In this study, 606 patients with grades 2–3 knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and moderate-to-severe pain were randomized to receive 400 mg Chondroitin Sulfate plus 500 mg Glucosamine three times a day or 200 mg Celebrex; a commonly prescribed NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), every day for 6 months. The primary measurement in the study was pain from baseline to 6 months. Secondary measurements included stiffness, swelling and the need for rescue medication. The combination of Chondroitin Sulfate plus Glucosamine showed a comparable efficacy to Celebrex in reducing pain, stiffness, functional limitation and joint swelling after 6 months in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis, with a better safety profile.
At Oregon Regenerative Medicine, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common condition we treat. OA most frequently affects the knee, causing pain, tenderness, limitations of movement and impairment of quality of life, resulting in an enormous social and economic burden. Standard symptom management includes using NSAIDs like Celebrex, ibuprofen, and naproxen, all of which can lead too serious gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side-effects with long-term usage.
While glucosamine and chondroitin can substitute for NSAIDS in the management of pain, Prolotherapy (AKA Regenerative Injection Therapy), along with PRP is very effective in reversing the damage causing OA of the knee and other joints. This non-surgical injection procedure permanently repairs cartilage and damaged connective tissue. Prolotherapy injections induce a wound repair cascade, which stimulates your body to marshal its innate repair mechanisms and published studies have proven it to be a highly effective treatment for osteoarthritis.
For more information on our treatments for knee and other joint pain and how we can help you or someone you know, contact Oregon Regenerative Medicine.
Reference: Hochberg MC, Martel-Pelletier J, Monfort J, et al. Combined chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine for painful knee osteoarthritis: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority trial versus celecoxib. Ann Rheum Dis 2016;75:37–44.