Feb 14 2008
Understanding Joint Pain
Joint pain has a broad category of causes including injury, disease, degeneration, fractures or stress from overuse. Causes of joint pain many also include tendon or ligament tears, strains, sprains, pulls, cartilage damage or even tumors.
Age is another issue that affects the severity of joint pain in many people. Although advanced age may not be what causes arthritis, the wear and tear on the body as a result of normal living no doubt affects bones, cartilage and joints. A larger amount of older people than younger have some forms of health problems that affect the joints and its severity does grow with age unless slowed or maintained by sufficient treatment. Many older people assume it is a part of growing older and do not ever really receive proper testing or treatment to alleviate symptoms.
The physical condition that a person keeps himself or herself in can also have an impact on the development of arthritic symptoms. Those who are overweight are at more risk of developing symptoms and can help fend off painful problems by effectively managing his or her weight.
Joint pain may seem like an inevitable problem but relief is available through two substances known as glucosamine and MSM. Glucosamine is naturally found in the connective tissues of the human body, such as those covering the ends of bones in the joints. Glucosamine is thought to help with cartilage formation and repair. Some laboratory tests show that glucosamine sulfate may help protect joint cartilage by limiting breakdown and helping to build up levels of the cartilage. Glucosamine hydrochloride, another form of glucosamine, is considered to be equally effective as the sulfate form. It is absorbed more easily by the body and can be taken in lower dosages with the same effectiveness as glucosamine sulfate.
MSM, Methyl Sulfonyl Methane, is an organic source of sulfur which is widely utilized by the body in the formation of connective tissue. Sulfur is essential to good health but is easily destroyed by modern food processing methods resulting in widespread deficiencies. It is fundamentally important to more than 150 compounds in the body including enzymes, hormones, antibodies and free radical scavengers. Although MSM does not cure arthritis, it reduces swelling that causes pain. It is so effective that doctors use it to reduce their patients’ medication dosage. Some can even discontinue their medications and replace them with MSM sulfur.
Studies have shown that utilizing Glucosamine or MSM, has helped greatly in reducing various types of joint pain so many people have chosen not to deal with.