The Arthritis Cure: The Medical Miracle That Can Halt, Reverse, and May Even Cure Osteoarthritis

Rating:
Summary: I tried it and it worked!
Review: a review of `The Arthritis Cure' by Grandpa Curmudgeon who has arthritis himself, owns a bionic hip, and consumes enough Vicodin every day to keep Kansas City as high as a kite 1. The work is obviously padded - perhaps to justify its high price per unit volume (pun intended). 2. Descriptions purporting to be `scientific' or `medical' are in the best Sunday supplement style. That may not make them invalid. The writers' audience is probably not well educated and could not follow a logical scientific argument. For my part, I would have appreciated seeing `before' and `after' microphotographs (using, perhaps, arthroscope pictures) to show whether or not there was in fact regeneration of cartilage in the affected joints. 3. Results of their studies never explain the apparent improvement on the part of those receiving placebos. 4. The `reports of case studies' are mostly: i. Anecdotal, i. e. `I took a pill and felt better'. ii. Cases involving younger people - younger than I am now; younger than I shall ever be again, by thousands and thousands of years - who were inordinately active before getting osteoarthritis, and want nothing more than to be inordinately active again. They would be more likely to resist the ailment in the first place, and better able to recover, in the second. iii. Lacking in hard evidence (v. 2, supra). 5. There is a good deal of the current health-fascist emphasis on diet and exercise. Too much comment, that is, and too little proof. Fads `heal', sometimes; so do placebos (v. 3, supra), sometimes; so does faith, sometimes. The human mind, if I may be excused the oxymoron, is a strange thing indeed. 6. There is an over-supply of the current New Age Feelgood puckumpucky in it. 7. Despite these carping comments, there is still an off chance that the compounds might work. If, as is maintained by the authors, chondraitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate help rebuild cartilage in damaged joints, it could be worth a try. Absence of pain is an indicator of something; whether or not it is an indicator of healing or just a masking of symptoms I cannot say from reading the book. 8. Despite being a skeptic of the first order I have tried, if only for a week, the condiments proffered by the authors, as I am fortunate enough to know the proprietor of a health-food store. I cannot say that there was an improvement; I cannot say that there was not. The joint pain in my left hip is reduced, perhaps; the muscle pain in that portion of my anatomy is still with me. The quadricep, you see, is somewhat atrophied due to a deep vein thrombus in that particular gam. If it isn't one thing, it's six - old age ain't for sissies. I am tired enough of pain to try anything, once - I would even eat brussels sprouts if they eased the pain. I shall continue the treatment for another couple of weeks, endeavour to hobble about enough to help that muscle, and report further.

Rating:
Summary: The Arthritis Cure : The Medical Miracle That Can Halt, Reve
Review: About a year ago I submitted a review of this much-discussed volume, and promised to enlarge upon the subject after giving the regimen and medicaments a fair chance. Several kind souls have expressed their appreciation for the original review, and asked for any new information I might have about my person. In the interest of science, and ridding myself of the joys of arthritis, I have consumed cubic miles of chondroitin and glucosamine sulfates; I have grazed upon greens; I have eschewed almost every eatable, drinkable and smokable damned or even tut-tutted by the authors - for a while, anyway. I still have arthritis. It does not have me. If any improvement came about through this Spartan experience it could only be detected by the most powerful instruments in the known universe. I shall not, in future, invest in any more of the pills; I have just celebrated my freedom with a beefsteak, which we discussed over a capital Hermitage, and topped off with about an acre of gooseberry pie. As I write this, I am savouring a good cigar. I speak only for myself in this regard, for I note other reviews and comments diametrically opposed. Well, everyone to their own taste, as the old woman said when she kissed the cow. Probably I, a skeptic from the cradle, lack the faith necessary to derive benefits; perhaps my metabolism is not in tune with the free radicals, or whatever they are, that do the work. Pity, as I said before, that a true scientific test was not conducted by the authors. As presented, 'The Arthritis Cure' and its offspring give off a decided odour of snake-oil. Anecdotes are entertaining. Data are convincing.

Rating:
Summary: The Arthritis Cure
Review: After reading this book by Dr. Theodosakis, I recommended it tomy grandmother and 35 year-old girlfriend, both of whom haveosteoarthritis. Not only has it lessened grandma's pain, but also her depression has largely lifted. My friend, who is a fellow registered nurse, was thrilled that she was able to stop taking acetaminophen following her second month of taking glucosamine and chondroitin. She believes the dietary changes she made after reading the book were also helpful toward making her body more supple, like a slinky. I was indeed surprised to find some negative comments written by readers. Perhaps they were victims of the many fraudulent products our there with insufficient quantities of glucosamine and chondroitin in them. I found Dr. Theo's website to be very helpful in learning more about specific good and bad products. I will continue to recommend this book to anyone and everyone who tells me that they suffer from arthritis. There is hope! END

Rating:
Summary: The Arthritis Cure
Review: After reading this book by Dr. Theodosakis, I recommended it tomy grandmother and 35 year-old girlfriend, both of whom haveosteoarthritis. Not only has it lessened grandma's pain, but also her depression has largely lifted. My friend, who is a fellow registered nurse, was thrilled that she was able to stop taking acetaminophen following her second month of taking glucosamine and chondroitin. She believes the dietary changes she made after reading the book were also helpful toward making her body more supple, like a slinky. I was indeed surprised to find some negative comments written by readers. Perhaps they were victims of the many fraudulent products our there with insufficient quantities of glucosamine and chondroitin in them. I found Dr. Theo's website to be very helpful in learning more about specific good and bad products. I will continue to recommend this book to anyone and everyone who tells me that they suffer from arthritis. There is hope! END

Rating:
Summary: Title is hype but not bad overall.
Review: Bringing forth information on the benefits of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate and the negative aspects of NSAIDs is probably the greatest strength of this book. The use of the word "cure" in the title is irresponsible, however, and an obvious ploy by either the authors or the publisher to pump up sales. It's a shame since it's actually one of the better books on dealing with osteoarthritis. The authors are rather vague about "improving biomechanics" and in their mentioning of professionals who can improve biomechanics, they totally neglect physical therapists, the professionals who have some of the best training in biomechanics. They recommend "osteopathic manual therapists" which actually don't exist. There are osteopaths who perform manipulative therapy and there are orthopaedic manual therapists who are physical therapists with specialty training but no such thing as "osteopathic manual therapists". Neuromuscular therapists have such minimal formal academic training that to include them in this category constitutes professional irresponsibility. It's also interesting that a more natural "cure" is proposed for arthritis but the treatment for depression is still the same old ineffectual regimen. It's interesting that one of the authors has written about DLPA but nothing about a more natural biochemical or holistic approach to depression is included such as has been written about by James Gordon, MD. Contrary to the author's opinion, about 5% of the rheumatoid arthritis population responds very positively to a night shade free diet. Also, contrary to his discussion of "fad diets", there is compelling research for the use of therapeutic fasting followed by implementation of a healthy vegetarian diet. Some of this research has been done at Karolinska Institute, THE finest research institution in the world in the area of physiology. The exercise portion of the book is also surprisingly deficient and does not focus adequately on the many crucial aspects of movement quality nor even on non-traditional forms of exercise such as Tai Chi (which has been found by research to have combined physiological and psychological benefits exceeding those of most, if not all other forms of exercise, especially for an elderly, sedentary, or selectively handicapped population). He also doesn't focus on the advantages and disadvantages of the various forms of glucosamine and chondroitin (i.e. sodium content, absorption rates, etc.) nor on "cycling" your intake nor on cheaper alternatives. It's also interesting that the forward is written by a surgeon who has only been using these substances for 2 years - where's he been!! There are numerous other minor flaws and irritations in this book but overall, the book is a good starting place for someone with osteoarthritis (especially the average uninformed layperson) and a better book than most of the others out there on the same subject. However, it is lacking in the thoroughness, detail, and precision to become a truly valuable classic on the subject. It'll succeed in the way its publisher intended, however, by generating large sales. It's also prompted me to start writing my own book on the subject focusing on the deficiencies of this [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: The Arthritis Cure : The Medical Miracle That Can Halt, Reve
Review: I found this book an excellent presentation on glucosamine, chondroitin, the various surgical options, advice about exercise and diet (the importance of weight loss, etc). For me it seems to be working as advertised. I have osteoarthritus of the hip and knee and am seeing noticeable improvements. I have a friend that is a physical therapist and she has been using glucosamine/chondroitin and has noticed significant improvements in the use of her ankle and her ability to walk. Certainly glucosamine/chondroitin are not replacements for everthing as diet/weight loss are also extremely important. I recommend this book highly.

Rating:
Summary: The Arthritis Cure : The Medical Miracle
Review: I injured my knee around Labor Day and four months later I had minimal results with physical therapy and NSAIDs. My once active life had stopped, every activity I tried, even walking, aggravated my knee. I started on the Glucosomine and Chondrodin Sulphate program along with the vitamin supplements outlined in the book and had great results. After just a few weeks, I am able to hike and workout again. I feel better than I have in months! I know several friends on Glucosomine, but I felt better with the book outlining the dosage and other vitamins to compliment. I have not needed any NSAIDs since I started this therapy. I like that this program has almost no side effects and can help my injury without surgery. Try it for yourself, what do you have to lose but the pain?

Rating:
Summary: The Arthritis 'Cure' -- Hype With Little / No Substance
Review: The Arthritis 'Cure' -- LOTS of Hype With Little / No Substance (Presented) This book has a (gross) overabundance of (unsubstantiated) hype & little / no substance. It is a true 'Reader's Digest' / National Enquirer special with the shallowest possible pretext at documentation. Whether or not there is (some) substance to the use of glucosamine sulfate or chondroitin sulfate, one will get little more than lot of handwaiving & gospelizing from this 'work'. Other reviews posted re this book detailed other shortcomings / aspects well enough that they need not be repeated here...

Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile and perhaps more
Review: This was followed by Maximizing the Arthritis Cure (1998) which I'll also report on here, treating both books as one. My initial reaction was, this is either a public service or a hustle. Written by three different laureled academics and obviously put together by committee, this first book was a big time best seller and demanded a sequel. Most of the diet advice was like something I had read twenty years ago. The exercise program ditto. The use of glucosamine and chondroitin was the real difference. In fact, the purpose of the book could be seen as legitimizing the use of these supplements in the treatment of osteoarthritis. People bought the book in the hope that it would help them with their pain. They also bought the book so that they would be motivated to try glucosamine and chondroitin. Many people understandably would not try the supplements without the seal of approval provided by an authoritative book like this. The question is-and it is the big question-is their program any good, or is it just another feel good pep talk fronting for another bogus approach? I was a little uncertain since the book jacket was red, white and blue, and we all know the quote about patriotism being "the last refuge of a scoundrel."

So I tried glucosamine and chondroitin and stayed fairly close to their overall program. Two years have passed and although I cannot say for certain, it is my belief that the supplements are valuable. At any rate, my arthritic knee is much improved.

In the follow-up book, the authors give information on other treatments.

I have to say that I think they've done a positive service in writing these two books. The information about healing in general and about prevention and about the positive effects of exercise and attitude are worthwhile. The authors may have made megabucks (or maybe they didn't), but I don't feel they ripped anybody off, on the contrary. I am happy to be positive even though I still think "cure" is probably too strong a word for what their program can do, although I only have my own experience to go on. Their reports of the double blind tests that have been conducted are good, but a long way from convincing proof that glucosamine and chrondoitin and exercises can cure osteoarthritis.

Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile and perhaps more
Review: This was followed by Maximizing the Arthritis Cure (1998) which I'll also report on here, treating both books as one. My initial reaction was, this is either a public service or a hustle. Written by three different laureled academics and obviously put together by committee, this first book was a big time best seller and demanded a sequel. Most of the diet advice was like something I had read twenty years ago. The exercise program ditto. The use of glucosamine and chondroitin was the real difference. In fact, the purpose of the book could be seen as legitimizing the use of these supplements in the treatment of osteoarthritis. People bought the book in the hope that it would help them with their pain. They also bought the book so that they would be motivated to try glucosamine and chondroitin. Many people understandably would not try the supplements without the seal of approval provided by an authoritative book like this. The question is-and it is the big question-is their program any good, or is it just another feel good pep talk fronting for another bogus approach? I was a little uncertain since the book jacket was red, white and blue, and we all know the quote about patriotism being "the last refuge of a scoundrel."

So I tried glucosamine and chondroitin and stayed fairly close to their overall program. Two years have passed and although I cannot say for certain, it is my belief that the supplements are valuable. At any rate, my arthritic knee is much improved.

In the follow-up book, the authors give information on other treatments.

I have to say that I think they've done a positive service in writing these two books. The information about healing in general and about prevention and about the positive effects of exercise and attitude are worthwhile. The authors may have made megabucks (or maybe they didn't), but I don't feel they ripped anybody off, on the contrary. I am happy to be positive even though I still think "cure" is probably too strong a word for what their program can do, although I only have my own experience to go on. Their reports of the double blind tests that have been conducted are good, but a long way from convincing proof that glucosamine and chrondoitin and exercises can cure osteoarthritis.