Joints are the part of your body where your bones meet. It allows the bones of your skeleton to move. Any damage to the joints from disease or injury can interfere with your movement and cause a lot of pain.
Joints mainly includes:
- Shoulders
- Hips
- Elbows
- Knees
Many different conditions can lead to painful joints, including osteoarthritis, bursitis, gout, sprain, strain, rheumatoid arthritis, and other injuries. If the joint pain is mono articular, one should consider it as septic arthritis, osteoarthritis, crystal arthropathy, or a monoarticular presentation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Joint pain can range from mildly irritating to debilitating. Pain may go after a few weeks (acute), or last for several weeks or months (chronic). Even short term pain and swelling in the joints can be one factor which may affect your quality of life. Whatever may be the cause of pain, you can usually manage it with medication, physical therapy, or alternative treatments.
What causes joint pain ?
One of the very common causes of joint pain is arthritis. The major forms of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) can damage almost any joint but mainly occurs in the hands, spine, hips and knees. Joint pain due to OA may result from a breakdown of the cartilage that serves as a cushion and shock absorber for the joints. The second most common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It more commonly affects women than men. It may deform and debilitate the joints over time. RA can cause pain, inflammation, and may lead to fluid buildup in the joints as the body’s immune system attacks the membrane that lines the joints.
Other causes
Joint pain can be caused by:
- Gout
- Tendinitis
- Overuse of joint
- Cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Bursitis
- Certain infectious diseases such as mumps, hepatitis and influenza.
Osteoarthritis
OA has a prevalence of around 22% to 39% in India. It is the most common rheumatologic problem and it is the most frequent joint disease. OA does not result from a single cause, but rather is multifactorial in origin. A wide range of systemic, genetic, biomechanical and environmental factors can contribute to the development of OA.The OA arising from obesity is not only attributable to an increase in joint loading but is also associated with a general metabolic disturbance in these individuals.
Symptoms of OA
- Pain
- Joint stiffness
- Swelling
- Muscle weakness
- Reduced function
- Reduced range of motion
Treatment regimen
For moderate-to-severe joint pain with swelling, an over-the-counter or prescription non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, naproxen sodium and ibuprofen can provide relief. Some topical agents such as capsaicin help to transmit pain signals and trigger the release of chemicals in the body called endorphins. Other treatments such as steroid injections and physical therapies such as Exercise, swimming and bicycling can be done. However, Common joint pain treatment may be making arthritis worse, studies suggest.
Following is the Nutraceutical solution for joint pain
Avovida is a proprietary blend which consists of Avocado and soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) consisting of vegetable extracts made from fruits and seeds of avocado and soybean oil. It is characterized by its potent anti-inflammatory effects.
ASU used as the basis of several dietary supplements can reduce pain and stiffness and improve the function of joints in OA. Some studies have suggested that ASU can also relieve joint pain through its anti-inflammatory mechanism. ASU mixture is recommended to act as an adjuvant treatment for osteoarthritic pain and also as a slow acting symptomatic treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis.
It is available in the form of capsules and is recommended to be taken as one capsule a day for better pain relief. The advantage is that the product is of natural origin and it works by a novel mechanism of action because of which it can be used as a natural remedy for joint pain.
Key findings
- Avovida reduces the need for NSAIDs in OA patients by 50%
- Avovida is a promising long term solution for OA
- Avovida has structure modifying effects in OA by inhibiting cartilage degradation and promoting cartilage repair.
- Avovida supplementation improves WOMAC score.
Avovida supplementation helps in
- Pain relief
- Reduces inflammation
- Supports mobility
- Supports flexibility
- Decreases stiffness in bones
- Helps to maintain healthy joints and cartilage
- Improves Quality of Life
Reference:
- Sorokin R, Ward SB. Joint pain. The Medical clinics of North America. 1995 Mar 1;79(2):247-60.
- Zhang A, Lee YC. Mechanisms for joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis (RA): from cytokines to central sensitization. Current osteoporosis reports. 2018 Oct;16(5):603-10.
- Abramoff B, Caldera FE. Osteoarthritis: pathology, diagnosis, and treatment options. Medical Clinics. 2020 Mar 1;104(2):293-311.
- https://www.precisionpaincarerehab.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-joint-pain-20867.html
- Jangravi Z, Basereh S, Mahmoudabadi AZ, Saberi M, Alishiri GH, Korani M. Avocado/soy unsaponifiables can redress the balance between serum antioxidant and oxidant levels in patients with osteoarthritis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. 2021 Dec 1;18(4):769-74.
- Christensen R, Bartels EM, Astrup A, Bliddal H. Symptomatic efficacy of avocado–soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in osteoarthritis (OA) patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Osteoarthritis and cartilage. 2008 Apr 1;16(4):399-408.
