I have been living with osteoarthritis for the past 20 years or so. I come by it honestly, as my grandmother had a bad case of it. Arthritis is a condition of inflammation of the joints. It affects one in six Canadians over the age of 15 and is the number one cause of disability in women (and third in men).

Arthritis, like all diseases and conditions, affects people in different ways. For me, the pressure and stress over the years has resulted in sacroiliac (SI) joint and lower back (lumbar vertebrae) issues. The SI joints  are used to transfer movement from the upper body to the lower body and are especially important when you turn over in bed (see diagram below).

There have been times when I wince in bed, with that dreadful reminder that my SI joints are inflamed. There is usually no specific trigger. Sometimes I think it’s the weather – other times I blame hormones.

I was approached by The Publicist Group to see if I was interested in trying out Genuine Health’s FAST arthritis pain relief+ or one of their other products (FAST joint care+ and FAST pain relief+) The claim was it would help relieve pain in five days (hence, the word FAST in the title). They had other products too, but this one seemed to speak to me. I had used Aleve, Advil and Tylenol in the past. I have also purchased a Lumbar Brace and Tens and an ice pack to help when my SI joint is aggravated.

I have also been to physiotherapists in the past. I have been prescribed exercise programs and the main treatments for my problem is core strengthening and stretching. Yoga has also been recommended. Walking, cycling, gentle exercise on the elliptical, weights, calisthenics and stretches are activities I try to do at least twice weekly. I say “try” because sometimes this isn’t a priority in my life – at least not as big of a priority as I know it should be. When the pain is really bad, I usually find laying down for 10-15 minutes helps relieve my pain.

So, I agreed to try out FAST arthritis pain relief+. I was given a complimentary bottle of 60 tablets. The directions say to take two caplets daily. Information on the bottle states:

“How does FAST arthritis pain relief+ work?

It contains phytosterols from AvoVida®, a research-based ingredient designed to stimulate the body’s production of joint tissue to improve mobility. It also contains BiovaFlex® natural egg membrane and bromelain to reduce inflammation and improve pain and stiffness in the joints associated with osteoarthritis.”

I found the study the company did and it showed favourable results by an impressive number of people who had tried out the product. I noticed they did not have a placebo group (a group of people who thought they may have been taking the product to be tested but were given a fake pill). There is a certain amount of placebo effect whenever you are given a treatment. If you believe a treatment will help you, the power of the mind will help you achieve the desired results. This is in fact a phenomenon that is currently perplexing to scientists and we have a lot more to learn about the power of the mind and the placebo effect.

I decided to document my experience by recording my level of pain each day on a scale of 1-10 (1 being no pain, 10 being excruciating pain).

I knew this may take a few days to take effect, so I was prepared to focus on this for at least a week. I also decided (as in the study) not to take any other pain-relieving medications during the time I took the easy-to-swallow caplets (although there were days I wanted to!).

Overall,  it took me 7 days (not 5 – this product is “research-proven to work in only 5 days”) to feel pain relief. Over the next couple of weeks I had a couple of times where my arthritis flared up and I had to take some Advil to help alleviate the pain. I probably won’t continue to take this FAST on a regular basis, unless I find a huge change in my arthritic pain once I have completed my 3o-day trial.

I would say the FAST caplets are worth trying out. I have seen the cost for this product at $62.00 – 79.99 for 120 caplets (a two-month supply). Sold on Amazon (see links below) and available at other locations.

Here are some other tips on how to cope with arthritis:

• Ensure good ergonomics when sitting at the computer
• Take frequent short breaks when sitting at the computer such as getting up to get a glass of water or standing up and stretching (every 15 minutes or so)
• Massage can help bring needed blood flow to the area, and loosen and stretch the muscles surrounding the joints. However, avoid aggressive massage such as what is offered in a massage chair can aggravate inflamed joints
• Chiropractic adjustments may help
• Laying down for 10-15 minutes can provide much-needed relief
• Gentle stretches can be helpful (see a physiotherapist for exercises and stretches) or try this SI Joint Stretch
• Walking and gentle exercise can help provide relief and stretching can keep joints limber
• Voltaren emulgel can help relieve pain
• Ice and/or heat can help relieve the pain
• A warm shower or bath can also provide relief
• Housework can cause a flare-up (haha)

Check out these resources for more information on how to manage osteoarthritis:

Genuine Health – Natural pain relief proven to reduce inflammation. Find where to buy the product on this website (in stores and online).

Top 3 Tips for Osteoarthritis by Eugene Sims, a physiotherapist

The Arthritis Society – Information, resources, tools and expert access

Buy Now from Amazon:

FAST ARTHRITIS RELIEF+

Genuine Health fast arthritis pain relief+ 60 capsules

Age well, my friend!

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

Angela G. Gentile, M.S.W., R.S.W. is a clinical social worker and author of the book, “Caring for a Husband with Dementia: The Ultimate Survival Guide”, “A Book About Burnout: One Social Worker’s Tale of Survival” and the “Dementia Caregiver Solutions” app for iPhone and iPad. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her husband and two adult children. For more information, visit: www.AngelaGGentile.com