Several nutritional supplements have shown promise for relieving pain, stiffness and other arthritis symptoms. Glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids, SAM-e and curcumin are just some of the natural products researchers have studied for osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Do you know that one of the most vital nutrients that promote bone health is Vitamin D? Yes, multiple studies show that a deficiency of this vitamin can lead to joint pain and swelling. As Vitamin D is required for bone building and bone health, therefore a deficiency of it will negatively affect the bones.
These nutrients include glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, bromelain, collagen, vitamin C, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids. All of these nutrients help reduce pain and inflammation. You can even take supplements like curcumin (turmeric) and vitamin C before bed to improve joint function.
Simple muscle aches and pains can be relieved with anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen and diclofenac. Diseases affecting the joints – for example, rheumatoid arthritis– can be treated with medicines that affect the immune system, like methotrexate and leflunomide.
Turmeric is thought to help relieve pain, inflammation and stiffness as a result of curcumin, a key chemical found in this herb. Curcumin is thought to have this effect by blocking inflammatory cytokines and enzymes.
Despite a widespread belief that little can be done about stiffness other than surgery, appropriate physical therapy can relieve and even reverse stiffness.
Some people use supplements to try to help manage joint pain from arthritis. Glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3, and green tea are just a few of them. Glucosamine has been touted as an anti-inflammatory that helps keep the cartilage in joints healthy.
Magnesium. What it does: Magnesium strengthens bones; maintains nerve and muscle function; regulates heart rhythm and blood sugar levels; and helps maintain joint cartilage.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Good old-fashioned over-the-counter medications such as naproxen (Aleve®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), known as NSAIDs, relieve pain and reduce inflammation. That makes them a good choice to treat joint pain and stiffness, including arthritis, Kim says.
The stiffness can be a sign of an underlying condition. Conditions that cause joint stiffness include arthritis, gout, bursitis, lupus, bone cancer, and degenerative joint disease in Atlanta. Diet, weight, and other lifestyle factors can also have an impact on mobility and stiffness.
Humans with vitamin D deficiency exhibit muscle pain in muscles at multiple locations.
A deficiency in magnesium is most likely to cause muscle stiffness because this nutrient is needed to keep muscles flexible and moving efficiently, as well as relaxed.
Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency can cause or worsen neck and back pain and muscle spasm.
Bananas are high in magnesium, which helps strengthen bones and alleviate arthritis symptoms.
If you have too much vitamin D in your blood, it will cause extra calcium absorption. This, in turn, can lead to symptoms like muscle pain, mood disorders, abdominal pain, frequent urination and kidney stones.
What's more, taking too much vitamin D can also negatively impact our health as well as our joint pain because our body simply can't cope! If toxic levels of vitamin D build up in the body it can interfere with your body's absorption of calcium.
OA, often referred to as "wear-and-tear" arthritis, is characterized by a gradual deterioration of the joints. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that fights molecules that trigger joint inflammation. Vitamin C serves a role as a co-factor in collagen synthesis, the main protein in joint tissue and bone.
Magnesium is essential for proper muscle function and acts to relieve tight, sore and cramped muscles. It controls muscle contraction and acts as a muscle relaxant.
Loosen up. Our first tip for combatting tension is to improve that stiff, hunched posture. Take a moment right now: exhale slowly, pull your shoulders away from your ears, sit back…now take a few slow, deep breaths in and out. Close your eyes for a moment (if it is safe to do so!) and let your body loosen.
As you age, joint movement becomes stiffer and less flexible because the amount of lubricating fluid inside your joints decreases and the cartilage becomes thinner. Ligaments also tend to shorten and lose some flexibility, making joints feel stiff.