Osteoarthritis is also referred to as degenerative arthritis and is a normal part of the aging process; simply put it is the wear and tear on joints. The primary cause of the disease is a slow degeneration of the articular or hyaline cartilage. Hyaline cartilage has a reduced capacity to regenerate and this compounds the degenerative process by failing to repair the cartilage at the same rate that it is destroyed. Osteoarthritis can be classified as primary, due to genetic or environmental predisposition, or secondary due to some previous pathology, trauma, or infection. In the initial acute stage of inflammation, swelling may be caused by the release of proteolytic enzymes, which are due to cartilage breakdown. There may also be associated joint swelling due to this intra-articular irritation. In the later stages of the disease, there are associated soft tissue and bone changes, secondary to increased or abnormal joint stress. The body's attempt to handle this increased joint stress leads to increased bone formation and joint swelling. This process in turn leads to the enlargement of the joint.
The sad part about the above scenario is that this disease, for the most part, is preventable with the appropriate care. The underlying cause of this disease is abnormal joint movement or a subluxation complex. The synovial joint is designed to work as friction-free as possible with its smooth hyaline cartilage and lubricating synovial fluid. The axis around which the joint moves is designed to produce minimal friction stress on the articular cartilage. As the joint moves away from the ideal position, due to the above causes, the increase in frictional stress placed on the joint starts to cause articular cartilage degeneration. This roughening of the joint cartilage is called fibrillation and can lead to joint noise and inflammation. As the joint degenerates, the hyaline cartilage cannot repair the damage quickly enough and inferior fibrocartilage replaces it in the worn area. Left untreated the hyaline cartilage will be continually worn away until there is actual bone on bone contact and associated disability.
The most common treatment for this condition is the use of Non-Steriodal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aspirin, Tylenol, and Ibuprofen. This is the worst treatment for osteoarthritis for a number of reasons. These drugs have been shown to increase the breakdown of articular cartilage while at the same time masking the signs and symptoms of the disease. This leads to increased joint destruction and increased consumption of these drugs or the use of even stronger medication to control the pain with the eventual possibility of joint replacement surgery. NSAIDs are also associated with gastrointestinal hemorrhage and, because these medications are often used by the elderly it should be noted that these drugs can also contribute to equilibrium problems which may cause falls and result in fractures.
The first, and most important step in preventing this disease is chiropractic care of the articulations of the body. It is just a fact of life that, as we get older the joints of the body do not work at their optimum level and that degeneration occurs long before symptoms appear. The chiropractic treatment program includes spinal or joint manipulation, exercise, weight management, and other modalities. Without first utilizing chiropractic care to restore and maintain joint function, other natural therapies will be less effective, or not effective at all.
Once the joint's normal function has been restored through chiropractic treatment, the next step is naturopathic treatment of the joint to help facilitate recovery. The first naturopathic treatment would be dietary modifications since some diets promote inflammation while others help to reduce inflammation. The first change would be to increase your intake of pure, filtered water to help rehydrate and remove toxins from the joint. In general try to avoid or reduce the following substances as they tend to increase the inflammatory process: sugar, caffeine, saturated fats, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and tobacco. You will want to increase the following items in your diet as they help to reduce the inflammatory process: fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, rice and lean protein (especially fish). The following Supplements have also been shown to be effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Glucosamine Sulphate has been shown to not only help reduce the pain of arthritis, but it has also been shown to help promote cartilage repair. Glucosamine Sulphate occurs naturally in the body and is synthesized from glucose and an amine group; there is also a decrease in the Glucosamine Sulphate production as the normal aging process continues. There are numerous double blind studies that demonstrate that Glucosamine Sulphate is more effective than NSAIDs in the treatment of osteoarthritis. While NSAIDs will initially give quicker pain relief, the effect is short lived and thus requires higher doses and increased side effects. Glucosamine Sulphate, on the other hand, works slower but has a longer, more powerful effect while helping to rebuild joint cartilage.
Flax Seed Oil is extremely important in the treatment of arthritic conditions or any problem which produces pain through the inflammatory process. Flax Seed Oil contains omega 3 essential fatty acids. These fatty acids promote healing and the reduction of inflammation, whereas fatty acids from saturated fat actually increases inflammation and swelling.
The following botanical medicines (coming from plants) are also very beneficial for healing and the reduction of pain from osteoarthritis: Bromelain, Yucca, and Ginger. Bromelain comes from plants such as pineapples and works as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It helps reduce the swelling and pain associated with osteoarthritis. Ginger was shown through clinical studies to reduce the pain and swelling in 75% of patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Yucca contains a saponin extract which was reviewed in the Journal of Applied Nutrition, it was also found to be effective in reducing swelling and pain associated with osteoarthritis.
By Dr. Daryl Robert Bourke, DC ND
Osteoarthritis and Treatments
