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Message: [QUOTE="nephron, post: 186060, member: 23759"] vintage knees, er I mean, txvintage--If you're already seeing a rheumy, you're a step ahead of me. But, the answer is a resounding, non-halfhearted....maybe. Well, probably not. I mean, daily bid colchicine's been shown to reduce yearly attacks from approx. 30-10 episodes/year. If you're taking more than 2 .6mg tabs daily, then yes, there's something you can do--like cut down on the dose. But since you're probably not, I'll just be able to tell you that for the progressive form of CPPD (calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease) a simple Magnesium Oxide supplementation might be of some help. However, this typically only helps those with "chronic hypomagnesemia"--which is pretty damn uncommon. The other thing that's been done in those chronic progressors (which you apparently are not)--a prophylactic course of GAG sulfate (glycosoaminoglycan) injections might help. The initial study describing this was in 1988, but has never been replicated--so it's validity remains in question. The current name-brand injection is Syn-Visc or Arteparon. If you don't like that, you might just try some good 'ol homeopathic OTC doses of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate, although their utility is debatable. The other possibility is switching prophylactic meds to a traditional NSAID (like Relafen) or COX-2 (Vioxx/Celebrex), and use the Colchicine for attacks (1 every 30 minutes until relief, diarrhea, or 4 doses--whichever occurs first!;) ). You KNOW, the good ol dreaded steroids, like Kenalog/Depomedrol injections or Medrol po dose packs still kick serious butt, but don't tell your rheumy I ever said anything about them.:D I wish I could have answered your question better, but a possible answer for you is up there somewhere. Best Wishes. [/QUOTE]

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