Pain killers are one of the most common over the counter medications sold in this country. With the recent removal from the market of the new class of CoxII inhibitors which were supposed to be easier on the intestinal tract but turned out to be very hard on the cardiovascular system, there is a renewed interest and advertising campaign to switch to the older type of anti-inflammatories. These drugs are not without their side effects, the two worst being that they can contribute to further break down of the joints as well as cause bleeding of the digestive tract. What they want to do is cash in on the billion dollar glucosamine/chondroitin industry that has swept North America over the last decade.

As a result of the latest research in the New England Journal of Medicine, Feb 23 06, called the GAIT trial (Glucosamine/chrondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial) some journalists are putting a negative spin on the research saying that glucosamine and chondroitin do not work in mild arthritis but other journalists report the positive spin that significant decrease in knee pain was experienced by osteoarthritis patients with moderate to severe pain. These GAIT findings are supported by the vast majority of more than 50 published clinical trials that show the two supplements can safely alleviate pain due to osteoarthritis.

The treatment of pain in the body starts with the food on your plate. I recently had a menopausal woman state than when she took my advice and quit drinking coffee, she had quick relief of her swollen and painful hands. She has tried to tell this to her co-workers but they just laugh at her. Give up coffee, forget it! Other foods that can contribute to pain include the nightshade family including potatoes, eggplant, the pepper family and tomatoes; sugar, alcohol and a diet high in red meat. These same foods contribute to the painful excess acidity in the body. Following an elimination diet can also reveal food allergens that contribute to inflammation.

Treatment of pain also begins with the supplementation of good quality calcium, magnesium citrate, vitamin D, purified cod liver oil and natural pain killers such as bromelain and curcumin. Exercise including stretching, proper ergonomics at your work station, drinking lots of purified water, checking in with your chiropractor and massage therapist regularly and having a good bed and pillow go a long way to reducing body pain.

In the meantime I am sure the 20 million plus Americans and Canadians who find great relief from these remedies whether their arthritis is mild, moderate or severe are not going to quit taking it due to the negative interpretation of this trial. This is another example of the negative interpretation of research that we have seen in the last year including vitamin E and Echinacea summarizing that they don't work. What we know is that it is important what part of the vitamin, nutrient or herb is being researched, the dosages used, and the length of the trial. If you are taking these remedies and they are not working, ask these questions first before giving up on them. Glucosamine, MSM and chondroitin combinations used for pain management are much safer than the daily use of aspirin.

Published Mar 8, 2006 in the North Island MidWeek

Dr. Pincott has been practicing naturopathic medicine since 1985 and is currently practicing in Campbell River, for patients looking for a naturopath in the Campbell River area. For contact information, look in the HANS Directory at www.hans.org under naturopathic medicine or go to www.drpincott.com.

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