I suffer from severe osteoarthritis of the spine and arachnoiditis. I am also a cancer survivor and have had two angioplasties. Because of all the medications I have been on for the last 14 years, my stomach cannot tolerate any pain medication. Is there any natural substance I can take to help with pain?
Although I’ve never treated arachnoiditis, I have seen many cases of osteoarthritis. It is difficult to treat acute severe pain caused by osteoarthritis, but I do have several things you should explore.
Bioflavonoids, bromelain, devil’s claw, turmeric and fever few are all natural anti-inflammatory substances. You might want to read the arthritis chapter in The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine by Michael Murray to help you with doses as well as other possible treatments.
But herbal medicine is not the only treatment easy on the stomach. Acupuncture, castor oil packs, peanut oil rubbed into the joints and ginger poultices can also ease acute joint pain.
For your chronic joint degeneration problem, I would recommend glucosamine sulfate, probably the hottest thing going in this area. Glucosamine sulfate has been known to halt — and sometimes even reverse — the degeneration process. Use 500 mg. three times per day for a minimum of three months. I have seen shocking turnarounds with this treatment; it’s the latest, greatest thing going for osteoarthritis sufferers.