Joint pain and stiffness are usually associated with arthritis-related conditions, but they can also occur as a result of exertion, age and other factors. If your joint pain and stiffness is an ongoing issue, it is a good idea to see a doctor to rule out a serious health problem that would require medical treatment. In some cases, though, supplements--by themselves or in conjunction with medication--may help ease some of your discomfort.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is one of the most commonly recommended supplements for people who have joint pain because of arthritis. Glucosamine naturally occurs in the fluid surrounding your joints, where it helps build and repair cartilage, but most supplements get their glucosamine from shellfish, like shrimp and crabs. Glucosamine supplements moderately improved joint pain in people with osteoarthritis, according to Arthritis Today, but studies to date have been small and focused on specific forms of arthritis, so more research is needed to determine how beneficial glucosamine really is for joint pain. The Arthritis Foundation (AF) recommends 1,500 milligrams (mg) of glucosamine a day for joint pain, whether you take it in the form of liquid, capsule, powder or tablet. It may take as long as a month of regular usage before you begin to notice any benefits.
Stinging Nettle
You will find stinging nettle listed as a remedy for arthritis, gout and other forms of joint and muscle pain in centuries-old medical treatises. Today, researchers theorize that stinging nettle is a recommended treatment because it reduces the levels of inflammatory compounds that cause joint pain and affects the way your body transmits messages through your nervous system, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. More research is needed, but the University of Maryland Medical Center says there is some evidence that stinging nettle supplements taken in conjunction with traditional medication may make it possible for people with osteoarthritis-related joint pain to take smaller doses of traditional medication. The AF recommends taking up to 1,300mg of stinging nettle in tablet form every day, drinking up to three cups of stinging nettle tea each day or applying a stinging nettle solution directly to inflamed joints as needed.
Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA)
An omega-6 fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid--also known as GLA--is extracted from the oil of certain plant seeds, including evening primrose oil, borage oil and black currant oil. The existing research by the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine does not offer conclusive evidence that GLA is effective for treating joint stiffness and pain, but Northwestern Health Sciences University says that there is some evidence that GLA helps your body produce more of the compounds that fight inflammation. The AF recommends taking 2 to 3 grams (g) of GLA per day in the form of capsules or oil.
