Your Body May Be Able to Repair Its Arthritic Joints with Help from Drugs or Surgery. “Cartilage doesn't heal.” That's what doctors often tell us when we injure the flexible tissue that lines our hips, knees and shoulders or when osteoarthritis has eroded it so that our joints hurt when we move.
Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition and cannot be cured, but it doesn't necessarily get any worse over time and it can sometimes gradually improve. A number of treatments are also available to reduce the symptoms. Mild symptoms can sometimes be managed with simple measures, including: regular exercise.
Osteoarthritis symptoms can usually be managed, although the damage to joints can't be reversed. Staying active, maintaining a healthy weight and receiving certain treatments might slow progression of the disease and help improve pain and joint function.
Q: Can cartilage repair itself? A: Though it is made of cells and tissues, cartilage cannot repair itself due to the lack of blood vessels and enough blood supply to create and duplicate new cells.
Cartilage Regeneration Options
MACI is a surgical procedure that uses cartilage-forming cells from your body to restore damaged cartilage in the knees. It involves a biopsy to harvest chondrocytes (cartilage-forming cells), which are allowed to multiply in a lab, and surgery to implant them into the damaged area.
Glucosamine (G) 1,500 to 2,000 mg/d and chondroitin sulfate (Cs) 800 to 1,200 mg/d and avocado-soy unsaponifiables (ASU) 300 to 600 mg/d, taken together or alone, are useful as adjunct therapies in cartilage disorders. Each is sold as prescription, over the counter (OTC), or as supplements, depending upon the country.
“Cartilage has practically zero regenerative potential in adulthood, so once it's injured or gone, what we can do for patients has been very limited,” said assistant professor of surgery Charles K.F. Chan, PhD.
Glucosamine also hinders hyaluronidase, the tissue-damaging enzyme, and helps to rebuild the damaged articular cartilage. In addition, glucosamine sulfate improves the lubricant properties of synovial fluid.
Glucosamine sulfate might provide some pain relief for people with osteoarthritis. The supplement appears to be safe and might be a helpful option for people who can't take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). While study results are mixed, glucosamine sulfate might be worth a try.
While remission is possible in RA and, in fact, is the goal of RA treatment, OA is generally not discussed in terms of “remission,” primarily because there are no treatments to date that can halt the disease progression. How fast the disease progresses differs from person to person.
The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain.
Can osteoarthritis be reversed by diet? No, but a healthy diet may help to relieve pain. Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear on the joints, which cannot be reversed. However, the foods you eat can influence inflammation in the body, which plays a role in pain.
With the right support, you can lead a healthy, active life with osteoarthritis. The condition does not necessarily get worse.
Some research has shown that people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis may benefit from magnesium in their diet or as a supplement. Since arthritis can cause inflammation, magnesium's anti-inflammatory effects might help some people with the condition.
Whereas glucosamine structurally supports connective tissue integrity within the joint, turmeric offers greater protection against joint-diminishing oxidative stress, inflammation, and enzymes.
While the use of nutritional supplements for osteoarthritis (OA) has focused largely on the duo of glucosamine and chondroitin, research suggests that a popular supplement for heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis may also help OA – fish oil.
Collagen stimulates cartilage growth
Collagen provides support for the growth and repair of cartilage tissue, as well as relieve joint inflammation and pain.
A new study published in Nutrition Journal finds that UC-II, an undenatured type II collagen ingredient, may be more effective at improving symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) than a placebo or glucosamine hydrochloride plus chondroitin sulfate (GC).
Dietary supplements: Dietary supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin are the non-surgical treatment options for cartilage restoration. Chrondroitin sulphate and glucosamine are naturally occurring substances in the body that prevent degradation of cartilage and promote formation of new cartilage.
Consuming healthy fats can increase joint health and lubrication. Foods high in healthy fats include salmon, trout, mackerel, avocados, olive oil, almonds, walnuts, and chia seeds. The omega-3 fatty acids in these foods will assist in joint lubrication.
Can you get glucosamine naturally from foods? Although glucosamine sulfate supplements are often manufactured from the shells of shellfish, there aren't any natural food sources of glucosamine.
Leafy and Dark Green Vegetables
For example, broccoli, spinach, and parsley all contain effective antioxidants called carotenoids. Besides the high levels of magnesium and calcium found in green veggies, carotenoids significantly reduce the rate of cartilage degradation.