Restoring joints - are chondroprotectors needed and myths about chondroitin?

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In degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system, cartilage tissue is often affected. This subsequently leads to difficult mobility and severe pain. Doctors often prescribe chondroprotectors for patients. However, these medications show their effectiveness only at the initial stage of joint disease.

Together or separately?

Traditionally, doctors prescribe chondroprotectors to patients containing both active components. However, recently there have been more and more recommendations to take single drugs, since in combination chondroitin and glucosamine supposedly weaken each other’s effects. It is difficult to say how correct this or that approach is: clinical trials have still not proven the higher effectiveness of single drugs.

Complex or single drugs? The question remains open

Chondroprotectors are produced in the form of:

• tablets, capsules or powder - for oral administration;
• injections - for injections directly into the joint capsule;
• ointments - as an addition to the main treatment.

The choice of drug form depends on the clinical picture of the disease. For the treatment of arthrosis and osteoarthritis, tablet and powder forms are most often prescribed. The average dose is 1000-1500 mg of active substance daily. If the disease has progressed to the second or third stage, it is more effective to give injections, reducing the dose of the active substance.

Properties of new generation drugs

The widespread use of third-generation combination drugs is explained by their positive effect on various pathological processes that arise during the disease:

• Reduce the inflammatory process, allowing cartilage to regenerate;
• Replenish the reserves of structural elements for joint restoration;
• Reduce pain symptoms;
• Improve joint function and mobility;
• With long-term use, the development of the pathological process is inhibited;
• Reduce the need to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Some drugs are an additional source of sulfur, which is part of chondroitinsulfuric acid, which affects the elasticity of connective tissue.

Achieving the above-described effects of glucosamine and chondroitin is achieved through different mechanisms of action, so their combined use is justified and recommended by most doctors.

Injection forms of chondroprotectors are more preferable , despite the fact that they are less popular. Injections make it possible to administer the drug directly to the site of inflammation, increasing its bioavailability and effectiveness.

Some clinical data suggest that when taken orally, the bioavailability of chondroitin may be very low and administration may be virtually useless.

Some medicinal chondrolytics include a component such as MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane).

MSM in chondroprotectors is an organic compound that has sulfur in its structure and exhibits a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.

Chondroprotectors with MSM

MSM is naturally found in some vegetables, fruits, and grains, but most of this substance is lost during cooking. By receiving it from the outside, the body improves cell renewal processes, metabolism, and the formation of ligaments and bones.

When can I expect results?

It is necessary to take tablets or capsules for at least four months - only after this period the first effect appears. Optimal results are achieved after approximately 7 months of use. The medicine is used continuously and in large quantities, since chondroitin is characterized by rapid absorption.

The effect of the injections occurs faster - after approximately one course of 20 injections. However, even after this, the patient must continue taking the pills and continue to give injections - in a lower dosage. Ointments are prescribed during remission as an adjuvant - you should not expect results from them.

The effect of taking chondroprotectors occurs within a few months

How to choose a medicine? ↑

The choice of chondoprotectors is quite wide and complex, so you should not self-medicate.

Doctors, depending on the diagnosis and stage of the disease, most often prescribe: arthra, dona, structum, teraflex, alflutop, elbona, chondrolone, chondroitin, formula-C, CONDROnova, toad stone.

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Are there any contraindications?

There are not many contraindications to taking chondroprotectors, but they do exist:

• pregnancy and lactation;
• severe renal failure;
• serious gastrointestinal diseases (in this case, injections are possible);
• bleeding disorders;
• individual sensitivity to active components;
• advanced stages of arthrosis.

Chondroprotectors are effective in the initial stages of arthrosis

Mechanism of action

Chondroprotectors are effective in restoring the functionality of joints, their structure, eliminating pain and stiffness. They restore the deficiency of components for the construction of joint tissue - chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. In addition, they save the energy of the cells of the diseased joint, which is necessary for the synthesis of cellular material.

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The main feature of their mechanism of action is the increase in the recovery effect. The active components of the drugs gradually, over time, are integrated into the body's metabolism and are thereby included in the composition of hyaline cartilage, improving the quality of the intra-articular fluid. A certain amount of time is required to achieve a therapeutic effect. For this reason, medication courses vary in duration.

The duration of the treatment course depends on the type of chondroprotector and the degree of changes in the articular tissues. The course of treatment lasts from three to five months. To obtain a lasting result, it is recommended to repeat the drug after six months. Depending on the stage of development of the disease, treatment lasts from two to three years and takes from 90 to 150 days per year.

With complex long-term therapy, chondroprotectors demonstrate a general healing effect for the whole body. In addition to the fact that they have a therapeutic effect on sore joints, chondroprotectors also stimulate metabolic processes, relieve spasms, eliminate swelling, cleanse toxins, normalize blood circulation, and increase immunity.

The effectiveness of these medications depends on the degree of the disease and the severity of cartilage changes. If the joint has been seriously damaged, the use of chondroprotectors will not lead to a noticeable positive result. The use of these drugs is effective at stages when self-healing of cartilage is still possible.

Division of chondroprotectors into groups according to composition

Popular drugs

Pharmacies sell a variety of both inexpensive and expensive chondroprotective agents. The most common of them are:

• 
  Artra;

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• Alflutop;
• Don;
• Teraflex;
• Piaskledin;
• Rumalon;
• Structum;
• Horsepower;
• Artradol;
• Mucosat;
• Chondrovit;
• Fomula-S;
• Chondra Evalar;
• Elbona;
• Traumeel.

Artra are American-made tablets used for arthrosis and osteochondrosis. Made on the basis of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, they help reduce pain and restore cartilage tissue of the intervertebral joints. These chondroprotective tablets are considered very effective. A contraindication to their use is children under 15 years of age. The medicine can be used by people suffering from diabetes and asthma.

Alflutop is a drug based on an extract of Black Sea fish, the action of which is aimed at restoring metabolic processes and reducing inflammation. For osteochondrosis, the drug is administered intramuscularly at 10 mg per day for 20 days. If the joints are damaged, an intra-articular injection is given. 20 mg is injected into each joint once every three days. After 6 injections, therapy is carried out using intramuscular injections.

Disadvantages of treating arthrosis with chondroprotectors

1. A long course of treatment, involving regular use of medications in large doses.
2. Considerable financial investments in medicines.
3. Long period before the effect occurs.
4. It is impossible to cure arthrosis in an advanced stage.
5. Allergic reaction to particles of animal or plant components.

Treating arthrosis with chondroprotectors is long and expensive

More and more experts classify chondroprotectors as drugs of unproven effectiveness. Why are they considered ineffective and do they actually restore joints?

Is there an alternative?

Instead of taking medications for a long time, which, moreover, can cause allergies or give no results at all, you can take a simpler route. The method of intra-articular injection of synovial fluid endoprostheses has long been successfully used in European countries. Orthopedists and other specialized specialists recommend that patients with grade 1-3 arthrosis regularly, once every year and a half, undergo courses of such injections in order to stop constantly taking medications.

Synthetic viscoprosthesis "Noltrex":

• helps cope with arthrosis even in advanced stages;
• does not require long-term use - 2-4 injections at intervals of a week are enough to restore mobility to the joint and relieve pain;
• brings effect after the first or second injection;
• does not cause allergies, since it does not contain components of animal origin;
• has virtually no contraindications, with the exception of the inflammatory process in the joint.

The effect of artificial viscoprosthesis is somewhat different from that of chondroprotectors. Noltrex restores the viscosity of natural synovial fluid, as a result of which friction of articular cartilage stops, pain and inflammation go away. Chondroprotectors improve the condition of cartilage tissue, but much more slowly and require consistency and patience from the patient.

Many patients choose chondroprotectors because they are simply not aware of this innovative method of treating osteoarthritis of the hip, knee or elbow. Those who have received complete information about the advantages and disadvantages of each method choose intra-articular injections to return to their normal lives without pain and restrictions in a short time.

Recommendations for use

In order for chondroprotectors to be 100% effective, you must perform the following steps:

• It is necessary to normalize nutrition, establish a diet;
• You should lose excess weight;
• Do not load the painful joint, handle it with caution;
• Perform physical therapy, which is aimed at strengthening the muscles around the diseased cartilage;
• Alternate movements with rest. That is, after a long walk of about one hour, you need to lie down and rest for at least ten minutes;
• Avoid hypothermia;
• Chondroprotective drugs are used only during the period of recurrent illness, but if the disease is acute, painkillers should be taken;
• To completely restore the joint, you need to complete six courses over three years.

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