Supplements?

keith1971

Hi,

Was just wondering if any of you take any natural supplements in addition to your prescribed meds?

I currently take high strength cod liver oil, glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green lipped mussell powder, tumeric & ginger but not sure if they have any actual effect other than putting dents in my wallet!

chris7

Hi Keith

Sadly I think you have answered your own question here. Have just been catching up on your other thread and am glad to see you have had some good advise and support there. As a bog standard OAer, I really can't advise on your condition but I hope you get your head round it all and do your best to control things with the help of your medical team. It can be scary to start with but these lot on here are a good bunch to offer practical advise and support so welcome to the forum.
As to the supplements you mention here, I don't think they can hurt if your rheummy is ok with them but I am not personally convinced there is any real benefit from them. Others may think differently so who knows?
take care and keep posting
best wishes
Chris

dreamdaisy

Those things are all well and good for those who like to think they have arthritis. For those that actually do I think there is very little proof they have an effect. I think for OAers they can have a postive effect if you take the right sort of things but not everyone will find that they work: for us immune-system based bods it's hugely unlikely that they are going to stop your immune system from firing up. I did the rosehip thing for a while, I also did glucosamine and cod liver oil (I was in the wilderness at this point, not knowing what was going on and was basically lubricating over-lubricated joints - daft tart). I did find the rosehip mildly beneficial in terms of reducing pain but once on the anti TNF treatments the hospital said 'No, no, no.' If you have the money to spare then that is all you have to lose. I have sent you a PM. Good luck! DD

I forgot: I have just ordered some calcium with vits D and K to try to help my bones. My hospital have approved this as some of the meds I am on are not good for long-term bone health.

keith1971

collywobble wrote:

Hi Keith

If you look at the AC main website, there are several articles about supplements. If you have RA or an inflammatory arthritis, it's the fish oils, rather than the fish liver oils you need to be looking at. There has been some research on the use of these, and it's quite encouraging. But I would suggest be careful where you source the supplements, and make sure you are taking it in a high enough strength (there is a daily minimum recommended) - and don't forget, these things can often take weeks, or even months to have an effect. I believe rosehip is another one that some people find useful for inflammation. Obviously we're all different, so no guarantees.

Not everyone can stomach the fish oils, so it would be a case of try it and see, but if I were in your shoes, I'd be tempted to spend my hard-earned dosh on one thing that is proven, rather than several that may or may not help. It may not "cure" your arthritis, but even if it meant you needed fewer anti-inflamms, or painkillers, surely that would be a good thing?

I can let you know where I get my fish oils from, if you were interested (a UK company).

Good luck,
Lynn

Hi,

That's kinda my thinking Lynn, especially regarding the fish oils - if it helps even slightly then it can't be overlooked and apart from joints etc., they're just good full stop for general health & well being (especially for someone like me who doesn't actually eat fish on the whole).

Ginger & tumeric have been used for hundreds of years as natural anti-inflammatories in Indian & Chinese medicine, so again there has to be something said for it. Anything that can help me stay away from NSAIDs is good surely?

The glucosamine, chondroitin & MSM will probably have little benefit for me as Daisy pointed out, I have an immune system based disease. Good job my bottle of pills ran out on Monday!

I started on this cocktail late last year because I wanted to try the natural route. But seeing as I started sulfasalazine this morning I think I can cut back to just the herbs & fishy things!

Btw Collywobble, the product I take is called Extra Strength Cod Liver Oil (Seven Seas) but contains more Omega-3 Fish Oil than cod liver oil (i'm not sure where the omega-3 oil originates from mind you!). Had no stomach probs with it, does taste foul mind you!

;-)

x

suzygirl

Those things are all well and good for those who like to think they have arthritis

Daisy you do make me laugh!!!! I have so many prescription meds to take now, I can't bear the thought of taking any more supplements. How do you know which one works if you are taking so many at a time?? Sorry, I have grown very sceptical since I met arfur! :shock:

dreamdaisy

My mum swallows huge amounts of supplements, quite what good they do her I don't know. She has decided she has arthritis but won't go and see a doctor about it. Her general health is good but she lacks energy. I think this is due to depression, but she won't countenance that - she is one who thinks that depression is a matter of choice. As if.

As I am on the medical stuff I don't bother either, but the calcium is important, I think, and won't affect - or shouldn't trigger - the arthritis. As it seems to be life that triggers arthritis well, we're all stuffed from the word go!

keith1971

Not entirely sure where that sarcasm came from Lynn? I was agreeing with you about the potential benefits of fish oil.
:roll:

woodbon

Hi, I have OA, but I can't bear to eat fish - I've tried but even the smell sends me off, so I've just started the fish oil. My husband is a biochemist and very sceptical but he thinks the fish oil might help so I'm trying it. He looked up to find what may be the best one for me. It takes a long time to notice, I'm told. I also can't take anti inflams.

Apart from that, I'm a sceptical person and would'nt bother with any of the others.

Sue xx

marie48

I currently take glucosamine, Omega 3, calcium and Noni. I do not know whether they help but OA is manageable now. Just started taking plants sterols to try to reduce my cholesterol as the prescribed statins tablets gave me bad side-effects.