Arthritis Forum - Osteoarthritis: are epsom salts and diuretic drugs worsening

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Q: Osteoarthritis: are epsom salts and diuretic drugs worsening

asked by: DoctorQuestion on October 3rd, 2006

Recently had back urgery (Dec '06), fusion, two discs, now hips have bone spurs. growing pain in shoulders and knees. Could be adolescent abuse.

I've been taking 1 to 1/2 teaspoon epsom salts daily w/ metamucil for fiber and regularity past three years. I know that epsom salts have a dehydrating effect. My blood pressure medication also has a diuretic (sp?). Does "relative" dehydration caused by these two substances aggravate joint deterioration and resultant arthritis effects? This is coming on strong now....have almost given up golf. I'm pretty active, golf, scuba, sailing, skiing. My Dr. sez I'm just getting old (ha ha). I just am wondering if the epsom salts and diuretic are exacerbating this downward slide?

Replies(1)

Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD

replied on October 6th, 2006

Arthritis Answer A1597

It doesn't seem that Epsom and diuretic drugs have any connection with the bone spurs, disc degenerations, joint pain and/or other manifestations of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis is a degenerative disease of the joints. It has many names depending upon which joint is affected: spondylosis (vertebral spine), coxarthrosis (hip joint), gonarthrosis (knee) etc. The etiology and mechanisms of the disease are unknown but it is believed that with aging, the imbalance of physical weight over the joints causes degenerative changes in the bone under the joint’s cartilage and in the cartilage itself.

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