Researchers Now Shed Light on What Causes Osteoarthritis Pain

(Newswire.net — November 15, 2022) Orlando, FL — More and more people are living a reduced quality of life due to painful and potentially disabling conditions like osteoarthritis. It is worth noting that while this painful condition has remained incurable, certain measures are helpful for its management.

Researchers now shed light on what causes osteoarthritis pain. This study has been able to identify a molecular mechanism critical to the development of OA pain. Such a finding could have major implications in the development of future treatment for the condition.

This study was carried out by researchers at Rush University Medical Center, in collaboration with researchers at Northwestern University.

Its findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“Clinically, scientists have focused on trying to understand how cartilage and joints degenerate in osteoarthritis. But no one knows why it hurts,” said Dr. Anne-Marie Malfait.

Malfait is an associate professor of biochemistry and of internal medicine at Rush, who led the study.

It is worth noting that joint pain correlated with OA has unique clinical features offering insight into the mechanisms that cause it. The investigators took a novel approach to unravel molecular pathways of OA pain.

It was done with the use of a surgical mouse model exhibiting the slow, chronically progressive development of the disease. It is also worth mentioning that the research was carried out longitudinally. 

This means that the researchers monitored the development of both pain behaviors and molecular events in the sensory neurons of the knee.

“This method essentially provides us with a longitudinal ‘read-out’ of the development of OA pain and pain-related behaviors, in a mouse model,” Malfait said.

Malfait’s co-researchers in this study were Rush scientists Rachel E. Miller. Ph.D., Phuong B. Tran, Ph.D., Rosalina Das, and Nayereh Ghoreishi-Haack, and Dr. Richard J. Miller, Ph.D., and Dongjun Ren from Northwestern University.

Maintaining joint health and warding off conditions like osteoarthritis may be made in various ways. There are actually certain techniques found to be particularly effective that scientists are currently investigating, and these include the use of glucosamine. 

An increasing number of studies show that the use of glucosamine leads to arthritis pain alleviation and improvements in mobility. It has even been found to lessen the need for painkillers, which have long been linked with side effects. 

Extra-strength formulas like Divine Bounty Glucosamine are being resorted to nowadays by health-conscious consumers. More and more health-conscious and budget-wise customers turn to its use as a safer alternative to NSAIDs. 

Aside from having 2000 mg of highly potent and superior-quality glucosamine, it also has methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). These scientifically-tested ingredients work together to deliver joint health benefits. (https://amazon.com/Glucosamine-Sulfate-Supplement-2000mg-serving/dp/B0126ZF0B0)