Chondroitin Works as Well as Drugs to Stop Knee Pain, Study Shows

The conventional medication for knee pain is a deal with the devil.

Most of the nearly 50 million Americans with painful knees have osteoarthritis. And the drug of choice is celecoxib. It is one of the world’s biggest-selling pain relievers. Its main draw is that it is non-addicting.1

 by INH Research / August 2, 2017

But as we’ve told you, celecoxib, sold under the brand name Celebrex, increases the risk of heart attack, strokes, and death by 37%. It increases your chances of an ulcer by 81%.2 3

Despite these dangers, 33 million Americans have taken the drug.

A new study shows there’s a safer, natural option that works just as well. It found the supplement chondroitin is just as effective at reducing knee pain as celecoxib—but without the health risks.4

Researchers at the University of Liège in Belgium gathered 604 people with knee arthritis. They were all 50 or older.

The subjects were randomly divided into three groups. One took 200 mg of celecoxib a day. Another took 800 mg of chondroitin sulfate. The third group took a placebo pill. All the pills were made to look identical.

The study was double blind. This means neither the patients nor the researchers knew which subjects were in which group until the study was over.5

As time passed, subjects took pain and function tests. At both three and six months, the chondroitin group had improved just as much patients taking celecoxib. Those in the placebo group did not improve at all.

The study also found that 57% of the chondroitin group reached what is known as “Patient Acceptable Symptom State.” This means their quality of life was no longer diminished by pain. They could do whatever they wanted, unhampered by pain. This was almost identical to the celecoxib group’s 59% score.

Although knee pain relief was almost the same among chondroitin and celecoxib patients, there was one big difference… Twice as many celecoxib takers reported stomach pain.6

Why Most Chondroitin Supplements Don’t Work

Dr. Jean-Yves Reginster is a professor of public health at the University of Liège. He led the study, which was published in the journal Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

He said that not all chondroitin products are effective. The ones sold in drug stores and supermarkets often contain cheaper grades of the supplement. Their study used what is called “European pharmaceutical grade” chondroitin.

It contains 95% purified chondroitin 6-sulfate and chondroitin 4-sulfate.

Dr. Reginster says that both forms are needed to reduce osteoarthritis pain. One helps strengthen the joint. The other helps heal it.

You can find European pharmaceutical grade chondroitin at health food stores. It’s also available online.

https://www.institutefornaturalhealing.com/2017/08/chondroitin-works-well-drugs-stop-knee-pain-study-shows/

Osteoarthritis Related to Vitamin K Deficiency

Published on June 3rd, 2013

The American Journal of Medicine published a study in March 2013 reporting that subclinical vitamin K deficiency is associated with increased risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. Currently, osteoarthritis affects nearly 27 million Americans age 25 and older.

Researchers evaluated 1,180 subjects with an average age of 62 years and average body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2. The subjects underwent knee x-rays and MRIs at the beginning of the study and again after 30 months. The investigators also measured plasma phylloquinone (vitamin K) levels at the beginning of the study.

The researchers found that subclinical vitamin K deficiency was associated with a 56 percent increased risk of knee osteoarthritis and 139 percent increased risk of cartilage lesions, compared to the subjects with sufficient vitamin K. The subjects with subclinical vitamin K deficiency were also 33 percent more likely to develop osteoarthritis in one or both knees compared to neither knee.

The investigators stated, “In the first such longitudinal study, subclinical vitamin K deficiency was associated with increased risk of developing radiographic knee osteoarthritis and MRI-based cartilage lesions. Further study of vitamin K is warranted given its therapeutic/prophylactic potential for osteoarthritis.”

Reference:
Misra D, et al. Am J Med. 2013;3:243-8.

http://www.wholehealthinsider.com/single-vitamins/osteoarthritis-related-to-vitamin-k-deficiency/?

Patchwork knee operation that cuts recovery time in half

By Bonnie Estridge

PUBLISHED: 20:59 GMT, 28 April 2012 | UPDATED: 20:59 GMT, 28 April 2012

A new knee-repair operation that cuts recovery time in half is offering NHS patients with arthritis an alternative to a total joint replacement.

The procedure involves replacing only areas of cartilage that are diseased and leaves the ligament structures alone, allowing more natural movement.

Latest figures show that about 90,000 knee-replacement operations are carried out each year in Britain – which is higher than the number of hip replacements – with the biggest increase in those aged under 65.

Injury toll: Keen rugby player Gary Derrickk had pioneering bicompartmental knee surgery

Surgeons suggest that a traditional total knee replacement in a patient over 65 can last between ten and 15 years. In younger, more physically active patients, standard implants wear out faster.

Now the NHS is offering a sophisticated new replacement called bicompartmental knee resurfacing.

Philip Chapman-Sheath, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Spire Southampton Hospital, says: ‘This operation is tailored to the specific needs of the patient as we are replacing only the parts affected by osteoarthritis.’

The knee joint is the largest in the body and consists of two hinges – one joins the tibia (shin bone) with the femur (thigh bone), while the other links the patella (knee cap) to the femur.

To keep each joint stable and flexible, the knee is supported by a framework of ligaments. In an arthritic joint, the cartilage that coats the end of each bone has worn away, exposing unprotected bone which then deteriorates. It is not known why this happens, but genetics and being overweight are factors.

Traditional total knee replacement involves a large incision with the surgeon replacing all areas of the joint – whether or not they are worn out – and removing ligaments.

In the new operation, the medial ligament of the knee – which runs along the inner knee – and the patella are replaced at the same time, sparing the other ligaments in the joint. Arthritic areas of cartilage are cut away and implants, made of chrome, titanium or hard-wearing plastic, are cemented or screwed into their place. The operation is carried out under spinal or general anaesthetic and takes about an hour. Patients usually go home within three days.

Experts have likened it to patching the knee of a pair of jeans. Mr Chapman-Sheath says: ‘The implants replace the worn-out sections of cartilage, creating a new smooth surface.

‘Because we leave the ligaments alone, afterwards patients are able to do much more in terms of non-impact sporting activity such as golf, swimming and cycling, which might not have been possible after a total knee-replacement operation.’

However, this bicompartmental option can be used only once, so when the lateral or outer third becomes worn out, a total knee replacement would be needed.

Mr Chapman-Sheath adds: ‘As patients are presenting to surgeons at much younger ages, we can now offer them this option of resurfacing just the damaged areas, thus buying time before a full knee replacement becomes necessary.’

How the operation works

One patient to benefit is Gary Derrick, 52, a building firm director from Lyndhurst, Hampshire. Once a keen rugby player, Gary says: ‘I played prop forward for various local teams but when I reached 40, the injuries were taking too long to heal and I was forced to give up. I was diagnosed with knee arthritis in July 2008.’

Despite being in a lot of pain, Gary was reluctant to have an operation on his left knee as he had already had reconstructive surgery on his right side after a cruciate ligament snapped some years previously.

‘I became used to having pain and as my work entailed being out on building sites, climbing up ladders and walking on uneven ground, the bone had worn off the inside of the knee and I constantly felt as if someone was stabbing my leg with a needle,’ he says.

Three years ago, Gary went to see Mr Chapman-Sheath, who offered him the option of being one of the first to trial the bicompartmental operation.

‘I was in hospital for three days and I suffered knee pain for only one of them. I was surprised at just how quickly it healed,’ says Gary.

He needed to use crutches for six weeks and was able to go back to work with just one crutch at five weeks.

Three months later he was virtually pain-free. He says: ‘I often forget I ever had any problems.’

www.thekneegroup.com


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2136688/Patchwork-knee-operation-cuts-recovery-time-half.html