Rhodium: Hopefully you find the post worthy and not too terribly written..
Actually posting isn't my greatest quality, but this issue is close to home and will hopefully help fellow bee's avoid a very painful and DEBILATATING illness. I personally had my first major attack this year, which had me bed stricken for a week, unable to even get into the bathtub alone! let alone walk and only from 'gout' which solely in my knees.
Now before any fello bees debate my post, let me say you have too much free time and energy on your hands, also please read the whole post.
In ref. to swelling of joints (especially in men are the knees, feet/toes, and spine 'ankylosing spondylitis'), this is due to 2 factors (in my opinion): consuming the wrong foods (bad diet, bubba!!) and FAILING to consume the proper foods.
('yeppers, you may call my diet gross, but I LIKE IT, am use to it, and IT KEEPS ME HEALTHIER THAN YOU' <--- quite often re-mentioned close friends... Comon, try some tofu, rice cakes, fruit, vegetables, soy milk, etc.
glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates (repair damaged joints: rebuilds the internal structuce of the cartiledge so that it once again becomes strong and healthy)
Glucosamine, has several important functions in the joints, produced in small qtys in the body from glucose and amino acids. Can be ingested from in very small qtys from certain foods. This substance stimulates the production of and serves as raw material for the water-loving proteoglycans, and other special proteins call glycosaminoglycans (GACs) that bind water in the cartilage matrix.
Glucosamine not only successfully quells pain & other symptoms of 'osteoarthitis', it does so more effectively than ibuprofen & other popular arthitis remedies. (40 patient double-blind study comparing glucosamine to ibuprofen).
Chondroitin:
By itself, glucosamine is a powerfully tool against osteoarthitis, but only half the amazing team of nat. substances offering a way to healthy joints.
Remember the proteoglycan molecules that embed themselves in the spaces in the collagen netting that gives structure to the cartilage in joints? Imaging that you're looking into the proteoglycans. You'll see "trees", with numerous branches jutting out from the trunk. Growing out of each of the branches are about a hundred smaller brances made of long chains of chondroitin sulfates. It's these chains in proteoglycans that actually draw in the cushioning and nourishing synovial fluid. Chondroitin sulfates also help prevent premature breakdown of cartilage in two ways: they stop the naturally occuring enzymes from going haywire and "chewing" up carilage; and they inhibit other enzymes from shutting off the flow of nutrients to the cartilage.
Another extremely beneficial treatment/medicine in addition to a preventative medicine would be the group anthocyanidins which are naturally occuring in a handful of fruits.
Cherries are the most notorious and well known fruit, to sufferers of Gout and arthitis in general for their relief and effect on the arthritis. Alot of web searches regarding gout, arthritis, and cherries will field you plenty of info which equals "eat the damn cherries).
I personally have an great interest in not only identifying all naturally occuring anthocyanidins but synthesizing similar compounds and researching their effect on arthritis. I was utterly shocked to find out that only over the past 4 years has any research really gone into this area. At this point they have barely identified some of the compounds in Cherries alone, let along have any research of info on their effects, routes, methods, homologues, and similar synthetics.
Just along that point, you can not even locate the properties for anthocyanidins including BP (thinking my first thoughts, extraction for example).
Gout causes:
Apparently, high levels of Uric acid, produced from urate, both in our blood strem are stored and crystalize in the joints which causes the swelling and horific pain. Much of the time, we're (i too was) consuming foods which contribute to the production of the uric acid/arthitis causing substances, i.e. alcohol, carbonated beverages like soda pop, etc. Additionally, you MUST change your diet IF you want to get better and stay better.
Alcohol:
QUIT DRINKING, you drunk moron. Keeping this item short & simple,
1) Early this summer, out car shopping, got to talking with owner of a lot, sitting with leg up and eating cherries in one of the offices, lotta talking being him sharing info on this with me. His friend who was present said "that's why alot of drunks are crippled and limping around".. It stuck with me and made sense,
2) I had been a 'functional closet' alcoholic for 7 years straigt, with friends and family only knowing I drank, a 6+ beers a night and black russians minimum including throughout the day many times. I can personally TESTEEfi that alcohol definately helps give ya more than ya bargained for.
ya best get shopping online for yee new cain! -----> just a lil'humor.
Meth runs and arthritis:
My attack came during a 2 or 3 day run, reason inpart being lack of liquids consumed. DRINKING LOTS OF LIQUID, is vital for allowing the body to flush itself, especially of uric acid. I personally don't drink enough liquids anyways, let alone when high, just kinda forget it. If you are having issues during or soon after meth runs, seriously look at this!
One example case:
An neighbor of mine, older gentleman, whom I told about my gout condition after having it shared his battle scars. he said his fingers were deformed now from a previous attack and showed me them, pretty scary. He is probably an alcoholic he did admit he drinks beer, and in the past has mentioned it and the bar he goes to. I questioned him greatly regarding whether or not he knew about cherries, diet, etc.. Not a friggin clue, it was over his head, he didn't even have an interest in what I was talking about, thus I shut up and didn't bother. But don't fear, the doctor is here, he was on prescription meds, oh yeah, they must help, right? fu*k NO! Indomethacin is a popular scrip for this condition, too bad it's only a pain killer and doesn't FIX anything in the body, let alone prevent anything, but rather mask the symptom(s).
Okay, it's late, 5:30 am, I'm done babbling having lost track of where I'm at or what I've said.. Help me, please, help me just say NO.. To what? I must know.
Some of the info above is ref'd from Maximizing Arthitis Cure (Jason Theodosakis, MD MS MPH, Brenda Adderly MHA, and Barry Fox PHD) which is solely on the glucosamines and chondroitin, the remainer was off the top of my head (complain to someone who cares). I have addtl info and research on this topic and would be glad to scan MAC (260 pages) or other hardcopy books in my library as well and/or trade plenty of chem data/files/research.. I enjoy expanding my knowedlge, screw uncle dick. And if ya have a spare chromatography machine just lying around that ya don't need, I'll take it!
-Mind