Creaky knees, Joint pain and tenderness, Loss of flexibility, Bone spurs or Swelling. Any of this sound familiar? Perhaps you've experienced these symptoms when climbing the stairs or rolling out of bed... or simply while doing routine day-to-day activities. If so, you aren't alone. Arthritis affects more than 20 million people in the United States alone and does not discriminate based on age, gender or race. Ranging from mild to severe, arthritis comes in many forms and may simply be an inconvenience for some, while utterly debilitating for others. And, while some forms of arthritis are genetic, others - such as osteoarthritis - can be caused by damage to cartilage, often caused by sports-related injuries or the day to day wear and tear on sensitive joints.
According to published information by the National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions, osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative bone disease, is the most common form of arthritis occurs when abnormal wear degrades the cartilage that covers and cushions joints and leads to a decrease in the synovial fluid that lubricates those joints. Simply stated - the cushion in your joints wears out and you feel the pain, especially when doing any weight-bearing activity such as walking or standing. Further complicating the matter, the pain may lead to decreased movement and those important muscles can atrophy and ligaments may become weak.
Although there is no cure for osteoarthritis - or any form of arthritis - a variety of treatments are available. Many who suffer from arthritis take common over-the-counter NSAIDs (which work to control inflammation and block the pain temporarily) such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or resort to prescription NSAIDs such as Daypro, Naprosyn or Celebrex. Still others prefer to avoid the dangerous side effects of NSAIDs (such as an increased risk of stroke and heart attack and stroke) and make changes to their diet, begin a moderate exercise program or lose weight to lighten the load on their joints. Still others attempt therapeutic massage in conjunction with vitamin therapy and herbal remedies, as well as nutritional supplementation.
While all of these treatments are viable options, more and more people are turning to natural supplementation with glucosamine and chondroitin for relief from arthritis pain, without the fear of potentially fatal side effects.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are the building blocks for the cartilage found within joints. This cartilage is constantly breaking down and being repaired. In an arthritic joint, however, the raw materials - glucosamine and chondroitin - are not as readily available. Supplementation with these two vital molecules ensures that the materials necessary for "rebuilding" cartilage are readily available. So, rather than simply masking the pain, glucosamine and chondroitin work to repair the damage. One such supplement is Joint Advance.
