Supplements for Joint Pain or as I say,...for Joint Health

I routinely get questions from people, both face to face and over the internet asking me what I recommend they take for their aching joints to help diminish or even eliminate their chronic knee pain.

First of all supplements in the form of optimizers are for the health of the joint or affected area. Sometimes they work and work well, sometimes they doon't because the chronic pain is coming from a structural damage such as bone spurs or torn tendons and such.

Beware the maker that claims to get rid of chronic joint pain from all causes,...cause it just ain't so. Even Rx pain medications with their sometimes terrible side effects do not address pain from certain causes.

But to answer the first question I always receive about what I recommend taking, I tell my questioners all I can do is recommend what I am taking and that is a pharmaceutical grade supplement to provide all the nutrients in the form of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants that my body needs to have a strong immune system and optimal health, then I take two optimizers specifically for my chronic knee pain (which I have no more) that those two optimzers are a pharmaceutical grade Glucsosamine and an alike quality Omega 3 Fatty Acid supplement.

Even though my knee (and back) pain is gone, I still take these supplements to provide additional health benefits for these joints. And the Omega 3 Fatty Acid is almost a hiden secret,....everyone shoukd be taking these. It has been said that there is a National epidemic on Omega 3 Fatty Acid deficiency. Here's to our joints,...without mobility some of us are just ugly statutes....I'm speaking for myself of course.


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Jeffrey and the Vicodin Solution for Joint Ache

MyAchingKnees.com received a reader comment: Jeffrey has left a new comment on your post "Basic Health Diagnostic Numbers and What they Mean..."..."He trusted that the best is that the patients feel happy and that during the treatment the chronic pains do not persist because he takes care by himself of taking medicines as vicodin to control the ache, as he indicates findrxonline is a double-edged weapon because he can derive in additions if bad sound used."

Well Jeffrey,...really can't admit that I understand what you are saying, but if you are saying that Rx Pain Meds, such as Vicodin, are the first line answer to chronic joint pain, then I think you are needlessly placing yourself at risk.

I admit that Rx Pain medications may end up being necessary, but I since these prescription medications have side effects, some small some large that a prudent person would try less intrusive remedies to reduce chronic joint pain such a what I recommend trying, and that is pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements.

Advanced doses of high quality nutritional supplements can combat chronic joint pain as well as other degenerative diseases through providing your body with the nutrients it needs to fight off oxidative stress which is the root cause of degeneration. Plus there are virtually no side effects to nutrients, especially if they are pharmaceutical grade.

Taking pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements is a win -win option. You build your body's ability to fight many diseases. If you take optimizers such as Glucosamine and Omega 3 Fatty Acids, which also specifically target the joints, you'll see results in two months or so, which allows to you to quit taking them if you are not experiencing the results you need.

I am thankful for the supplements I take since the results not only eliminated the pain in my knees but my back as well, and has given me over 5 years of sickness free life at a time in my life where people my age are slowing down and losing mobility and vitality.

Anyway, rock on Jeffrey!

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Basic Health Diagnostic Numbers and What they Mean

Numbers to Live By from Real Simple Magazine, September 13th, 2010.

This magazine recently published this article on health numbers and it came at an opportune time as I just received two questions pertaining to how often one should get their blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked. The simple answer is "as often as you need to", which I guess is another way of saying if you have problems then you need to stay on top of these diagnostic tests and understand what the numbers mean. We have to be our own first provider for our health care.

For those of you are primarily reading this site solely for news on and treatment of chronic joint pain, you have to understand that the same root causes of a deteriorating health is also the primary cause for the degenerative condition of our joints. To take care of your overall health IS the first step to treating chronic joint conditions and pain.



Blood Pressure

Healthy number: Less than 120/80 mmHg.

Blood pressure refers to the force of blood against the walls of your arteries when your heart beats (systolic pressure, the top number) and during rests between beats (diastolic pressure, the bottom) and is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). “The lower yours is, the better,” says Holly Thacker, M.D., director of the Center for Specialized Women’s Health at the Cleveland Clinic. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is 140/90 mmHg or higher. Hypertension is called “the silent killer”
because it often has no symptoms and, left untreated, can lead to stroke, heart disease, kidney damage, and vision and memory problems. (If your top number is between 120 and 139 and the lower is between 80 and 89, you have prehypertension, which also carries risks.)

Have yours checked: Every time you see a doctor, including an ob-gyn. To lower your numbers, consume a low-fat, low-sodium diet; exercise often; maintain a healthy weight; limit alcohol intake; don’t smoke; and manage stress. Your doctor may prescribe a diuretic to flush out excess sodium. If that and lifestyle changes don’t work, other medicines, like an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, may be prescribed.


Blood Sugar

Healthy number: A fasting blood-sugar level of 99 mg/dL or less.

A fasting blood-sugar test measures glucose (sugar) in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood after you haven’t eaten for at least eight hours. A level of 126 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes, a condition in which your body doesn’t produce enough insulin (which converts blood sugar into energy) or use insulin properly. Diabetes more than doubles your risk of heart disease and increases your chances of kidney disease, vision loss, and other health issues.

Have yours checked: At age 45, then every three years after that. (Your doctor may test you earlier if you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes.) Some doctors also do a hemoglobin A1C test, which measures glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), a substance in red blood cells that forms when glucose attaches to hemoglobin. This “gives a better picture of average blood sugar over the previous three months,” says Wendy S. Klein, an internist in Richmond, Virginia. An optimal A1C reading is
less than 5.7 percent. To improve your blood-sugar numbers, shed any excess pounds.

Cholesterol

Healthy number: Total cholesterol under 200 mg/dL; LDL cholesterol under 100 mg/dL.

“The higher your cholesterol levels, the greater your risk of heart disease,” says Nieca Goldberg, M.D., director of the Langone Women’s Heart Center at New York University, in New York City. To minimize health risks, your total cholesterol should stay under 200 mg/dL (cholesterol is measured by milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood). But it’s actually low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — the “bad,” artery-clogging kind—that causes the damage. “Elevated LDL levels cause the formation of plaque in the artery walls,” explains Goldberg, which leads to atherosclerosis and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. For most people, the optimal level of LDL is under 100 mg/dL (and under 70 mg/dL if you have diabetes or heart disease).

Have yours checked: Starting at age 20 and older. “You should have a fasting blood test to measure total cholesterol and LDL, plus the other lipids, triglycerides, and HDL [high-density lipoprotein]”, says Goldberg. “If the numbers are normal, you don’t have to recheck them for five years.” If the numbers are not where they should be, the best way to improve your cholesterol levels is to lose excess weight; exercise more often; stick with a diet that is low in cholesterol, saturated fat, and fats; and get your levels rechecked yearly. Even if you do all this, you may still need to take a cholesterol-lowering medication.


HDL Cholesterol

Healthy number: 50 mg/dL or higher.

High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is the “good” cholesterol. The higher your number, the better your health. “HDL cholesterol helps remove harmful LDL
cholesterol from arteries,” says Goldberg. An HDL level lower than 50 mg/dL is a heart-disease risk factor for women, while a level of 60 mg/dL or higher helps protect you from heart disease. The best ways to raise your HDL are to quit smoking; exercise; eat monounsaturated fats (olive oil is one source) instead of saturated and trans fats; and avoid having more than one alcoholic drink a day.
When HDL is low and LDL is seriously high, cholesterol-lowering drugs, like statins, as well as niacin supplements can help.


Triglycerides

Healthy number: Less than 150 mg/dL.

Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood, and elevated levels increase your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Your triglyceride level (measured by
milligrams of triglycerides per deciliter of blood, or mg /dL) is borderline high if it is between 150 and 199 mg /dL and high if it’s 200 mg /dL or higher. Have yours checked: Annually. It’s usually part of the same test used to gauge your cholesterol. People with a high level are often low in HDL cholesterol and vice versa. Research suggests elevated triglycerides may be a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than in men, though no one knows exactly why this is. Just consider it another good reason to get your level into the target zone. To do that, lose weight, quit smoking, consume no more than one alcoholic drink a day, and exercise regularly.


Thyroid

Healthy number: A thyroid-stimulating hormone level under 4.0 mIU/L. Produced by the pituitary gland, the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) directs the thyroid gland in your neck to secrete the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Besides helping regulate your metabolism, body temperature, and heart rate, these hormones affect skin, hair, muscle strength, mood, and mental functioning. If your TSH level is high, above 4.5 mIU/L (or milli–international units of TSH per liter of blood), your thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones to help your body function efficiently. Have yours checked: Starting at age 35. Hypothyroidism is a condition that is fairly common among women and can raise cholesterol and triglyceride levels and lead to heart problems and depression. If your TSH level is high, your doctor may prescribe a thyroid replacement medication. If it is normal,
recheck it every five years.


Body Mass Index

Healthy number: Between 18.5 and 24.9.

Your body mass index (BMI) is a measure of your weight in relation to your height (calculate yours at nhlbisupport.com/bmi). A BMI of less than 18.5 means you’re underweight and at risk for irregular periods, fertility problems, anemia, and the bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis. Many Americans, however, have the opposite problem: a BMI that is too high. If a person’s BMI is between 25 and 29.9, she is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 or higher is defined as obese—and that’s a problem that lasts long after bathing-suit season is over. “Obesity increases your risk for just about every disease,” says Klein. But BMI alone doesn’t tell the whole story; bear in mind that if you carry extra weight around your middle (say, your waist circumference is 35 inches or greater), you’re at risk for type 2
diabetes, heart disease, and all their attendant health issues, even if your BMI is in the normal range, notes Stephanie Faubion, an internist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Calculate yours: Annually, or after a weight gain or loss. If it’s too high, make an effort to eat less and exercise more. Keep a tape measure handy to track any waist changes as well.

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Human Glucosamine for Dogs?

MyAchingKnees.com received a question from a reader: "While looking at a bunch of web sites and blogs on joints and found your site. Did I see your name on a site talking about joint supplements for dogs? If so, am I remembering correctly that you can give dogs human glucosamine products?"

You bet you did. Not only can you give your dog glucosamine, but only half (or less) of a human dose is required due to the dog's weight (unless you have some giant Marmaduke type dog).

Alot of Vets are using the same pharmaceutical grade Glucosamine product as I take, which is not only much more pure and potent, it doesn't require the pre-loading up front because it is pure and potent.

A great point of using the same Glucosamine I am using is also the cost. I have used liquid, powder and pill Glucosamine on my dogs in the past (with minimal results), and it usually costs around $25 a month to feed them this supplement. While I have no problem paying $25 a month for my dog's joint comfort, once I switched to using the same Glucosamine product I take, it cut the cost to about $12 a month (wholesale price).

Plus, on a pharmaceutical grade product you can assured there are no toxins,..it is bio-available (usable by the body), and have great dissolution. Products have to meet these standards to receive the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) certification and be able to be listed in the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR).

I think you'll see a big difference putting your dog on our pharmaceutical grade glucosamine.

You can go to this site and order a bottle,...it's called Procosa II, and at $28.74 (retail) this bottle would last you 56 days for a dog up to 100 lbs. Cheap way to find out if it'll work for your dog as well as it has worked out for me and my dogs.

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Anti-Oxidants and Degenerative Disease

MyAchingKnees.com continues to receive Health and Wellness information from Dr. Ray Strand in the form of his weekly Health Nuggets. The common train of the last two Health Nuggets was the relationship between low levels of anti-oxidants and degenerative disease. This week Dr Strand talks about Macular Degeneration and Atherosclerosis. Chronic Knee and other joint pain and problems are heavily influenced by the same thing as Macular Degeneration and Atherosclerosis that is oxidative stress, releasing free radicals that cause inflammation affecting a wide range of problems. The only,…again, the only protection we have a high level of control over is the nutritional supplements we take in order to provide our body the nutrients to combat oxidative stress – hence the term anti-oxidants.

I have some clients who are taking pharmaceutical grade Glucosamine and Omega 3 Fatty Acids that I recommend and take myself, but I also tell them they will not get the most optimal benefits until they begin a pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplementation program as all the minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants work best and create synergy when they are consumed in the proper ratios.

Sunlight Exposure along with low Antioxidant levels Increases the risk of Macular Degeneration.

A recent study suggests that protecting the eyes from sunlight exposure (using hats or protective sunglasses) and consuming high levels of dietary antioxidants may significantly reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. The researchers looked at lifetime sunlight exposure and measured blood antioxidant levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, zeaxanthin, and zinc. They evaluated 4,400 older people and found that individuals with the lowest antioxidant levels and greatest sunlight exposure significantly increased the risk of macular degeneration.

Low Antioxidant Levels Associated with Hardening of the Arteries

A study looked at 220 men and women without a history of hardening of the arteries. Vitamin A, vitamin E, and Lycopene were decreased by over 50% in the participants who were found out to have hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) when compared to those who did not have any hardening of the arteries. The researchers concluded that regular intake of foods rich in antioxidant vitamins (nutritional supplementation) may slow the progression of hardening of the arteries and its consequences (heart attack or stroke).

Note: Riccioni G, et al. Plasma antioxidants and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic disease. Ann Nutr Metab. 2008;53 (2):86-90

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Reader Question: Will Glucosamine Rid Me of Chronic Knee Pain

MyAchingKnees.com received the reader questions: "Will Glucosamine rid me of my Chronic Knee Pain that I have had for the psst 10 years and has been increasing as I get older?"

Yes, I believe Glucosamine will help your knees providing you take a high quality Glucosamine (I take a pharmaceutical grade Glucosamine listed in the Physicians Desk Reference - PDR), and, if your chronic knee pain is caused, in part, by poor quality knee cartilage health for which Glucosamine provides nutritional benefits to. If your chronic knee pain is caused by bone spurs, cracked knee cap or other structural damage, Glucosamine will still helps your knees, but probably not reduce your pain significantly.

I also believe that enhanced optimal benefits would be achieved with advanced doses of high quality Nutritional Supplements to reduced the oxidative stress and repair the damage caused by free radicals and the associated inflammation. I take the highest rated Nutritional Supplement on the market. I will take these the rest of my life, which thanks in a large part to these pharmaceutical grade supplements, I will be living much longer and dying much shorter. It has worked for me.

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Magnets for Chronic Joint Pain Relief?

MyAchingKnees.com received a questions from a reader asking "If those magnets you see in the stores and on TV actually work to diminish chronic knee pain."

I have actually tried magnets about 10 years ago, receiving several different sets from a relative who knew about my (then) great knee pain. I tried them for at least three months using socks with magnets, a magnetic knee brace and magnetic knee elastic band, and also, an elastic magnetic band my elbows.

I think the idea behind the magnets is to promote blood circulation and therefore restoration of the damaged cells. But if you think about it this way,...that increased circulation doesn't do much of any good when your body is deficient in the nutrients needed for regeneration and the defense against degenerative oxidative stress and inflammation.

I know now the best defense against the ravages of degenerative disease and chronic joint pain is to give your body the highest quality nutritional supplements and optimizers to combat the oxidative stress and resultant free radical and inflammation damage.

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Vitamin D and the Link to Strokes

MyAchingKnees.com received the following information on Vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of strokes from Dr. Ray Strand's Health Nuggets publications,...www.drraystrand.com

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death (140,000 per year in the US) in the US and Canada. Adverse drug reactions are the third leading cause of death (180,000 deaths per year in the US) in the US and Canada. Everyone is very concerned about having a stroke because of the major disability it can cause.

A study published in September 2008, revealed that for every small decrease in blood levels of vitamin D there was a startling 86% increase in fatal strokes. The researchers concluded that low levels of 25 hydorxyvitamin D levels are independently predictive of fatal strokes and they suggest that vitamin D supplementation is a promising approach in the prevention of strokes.

So what are desirable vitamin D blood levels that we want to achieve and how do we find out what our vitamin D level actually is? The most accepted blood test is called a 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D blood level. This test can be done non-fasting; however, it needs to be ordered by a physician.

The proposed level for optimal health is 50 to 60 ng/ml. Now some practitioners would even like to see this as high as 80. However, everyone agrees that if this level is less than 20 you have a serious problem and need to address it immediately. A level between 20 and 40 is generally considered to be inadequate and increased supplementation with vitamin D3 is strongly recommended. Those whose level is between 40 and 50 should be sure they are at least supplementing their diet with vitamin D3 at greater than 1,000 IU daily thereafter.

The primary source of vitamin D is normally in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. However, it has been pointed out in previous Health Nuggets that vitamin D deficiency is still very prevalent throughout the world and especially in those individuals who live in higher latitudes. My advice is to actually check your blood levels of vitamin D and see where you stand. If you are not able to get this blood test through your own personal physician, you also have the option of ordering the blood work through the Dr Strand website at www.drraystrand.com.

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Reply to Energy Drink Comment

MyAchingKnees.com received a comment on the Energy Drink post,...the reader wrote: "Energy drinks should not be banned such that they give energy to many persons and many persons are depending upon them."

I thought long and hard about even replying to this comment, but thought maybe,...just maybe, the reader wanted to write more but instead hit the "send" key. So I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

Go ahead and drink the Monsters,...the Red Bulls and all the other high glycemic "energy" drinks with their high levels of caffiene, processed fructose and Spendra. Just don't fool yourself. These drinks,...well, they suck. They give you a sugar high, then make your pancreas work overtime to produce insulin to take the sugar out of the blood stream,..then comes the crash. And I'll be you do it all over again.

I'll stick with a low glycemic, natural fructose and natural caffeine, and, no artificial flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, or in my drink,..the Rev 3.

Rev3 has unique components that separate it from other energy drinks: Rev3 contains L-Carnitine, an ingredient that has an important function in energy production. L-Carnitine helps shuttle fatty acids (fats) into the mitochondria where they can be turned into energy. It also helps to transport the toxic byproducts of energy combustion out of the mitochondria to prevent accumulation.

Rev3 also contains CoQ10. CoQ10 is involved in the production of 95 percent of the energy required by the body.

A Revolution in Energy Drinks, Rev3 is also low glycemic and formulated for a sustained energy. With a high glycemic load, typical energy drinks spike your blood sugar levels, giving you a quick feeling of energy but soon leading to a crash that leaves you feeling drained. Rev3 has a total glycemic load that is three to four times lower than traditional energy drinks. This means that Rev3 does not lead to a debilitating sugar crash but rather leaves you feeling a sustained level of energy throughout the day.*

Proprietary Energy Complex Rev3 was developed with a complete and proprietary energy complex that includes L-Carnitine, malic acid, citric acid, Korean ginseng, and rhodiola. These ingredients are necessary for normal functioning of the Krebs energy cycle (citric acid cycle) and electron transport systems.*

Proprietary Phytochemical Blend. The unique phytochemical blend of Rev3 includes 61 milligrams of additional all-natural ingredients. This includes pomegranate, acerola, grape-seed extract, and USANA’s patented Olivol® olive-fruit extract. Olivol provides highly bioavailable phenolic antioxidants that have been shown to protect low-density lipoproteins (LDL) from oxidation.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat,
cure, or prevent any disease.

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