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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 one.bgmpt@up.net
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: 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.
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