Hi.  I am wondering if this is Craig who used to post here I think
back when I first found ASA?  I wold love to know what DMARD you are
now taking?  Used to MTX I think? Did you wind up with one of the
biologics?  I suppose I should google but i sure haven't seen you post
forever.  So catch us Up.  As far as thatflexprotect. the herbs in it
are all anti inflammatory and glucosamine is certainly my friend.  It
is more a question of the reliability of that particular product
rather than the ingredients.  Doc. Theo has checked out so many
products that have almost no active ingredients in the world of
glucosamine.

If I am completely wrong thinking you are Craig, forgive me-I should
have googled first

melinda

I would be very leary of trying a lot of the "bundled" packages like Flex
Protex.  You don't always know what is in the entire product and what the
interactions are.  If you are taking ibuprofen, mtx and plaquenil for
example you know what the combinations are.  If you are taking flex protex,
an herbal tea containing perhaps willow bark and your ibuprofen you are
perhaps taking too much of the anti-inflammatory products.  flex protex does
contain yucca which can have an anti-inflammatory property.  Why not add
glucosomine - see if any problems; then add yucca with your doctor's
approval and then the browalien - all are available seperately.  Then if
something disagrees with you it is possible you can catch it quickly.  If
you seem to be gettting better you can always drop one to see if that is the
one or the combination that works (hope this makes sense.)  Always buy from
a reputable source though and personally I am always leary of multi level
selling.  Check out brands at Costco, Walmart and your local drug store as
well.  Sometimes pharmacists can be your best source of help - mine for
example asked me not to take some of the specialty supplements such as
Lakota (not that I intended to take that one - it has willow bark or aspirin
in and could be ulcer producing for me) or even Cold FX although for some
people he said it seemed to work.  He felt my combination and my iritability
to some meds made this not wise.  Good plan!

I do hope though that you are on some form of dmard since you have RA.
Ibuprofen will not stop joint damage in the future.  To manage pain also try
the non medicinal such as exercise, range of motion if the joints are sore
and hot or swollen, ice, heat if necessary and it works, gentle rest and
pacing yourself, aids such as grips for handles, larger handles, levered
items such as door handles, tap handles, raised items such as toilet seats,
extra cushions on chairs, walking aids such as canes, or walkers if
necessary for balance, pillows between knees when sleeping to avoid hip
rotation.  Orthotics or heel lifts, hand splints and finger splints are all
ordered through an ot and can be of great help if needed as well.

Good luck - I did research this product on the net and can't see anything
that would make me run out and spend my money.  Seems to me to be another
overpriced products but I might be wrong - been there before.  Also it might
not do any harm if you can afford it and if you stay on dmards while doing
it and if you can monitor carefully for side effects - of course this
depends on what meds you are taking already - personally if you are taking
much I wouldn't fool around with it.

Good luck and report back to us.  Let us know what you are doing other than
the ibuprofen as well.

Kelly