Chronic pain, based on a US-based study in 2011, surpassed other illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes in terms of costs, both direct and indirect. Dato’ Dr Rajen M, natural health advocate and columnist points this out in relation to arthritis, often associated with chronic pain.

Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that tends to increase over time. Although it is a very common disease, it is not being widely discussed, leaving so many suffering in silence. Managing the disease is not an easy task, as the chronic pain that comes with it makes daily life such a chore.

Causes

In explaining the disease, Dr Rajen says that arthritis is caused by a combination of factors, mainly wear and tear that comes with age, including loss of cartilage and synovial fluid. The wear and tear is worsened by walking and sitting habits, conditions like flat feet and club feet, and inappropriate footwear.

In most cases, those who suffer from arthritis would not even realise it. “Most of the damage is done before we know it, like everything else,” Dr Rajen points out, adding that it usually happens between the age of 25 and 40.

Minimising symptoms

While arthritis is, according to Dr Rajen, “largely irreversible”, he also says that “you can certainly prevent it from getting worse than it already is, or you can slow it down significantly”. He explains that there are some measures that could be taken to minimise the symptoms.

These include improving posture; wearing the right shoes; using back support, knee support, cold and hot compress; eating properly and doing weight-bearing exercises. These will help in improving the condition of the muscles around the joint and allow the joint to have better support.

He also mentions eating properly as one of the measures, as “good nutrition also ensures you have good synovial fluid”.

Cartilage regeneration

Regeneration of the cartilage is possible, even at an advanced age, Dr Rajen says, and there is sufficient scientific evidence on the matter. However, for the regeneration to take place, “it will need the right amount of nutrition and the right type of support”.

He also explains that activity plays a significant role in aiding cartilage regeneration. When a joint is active, it gets the blood supply and nutrition it needs. “And the drainage of the lymph will remove the toxins from the joint and allow the joint to recuperate.”

Collagen

Commonly associated with youthfulness and beauty, collagen is the most common protein in the body. More importantly, it is the main building block of cartilage, which constitutes 67% of it. About 13% is made of glucosamine and chondroitin.

It has been thought earlier that glucosamine and chondroitin play a key role in helping to reduce the pain among arthritis patients, but of late studies on the effects of collagen have become more prevalent.

Citing the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) study, which concludes that glucosamine and chondroitin alone or in combination do not effectively reduce pain among arthritis patients, Dr Rajen says that collagen works far better.

Dr Rajen points out that there is a specific type of collagen found in the cartilage. Studies have shown that the intake of collagen makes some form of regeneration of the joint possible, apart from arresting the decline of the joint.

Bonex for joints

The key, according to Dr Rajen, is to feed the body the raw materials it needs. Based on clinical studies on how collagen could help regeneration, he says, “There are some good supplements that you can take to reinforce and correct the joint imbalance.”

Bonex , a collagen supplement that assists in building and regenerating joints, is a concentrated form of nutrition for the bone. Ten grams of the supplement is equivalent to 2.8 litres or 10 glasses of milk, 1.8 kilograms of potatoes or 110 grams of red meat. It also helps restore synovial fluid.

The patented German technology used in developing Bonex reduces the size of its collagen hydrolysate molecules, which allows for better absorption. “In fact, about 95% of the bioactive collagen peptides are absorbed in the first 12 hours.”

Synovial fluid

The synovial fluid, which acts as lubricant and cushion for the body, also declines with age. It is made largely of hyaluronic acid (HA), which is produced by the body and is found in every joint and tissue. The lack of synovial fluid affects mobility and causes joint pain.

Previously the only way to replenish it is by having hyaluronic acid injections, but now it could be achieved by applying hyaluronic acid gel directly onto the skin. Auxiflex , the world's first transdermal hyaluronic acid gel, helps in restoring the synovial liquid and lubricating the joint.

According to Dr Rajen, the increase in the levels of hyaluronic acid in the blood after the application of the Auxiflex gel can be proven through imaging studies.

Supplement or transdermal gel?

Although the topical application could help in replenishing synovial fluid and reducing the pain, Dr Rajen recommends taking Bonex as a supplement and complementing it with Auxiflex for better management of joint disease.

Dr Rajen, however, warns that while regeneration is possible and joint diseases could be better managed especially with the help of supplements, it would not happen if other steps, such as improving the posture and adopting good walking habits are not taken.

It takes more than supplements to manage the condition, and we should always go back to proper diets, good posture and exercise.

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