curcumin

[112045]

Has anyone had any success using this supplement for relief of the inflammation of pmr.

[Queenfisher]

I take Curamed 750 mg twice a day. This is a concentrated form of curcumin, and I find it helps and acts to a degree as a pain killer. I buy it from Amazon - there are a lot of reviews for it on there. It doesn't completely solve the pmr inflammation problem, (if only it did!) but works better than any other anti-inflammatory supplement I have used.

[Craftnut68 in reply to Queenfisher]

Thanks for that Queenfisher I will look that up

[Queenfisher in reply to Craftnut68]

My Rheumy had been wanting me to use celebrex, but after reading the side effects I wanted to look for a natural product instead. I had previously tried turmeric and other curcumin products without success, then heard about Curamed and how they were using it in a research study here in Dallas. I read the Amazon reviews and found one where a lady commented she found it as effective as celebrex, so it was a no-brainer for me to give it a try! I have been pleased.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Queenfisher]

That someone found anything was as effective as celebrex for PMR is hardly surprising! I know a lot of rheumies will tell people to use celebrex or ibuprofen - like any other NSAID it does next to nothing for the vast majority of PMR patients. I assume that anyone who does get much relief from it has other problems besides the PMR.

[Queenfisher in reply to PMRpro]

Just to clarify, the comment I found on Google for Curamed being as effective as celebrex was not by someone who had PMR. It was for a totally unrelated disorder.

However, my Rheumy was wanting me to add celebrex as well as continuing using pred!! Go figure that one......

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Queenfisher]

I have no idea where some rheumies get their ideas from. I've read a lot of textbooks and a lot of research and review papers and ALL of them say pred is the mainstay and NSAIDs are less use - and should NEVER be used alongside pred because of the gastric irritation risks.

I KNOW the manufacturers claim celebrex has fewer gastric issues. Fewer is NOT the same as none. And if I remember rightly - doesn't it come with cardiovascular issues? As if we mightn't have enough of them anyway due to arterial inflammation...

[Queenfisher in reply to PMRpro]

Yes it does come with potential cardiovascular concerns, that is why I wouldn't touch it and looked for an alternative. It's same ole same ole as far as I am concerned - why layer these meds up if there is no real reason? Think maybe some of these dr's should have a dose of PMR to get their reasoning and priorities straight😄. Might make them think a bit harder about potential side effects and long term issues!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Queenfisher]

And the problems associated with rapid reductions! I spent 3/4 of an hour talking to the local Head of Medicine just about PMR yesterday - I thought I was passionate about slow reduction but he was absolutely up there! "It causes so many more problems..." he said. And here they very much keep medication to the minimum. Pred - nothing else except calcium/vit D until proven to be required.

[HeronNS in reply to Queenfisher]

Prior to diagnosis my then GP prescribed celebrex to me on two different occasions for the pain. After checking the side effects and finding that all the other drugs in that class had been taken off the market I decided not to take it.

[Queenfisher in reply to HeronNS]

Yup, I was exactly the same - reading the side effects frightened the life out of me.

[HeronNS in reply to Queenfisher]

The disturbing thing is that most people will not do the research, either because they don't know they can, or they trust their doctor's judgement completely. When you see the statistics of physician-caused illness and deaths it almost seems as though there should be classes in high school about safely managing one's health! I noticed that the young doctor I had for a few months after my old one retired never even touched me. I went in several times complaining about my neck and shoulders, and not once did she even ask me to move my limbs to check range of motion or, as the retired doctor would have done, actually palpated certain points in an effort to find out exactly where I was feeling pain. (BTW I diagnosed myself with PMR months before any doctor did, but went into immediate denial because it had to be treated with steroids - I was sure I couldn't have something that serious!)

[Queenfisher in reply to HeronNS]

Yes, a good doctor that you can have faith in is just gold - but I will still always check for med side effects before I fill any prescription.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There are several people on the forums who use turmeric in their cooking as part of an antiinflammatory diet (oily fish, garlic etc) or as capsules and find it does seem to allow them to manage with a lower dose of pred. There is no-one I know of who has found it replaces pred though.

[Meg1711b]

I took turmeric for 6 months and didn't notice any positive changes. Doctor said to stop since no improvement.

[peanuckle]

I take a capsule of circumin and turmeric combined. Seems to help but have no way of knowing for sure.