The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in 2010 that as many as 50 million Americans suffer from arthritis and other joint conditions. Since most of these are autoimmune diseases, they have no cure. However, certain alternative treatments, including MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) and chondroitin, can provide relief from joint pain and lessen its impact on your quality of life.
Joint Conditions and Symptoms
Diseases that commonly affect the joints include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus and fibromyalgia. Depending on the severity of the condition, you can experience moderate to severe joint swelling, warmth and redness, pain or tenderness, stiffness or difficulty moving and standing and a crunching feeling of bone moving on bone.
MSM
MSM is one of the two supplemental versions of sulfur, a mineral present in fruits, vegetables and milk. MSM helps maintain joint health by forming the connective tissue important for joint cushioning, including tendons, ligaments and cartilage. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, MSM also can slow down the nerve impulses that transmit signals of pain, thereby reducing pain sensations in your joints.
Chondroitin
Chondroitin is another supplement taken for joint health. It naturally occurs in your body and preserves the health of cartilage by absorbing fluid, blocking enzymes that deteriorate cartilage and stimulating the body to produce new cartilage. Chondroitin also may relieve joint pain and improve mobility.
Effectiveness
Although many patients report success with MSM and chondroitin treatments, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that scientific studies present only preliminary results. A pilot study published in "Osteoarthritis and Cartilage" in 2006 reported improved joint pain and function in participants who consumed 6,000 mg of MSM daily for osteoarthritis of the knee. The participants did not suffer any side effects, but the authors advise that more research is needed to establish the long-term effects of MSM treatment. A 2011 pilot study published in "Annals of Rheumatoid Disease" showed that chondroitin sulfate reduced the loss of cartilage in patients with osteoarthritis. As with the 2006 study, the authors reiterate that more investigation is necessary before prescribing chondroitin as standard treatment.
Considerations
Treatment for joint pain is multifaceted. In addition to supplements such as MSM and chondroitin, your physician may suggest a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D to support bone health and a regimen of low-impact exercises to increase muscle strength and joint flexibility. Consider joint replacement if your joint health does not improve with these treatments.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Arthritis-Related Statistics; October 2010
- NIH MedlinePlus the Magazine: Joint Health and Care: Prevention, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment; 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Sulfur; Steven D. Ehrlich; May 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Chondroitin; Steven D. Ehrlich; December 2008
- "Osteoarthritis Cartilage": Efficacy of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in Osteoarthritis Pain of the Knee: a Pilot Clinical Trial; L. Kim, et al.; March 2006
- "Annals of Rheumatoid Disease": Chondroitin sulphate reduces both cartilage volume loss and bone marrow lesions in knee osteoarthritis patients starting as early as 6 months after initiation of therapy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study using MRI; L. Wildi, et al.; March 2011
