Dietary supplements are everywhere, and often they’re promoted as miracle cures, even for conditions that we know are incurable, like osteoarthritis. However, some supplements are beneficial for some people, under some circumstances.
At Rheumatology Solutions, our highly skilled and experienced providers do often suggest nutritional supplements for people with osteoarthritis. We also recommend a specific brand and are happy to guide you to the regimen that’s most likely to help you. In this post we explain how we conclude whether supplements might be right for you, as well as why we suggest a specific brand.
It’s important to understand that osteoarthritis isn’t caused by your diet or any kind of nutritional deficiency. It’s a degenerative disease that’s essentially caused by wear-and-tear. You use your joints, and then the structures and tissues of which they’re comprised begin to break down. The older you are, the more likely it is you have some degree of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis doesn’t have a cure. It’s a progressive, degenerative disease. However, the course of the disease can be slowed, and your symptoms can be treated. Supplements could be one way of doing those things and making your life more comfortable.
As we noted at the beginning of this post, nutritional supplements are available everywhere and in such a variety, it can feel nearly impossible to separate them. In addition to easy availability and enormous variety, they are often accompanied by big claims. Memory, joint health, strengthening connective tissues, reducing pain, eliminating inflammation, you name it, some supplement claims to fix it.
It’s nearly impossible for an average person to understand what’s real and what may be helpful in the current supplement environment. Another thing of which you may not be aware is that supplements may interact with your other medications, and many supplements have potential side effects.
We recommend caution when it comes to supplements.
Your doctor can order blood work to understand whether you may have a deficiency that can be corrected with a supplement. They can also recommend a proper dosage, make sure the supplement won’t interfere with your medications, and inform you of any side effects you may experience.
Supplements, unlike other types of medication, are not regulated by the FDA. This means it’s important for you to take supplements that have been vetted and approved by professionals.
Finding supplements that meet rigorous standards and that are made with high-quality ingredients can be challenging. We recommend the brand Theralogix to our patients.
We do recommend supplements, and we do think that they can be an important tool in treating your arthritis. However, we also recommend that you take the supplements you need and that are safe for you and that you purchase them from a trustworthy provider.
If you’re wondering whether a supplement might be right for you, schedule an appointment at Rheumatology Solutions. We can help you understand your needs and direct you to a safe, potentially helpful, regimen of dietary supplements.
