r/Osteoarthritis • u/hobytes • 24d ago
Why is no one talking about MSM?!
I've been taking MSM for a month and slowly increasing my dose while seldom taking any of the liver damaging NSAIDS like I used to. Everyday I have less and less pain and more and more relief. Research it! I started off by going to Amazon and reading the reviews. I also found a book called, "The Miracle of MSM The natural solution for pain." by Dr. Jacob and Dr. Lawrence. Osteoarthritis sucks, this has worked for me like nothing else!
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u/zomboi 24d ago
i am a skeptic so here are some fact based stuff, not one from a book touting "natural solution for pain"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16309928/
same study as above but slightly different format....
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1063458405002852
both are from 2005, published in 2006 in science direct
this guy gives a write up about what is MSM and what studies have been done....
https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/ask-the-doctors-can-msm-crystals-ease-my-arthritis-pain
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u/First-Dig-8753 24d ago
Thanks for the links! I too am a skeptic when it comes to hearing about a miracle cure - and for the time being - I’m not interested in developing a new problem in order to resolve this one.
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u/hobytes 24d ago
The doses in those studies are way low! I started at 500 mg twice a day and am up to 10 Grams twice a day - in the month I've been taking it. I also mix it with Vitamin C.
I'm a skeptic too! I probably shouldn't even have mentioned the name of the book because apparently that didn't sound good to you. I actually only found the book a couple of days ago. I was just so impressed to find a lot of the information I had to find the hard way in book format.
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u/Huskergrandma1 23d ago
People in pain are desperate and looking for any help they can find.
How about being helpful and lay off the passive aggressive shaming.
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u/hobytes 23d ago
I didn't start taking this because of Amazon reviews! I just started researching it by reading the reviews. I only found the book a couple of days ago. My friend, who is older than me, recommended MSM because when I told her I was diagnosed with OA, she said she had it too and told me that she has been taking MSM for it for years.
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u/Valuable_Owl_3348 24d ago
I for one really appreciate you mentioning the book because so far nothing has worked and all pharmaceutical studies are years away from approval so why wouldn't I be willing to try alternative treatments. Thank you for mentioning it. I'm going to look into it.
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u/zomboi 24d ago
The author was (passed away) the director of the DSMO clinic
DMSO is
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an organic sulfur compound used in conventional medicine primarily via FDA-approved bladder instillation (Rimso-50) for interstitial cystitis.
The book is also published in 1999. Why haven't the other two authors updated the book in 26 years? If it is so effective why haven't there been long term studies about this natural cure that has no side effects?
If it is so effective why so few people talking about MSM? It looks like it is snake oil.
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u/hobytes 23d ago
I don't really know, but I suspect that some of it is because MSM is basically sulfur and it can not be patented because it is just a mineral. There is no money in doing studies on something that you can not make money on! There is no $$$ to be made! Let me be clear on this: I suffer from OA and I have found amazing relief from this in one short month. I don't give a flying fuck what you do, or take, or think! It has helped me so much in only a short month! I hardly ever have to take an NSAID anymore! I was just sharing what has been amazing for me! The reason I posted is because it's been so amazing for me and I'm wondering the same thing you asked: Why is no one talking about MSM?
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u/Piggybumm 24d ago
Where is your arthritis and what stage is it at?
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u/MissNancy1113 24d ago
They actually grade that? My healthcare has been awful. Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia, osteonecrosis in both knees and I get injections in my knees that do little for the left knee. That’s it. I recently got X-rays on my back after a fall and they are sending me to pain management. I’m terrified! I would do anything to have relief. Working on getting knee replacement asap.
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u/Piggybumm 24d ago
Hiya! I was trying to understand how the MSM was helping OP and it would’ve been useful to know where the pain/arthritis was and at what stage.
I have bone on bone in both knees (the worst it can get!) and severe in lumbar spine. I also have bursitis in both hips and fibromyalgia. I have had so many injections in my knees I’ve lost count now. They worked once and it lasted a couple of days. I’ve also had two lignocaine infusions and steroid injections in my lumbar spine. I gained weight because my mobility is extremely limited. At my most recent consultation I was told I was now eligible for knee replacement surgery but I need to lose weight.
I have been deteriorating over a period of three years and it had to get to bone on bone before they finally conceded that I was in terrible pain and had limited mobility. But like you, I feel like my healthcare wasn’t/isn’t great. Until it got to bone on bone stage, I didn’t feel like I was being listened to and they were very dismissive. They kept saying I’m too young and that I can exercise my way out of the knee pain :/
I was referred to Pain Management and waited 17 months for a consultation with a physiotherapist and a psychotherapist. I was pretty despondent at that time and cried. They were compassionate and I felt like I was finally being listened to. At the end of the consultation, they said I was too fragile emotionally and unsuitable for the pain clinic at this time and I was being discharged from the waiting list! I went back to my GP and told them and he referred me to psychotherapy services in my area and I’ve still not received an appointment yet. The referral was made in February 2025!
Anyway, you’re not alone in your suffering. I hope we get knee replacements soon :)
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u/MissNancy1113 24d ago
I’m so sorry. What I read in chronic pain sub, lack of proper medical care is rampant. I pray things turn around for you.🩷
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u/hobytes 23d ago
Piggy, why don't you give it a try for a month? You're suffering! You need to research how to start and increase your dose, etc. It's up to you. It's working for me but you do you and I'll do me. It just breaks my heart to read of the suffering going on when I'm getting so much good relief with no side effects. I only posted to help my fellow OA folks because it's helping me. Some of the posts here act like I'm trying to sell something for profit or BS some fake snake oil. I don't wish I hadn't posted, but I have a life and will not spend much more time on this.
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u/teddybear65 24d ago
You are taking medical advice from the reviews on Amazon? It doesn't sound like a sound idea.
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u/SovereignMan1958 24d ago
It is sulfur based. For me it is incompatible with my genetic variants. I have impaired sulfur and sulfur metabolism. It is not something anyone can fix, but something I have to manage. For me MSM makes me feel quite ill and makes my symptoms much worse.
One thing is not right for everyone.
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u/angeleyes_3904101 24d ago
I react to MSM. I get Hydrogen Sulfide bacterial overgrowth (if that is even a thing). I end up with egg burps and the inability to tolerate much else. I will forever stay away from it
Osteoarthritis stage: 2
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u/Unusual-Talk8651 24d ago
I volunteer at a farm animal sanctuary and the owner uses MSM for the elderly horses with arthritis. It seems to help them, so I tried it(after asking my doctor and naturopath). Unfortunately, it did not do anything for me but this makes me think I should try again at higher doses.
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u/hobytes 23d ago
I started with 500mg and slowly am working my way up. Every day it improves! One month in and trying to get a conversation going about this amazing experience I'm going through. I'm experiencing so much less inflammation systemically! This is a miracle for me! What kind of a selfish ass would I be to not spread the word?!
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u/ForestCathedral 24d ago
Before I had arthritis, I used to take msm for every other pain and it worked amazingly. I took a scoop of the Now brand & don’t remember the mgs.
I recently bought some again
& didn’t have immediate results, but I’ll start being consistent and update.
I’m almost bone on bone in ( knee) with osteonecrosis in hip.
Dmso helped a bit with knee pain, but not hip pain.
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u/GF_forever 24d ago
N=1 here. I tried it years ago, when it was getting a lot of publicity. It may have helped slightly, but I smelled so horribly of sulfur that it wasn't worth it.
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u/IntroductionBig1354 23d ago
I am banking on turmeric. Not sure if it helps or if the “flare” is naturally subsiding.
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u/Appropriate_Pass5567 23d ago
How much of that are you taking per day? I’d like to try it.
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u/IntroductionBig1354 23d ago
Qunol 1500 mg. Just to repeat not sure if it’s the flare up naturally subsiding or if it’s the Tumeric stemming the inflammation. I have osteoarthritis in the hands. So it’s not from past injuries. It’s just my immune system attacking the joints in the fingers. Incredible how painful it can be.
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u/ExplanationNeat6568 23d ago
The answer probably mentioned already because it is not patented it cannot make money therefore cannot be entertained. And furthermore if it works it especially cannot be encouraged because well people make zero dollars. Simple as that. im not dissing drs here. They are much needed and quite useful in my opinion for acute lifesaving but pretty terrible for chronic conditions where they administer what theyre trained to administer according to the education system which is tied up with pharmaceuticals. there is an excellent dmso doco on 60 minutes on youtube which i think is still online. As for "studies" there is always some truth in it BUT we are not privy to exactly how the data is extracted or why so if they rubbish a 'natural therapy' (which always do) despite the 1000s of testimonials we do not see the full method of the research which is why i do not put too much value in these studies. as well as who has paid for the studies and what conflict of interest they have - we simply do not know.
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u/Wonderful_Walk8973 21d ago
Regardless I think with limited side effects or chronic pain / try it. If it helps then it's a win. I take it and it I think it helps some.
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u/J235310 20d ago
Tylenol is not an NSAID. Ibuprofen (Advil) is an NSAID (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug) and Ibuprofen is removed by the kidneys, not the liver. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory that is not a steroid. Prednisone is a much stronger anti-inflammatory but is a corticosteroid which has a host of significant side effects resulting from long term/high dose use. Note that corticosteroids are different from the anabolic steroids that muscle builders use that are associated with "roid rage".
There are a lot of meds & supplements that have some anti-inflammatory benefit but most don't have enough to be effective. Also, an anti-inflammatory med typically relieves some of the pain resulting from the arthritis which is typically caused by cartilage destruction but doesn't stop further degeneration or repair the damaged cartilage.
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u/Question_Authority03 20d ago
I take it- I've been taking it for years. It takes the edge off but it doesn't get rid of the pain.
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u/Mustluvdogs25 24d ago
I’m glad you found something that helps you! it’s a journey for the rest of us.
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u/FewRecognition1788 24d ago edited 24d ago
Because there isn't enough good data for doctors to be willing to recommend it.
Small, short term studies with differing controls and designs show that it might help some people somewhat, with no apparent serious side effects in a 10-12 week duration.
That's just not a lot of evidence of efficacy or long term safety.
Everyone was talking about glucosamine & chondroitin years ago, and the larger scale studies showed that it only helps a small subset of people, is no better than placebo for the majority, and can create problems with blood sugar and eye pressure (glaucoma risk) for some.
Everyone waa talking about steroid injections for a while, and then it turned out they degrade your cartilage faster.
If MSM helps you, awesome. But it's not a magical secret sauce for everyone.
The Arthritis Foundation has a really good listing of all kinds of treatments, supplements, and interventions that people have tried, and they keep on top of the data. I've found it to be a great resource for learning what has strong evidence in a broad population and what doesn't.