Drinking a concoction of the liquid pectin Certo and grape juice appears to ease knee, shoulder or hip pain for many people. Will it help you?
When your knees, hips or shoulders hurt, you want rapid relief. Cortisone shots seem like a simple and fast solution. Are there any risks?
People who receive cortisone injections into joints for pain relief may also experience systemic side effects such as insomnia or anxiety.
Some people use home remedies such as pectin and grape juice instead of pain relievers to ease sore joints. Readers offer their own variations on the remedy.
Do you take pain medicine at least once a week? How about once a day? Do you know the pros and cons of ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen?
Turmeric heated in almond milk with cinnamon and cayenne pepper eased a reader's hip bursitis pain better than medications.
Could someone with arthritis use turmeric to alleviate pain and stiffness in the joints? Recent research shows how this spice can be helpful.
This week we interview two scientists who describe the benefits of tart cherries for mental alertness and physical stamina.
Some readers are delighted to discover that celery extract relieves longstanding knee pain as well as the discomfort of gout. Others agree it is helpful.
Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements taken to alleviate joint pain may increase your cholesterol. What else can you use for pain relief?
Many people find that drinking several ounces of Concord grape juice with pectin every day helps ward off or ease arthritis pain.
Many readers report that eating nine gin-soaked golden raisins daily can alleviate joint pain if used for at least a month or two.
Months after they expected to be recovered, some people still feel bad after COVID-19. They report fatigue, headache or other symptoms.
Boswellia with turmeric, both powerful anti-inflammatory plant-based supplements, helped a reader's hip pain. Might it help you too?
Dr. Marvin Singh, integrative gastroenterologist, offers insights on how to recover a healthy gut balance after it has been disrupted.
One reader found that following an allergen-free diet without dairy, eggs or gluten eliminated joint pain. Will it work for you?
When everyday NSAIDs like ibuprofen are not appropriate for joint pain, some people get relief from Indian herbal medicines like boswellia.
Meloxicam is a doctor favorite for pain. So are celecoxib and diclofenac. These joint pain solutions come with a big complication: serious stomach ulcers!
Cannabidiol has been studied for its ability to relieve joint pain in animals. Some readers think it might also help ease your arthritis pain.
One reader found that keeping soap under the bottom sheet of the bed reduced the unbearable pain caused by tarsal tunnel syndrome.
A randomized study found that physical therapy resulted in more lasting improvement for people with knee osteoarthritis than steroid shots into the joint.
A diet with lots of vegetables, fish and whole grains is the best diet for arthritis. The comparison is a Western diet with lots of processed foods.
Staying active, even while staying at home, should help control arthritis pain. We also offer other possible treatments that may help.
The research is inconclusive, but a reader reports that New Zealand green-lipped mussels ease arthritis pain for the whole family, including the dog.
A reader reports that boswellia boosted pain relief of fibromyalgia and plantar fasciitis when it was added to glucosamine and chondroitin.
The right yoga practice can help you age gracefully and alleviate pain. Find out more and call in your own questions on 3/7/20..
Are you struggling with hypertension? You may be able to use ginger for a double-duty effect: reduce blood pressure and ease arthritis pain in joints.
SAM-e performed as well as an NSAID drug to relieve arthritis pain in some studies. Might it help you feel better?
Doctors frequently use corticosteroid injections into joints to ease pain and stiffness. A new review of the evidence suggests this has serious downsides.
Scientists are studying what vitamin K2 can do. It may help build bone and reduce calcification of major arteries, but research is ongoing.
Some people like to apply DMSO topically for joint pain. Most of the research has focused on its use for interstitial cystitis rather than arthritis.
Some people love topical diclofenac for sprains, strains or inflamed joints. Others find that it causes the same nasty stomach symptoms as oral NSAIDs.
Some supplements, including turmeric, can help alleviate aches and pains associated with arthritis, bursitis or tendinitis.
Some readers find that keeping a bar of soap under the bottom sheet helps keep hips and knees from aching during the night.
Antibiotic overuse is troubling for many reasons. It contributes to bacterial resistance, but in addition certain antibiotics affect your brain negatively.
Could compounds created in your body from pomegranate have anti-aging properties? Swiss scientists think so. Pomegranate power goes back thousands of years!
Joint pain is common, but one possible cause is less common. Will following a gluten-free diet ease arthritis? One reader reports benefit.
Some readers who have tried Certo in grape juice to ease their joint pain would like to use powdered pectin instead. It may be harder, but it is do-able.
One reader reports that following a keto diet eliminated her knee pain. Researchers have confirmed that a low-carbohydrate diet can reduce pain.
A small study suggests that people following a low-carbohydrate diet suffer less from arthritis in their knees. They also have better joint function.
A skeptic attacked gin-drenched raisins as offering arthritis sufferers false hope. But many readers have found this remedy helps relieve pain.
Shoulder replacement surgery is becoming far more common, but it carries more risk than most patients appreciate.
Using rosemary and turmeric on food with hemp oil and black pepper to boost absorption helped one reader control joint pain.
Researchers found that special creams created by compounding pharmacies are not effective for treating chronic pain. They are pricey, though.
Might your pain reliever interact with your other medicines? It is smart to find out before you take it. The gel form seems less likely to cause trouble.
A reader who remembers home remedies of long ago wonders what happened to cod liver oil. Although doctors no longer prescribe it, people still take it.
A study comparing whole-body Swedish massage to light touch or usual treatment found that the full-body technique reduced the pain from arthritic knees.
A reader says Duexis is helpful for pain relief, but it is unaffordable. Would ibuprofen and famotidine separately work as well?
Are there effective ways to manage arthritis pain? What are the pros and cons, and which ones work better? Call in your questions 888-472-3366 on 10/27/18.
Osteoporosis drugs such as alendronate, ibandronate and risedronate can reduce the risk of fracture from weak bones, but they may trigger joint pain.
A Danish study reviews the dangers of diclofenac and finds that it can harm the heart and digestive tract. Are topical NSAIDs like Voltaren Gel any safer?
What would you do if your were stranded on a desert island? What about if the power went out for several months? What are the best drugs in such extreme situations?
Vinegar and honey mixed in water is a traditional arthritis remedy that many find helpful. There's no reason not to take it with your vitamins.
Although fish oil has a reputation for soothing dry eyes, a recent randomized controlled trial found that placebo capsules of olive oil worked just as well.
Some studies indicate that taking curcumin pills can calm osteoarthritis inflammation and pain. Many readers report their experience supports that.
Research indicates that bromelain enzymes work about as well the drug diclofenac for relieving joint pain with minimal side effects.
With salsalate, you may be able to ease arthritis pain safely. It is far less likely to irritate the digestive tract or cause cardiovascular problems than most NSAID pain relievers.
A reader reports that eating two tablespoons of cocoa in oatmeal daily drastically reduced pain from arthritis. Science tells us why.
Add spices to your ideal smoothie for pain relief and extra brain support.
Prolotherapy injections of salt water or sugar water into or near the joint can often provide substantial relief from pain.
After covering golden raisins with gin and allowing the gin to evaporate, the gin-raisin remedy contains one drop of alcohol in nine raisins.
A big randomized controlled trial in Europe found that pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate is as good as celecoxib at relieving arthritis knee pain.
Topical pain relievers like Voltaren Gel and Flector patches may be less likely to trigger systemic side effects like ulcers.
A reader taking arthritis-strength acetaminophen noticed ringing in the ears that worsened as a side effect of the medication.
A cortisone shot may offer short-term relief from joint pain, but over the longer term it is less effective than other treatments, including placebo.
Could you skip the gin and the golden raisins and use juniper berries themselves to ease arthritis pain? One reader tried the experiment.
Certain drugs for blood sugar control, including sitagliptin (Januvia), linagliptin (Tradjenta) and saxagliptin (Ongyza) can cause excruciating joint pain.
People who experience joint pain are often told it's because they are getting older. Could statins cause arthritis as well as muscle pain and weakness?
People who have hip or knee replacement surgery are at greater risk of a heart attack for a month after the surgery; the risk of blood clots lasts longer.
A controlled trial found acupuncture helped sore knees more than nothing--but not significantly more than sham acupuncture.
Research is starting to show us how pineapple juice reduces inflammation and alleviates the pain of arthritis and tendinitis.
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics like Levaquin (levofloxacin) may have unexpected and long-lasting side effects. Joints, tendons and nerves can all be affected.
When NSAIDs or other drugs are not appropriate for pain treatment, docs have few other options. That is why we sometimes suggest supplements or home remedies that our readers' tell us work for them.
What can you do it your insurance company won't pay for Celebrex but your joint pain is unrelenting? This reader says that non-drug approaches did the trick
Purple grape juice and Certo, the pectin product for home canners, make an inexpensive remedy that many people find very helpful for joint pain.