Hip and joint pain can make life miserable, causing discomfort and preventing you from doing the things you love and need to do. Joint pain is common; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it affected 30 percent of those responding to a 2006 survey. One of the most common causes of hip and joint pain is arthritis, with osteoarthritis being the most common type of arthritis. While supplements should never replace conventional medical treatment, there are several hip and joint supplements available that may ease pain and improve function.
Identification
Check with your doctor before taking hip and joint supplements. Determine the cause of your pain before taking the supplements. Tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking, along with any medical conditions you may be suffering in addition to hip and joint problems. Your doctor can help you decide which supplements are most beneficial to your particular hip and joint condition while avoiding any potentially unhealthy drug interactions.
Function
Some specific supplements reduce symptoms associated conditions affecting the hip and other joints. These symptoms can include pain, inflammation or a decrease in the range of motion of the joint.
Types
"ArthritisToday," the online magazine from the Arthritis Foundation, lists several supplements to relieve symptoms from arthritis and related diseases. Sam-e, glucosamine and chondroitin might be useful to reduce pain and cartilage damage as well as increase diminished mobility. Bromelain, ginger, MSM and stinging nettle may be effective supplements to treat symptoms of hip and joint conditions, such as pain and inflammation. Avocado-soybean unsaponifiable is oil made from avocadoes and soybeans and shows promise in reducing cartilage degeneration and may even promote cartilage repair in hip and knee joints, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Expert Insight
Three trials measured the effect the hip and joint supplements glucosamine and chondroitin have on knee pain and structural knee damage due to osteoarthritis. The Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial, or GAIT, studied participants taking a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin and compared them to patients taking celecoxib or placebo. Findings published in the August 2010 "Annals of Rheumatic Diseases" showed no difference in pain reduction when comparing patients taking a combination of the two supplements to those participants taking celecoxib or placebo. An earlier trial found glucosamine and chondroitin did not diminish structural damage any better than placebo, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Warning
Some supplements can be dangerous. The Merck Manual notes glucosamine is safe but may raise blood glucose levels for those with diabetes. Some glucosamine products contain no glucosamine, so be sure to read the label before purchasing.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Health Interview Survey
- Arthritis Today: Supplements for Your Symptoms
- Mayo Clinic: Osteoarthritis
- National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine: Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT)
- Merck Manual Supplement : Dietary Supplements
