Good News for Joint Pain

The good news is there are effective natural medicine options to improve joint inflammation and to restore damaged cartilage caused by Lyme and tick-borne infections or acute joint injuries. Fortunately, you do not have to take pharmaceutical steroids, ibuprofen, naproxen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories that may harm you.

Why This Matters. BPC-157 peptide, celery seed extract + Boswellia serrata, curcumin, anit-cytokine combinations, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine sulfate, and platelet rich plasma injections offer hope.

Dig Deeper. Read on to learn about the following.

• The risks of NSAIDS like ibuprofen and naproxen
• Three different types of joint pain in people living with tick-borne illnesses
• How different non-conventional therapies work
• Research showing the most effective alternative therapies for osteoarthritis
• A natural cause-based approach to manage joint pain

First—NSAIDS Are Not The Answer

The conventional medicine approach to pain caused by acute injury, infections, or wearing down of joint cartilage in osteoarthritis is to recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals like ibuprofen. But this is risky, especially when these medications are used longer term. NSAIDS may lower inflammation pain in the short-term, but they cause a number of problems.

NSAIDS do the following.

• Damage cartilage. They appear to limit cartilage regeneration and even limit blood flow to cartilage.
• Injure the stomach lining. This can cause severe stomach or intestinal bleeding.
• Decrease kidney function.
• Cause cardiovascular injury.
• Hurt the intestinal microbiome.

Second—Steroid Injections Are Not The Answer

Many orthopedists initially manage more severe osteoarthritis with steroid injections into the joint. While this may give somewhat immediate joint pain relief, it may lead to more rapid deterioration of injured cartilage.

• If tick-borne infections are in the joint, steroids may lead to immune suppression triggering more inflammation and joint destruction.

Joint Pain Types in Lyme & Tick-borne Diseases

Infection Inflammation Pain

Lyme and other tick-borne infections cause the immune system to make inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines cause a whole host of problems including joint pain.

• To learn more about the full effect of cytokines see Control Cytokines to Improve Symptoms & Immune Health

Osteoarthritis Pain Due To Cartilage Damage

Cartilage is the protective layer that covers bones in joints. It is soft, spongy, and smooth. In a healthy joint, it acts as a shock absorber to keep bones from directly striking each other. It also allows bones to glide easily over each other.

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage wears away causing bone to rub on bone. This leads to bone inflammation, pain, bone spurs, and eventual joint deformity.

• Inflammatory chemicals in osteoarthritis include: prostaglandins, cytokines, chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species.

Cartilage wears away due to

• Inflammation from joint infection like Lyme infection
• Trauma injury
• Normal wear and tear

So, Lyme disease and Lyme infection can cause osteoarthritis through joint inflammation causing cartilage damage. 

• Lyme infection can also add to underlying wear and tear or trauma related cartilage injury.

Acute Injury Inflammation and Pain

People with Lyme and tick-borne infections also get acute joint injuries due to sports-related injuries, falls or other types of direct joint trauma.

• The inflammatory chemicals in acute injuries include histamines, bradykinins, prostaglandins, some cytokines, and leukotrienes.

Goal of Therapy for Joint Pain and Osteoarthritis

There are a number of goals for therapy. 

• Decreasing or stopping pain
• Improving joint mobility and function
• Stopping disease progression
• Rebuilding damaged cartilage to improve function and stop disease progression

In my discussion of various therapies that follow, I will try to address the key impacts on these goals.

Natural Remedies for Joint Pain and Osteoarthritis

Celery Seed + Boswellia serrata Combination

The combination of celery seed and Boswellia serratta has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes cartilage growth.

Benefits. Three studies of this combination in humans show

• 67% reduction in pain
• 50% improvement in walking distance
• Fast improvements in as little as 15 days
• Marked increase in cartilage regeneration biomarkers within 90 days
• Increased cartilage thickness on standard x-ray

BPC-157 Peptide

BPC-157 is a peptide made in the stomach lining that may have anti-inflammatory properties and promote tissue regeneration for cartilage, ligaments and tendons.

• There are two formulations. The immediate release version may have faster benefits for acute injury. The delayed release versions may work better for chronic joint issues like osteoarthritis.

Benefits. There are no human or animal studies looking at joint pain and osteoarthritis using BPC-157. There are limited studies suggesting BPC-157 may help in tissue injuries.

• It has been used by athletes historically for its observed role in improving joint and tissue injuries. It is thought to decrease inflammation while promoting tissue growth.
• My clinical observation is good benefits in joint pain and osteoarthritis.

For more information about various peptides see The Best Oral Peptide Guide for Lyme, Tick-borne Infections, & Mold Toxicity.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections

PRP uses concentrated platelets with or without white blood cells collected from a patient. After processing, these platelets are injected back into the injured joint. PRP includes various growth factors that could stimulate cartilage growth. It also includes anti-inflammatory agents.

• A series of three to four injections are given every one to four weeks initially. If there is benefit, they may be repeated every six to twelve months.

Benefits. Studies suggest decreased pain and improved joint function when someone receives PRP. But the data is mixed as to whether PRP promotes cartilage growth or actually halts disease progression.

• One of the problems with PRP is there is no uniform protocol for preparing or administering the platelets—this could cause some of the research discrepancies.

Chondroiton Sulfate and Glucosamine Sulfate

Chondroiton Sulfate and Glucusoamin Sulfate are building blocks of cartilage. They also have some anti-inflammatory properties.

Benefits. One small study suggests chondroitin sulfate may add to cartilage. Overall the studies on these two substances produce mixed results with some saying there is no benefit and others suggesting possible help.

• Overall, the literature suggests there is no real benefit in most people from taking these two substances.

Curcumin and Anti-Cytokine Combinations

Crucumin is a component of turmeric. It has various anti-cytokine properties which means it has anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin is part of anti-cytokine combination products that can include other herbs like quercetin, resveratrol, black tea extract, and NAC.

Benefits. The research suggests some improvements in pain and mobility using anti-cytokine herbs. I was not able to identify research about cartilage impact.

For more information about the role of anti-cytokine herbal ingredients in managing tick-borne illnesses see Control Cytokines to Improve Symptoms & Immune Health.

Hyaluronic Acid Injections

Hyaluronic Acid is a natural substance that acts as a joint lubricant to keep bones from rubbing against each other in osteoarthritis. Some orthopedists also inject it into the joint after trying steroid injections first.

Benefits. Hyaluronic acid may give temporary pain relief, but research suggests no major benefit overall for most people in mobility or disease progression.

Marty Ross MD’s Joint Pain and Osteoarthritis Action Plan

Inflammatory Pain from Tick-borne Infections

The first step is to lower the germ loads of your infections following The Ross Lyme & Tick-borne Diseases Support Protocol or germ-specific plans found in the Lymeology Guides Infection Plans.

Then take either liposomal curcumin or an anti-cytokine combination.

• Liposomal Curcumin 500 mg 1 to 2 pills 3 times a day OR
• Anti-cytokine Combination 1 pill 3 times a day. Typical combinations include curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, black tea extract, and NAC.

In three to six months consider adding BPC-157 for its modulation properties that may lower cytokines.

• BPC-157 Delayed Release 500 mg 1 pill 2 times a day.

Give the BPC-157 up to three months to see if it will work.

Osteoarthritis

Be sure to take steps to control your germ load from tick-borne infections by following The Ross Lyme & Tick-borne Diseases Support Protocol or germ-specific plans found in the Lymeology Guides Infection Plans. As I note above, the joint inflammation from these infections is a leading cause of osteoarthritis.

Then add in a combination product of celery seed + Boswellia serrata to improve inflammation, joint mobility, and exercise tolerance plus promote cartilage generation.

• Celery Seed + Boswellia Serrata Combination 1 pill 2 times a day.

After 3 months if no major improvement add BPC-157 for its anti-inflammatory and possible cartilage regeneration properties.

• BPC-157 Delayed Release 500 mg 1 pill 2 times a day.

Acute Joint Injury or Trauma

Here is where I think the sports community knows best. The go to supplement for sports injuries affecting joints is BPC-157 even though there are limited studies on this. Just because the science has not been done, does not mean that something does not work.

BPC-157 has the potential to repair injured tissues and is anti-inflammatory. For acute injuries use the immediate release version over a delayed release version.

• BPC-157 Immediate Release 500 mg 1 pill 2 times a day.

Consider using one of the anticytokine supplements too to lower inflammation while using the BPC-157.

• Liposomal Curcumin 500 mg 1 to 2 pills 3 times a day OR
• Anti-cytokine Combination 1 pill 3 times a day. Typical combinations include curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, black tea extract, and NAC.

Disclaimer

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