Osteoarthritis Treatments: How To Help Prevent Osteoarthritis & Stop The Pain

Many of us will get achy joints as we get older. But what’s the difference between normal joint pain and osteoarthritis? Should you worry?

As a start, osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition where the cartilage in your joints wears away.

It’s also unusually common – as many as 32.5 million adults in the US suffer from OA!¹ But just because it’s common doesn’t mean that it’s okay.

OA becomes worse with age, but for women, they also have to do with hormonal changes such as estrogen decline during menopause. This explains why women are 2 to 20 times as likely to develop osteoarthritis as men, especially in the knees.²

In this article, we’ll explore:

Differences between osteoarthritis and arthritis
What you can do to prevent or slow down osteoarthritis
Clinically-studied options for osteoarthritis prevention and support

Osteoarthritis vs Arthritis: What’s the difference?

Have you ever had swollen, stiff joints? You may just have arthritis. But what’s the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis?

Arthritis is the term used to describe stiff, swollen joints caused by swelling. Osteoarthritis is one type of arthritis that starts to show up in the middle of your life. Middle-aged women are more likely to be affected than men.³

Is There A Cure For Osteoarthritis?

You can’t cure or reverse osteoarthritis, but you can slow it down.⁴

If you’re younger than 50 and you haven’t been diagnosed with arthritis, you may have enough cartilage to still cushion the joint. This means that taking early measures can help you to remain mobile and independent through the later years.

What Can You Do To Prevent Osteoarthritis From Happening To You Or Slow Osteoarthritis Progression?

The good news is that you don’t have to put up with the pain and pray that it’ll go away.

By managing the root cause, you can experience relief.

✅ Heat and Ice

You can alternate between heat and ice if you’re in pain.

Heat can improve circulation and relax those tired muscles. You can use a warm heating pad or take a hot shower for 20 minutes.⁶ Taking a calm, hot shower in the morning can set you up for the day.

Ice can shrink any swelling and numb the pain.⁷ Massaging your painful joints with ice for 20 minutes five days a week can make it easier for you to move.⁸ Make sure you’re wrapping the ice in a paper towel.

✅ Medication

Your doctor may recommend medication to help slow the progression.

Over-the-counter medications can help if you have mild pain.⁹

If you’re in a lot of pain, you may need to use a stronger medication, like a corticosteroid. You can take them as a pill or an injection. They can make it easier for you to get sick, so these medications aren’t for everyone.¹⁰

✅ Mobility Aids

Mobility aids are tools you can use to take the stress off your joints. Mobility aids could be an ankle brace to help take the pressure off that area. Or, a cane to help you move around.

✅ Nutritional Supplements

Nutritional supplements are a science-backed way to slow the progression of osteoarthritis by preserving your cartilage. When you take supplements, you can help protect your joints and stay mobile long into your older years.¹¹

These include addressing inflammatory processes that lead to osteoarthritis, restoring hormonal balance to slow joint degeneration, and improving our gut (yes, our gut!) to keep our joints healthy.

Clinically-Studied Supplements For Osteoarthritis Prevention & Support

Our team independently reviewed 18 osteoarthritis pain relief and support brands using data from independent consumer testing laboratories, Labdoor and ConsumerLab, combined with our internal ratings system to determine the top 5 osteoarthritis supplements.

We discovered there’s ONE thing that makes or ‘breaks’ a bursitis supplement – its blend of ingredients.

Here are some popular ingredients in bursitis supplements & we’ll tell you which are the ‘must-haves’ and which you should avoid.

1. Turmeric

Curcumin (the main active ingredient in turmeric) is an anti-inflammatory herb. It can lower your pain and help you get around easier.

A review of other research studies found that it worked as well or better than NSAIDS at managing pain caused by osteoarthritis.¹²

How does a supplement made from a common spice work better than some NSAIDS?

Curcumin lowers widespread inflammation. Inflammation builds pressure in your joint, causing pain and stiffness.

Plus, it’s also a phytoestrogen (a plant source of estrogen) that helps women by supporting hormonal balance healthily and naturally¹³.

Achieving hormonal balance can help women to ease inflammation and experience pain relief.

Curcumin is the main active ingredient found in turmeric. For the best effect, make sure to take Golden Turmeric Root Extract (95% Curcuminoids) together with Black Pepper, which helps to increase the absorption of Curcumin¹⁴.

Naturopaths and holistic doctors commonly recommend curcumin to manage hormonal symptoms too¹⁵.

2. Anti-inflammatory Probiotic Strains

Anti-inflammatory probiotics encourage healthy bacteria to multiply in your gut. When the good bacteria outnumber the bad bacteria, the swelling in your joints can go down.¹⁶

Are you wondering what your gut has to do with your joints? Well, people with arthritis can also have an inflamed gut. This can cause a leaky gut, and widespread inflammation that can trigger your joint pain. A probiotic can help keep you moving and doing the things you love.¹⁷

Probiotics are common these days, but they are also the most underrated ingredients for improving joint health and accelerating your recovery from bursitis.

Probiotics regulate and support nearly every vital function including bone density, joint inflammation, weight management and even vaginal health, mood, and more.

Emerging studies¹⁸ show that a healthy gut can also regulate estrogen levels and support hormonal balance. This is key to keeping inflammation in our body under control, and helping women undergoing menopause to recover faster from flare-ups.

Some probiotic strains also demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties and they address inflammation head-on just like curcumin does. Some of these strains include B. Lactis R101-8¹⁹, L. Rhamnosus 4B15, and L. Gasseri 4M13²⁰.

Some probiotic strains also possess weight-management properties. The most famous example is L.Gasseri SBT2055. Consumption of this probiotic for 12 weeks saw 4.6% to 8.5% fat loss around the belly in two clinical trials^21,22. Maintaining a healthy weight is also key to keep our joints happy.

3. Marine collagen

Collagen is one of the building blocks that makes up your joints.

After you turn 40, your body’s ability to make collagen decreases every year. Your body also struggles to make high-quality collagen as you age.²³

So what can you do? Collagen supplements can help.

Marine collagen is absorbed into your body easier than other types of collagen. Collagen can help your osteoarthritis by lowering the amount of pain and joint stiffness you have.

4. Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids can help lower the swelling in your body. This swelling is what causes stiff joints and prevents you from getting around.²⁴

Your body doesn’t naturally make omega-3. That’s where omega-3 supplements come into play.

5. Glucosamine (Not Anymore In 2024)

Your doctor may have suggested glucosamine for osteoarthritis previously. This supplement is no longer being recommended as a safe and effective treatment.

The Australian Rheumatology Association and the American College of Rheumatology have changed their endorsement of glucosamine supplements.²⁵This is because the previous research supporting glucosamine may have been inaccurate.²⁶

A recent study discovered that glucosamine won’t provide long term benefits, even if it may help in the moment.²⁷ A second study found that glucosamine was worse at lowering pain levels and increasing mobility than the placebo.²⁸

Your All-in-One Osteoarthritis Supplement Checklist

✅ Third Party Certification

As supplements can be sold without approval by FDA, reliable supplement manufacturers get third-party certifications to distinguish their products as trustworthy. These certifications verify the ingredients and quantities claimed on the product label, and that the product meets stringent manufacturing and performance standards. Established certifications to look out for include GMP, USP, NSF, Certified Organic, Non-GMO certified, etc.

✅ Supplement Absorption

Supplements that can’t be absorbed by the body are essentially ineffective. Unfortunately, most people aren’t aware of this, allowing manufacturers to get away with cheaply-made supplements with low bioavailability. Your selection process should consider supplements with ingredients that enhance absorption. Also, look for high-quality capsules that break down at the right time for nutrients to be fully absorbed.

✅ Clinically Studied Ingredients

Clinical trials help substantiate the efficacy of ingredients through proper tests. Look for a supplement with clinically-tested ingredients for real benefits, and avoid those based on anecdotal evidence. Even better if there are multiple studies backing the product. We based our top 5 osteoarthritis and joint supplements on clinically studied ingredients supported by a solid body of evidence.

✅ Beware of Fakes

Sadly, according to the New York Times29, one in four products sold on Amazon is fake. This is especially true of nutritional supplements. When buying from Amazon, ensure you do so from the brand’s Amazon store. Otherwise, purchase directly from the brand’s official website. Consuming fraudulent products may cause nasty side effects — so be extra cautious.

✅ Look for Products Made in Reputable Countries

All supplements made in the USA are under FDA regulation. The same applies for Canada and Australia. Ensure products you buy come from FDA/TGA-registered facilities using GMP certified manufacturing processes. Many supplements, especially those purchased on eBay and Amazon are manufactured abroad, with little to no regulation. One study looked at 44 herbal supplements sold in North America and found 60% do not contain the ingredients or quantities claimed on the labels³⁰.

✅ EXTRA Tip: Money-Back Guarantee

A risk-free guarantee lets you try supplements without fear of losing your money. If you try the product and don’t experience results, simply contact the manufacturer for a refund. A 60- or 90-day guarantee is the minimum a manufacturer should have as a show of confidence in their products. Also, avoid companies that make you jump through hoops. One common strategy that companies use is “bottle return” – they require you pay for return shipping and return the empty bottles before they process your refund.

These Are The Top 5 Osteoarthritis Supplements

1. Provitalize 🏆

Why we like Provitalize

One of the most important reasons women experience joint pains and develop osteoarthritis is because of the decline in estrogen levels during menopause. This can happen as early as perimenopause or as late as postmenopause.

Provitalize is the only joint supplement formula that addresses estrogen-related osteoarthritis effectively through:

Restoring hormonal balance to keep a healthy estrogen level without the common side-effects of HRT or estrogen
Easing inflammation in your bones & joint
Improving gut health to enable your body to regulate estrogen levels naturally

Provitalize contains 350mg of curcumin formulated with Bioperine® per serving, a patented version of black pepper extract known to help our body absorb curcumin more effectively. It also contains 350mg of moringa leaves and 150mg of curry leaves per serving.

In addition, it also contains 68.2 billion CFUs of premium probiotic strains with anti-inflammatory and weight-management properties. This includes L. Gasseri SBT2055, a probiotic strain backed by two studies showing a reduction in abdominal visceral fats by up to 4.6%³¹ and 8.5%³² respectively. More importantly, L. Gasseri SBT2055 works by naturally blocking fat absorption and promoting fat excretion through the feces³³.

The other two probiotic strains (B. Breve IDCC4401 and B. Lactis R101-8) are also clinically studied and researchers found that they stimulate cholesterol metabolism³⁴ and saturated fat metabolism³⁵. B. Breve IDCC4401 was also found to lower total cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels, while B. Lactis R101-8 was also found to improve two inflammatory markers³⁶.

The probiotics in Provitalize help to improve gut health and address gut dysbiosis, enabling the gut to perform its function of regulating the estrogen levels in our body and supporting hormonal balance.

According to their official website, over 1,200,000 women have tried Provitalize and over 100,000 women subscribe to it monthly. The tens of thousands of glowing reviews on TrustPilot, Amazon, and Okendo are undeniable proof that Provitalize is worthy of our top spot.

Pros

Cons

2. Provitalize + Previtalize Bundle (Best Value)

Want faster relief from Provitalize? Then add Previtalize into the mix. Previtalize is a prebiotic formula combining 4 prebiotics – FOS, GOS, XOS, inulin – and burdock root.

The probiotics in Provitalize feed on these fibers to multiply faster in the gut. This means women can see faster visible results such as faster joint relief.

Several clinical studies^33,34,35 of FOS, inulin, and burdock root also show anti-inflammatory benefits for people experiencing joint pain.

We listed the Slim Gut Bundle 2nd only because it costs more than Provitalize alone. Fortunately, they provide an 18% discount on the prebiotic when you get the bundle. Other than that, we believe it’s the best-value-for-money bundle in the market right now.

Pros

Cons

3. Osteo Bi-Flex^®

Each serving of Osteo Bi-Flex contains 1,500 mg of glucosamine, 1,103 mg of chondroitin, 100mg of Joint Shield™ 5-LOXIN Advanced^®, a patented version of boswellia serrata, as well as 60mg of Vitamin C and 2mg of Manganese.

Boswellia serrata was found in a study to ease inflammation in osteoarthritis patients³⁶.

What we don’t like about Osteo-Biflex is that it contains unnecessary ingredients such as crospovidone, a disintegrant used in pharmaceutical tablets, guar gum, a food additive, and magnesium silicate, a neutralizing agent. Emerging doubts about glucosamine and its harmful effects from long-term use are also concerning to us.

These are the main reasons we placed Osteo-Biflex in the 3rd position instead of the top 2.

Pros

Cons

4. OmegaXL^®

OmegaXL is a joint support supplement made from a proprietary blend of Green Lipped Mussel Oil Extract containing omega fatty acids, extra virgin olive oil, and d-alpha tocopherol (Vitamin E). It is free of gluten, allergenic levels of shellfish protein, artificial ingredients, milk, yeast, and corn.

The only thing to be aware of is that the FDA sent a warning letter to the company behind OmegaXL in 2021 for making drug claims³⁶.

OmegaXL was promoted with statements such as “[S]hown to help relieve joint pain due to inflammation” and “OmegaXL is widely recognized as a leader in natural relief from pain due to inflammation.” It has also been promoted as a “highly concentrated Omega-3 ‘Super Oil’ supplement,” although past ConsumerLab tests of the product found surprisingly little omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA).

Despite the warning, we think that OmegaXL deserves the third spot in our list as the majority of its Amazon customers have reviewed it favorably. We think that the warning is served because of the aggressive claims made, but it does not reflect the efficacy of the product.

Pros

Cons

5. Blackmores Glusosamine Sulphate

Blackmores need no introduction as it is a well-known supplement brand sold in many retail stores. This supplement contains 1500mg of Glucosamine Sulfate and nothing else, just like its name suggests.

If you would like to try Glucosamine, we think that Blackmores’ Glucosamine Sulfate is one of the better options in the market given the reliable brand name.

Pros

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OR

See Verified Customer Reviews Of The #1 Osteoarthritis Supplement

Final Thoughts

Osteoarthritis is the #1 cause of disability in the US. It’s a concerning trend especially in women over 40. Because there is no cure, focus must be placed on early prevention before postmenopause.

For women in postmenopause and men diagnosed with osteoarthritis, they can slow the progression of the condition by reducing impact and keeping inflammation under control. By doing so, they can still enjoy golden years and independence in their later years.

Janelle Barowski, MSN, RN

Health and wellness writer

Janelle Barowski, MSN, RN, is a health and wellness writer for several outlets, including Healthgrades and Medical News Today. She uses a balance between empathy and authenticity to craft well-written, accurate medical content.
As a registered nurse, Janelle is passionate about client education and public health. She strives to break down complex medical concepts into an approachable format for her audience

Osteoarthritis Treatments: How To Help Prevent Osteoarthritis & Stop The Pain

Osteoarthritis vs Arthritis: What’s the difference?

Is There A Cure For Osteoarthritis?

What Can You Do To Prevent Osteoarthritis From Happening To You Or Slow Osteoarthritis Progression?

Clinically-Studied Supplements For Osteoarthritis Prevention & Support

Your All-in-One Osteoarthritis Supplement Checklist