In a 2006 National Health Interview Survey, 30 percent of Americans admitted to experiencing pain in the preceding 30 days. Knee pain was the most common form of joint pain, affecting 18 percent of the survey respondents. Other joints commonly affected were the shoulder, finger and hip. Joint pain can be mild or severe, temporary or chronic. Natural remedies such as fish oil are alternatives to common over-the-counter and prescription medications.
Causes of Knee Pain
The most likely causes of joint pain include arthritis, repetitive stress, prolonged abnormal posture or improper mechanics, such as turning in an awkward position, which can dislocate the knee cap and cause pain. Also, sports injuries are common causes of joint pain.
Fish Oil
Fish oil and fish oil supplements come from fatty fish such as salmon, trout, herring and mackerel. The oil contains high levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids, which your body must get from food because it cannot produce it. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, these polyunsaturated fatty acids help reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as arthritis.
Evidence
A study published in "Surgical Neurology" revealed that essential fatty acids in fish oil reduced overall pain in 60 percent of the study participants. Sixty percent stated the fish oil improved their joint pain and 80 percent said they were satisfied with the treatment. Fifty-nine percent were able to stop taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Dosage
The participants in the study took 1,200 mg of fish oil for 75 days without experiencing any significant side effects. However, the University of Maryland Medical Center points out that the dose of fish oil you take in supplement form should be based on the levels of the two fatty acids found in fish---eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. A common dose in fish oil capsules is 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA. They recommend not taking more than 3 g of fish oil per day from capsules without medical supervision.
Safety
Higher doses of omega-3 fatty acids may cause internal bleeding and interact with blood-thinning medications, states the UMMC. Fish oil can cause digestive upset or diarrhea. Get more advice from your doctor before taking fish oil to control joint pain.
