FlexiSEQ? - Naah!

Damned69

I heard about this stuff from an article on Alex Scott who is championing it - for a fee. Now I know you should try it before you diss it, but the claims about how it works are so preposterous that it's one of those deserving to be dismissed out of hand.

The manufacturer claims that it contains microscopic particles that migrate to your joint, attach to the cartilage and lubricate it.

Yeah right. I have two issues with this. Firstly, it's a very long way on a microscopic scale from your skin to your joint. Now in lithe Alex, the distance from her skin to her ankle is considerably less than the distance from MY skin to my hip. But even in her case, unless these particles have little tails and can squirm magically between all the cells in the way, there's no way these magic particles will successfully complete the journey.

My second issue is once these magical particles have magically got there, they bind to cartilage. Really? Show us the scientific evidence! And even if they do, there's got to be enough cartilage left to bind to in order to make any realistic difference. In my case, there's the square root of bog all cartilage left to attach to anyway.

For FlexiSEQ, read SNAKE OIL. If you've tried it and it helped, what you've actually been helped by is The Placebo Effect, a GENUINE scientifically proven phenomenon. If your joint is messed up, what you need is a new joint, and in the meantime, drugs, physio and mind-focus to cope. Let's get real.

ToneBlues

Hi @Damned69

I'm inclined to agree with you - I'm not sure if you have seen what Versus Arthritis have to say about FLEXISEQ?

They say that - FLEXISEQ was first developed to carry drugs directly into the knee in order to ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis. It was then used as a comparator for studies in which some preparations were carrying active drug to the knee joint. Trial results have suggested that the particles may have positive effects when they don’t contain any drug.

I guess the devil is in the word "may", as it so often is.

This is the full Versus Arthritis take on the topic -

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/complementary-and-alternative-treatments/types-of-complementary-treatments/flexiseq/

Not exactly conclusive eh?

@ToneBlues

Susiq

I’ve been using it for 2 years. When I saw a Rheumatologist back in May, he said to continue with it. Prolonged use has caused dry skin but without it, my knees snag and are even more painful. I think??! it helps a bit.

Anna

Hi @Susiq and a welcome to you on your first post to the community!

Thanks for telling us about your experience with Flexiseq - it’s good to share our experiences with each other so I hope you continue to do so. Have a browse through the different forums and join in whenever you feel comfortable. If you like, you could tell us a bit more about yourself in ‘Hello’.

Best wishes,

Anna ( mod)

Arthuritis

@Damned69 @ToneBlues I think you both have a strong, and the placebo effect can be potent, as a medication it seems similar in effect to DMSO 50% cream See NHS link here:

https://www.iow.nhs.uk/Downloads/Chronic%20Pain/DMSO%20CRPS%20patient%20leaflet.pdf

I highly doubt it is in the same class as MTX or HCQ, but maybe it offers an anaesthetic effect?

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0171298519303729?via%3Dihub

Unfortunately I cannot find much more on DMSO solutions as a topical medication for RA.

I do know that it is officially sanctioned for RA use in Eastern European countries (Russia, Poland, Belarus). Its very cheap, so not much profiteering opportunity!

I have 1 document (in Russian) with Belarus health ministry approved use procedure, and a Russian doc who confirmed they use the procedure, which is similar to the NHS link but you or a nurse have to make the topical yourself, no ready made cream to buy.

What intrigued me was the science direct Immunobiology article on its immunomodulatory effects.

Also, I use frozen gel packs for my knees & elbows. They def have an anti-inflammatory effect, but shortlived as I keep having to swap (3hrs) the gel packs for fresh ones from the freezer.

Planning on a hi-tech chiller solution that lasts longer.