Arthritis Relief: Addressing the Root Cause of Inflammation
- Amber Charboneau
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
Arthritis & Chronic Pain
When it comes to managing arthritis and chronic joint pain, most conventional treatments focus on symptom relief rather than the root cause. For many, this means a daily regimen of over-the-counter painkillers or prescription medications like acetaminophen or gabapentin. While these can provide temporary relief, they may not address the underlying drivers of inflammation that keep pain coming back.
The Inflammation Puzzle
The truth is, arthritis—especially the inflammatory types—often has deeper metabolic and dietary causes. Addressing these at the root can bring longer-lasting relief and, in some cases, reduce the need for constant medication. It is almost always linked to underlying inflammation driven by deeper imbalances in the body—especially issues related to uric acid, blood sugar, and gut health.
Instead of suppressing symptoms with stronger drugs, a more effective approach involves investigating and correcting these root triggers.
Check Your Uric Acid Levels
Uric acid is a natural waste product that your body makes when breaking down purines—substances found in certain foods like red meat, shellfish, and alcohol. When uric acid builds up in the bloodstream, it can crystallize in joints, triggering painful inflammation and swelling causing long-term damage—especially in small joints like the fingers and hands. While most commonly linked to gout, high uric acid may also contribute to other forms of arthritis.
What to do: Ask your healthcare provider to check your uric acid levels. Healthy uric acid levels are generally recommended to be under 5.5 mg/dL for individuals managing chronic pain or gout risk.
There are also home monitors available for regular tracking.
We like this UASure II model (NOT paid). It is about $100.
Reducing intake of high-purine foods, sugar (especially fructose), and alcohol are key strategies to lower uric acid naturally. We highly recommend the book, Drop Acid, by Dr. Perlmutter (paid link). It offers strategies to manage your uric acid level.
Get Your Blood Sugar in Check
Sugar is inflammatory. While most people are aware of this, many don’t realize just how much added sugar they consume. There are more than 60 names for sugar hidden in processed foods—from dextrose to high-fructose corn syrup. Check out Blog: The Sugar Hiding in Plain Sight to learn more. Excess sugar not only worsens inflammation but also contributes to gut imbalance, metabolic dysfunction, and insulin resistance.
Chronic inflammation is strongly tied to insulin resistance. Elevated insulin and glucose levels contribute to systemic inflammation and may aggravate arthritis symptoms. Sugar increases inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP), and contributes to oxidative stress and tissue breakdown. Imbalanced glucose and insulin levels lead to systemic inflammation and joint pain by promoting glycation—damaging proteins in the cartilage and connective tissue. Most people unknowingly consume far more than the recommended daily limit.
What to do: Managing blood sugar through diet and lifestyle can dramatically improve inflammation and pain. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 grams of added sugar per day for women and 36 grams for men. You should aim for a fasting glucose level below 100 mg/dL and an insulin level under 10 μU/mL.
Focus on Gut Health
The gut is central to immune regulation. Gut dysbiosis, an imbalanced gut microbiome, can contribute to chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, worsened joint pain, and increase the permeability of the intestinal wall—a condition known as “leaky gut.” This can allow inflammatory compounds into the bloodstream, worsening arthritis symptoms.
Probiotics, fermented foods, and a fiber-rich diet can help restore a healthy balance of gut bacteria and reduce
What to do: Probiotics, fermented foods, and prebiotic-rich fibers are essential tools to rebalance gut flora and reduce systemic inflammation. Choose foods like sauerkraut, kefir, and unsweetened yogurt, and consider a high-quality probiotic supplement.
Functional Medicine: a Holistic Approach
For anyone living with chronic pain, especially when conventional treatments fall short, exploring functional medicine may offer new insights. Functional practitioners focus on root causes using blood work, lifestyle data, and diet analysis to understand metabolic health, toxicity, nutrient deficiencies, and lifestyle habits—rather than just managing symptoms. Functional Medicine emphasizes —offering a personalized roadmap for long-term relief.
While conventional drugs may ease pain temporarily, true relief often comes from restoring balance at the metabolic and cellular level. Using Functional Medicine principles in conjunction with Traditional Medicine practices can greatly improve outcomes, so we recommend finding a traditional medicine practitioner who is willing to recognize the body's ability to heal itself when nourished properly and supports you on your journey to wellness. More pills are not always the answer.
In Summary: Pain relief doesn’t have to start and stop with pills. By addressing the metabolic and dietary causes of inflammation—particularly uric acid, glucose, insulin, and gut health—many people with chronic pain find longer-lasting comfort and improved well-being.
Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, medications, or treatment plan.
SOURCES:
Johnson RJ, Nakagawa T, et al. "Sugar, Uric Acid, and the Etiology of Diabetes and Obesity." Diabetes. 2013
Perlmutter, D., & Loberg, K. Drop acid. David Perlmutter, MD, with Kristin Loberg. Little, Brown Spark, 2022
Hu FB, Malik VS. “Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes: epidemiologic evidence.” Physiol Behav. 2010;100(1):47-54. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.01.036.
Means, C., & Means, C. Good energy: The surprising connection between metabolism and Limitless Health. Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2024
Kraft JR. "Diabetes Epidemic & You." 2008
CDC – National Diabetes Statistics Report 2020
AHA – Added Sugars: What You Need to Know
Lustig RH. "Sugar: The Bitter Truth." UCSF Lecture
Scher JU, Abramson SB. "The microbiome and rheumatoid arthritis." Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 2011.
Zhang X, et al. "The oral and gut microbiomes are perturbed in rheumatoid arthritis." Nature Medicine, 2015.
The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) – https://www.ifm.org
