1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Osteoarthritis

Nightshades do they work?

Posted , 5 users are following.

daphine28576
daphine28576

Reading a lot on nightshades foods to avoid to decrease pain! Has anyone eliminated them from diet and seen less pain?

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • loxie
    loxie daphine28576

    Posted

    I had been told by my consultant that nightshade foods can actually trigger arthritis - something to do with the alkaloids interfering with calcium metabolism by moving calcium from bone to soft tissue.  He told me they can increase inflammation related to arthritis thus increasing pain rather than decreasing it.  The nightshade group contains nearly 3000 plants so it seems an awful lot to omit from my diet but I have noticed that by reducing things like capsicums (peppers), tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants (aubergines) I do have less flare ups.  Different strokes for different folks I guess but nightshades are not renowned for reducing pain.
    • daphine28576
      daphine28576 loxie

      Posted

      Thanks for the response! I have tried so far only two weeks out, I was hoping it would decrease the pain! I cannot take Ibuprofen, Aleve, Naprosyn or any anti inflammatory drug! So looking for alternative for pain beside Tylenol! Thanks for the info
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga daphine28576

      Posted

      If it's any consolation to you many of the medications actually interfere with healing from the inflammation of arthritis by making it hard for new collagen to form.  

    • daphine28576
      daphine28576 Anhaga

      Posted

      Well that is so true because researching bursitis. I realize diabetes uncontrolled can exacerbate bursitis too! I take a statin and found they can cause bursitis hence the reason to modify diet! Thanks! Good information.
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga daphine28576

      Posted

      It's like the meds meant to help one thing lead to another, possibly even worse thing.  Sigh.rolleyes

  • Anhaga
    Anhaga daphine28576

    Posted

    Tried it.  Thought it was helpful at first, but now I don't know.  Mind you I got out of the habit of eating potatoes, although I now eat a lot of tomatoes.  But very little peppers or eggplant.  Hmmm.  Maybe it has helped.  If you're going to try this, you'll have to give them up for at least a month, and don't forget the hidden ones - in spices, prepared foods....

    • daphine28576
      daphine28576 Anhaga

      Posted

      Thanks because I do love tomatoes but gave them up two weeks ago! Glad to know it will take a while for results!
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga daphine28576

      Posted

      What I think really has helped me is taking glucosamine.  For many years I have taken two 1000 mg doses of glucosamine, breakfast and supper.  I first was diagnosed with OA at forty, but I think I had it earlier in my feet.  I am now seventy and although the disease has progressed a bit I am in very good shape for my age, not limited at all in my activities, except I need to be careful of my spine.  For years I've done physio exercises (really really boring ones, too) morning and evening which help to keep the spine supple and strengthen core muscles which support the spine. 

    • daphine28576
      daphine28576 Anhaga

      Posted

      I was wondering about that but no doctor has recommended the supplement I see it advertise on television! Thanks!

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga daphine28576

      Posted

      I think it's one of those things that not enough is known about.  I used to take half that amount and mentioned to a friend that it didn't seem to help and she said her husband took it, but doubled the dose, so I started doing that.  All I can say is that is appears to have protected me.  It certainly isn't something which provides instant relief.  But I think it may well have been slowing down the progression of the OA.  It's alternative, so doctors do tend to ignore it.  It is, however, available at my local pharmacy, unlike Vitamin K2 (not K1) which we should all be taking, and another thing most doctors or even dietitians don't seem to know about.  K2 is a vitamin which helps prevent osteoporosis as it makes sure calcium goes into the bones where it belongs.  But I still have to buy it at a health food store!

    • daphine28576
      daphine28576 Anhaga

      Posted

      Thanks I certainly will try! I rather slow the left knee and take have a replacement! The Right partial was bad enough still having pain!
    • loxie
      loxie Anhaga

      Posted

      Trying not to sound too cynical but there surely are a lot of more natural products we should be aware of which can help other than pharmaceuticals but obviously no-one can patent enzymes for example, bigpharma cant make money out of them.  Things like glucosamine and various targeted vitamins for example.  One of the biggest antagonists for arthritis pain is Fibrin and pain meds dont help break it down.  Have a read up on proteolytic enzymes - one of the physiotherapists told me to research them.  They apparently eat up fibrin and scar tissue and increase the immune system.  I'm still catching up on all the info available but came across other supplements too, like devil's claw and boswelia extract - so I'll delve into those too.  I, like many of you, have realised most of the meds prescribed to me are doing more harm than good and not really helping the original problem either.  I'm on a mission lol.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga loxie

      Posted

      The only medication I take, and my dose is now vanishingly small, is prednisone for polymyalgia rheumatica.  And occasional painkillers for migraine.  I think I surprise people when asked about meds for whatever form needs to be filed in, that there aren't more!  Most old people, of which I am now one, are on far too many drugs, many of them probably doing more harm than good.  

    • loxie
      loxie Anhaga

      Posted

      Agree totally anhaga.  I am completely free of prescription meds and have been for quite a while.  I occasionally take a single paracetamol if for example my ankle is hurting bad due to walking on it too much but nothing more.  I had a very upsetting experience with an appointment with a rheumatologist who became quite aggressive when I told her I wasn't keen to start taking 'heavy duty' possibly addiction forming pain meds.  She got angry and said .....I'm a pill pusher, that's what I do!  I couldnt believe the attitude - are they all on commission from the pharmaceutical companies or something?

      I fully appreciate some people's lives depend on certain medication but for my own circumstances, I'm sure I'm better off without all the toxic chemicals

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga loxie

      Posted

      I believe there can be an unhealthy relationship between drug companies and physicians, but that's the cost of living in the modern free market profit driven world.  As long a consumers/patients are aware, and too many aren't....

       

    • stones10801
      stones10801 Anhaga

      Posted

      Hi Anhaga, I have osteoarthritis of the right knee and spine.I am 44 but also think in have had it for a while.I am happy to hear You have kept it under control.could you perhaps give me a few pointers in terms of exercise etc.. what's worked for you? Also have you suffered at all from back spasms? I worry a lot about what the future holds but would like advice from yourself as you have managed to control it.

      Thanks in advance

      Winston

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.