For those living with arthritis, everyday pain management is essential to minimizing joint damage and maintaining your quality of life. Adding low impact exercises that protect the joints, a healthy and balanced diet to aid in weight management, and over the counter pain medications to your daily routine are common recommendations for managing arthritic pain. But did you know that there are also natural supplements for joint pain that can also help by reducing inflammation? We sat down with our founder, Robert Dean, M.D., and asked him what natural supplements he most commonly recommends for his patients to help manage daily joint pain so they can keep living an active lifestyle.
“Living with arthritis does not have to completely sideline your life,” says Dr. Dean. “The key is to change your daily routine to focus on staying active while protecting your joints through low-impact exercises, maintaining a healthy weight to reduce the amount of stress you put on your joints, and managing your pain through stretching and the over-the-counter pain medications suggested by your doctor. I also like to recommend natural supplements not only to aid with joint pain but also for other health benefits that are beneficial to us as we age healthily.”
Before we dove into which natural supplements for arthritis he recommends, Dr. Dean reminded us that you should always consult with your doctor or health care provider before adding any of these to your daily routine – whether you add them as foods to your diet or as supplements taken in the form of pills/capsules. This will ensure proper dosage and take into consideration your specific condition and needs.
Natural Supplements for Joint Pain
Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Consumption of fish oils or Omega 3 Acids has been proven to have anti-inflammatory properties while also having a positive impact on cardiovascular health. Natural sources of Omega-3 are found in cold-water fish such as salmon, trout, and sardines. If your diet is plant-based, sources include flaxseed, chia seeds, and organic soybeans. Not a fan of any of these foods? Over the counter supplements such as Fish Oil are another popular way to get Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
Garlic – More than just delicious flavors and smells, garlic has many health benefits including the potential to decrease some of the inflammatory markers associated with arthritis! While eating fresh, organic garlic is the preferred way to get your daily dose, there are odorless soft gel supplements available for those who aren’t a fan of the taste.
Green Tea – With powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, green tea is a popular natural supplement for those with arthritis. It’s also been shown to have a variety of other health benefits, including the potential to aid in weight management. While it is most commonly enjoyed as a hot and soothing beverage, there are supplements available in the form of capsules for those who don’t care for drinking tea.
Turmeric – While Turmeric is well known as a household spice, it also has many health benefits including helping with joint and arthritic pain. Its main active component is curcumin which, on top of being what gives turmeric its bright yellow color, has many anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, one study from the Mayo Clinic found that taking turmeric extract three times a day was comparable to taking a 1,200 milligrams dose of Ibuprofen daily. For those with less than stellar culinary skills, or for those who aren’t fans of its flavor, supplements in the form of over the counter pills are available as well.
“Natural supplements like these are a healthy addition to your daily routine and can help aid arthritic pain,” says Dr. Dean. “When paired with other best practices around exercise and diet, you will not only help to reduce inflammation, but you will also get other health benefits.”
What if implementing all of the best practices for managing joint pain isn’t working?
“In this case, you should address the situation with your doctor sooner rather than later to reduce continued joint damage,” he says. “While at-home management is a good thing, it won’t be a solution for everyone. Each individual case must be assessed by a doctor to determine the best path forward.”
How does Dr. Dean handle these evaluations?
“When I evaluate patients, my goal is to be thorough and transparent because ultimately, we want to avoid joint replacement surgery which is invasive and carries some risks,” he says. “If I see that an individual’s damaged joint can be treated with the AROmotion treatment, which is a non-surgical outpatient procedure, then I know that we can address their pain non-invasively. If we cannot treat their condition, then I will give them a recommendation on how to proceed that’s best for them. Of course, my goal is to help as many patients as possible to avoid surgery so they can recover quickly and get back to doing what they love.”
If you are living with joint pain that has worsened or reached the point where at-home management is not working, or if you have been told you may need a total joint replacement, it may be time to set up a free consultation with Dr. Dean to see if you are a candidate for AROmotion, a non-surgical procedure that he developed to stop joint pain fast with lasting results. Just fill out the form below to get started!
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