Librela for humans?

[SteffiS]

I expect this question has been asked before, but is there a comparable treatment for osteoarthritis in humans?

My experience has been that nobody is really interested in finding a suitable solution for arthritis in (older) women. I have tried all sorts of over the counter supplements and painkillers to try and help with my hands.
This has now spread to my left knee which collapsed underneath me when I was walking Toffee on Monday. The hospital were full of suggestions when they thought it was ligament or tendon damage, but after an X-ray I was advised it was osteoarthritis in my knee and more or less told (by the Physicians Associate who examined me) to go away and buy some co-codamol from the chemist.

After I pressed them I was told I can attend the trauma clinic and possibly be referred for an MRI, however, not to bother unless I would seriously consider surgery.

 

[edzbird]

I've just been told "old age, wear and tear, it happens to everyone..." and I take naproxen (infrequently - I only have mild osteoarthrits in my knee and haven't pushed further). I suppose it's because we don't pay for it.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Short answer is nothing currently.

There were a couple of nerve growth factor antibody drugs that got to clinical trials.. one for OA and the other specifically for back pain - but they were withdrawn before getting any approval because of unfavourable risk-benefit. I think there was a case of destructive arthropathy but I'm not sure what else was the issue.

I'm not sure if there is anything else in the pipeline, but drug companies do keep things a bit under wraps until they think they have a winner and go to clinical trial.

 

[Jacqui-S]

You can bet if something does evolve, we wouldn't get it cos it's too expensive and the NHS is broke. Fife is 60 million squid in the red. We are just a small trust.

 

[SteffiS]

I've just been told "old age, wear and tear, it happens to everyone..."

Yes, that’s the same answers I’ve been given, but that must be the same for lots of things.

Thank you @Jacqui-S I was hoping you would answer - perhaps osteoarthritis isn’t glamorous enough for massive investment, although I’m sure there are millions of sufferers.

 

[M.F.]

Have you tried eating turmeric paste? I am sure it’s helping my achey joints.

Also lots of exercise. Weight training and yoga have been the two best for me.

I recently listened to this podcast, which I thought had some good info: ‎ZOE Science & Nutrition: Fitness routines for menopause with Dr. Stacy Sims - exercise for every stage on Apple Podcasts

 

[SteffiS]

@M.F. I haven’t tried turmeric paste as a supplement, only turmeric powder in cooking, I’ll look into it.

Exercise wise I do Pilates and Yoga classes every week. I’m very active in the garden, and also renovation and decorating in the house. I’ve taken on a lot more of the heavy work since OH has been diagnosed with heart failure, but not formal weight training.

 

[Candy]

My female GP, now retired, when I asked her about the Osteoarthritis in my hands and knees several years ago, recommended Glucosamine and Chrondoitin tablets, saying that they weren't immediately effective but she had found them helpful over time. I've taken them ever since and although I still have some slight pain, I have found they've made quite a difference. I buy them from Tesco. Maybe worth a try. I think my symptoms have been relatively mild, although when I went to the GP I had actually found that I was no longer looking forward to walking Solstice ( so it was more than seven years ago) and that changed gradually but noticeably once I'd been taking the tablets for a couple of months. I wouldn't be without them now.

 

[SteffiS]

@Candy I did try Glucosamine and Chrondroitin a couple of years ago and didn’t find much benefit. Currently I’m taking Marine Collagen which seemed to work at first but with this recent flare up I’m not so sure. I think I might go back to the Glucosamine when I’ve finished this batch of collagen.

 

[Candy]

@Candy I did try Glucosamine and Chrondroitin a couple of years ago and didn’t find much benefit. Currently I’m taking Marine Collagen which seemed to work at first but with this recent flare up I’m not so sure. I think I might go back to the Glucosamine when I’ve finished this batch of collagen.

It was only a gradual improvement. I really didn't think it was doing anything at first, but I stuck with it (as recommended by aforementioned, slightly older than me female GP) and I seem to remember that I first started noticing a difference after about three months. I wouldn't say I'm completely pain free now, but it's got to the stage where it's completely copeable with and doesn't stop me from doing anything I want to.
I can't help thinking however that if this was happening to the average working age male something more might have been done about it.

 

[SteffiS]

I can't help thinking however that if this was happening to the average working age male something more might have been done about it.

This I definitely agree with.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Also lots of exercise. Weight training and yoga have been the two best for me.

Definitely this.
Specific weight training has huge benefits for loads of things.
It's less about general fitness and cardio now and really moving towards weights.

 

[Cath]

My hands are terrible to look at and feel even worse. Years ago my doctor said nothing can help, just take pain killers. Helen @Selina27 was very helpful and told my about Honegar

Honegar — Healthy Food Brands

www.healthyfoodbrands.co.uk

which I take every morning. It doesn't stop it, but I know if I miss taking it for one day. I can't get my wedding ring on or my Mothers. My OH has brought me 2 others as my hands get worse, but I have now told him no more and to stopped. My Mother had it too. I can't some day write or sign my name, but must just make the best of it. I have some times drop the dogs leads when we are walking and they are very good and stop. Annie picks them up and gives them me back

 

[MellowYellow]

I too have arthritis in the hands and feet. I can't wait to stop working at the end of October, because typing definitely makes my fingers more painful. The worst though is my left foot, where the big toe is quite badly affected. I wear very expensive, supportive trainers and orthopedic insoles, which really make a huge difference - I must get some more insoles for my hiking boots. I don't complain much because everybody has something as they get older, and also if I say 'my big toe is very painful' people just look at me as though I've lost the plot!!

I have two hip replacements, which have changed my life!

I do find that eating too much red meat (particularly lamb) and drinking alcohol can cause a flare-up in the fingers and feet. I try not to use NSAIDs too often, but I do use the gel quite a lot, which helps. I take supplements but am not sure any of them help, and I have stopped using apple cider vinegar as it had no effect other than to give me heartburn. For me, it is being careful about my diet, keeping my hands and feet warm, keeping active, watching my weight, and wearing the right footwear that helps the most.

And labrador hugs on the couch!! That definitely helps.

 

[Atemas]

My experience has been that nobody is really interested in finding a suitable solution for arthritis in (older) women.

I share your pain @SteffiS literally and there seem to be no helpful answers. I too am struggling with osteoarthritis in my back, hips, knees, foot, hands. I also have osteopenia (confirmed by DEXA scan two years ago). I’ve had several MRI’s over the years on my back and knee. I have a brilliant physio who at almost 70 is still working but she is a distance away and very very expensive. I resort to her when absolutely desperate and have to dip into dwindling savings. Recently on seeing her when I thought I was slipping a disc again (fortunately she sorted quickly), she suggested MBST again which I’ve had many times in the past. It has worked well for me in the main but is horribly expensive and now out of the equation for me due to cost. It’s not a permanent solution as you need top ups every few years. She says she can sort the osteopenia with a new MBST machine but she says I have to have a private DEXA scan in Nottingham first. Sadly this is beyond my reach - she doesn’t understand we don’t all have the funds for this! Recently I have developed a dragging heavy pain in my groin when I’ve walked a distance - I suspect my pelvis is inflamed. As GP appointments are impossible to get here and then nothing constructive happens, I’ve stopped trying. I don’t talk about it - it’s too depressing and not helpful for others to hear me. F only has to look at me and he knows my physical state and I know he worries but he too has hip problems so we help each other.

So @SteffiS after all that, these are the things I do for my knee I use physio tape to support my knee when needed. It’s supportive, easy to put on and doesn’t move/slip. I use freeze gel on my hips and back. I wear good supportive footwear. Hot water in the shower on painful bits help. I do specific exercises and I walk, walk, walk even when I don’t want to. I take supplements but not sure if they help. Honigar didn’t help and turmeric upset my stomach.

since OH has been diagnosed with heart failure,

I am very sorry to read this x

 

[Stacia]

I have osteoporosis in my hips, now my back is giving me problems, have spent £250 on osteopaths so far with no improvement and now have tingling hands and sometimes feet. I cannot take medication for osteoporosis as it burns my inflamed oesophagus and Calcium makes my tinnitus worse. HOWEVER, I did phone doctor's surgery a week ago and have an appointment next week There might be new treatment since I last saw him re this subject in 2017!

 

[M.F.]

I’m so sorry to read about everyone’s aches and pains.

@M.F. I haven’t tried turmeric paste as a supplement, only turmeric powder in cooking, I’ll look into it.

It’s the same as eating it in cooking. Except that taking a teaspoon of the paste is most likely much more than what you’d get if you were eating a portion of curry, say. I cook it up myself (turmeric and water) and keep a jar in the fridge. Which reminds me, I need to cook up some more. Snowie also gets it in his veg mush.

Honegar - which I take every morning.

My husband and I drink apple cider vinegar every morning. A capful with water. My mother got us onto this. She’s 86 and still teaching yoga. I don’t know if it does anything, but we’ve been doing it for so long that it’s now an unbreakable habit. I’m glad it helps your hands. I give it to Snowie, too—in his mush of veg and supplements.

tingling hands

Have you been tested for B12 deficiency? Being a vegan this happened to me and I now take a B12 supplement. Of course, the tingling can be caused by other things, too.

 

[SteffiS]

Gosh, I seemed to have touched a nerve here - so many of us with similar symptoms and similar experiences with the NHS .
There's obviously no one cure suits all, and lots of trials to find something that suits our own particular needs.

My diet leans heavily towards vegetarian, I rarely drink alcohol, don’t smoke and my main vice is chocolate.
My close family have a history of osteoporosis and, for that reason, I have continued with HRT into my 60's.

@Atemas that is a really dreadful situation for you Alison. It’s shocking that there is help available but only privately. Thank you for your suggestions on managing my knee. I’ve been using ice packs in the evening to reduce swelling and hot water in the shower to get me moving in the morning, I’ll look at getting some physio tape as well.

 

[Stacia]

Have you been tested for B12 deficiency? Being a vegan this happened to me and I now take a B12 supplement. Of course, the tingling can be caused by other things, too.

I did buy some Vitamin B12 but it seemed to spike my tinnitus. Perhaps I will try again. I very rarely eat meat.

 

[Selina27]

Another osteoarthritis in the knee person here, I know nothing short of a knee replacement will make it go away. It's never crossed my mind until this thread that dogs can have Librela so why can't we? To think that maybe we could but there is insufficient funding is not a nice thought at all.
Mine is as a result of 2 arthroscopies for meniscus tearing, plus years of district nursing which involved musch kneeling on various floors. I was seeing a consultant at Gobowen (centre of orthopaedic excellence) way before Covid but opted to delay because it doesn't impinge on my daily life so much and also I did always see the ones that went wrong.

I think we do have to employ self help for these things - personally I will do almost anything to avoid pills but I do have naproxen presrcibed and take maybe twice a year. Last time they insisted on giving me omeprazole as well, I said don't because I won't be taking it, but they insisted! Such a waste.

It's actually better than it was, since giving up nursing anyway. I do have a really good knee support when necessary -- I actually think @Joy recommended it.
I think diet can really help @SteffiS , I believe sugar and gluten are 2 things which can aggravate arthritic conditions. It's quite tricky to negogiate some dietary advice, to that I have recently been seeing a nutritionist and found it really helpful to make sense of eating well. I thought I was doing ok but there are definite gaps in my knowledge!

The cider vinegar helps by reducing inflammation and swelling if present, it doesn't cure arthritis, but I have found it helpful at times.
Co codamol is hateful stuff (for me) I won't touch it.