“Doc, my knee pain and elbow pain have been a problem for years. I know this ibuprofen can’t be good for me, but I have to take it every day, or the pain is just too much!” Paul, a 62-year-old electrician, had come to my office regarding his arthritis pain. I have heard his story many times over the past 25 years of clinical practice. In his case, we had many tools at our clinic to help him-cold laser therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, and even his own stem cells. But due to his financial situation, I decided to recommend a very inexpensive but immensely powerful treatment-methylsulfonylmethane, more commonly known as MSM.
MSM is a natural anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving agent that has helped thousands of my patients. This is great news since commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen all carry serious risks such as kidney and liver damage, blood clots, and bleeding ulcers. Another NSAID which requires a prescription is Celebrex, which has the risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke. Also, acetaminophen (Tylenol) can damage your liver.
MSM is so natural that it is found in small amounts in green vegetables and fruits. But to get pain relief, it needs to be taken in higher doses in the supplement form, and it is readily available over the counter. As I noted in my book The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies, MSM has several benefits which include:
*Pain relief
*Reduced inflammation
*Increased blood flow
*Control of overactive nerve impulses
*Reduced muscle spasms
*Softening of scar tissue
*Contains the mineral sulfur which is used for cartilage formation
*Mineral sulfur supports detoxification in the body
Several studies demonstrate the effectiveness of MSM for arthritis relief. For example, a study involving fifty men and women ages 40 to 76 with osteoarthritis of the knee was supplemented with 3000 mg twice daily of MSM or a placebo for 12 weeks. Compared to placebo, the MSM group had significant decreases in pain and physical function impairment.[1] Animal studies have shown that MSM supplementation reduces cartilage and synovial tissue (which makes fluid that lubricates the joints) breakdown.
Also, MSM is great for the stiffness that limits joint mobility for those with osteoarthritis. A 26 week, a high-quality study published in the International Journal of Orthopedics, found that 6000 mg of MSM per day for people with hip and/or knee arthritis improved stiffness, pain, and physical function.[2] Interestingly, the study authors noted previous research demonstrating that MSM “is used by the body to maintain and repair connective tissue.” Also, this study did not find any adverse effects from MSM supplementation.
If you are prone to excess muscle soreness and stiffness from exercise, then 3000 mg of MSM can also be of great benefit according to research.[3] MSM reduces the damaging free radicals and formed from exercise.[4] In research measuring creatine kinase (an enzyme in muscles that increases with muscle inflammation and damage), the use of MSM maintained a lower level of creatine kinase compared to placebo.Doctors Need to Wise UpEven though this was a conventional study demonstrating the power of MSM in reducing arthritis symptoms, the recommendation of MSM still mainly comes from integrative doctors like myself as well as nutritionists. It seems conventional doctors are still prescribing risky NSAIDs and life-threatening and addictive opioid medications.
I typically recommend 3000 mg to 6000 mg of MSM daily. Start with 3000 mg daily and see how you do. If you need further improvement after two weeks, keep increasing the dose until you reach 6000 mg. A small percentage of users will notice digestive upset and may require a lower dose. If you are on blood-thinning medications, then check with your doctor before using it.
Dr. Mark Stengler NMD, MS, is a bestselling author in private practice in Encinitas, California, at the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine. His newsletter, Dr. Stengler’s Health Breakthroughs, is available at www.markstengler.com and his product line at www.drstengler.com
Kim LS, Axelrod LJ, Howard P, et al. Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trial. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2006;14:286-94.Pagnois, Thomas A, Panagiotis A Givissis, Aristidis C Kritis, and Anastasios C Christodoulou. 2014. "The Effect Of Methylsulfonylmethane On Osteoarthritic Large Joints And Mobility". Int Journal Of Orthopaedics 23 (1).Butawan, Matthew, Rodney Benjamin, and Richard Bloomer. 2017. "Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications And Safety Of A Novel Dietary Supplement". Nutrients 9 (3): 290. doi:10.3390/nu9030290.
