakenly thinks various body parts, such as joints, eyes, the lungs, and the heart, are the bad guys, and sets out to destroy them. This form of arthritis can get so painful that the patient is unable to wear shoes, shave, or even comb his hair without severe pain. There is also a great deal of swelling associated with RA.

There are many different types of arthritis which are much less common. These include: * Jaw arthritis – swelling and inflammation of the jaw joint. * Ankylosing spondylitis – arthritis in the spine which limits the ability to turn the body and causes chronic pain. * Psoriatic arthritis – joint inflammation along with the skin irritation, psoriasis. * Reactive arthritis – a combination of large joint inflammation, conjunctivitis, and trouble urinating. A common mnemonic for this condition is that the patient "can't see, can't pee, and can't climb a tree".

NSAIDs (Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) are a family of drugs that have been used effectively in the treatment of arthritis. It has been found that if these drugs are used alongside a DMARD (Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug), the treatment will work even better. In severe cases, treatments using silver or gold can be added. Both have been used to control the pain and swelling of arthritis with favorable results.

Always remember that arthritis supplements are not medications. They do a great job of strengthening the immune system as well as reducing pain, swelling, and stiffness. In addition, they are considered to speed up the healing process. If for some reason they aren't producing the desired effects for you, you should talk to your doctor about prescription drugs.