I have arthritis in my thumb. Can cartilage rebuild itself over the joints?
I am thinking about having thumb surgery for my arthritis. I heard that cartilage can rebuild itself over the joints. Is this true? But I also heard in order for that to do it you have to not use that joint for a couple months? How on earth can one do that? What would you suggest I do?
Answer
I consider nonuse of the joint to be ill advised, as over long periods this results in loss of function and other problems. Instead, to help with joint healing I prefer glucosamine sulfate 750 mg twice a day, and MSM 2500 mg a day, along with the herbs Willow bark, Boswellia, and a highly absorbed curcumin. I would also consider in my patients describing a topical mix of pain medications called the "Nerve Pain Gel" from ITC Pharmacy. This helps alleviate any kind of pain. Your doctor can call in a prescription for 30 g of the cream in a small pea size amount be rubbed over the painful areas three times a day. I would give all of the above six weeks to work in combination.
I hope this is helpful.
Love and blessings,
Dr. T
Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is one of the world's leading integrative medical authorities on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. He is the lead author of eight research studies on their effective treatments, and has published numerous health & wellness books, including the bestseller on fibromyalgia From Fatigued to Fantastic! and The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. His newest book (June 10, 2024) is You Can Heal From Long COVID. Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most frequently quoted fibromyalgia experts in the world and appears often as a guest on news and talk shows nationwide including Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Oprah & Friends, CNN, and Fox News Health.
