Do suppliemnts really work? Am getting so frustrated being in pain all the time

Hi,

I've had sacroiliitis for many years now (like RA in that it is inflammation of the joint, which is why I post here).  It started with strong leg aches when sittign for a bit.  Then I'd get low back with shooting pain down my legs (like sciatica).  Now I have daily back pain, pinching which progresses to the shooting pain and SI joint pain.  I can't sit for long at all (maybe 30 min if a good day) and cannot do any exercise.  These cause flare ups.

Back in May, I got desperate and decided to try Physio.  I then started having ok days but then for no apparent reason, would get the shooting pain again and be in lots of pain for days.  (I do still do the exercises, but am not going regularly to appointments as there isn't much more they can do for me...just said to increase length and repetitions of the existing exercises).

So my question is...do suppliments really work?  I used to take tumeric but did stop.  Yesterday I did buy a bottle again as I just don't know what else to do to help less pain.  I do everytyhing I can to prevent flare ups and limit pain (only downfall is I have a sweet tooth, and I know some say sugar can trigger things...not sure if that's true or a myth).

What do you all take?  And do you find it helps?  Or any other advice would be appreciated.  Thx.

Hello Chartreux.  Thanks for your response.  I actually do take omega-3 and vitamin D regularly (and actually omega-3 is the only one my rheumatologist specifically suggested to take). Haven't heard of the cherry juice, but I think I've heard that cherries are good to fight inflammation (and with it being tart, then no sugar is added).  Would be nice if we could just take these and it would "cure" us wouldn't it?

In my experience supplements alone only help they don't work fully.
Are you anti trying methotrexate or one of the heavier meds?
Or can't you because of your UC?
Its all very overwhelming when you're in pain all the time.
I find hydro therapy has helped me strengthen my core muscles, I have a lot less trouble with my knees and hips now. Its basically physio under water, so all your joints are cushioned. It takes about 6 weeks before you notice any difference, so its very gentle, but I'm hooked now, I go once a week to a maintenance class, its as important as the meds for me.
If you are flaring the physios adjust the exercises to keep movement rather than build strength.
Good luck, golitho

I take the Omega-3's and Vitamin D, Calcium etc etc etc and have for many months, also tried Ginger Root and I have noticed *no* difference or relief of my RA symptoms.  I have as much or more pain now before I ever did supplements.  My hair and skin look much much better, but my joint pain/inflammation is still high.  For RA, these supplements are good, but most really do need real medications to combat pain/inflammation.

Hi,
Thank you for all your responses.  I did read but have not had time until now to respond.

Kam104kam, am sorry you've been suffering.  Didn't know there is a prescription for fish oil. Is it just a higher dose?  I do take omega3 myself but just over the counter. I also take a probiotic, but find it consusing with which one is the best.  There are so many options out there with different strains.  Sounds like tart cherry juice is good to try as your'e the second one that's mentioned it.  Will look for it in a health food store.  Glad the acupuncture is helping.  I did try it over the past few months, but one time I went in with pinching pain and after seeing him, I walked...or limped out...with shooting pain (i.e. full flare up).  So never went back.  Good luck to you.

golitho, I do have a prescription for celebrex.  I am to be causious with it and can only take 1/day at max (and even then, only take it daily when I'm really bad).  It does help though.  Glad hydro is helping you.  I tried it as well, but felt worse the next day so didn't return. 

panda, hi there.  What medications do you take (if you don't mind me asking)?  No allergies for me.  I do have a prescription for celebrex, but have to be careful due to my colitis history as it can trigger issues.  So I balance it...do take it when needed, but try not to exceed taking it more than 5 days in a row.  It does help when I do take it, but am always scared of causing stomach issues plus would rather find alternative natural things that would help.  I remember you commenting on the same thing.  Hope you're doing well with the injection.

momto3, it's frustrating with all these suppliments that you feel no improvement with your joints, isn't it?  Hope you get some relief.

 

Hi AppleOrchard.  Just curious on some of the foods you found helped...to include and avoid?

Hello Lu2011

AppleOrchard has right when he or she writes: “It is not what I eat. It is what I do not eat. It is going to be the foods you love and the foods that make you feel better that will cause most of the flares.”

I have got the same experience .

I have been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and osteo arthrosis for about 20 years. Finally, I managed to cure myself through a low acid-diet.

The rheumatic patient is at the origin of his own condition and he alone is able to remove its cause by a drastic change in his diet. Foremost, rheumatic conditions are due to a kind of food poisoning by acids. It may sound rather revolutionary that all the food that is usually promoted as healthy is a real poison for rheumatic patients. But that is in fact the reason why doctors can not find the cause of rheumatism. They never look for the cause in the food, and certainly not in the "so-called healthy food". Rheumatism is most frequently due to an accumulation of acids. Acids dissolve the calcium in the body. The only way to cure rheumatism is to give your body the opportunity to rid itself of the accumulated acids without adding new ones. The worst acids are those from foods that actually taste sour, such as wine, cider, fruit juice, buttermilk, yogurt, curd cheese, Molkosan, vinegar, lemon, oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, other acid fruit, rhubarb and tomatoes. It is advisable to take a teaspoon of cod-liver oil a day, pure without additives (it contains a lot of Omega-3). It is thought to suppress inflammation and it is restoring the oil and the cartilage of the joints.

After my recovery, I could not bear the thought that I knew how to cure rheumatic pains in a way, which was both natural and sound, but wasn't doing anything with it. I wanted to help others as well. I have published the history of my recovery in a book. The title is "Cured of Rheumatism through Diet". The author is Jeanine Van Belle and the publisher is Ennsthaler.

I hope you will try out the low acid-diet and I wish you a quick recovery.

Good luck!
Jeanine from Belgium

Hello - I have been reading the various posts here re: RA - I have reactive arthritis, diagnosed in my late 30's with the HLA-B27 antigen test - and it was positive - my sister also, who along the years has parallelled my symptoms - except that my sister has Crohn's as well. I started out with a swollen knee which lasted for a long time but I was busy and younger and somehow managed. As I am aging I find the flares last longer, of course. about 10 - 12 years ago I started to have flares with iriits - and have had it about 7 times in my left eye and once in my right -- The first time was shocking and painful but now I know right away if I have a flare with a little pain and photophobia - and its back on Prednisolone and off to the ophthalmologist and I proceed with a 7 to 8 week course of it. This August I fell in my bedroom and twisted both my ankles - I didn't have any pain at first but slowly but surely over a period of a few weeks both ankles swelled and sure enough the reactive arthritis "reacted" to the injury - unfortunately it took a long time to figure it out - I was just sure I had sprained my ankles - I have always been okay with Ibuprofen (have tried the stronger anti-inflammatories - Indocid, etc. and this time a dr prescribed Arthrotec - Well I took 5 pills and ended up with my hemoglobin dropping and a 9 hour stint in Emerg with a blood transfusion. Anyway....I have always researched my condition - and tried to keep up to date wtih new thoughts and ideas about it - The idea of food allergies makes sense and I am now on a course towards a new health plan for myself - wtih probiotics, (the tart cherry juice sounds interesting and I think I will give it a try), higher doses of Vitamin D as I live in the Northern Hemisphere, Vit C, fish oil letc. Its alot to put down my throat I find so I try to use as many chewables as possible.

Is there anyone out there with reactive arthritis/Reiter's syndrome that has found success with diet, food sensitivities? etc? I have ordered a book called Conquiering Arthritis that targets food sensitivies and am interested in what I will find in that. Antibiotic therapy is also supposed to be good - (I note the other individual who read the Road Back" but its difficult to get a physician to try something new - but it definitelyi makes sense. I had my tonsils out when I was 21, had a severe gastrointestinal infection when I was in my early 30's and after that I developed the flares. The body is so complex -
Thanks for listening !

Claudia

supplements alone won't get it but with meds that can be the key to pain control. this will be long so i will post tommorrow. D-Phenylalanine, GABA, Bromelain, L-Tryptophan, N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, and that just the tip of an iceberg.