Does your arthritis back pain relief drug worry you?
Are you disappointed in its effectiveness to relieve pain and improve joint symptoms? Are you feeling side effects, such as nausea, stomach bleeding, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, headache and drowsiness?
Have you thought about alternative natural supplements but the words “natural” and “herbal” scare you? Rest assured you’re not alone. Millions of arthritis sufferers are just like you.
I have had recurring low back pain since my auto accident in 1991, which also caused a lateral whiplash. I have now been diagnosed with neck arthritis and have had recurring back pain. I am unable to handle painkilling drugs of any kind—they all mess up my stomach and I am bothered by other side effects, including dizziness.
For that reason, I have discovered natural products for arthritis and back pain relief, including a glucosamine joint health supplement, a boswellia-based pain relief supplement, and a menthol-based pain cream that provides relief like no other I’ve ever tried.
Did you know that the natural substances glucosamine and
chondroitin proved more effective in relieving pain from osteoarthritis than the COX-2 drug celecoxib (Celebrex) in patients with moderate-to-severe pain by a score of 79.2% to 69.4%?
The above statistic was published Feb. 18, 2006 in the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Notably, the study said that glucosamine may also help to prevent cartilage damage, and of 1583 patients who took glucosamine there was zero side effects.
Did you know that Celebrex, a prescription arthritis back pain relief drug, has no ability whatsoever to help prevent progression of cartilage damage and has numerous side effects?
Drug side effects can be deadly. The longer and more often you use non-prescription or prescription painkillers, the riskier your overall health may be compromised.
The popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) painkillers, Bextra and Vioxx, are no longer marketed due to harmful side effects. Physicians are also alerted to potential similar problems with prescription Celebrex.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warnings in 2005 and strengthened them in 2015 due to multiple studies linking NSAIDs to increased risks of stroke and heart attack, in addition to gastrointestinal issues of bleeding, ulcers, and death.
The TNF blocker rheumatoid arthritis drugs, Enbrel, Remicade, Humira, Cimzia and Simponi were issued black box warnings by the FDA September 4, 2008 and August 2009 because they raise the risk of possibly fatal fungal infections and cancer in children.
Black box warnings are the strongest risk warnings that the FDA can impose upon a drug.
One method of looking at the seriousness of drug side effects is the number of hospitalizations related to adverse drug events (ADE). A June 2017 study estimated the total ADE hospitalizations from 2008 to 2011 at nearly 10 million patients (6.28 percent of the total patients for that period). NSAIDS were the fourth most common causes of ADE, behind steroids, cancer drugs and blood thinners.
The study concluding that ADE carries a significant burden of inpatient hospital care, incurs more cost, and leads to increased loss of life. Targeted policies to reduce them could potentially help decrease mortality as well as drive down cost. The study was published in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety.
One in four patients walks out of a doctor’s office with a pharmaceutical prescription that could injure them, Harvard University researchers reported April 17, 2003 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers surveyed 661 patients from four Boston area primary care practices and found 162 of them suffered one or more medication-related injuries. There were 182 adverse events in all, including 24 serious but non-fatal events.
The researchers were led by Dr. Tejal Gandhi, director of patient safety at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School.
The concept of treating joint inflammation, swelling and stiffness by using herbal preparations for back arthritis pain relief is centuries old and continues to thrive in most parts of the world today.
Modern science has perfected the technology of extracting the best botanical constituents to preserve the potency of the plant or herb’s flowers, leaves, or roots. This process allows the herb’s natural properties to be bottled as dietary supplements in the form of capsules or tablets.
Nature provides the substances that have the same power as drugs to produce an effect in the body.
For example:
All three effectively provide arthritis back pain relief.
In addition to boswellia, glucosamine and safflower, the following is a list of additional herbal and natural substance supplements that may be helpful for arthritis and its symptoms (click each link for more complete information):
Alfalfa (referred to as “the father of all foods,”) has health benefits recognized for centuries. The alfalfa leaf contains a wide range of healing properties that help reduce arthritic stiffness, swelling and pain in joints. It is a natural diuretic.
Ashwagandha (in combination with beta sitosterol—below) helps relax the body and mind. It has sedating and anti-stress properties and its root contains flavanoids and active ingredients helpful for reducing inflammation.
Beta sitosterol (in combination with Ashwagandha—above) is a soybean phytosterol that helps blunt cortisol—a hormone produced during stress, a common aggravation for many arthritis sufferers.
Borage Oil (GLA). Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) from borage seed oil is used as an anti-inflammatory and assists the body in forming prostaglandins that help regulate many normal body processes.
GLA (See Borage Oil above)
Menthol is an organic compound obtained from peppermint oil with local anesthetic and counter-irritant qualities. Menthol replaces the pain message from symptoms of arthritis or other conditions with cooling arthritis back pain relief.
Safflower (in combination with boswellia—above). The safflower plant provides natural alternatives for joint discomfort of arthritis as its properties reduce pain and inflammation.
St. John’s Wort is a shrubby plant used as a natural alternative treatment for mild depression, anxiety or sleep disorders commonly linked to people with arthritis. It has far less side effects than drugs.
Valerian root promotes a calm, restful sleep and helps maintain a relaxed state naturally. The pain and discomfort of arthritis can prevent sound sleep.
Fish Oil (Essential Omega-3 Fatty Acids) from cold water fish (tuna, mackerel, halibut, cod, salmon) are anti- inflammatory for arthritis relief. Fish oil is also effective in rheumatoid arthritis.
Here is a list of self-care tips to help in the treatment of arthritis of the spine:
My husband and I have used three natural pain products since they first were scientifically developed in 2003. We both have osteoarthritis and I suffer from recurrent low back pain. My husband had severe knee osteoarthritis that resulted in total knee replacements in 2015 and 2016. He presently has very severe shoulder arthritis, which from X-rays is bone-on-bone. Throughout, he continues to play tennis three to four times a week by using the three natural pain relief products shown below (and no pharmaceutical painkillers whatsoever).
Pain cream for muscles and joints—Consists of natural plant extracts with pain-relieving cooling menthol, this topical analgesic provides deep temporary relief for minor pain associated with backache, arthritis, bruises, sprains, and more. This product contains a proprietary blend of natural ingredients including sweet almonds, aloe vera and menthol. Its effectiveness is unique compared to other creams on the market. It’s the best we’ve ever tried and is excellent for arthritis back pain relief. Its liposome delivery system penetrates up to 4 inches and relieves pain up to four hours.
Joint cushioning product—Consists of a combination of 1500 mg of glucosamine hydrochloride and 100 mg of safflower, plus zinc, copper, manganese and boron, this natural dietary supplement helps build cartilage to promote flexibility, comfortable movement, enhanced mobility and range of motion.
Relief of pain product—Consists of a combination of 1000 mg of clinically proven boswellia extract (resin) standardized to 4% total boswellic acid and a patent-pending 150 mg of safflower extract, it provides pain relief for overworked joints, promotes flexibility and overall comfortable movement and is gentle on the stomach. This high quality dietary supplement contains no aspirin.
Try one, two or all three of these safe, natural treatments to see if they work to ease your symptoms and help you lead a more comfortable life.
For arthritis back pain relief, from personal experience I highly recommend the above natural pain trio.
Disclaimer: Health statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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