Thursday, November 05, 2009
My mom is on the following supplements in addition to methotrexate and NSAIDs (Aleve).
- Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega Liquid (1 - 2 tsp per day)
- Glucosamine with Chondroitin- 1.5 gm/day + 600mg (Enzymatic Therapy)
- MSM - 2 gm/day (Enzymatic Therapy)
- Lyprinol - 4 capsules per day (Enzymatic Therapy)
Is there anything else that is relevant to include? She has extensive knee damage in one leg and we are hoping she can regenerate cartilage and tissue repair to be able to walk with these things. The above treatment is helping her to cope with pain and inflammation... but the existing damage is taking time to heal. Any other ideas?
These are other possibilities to 2 different questions:
1) We have a friend who had had long term knee damage. His surgeon took tissue from his knee, grew it for 6 weeks, and then repaired his knee with his own tissue so there was no rejection and he's doing great.
2) I have RA and am on Enbrel but can't take any NSAIDS due to stomach problems & Pain. I was on Celebrex until a few months ago but couldn't take it anymore. I am now taking 2 capsules a day of Yucca AR (actually a combination of herbs including yucca. hydrangea, burdock, wild yam, and some others). Even that is half the recommended dose, and after 3 days I felt like I came back to life. I'm very sensitive to meds so this may not work for everyone, but it's a godsend to me. Many spices are also anti-inflammatory, such as turmeric (being clinically investigated now), and ginger. Cinnamon too, I think. I've just heard about a Nepalese dish called dal bhat, which is basically rice and orange lentils, onion, ginger, turmeric. Working these kinds of foods into your diet can also be helpful, and staying away from meat, or at least red meat, which studies have shown increase pain in RA. Some people are also sensitive to green peppers (me), potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant.
For # 1 with growing knee tissue - is this common and I am guessing this is very expensive? It also sounds like this involves surgery to put the tissue back in? Any resources you can point to would be great.
I don't know that it's common and yes, there is surgery for the actual repair involving putting the tissue back. I just mentioned it as a possibility that you might want to check into. I'm in upstate NY. You'd have to check orthopedic surgeons in your area ...