We all have pain from time to time and we want relief as soon as possible. The problem is that relieving pain with pharmaceutical drugs has side effects that are not minor, especially in the case of NSAIDs such as Advil, Aleve, Motrin, and Celebrex. There are about 30,000 deaths annually in the US from NSAIDs and more than 300,000 admissions to hospitals because of GI bleeds, renal failure, heart attacks, and strokes.
Supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin don't have any mortality and morbidity is minor. A study published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases in January of 2016 compared the effect of Celebrex with glucosamine and chondroitin in severe osteoarthritis of the knee and found them equivalent at 6 months. While Celebrex worked quicker, it is nowhere near as safe. And, when you combine glocosamine and chondroitin with curcumin and boswellia it is just as quick to work as Celebrex.
Few of us are free of chronic pain and inflammation. We tend to rely on pharmaceutical drugs to relieve our symptoms, but this does little in the long run, and inhibits the healing process in the short term. Lifestyle medicine is the key to resolving inflammation and pain. Dr. Saputo recommends the lifestyle, dietary, and supplements listed below to support the body's natural and innate healing process.
