Natural Neck Pain Relief Within 30 Minutes – How Effective is Celadrin Cream for Arthritis and Myofascial Neck Pain Syndrome?

There are few natural remedies for neck pain that are backed by a good amount of quality clinical trial data but Celadrin is one such product. This cetylated fatty acid supplement can be taken in capsule form or used topically and results from human studies suggest that it can start relieving pain within just 30 minutes of application, so what is Celadrin and how could it help your neck pain?

What is Celadrin?

Celadrin is a patented product that includes esterified (stabilised) fatty acids such as cetyl myristoleate, a substance that is thought to be the reason why some mice are immune to chemically-induced arthritis. Cetyl myristoleate and other cetylated fatty acids have surfactant activity, meaning that they improve the lubrication of the joints, allowing connective tissue to become more pliable and reducing friction and joint degradation.

Can Celadrin Help Relieve All Types of Neck Pain?

Cetylated fatty acids also appear to inhibit inflammation and to support immune function, making Celadrin of benefit for inflammatory, immune-mediated (rheumatoid) arthritis, and osteoarthritis, as well as for acute joint injury and pain. It is also helpful for myofascial pain syndrome and, theoretically, could benefit those with neck pain caused by fibromyalgia, although no clinical trial data is available to support this use.

The Benefits of Celadrin for Neck Pain

There are numerous natural products for neck pain relief but many have the disadvantage of being unsuitable for use alongside certain medications or by those with specific medical conditions or allergies. Celadrin, however, has not been associated with any adverse effects, can be used alongside medications and other natural products, is not contraindicated with any medical conditions and may even help reduce the number of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs taken by those with joint pain, including neck pain.

How Celadrin Helps Reduce Neck Pain

When used topically, Celadrin is absorbed quickly and deeply and gets to work by lowering levels of C-reactive protein and 5-lipoxygenase, both of which are involved in inflammatory activity. Celadrin is also thought to inhibit the influence of pro-inflammatory molecules on tissue by reducing response to these molecules, in addition to inhibiting the activation of vascular endothelial cells. It is also able to influence a variety of enzymes involved in chronic inflammation.

Fast-Acting Neck Pain Relief, Naturally

One particular advantage of cetylated fatty acid products is that cells quickly take up these FAs and incorporate them into the phospholipid membranes surrounding the cell. The response time is much more rapid compared to omega 3 supplements as the cetylated fatty acids directly alter how the cells function, communicate, and respond to inflammatory substances. Celadrin may help inhibit the arachidonic acid inflammatory cascade; arachidonic acid is a substance found predominantly in animal-derived foods which is one reason why diets high in animal proteins are often advised against for those with chronic inflammatory diseases including arthritis.

Evidence Supporting Celadrin for Neck Pain Relief

The evidence to support the use of Celadrin comes largely from trials looking at its benefits in osteoarthritis of the knee, although there have also been trials involving patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and myofascial pain syndrome where benefits were also seen. One placebo-controlled study looked at the use of topical Celadrin by 40 people with osteoarthritis and found that within just half an hour of applying the cream the Celadrin users had increased range of motion. This benefit, compared to placebo, was also seen when patients were assessed after 30 days of treatment, along with improvements in stair-climbing, medial step-down tests, unilateral anterior reach tests, and an up-and-go test (Kraemer et al., 2004).

A follow-up trial was carried out using a mentholated version of the cream, this time including patients with knee osteoarthritis and those with severe elbow and/or wrist pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis (Kraemer et al., 2005). Twice-daily applications of Celadrin once again led to significant improvements in symptoms of arthritis, including a 16.5% improvement in balance and strength. Dynamic and isometric local muscular endurance was also seen to improve by 22% and 24.5% and 33% and 42$ respectively for those with elbow and wrist pain.

Celadrin was even seen to help enhance postural stability in people with osteoarthritis of the knee (Kraemer et al., 2005b), while a topical cream containing both cetylated fatty acids and an alkali-buffered creatine monohydrate has been seen to offer benefits in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis treatment (Golini & Jones, 2014). In a trial including 16 patients aged 7-16 years, 30 days of treatment significantly reduced, or even eliminated, palpable signs of inflammation. Those in the treatment group also had significantly less pain, lower levels of C-reactive protein, improved range of motion, normal erythrocyte sedimentation rates (a marker for immune function), and considerably reduced or eliminated reliance on steroids or NSAIDs for symptom management.

Myofascial Neck Pain Syndrome Relief Through Celadrin

Those with neck pain due to muscular issues will also be interested to note that in one study patients with myofascial pain syndrome of the neck experienced significant pain relief and improved quality of life, as well as reductions in neck disability after four weeks of twice-daily Celadrin application in addition to physical therapy twice a week (Sharan et al., 2011). By using natural products to relieve inflammation and support healthy joint function, people with neck pain are better able to engage in exercise therapy that then helps with mobility and strength.

Celadrin is often recommended alongside natural joint care supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) because it supports their activity and gets to work much quicker. These other supplements tend to take a while to build up sufficiently in the body to exert beneficial effects and so the combined use can offer rapid relief and long-term benefits for neck pain.

References

Golini, J., Jones, W.L. (2014). Kre-Celazine® as a Viable Treatment for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis/Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis – A Pilot Study. J Med Food. 2014 Jun 4. [Epub ahead of print]
Kraemer, W.J., Ratamess, N.A., Anderson, J.M., et al. (2004). Effect of a cetylated fatty acid topical cream on functional mobility and quality of life of patients with osteoarthritis. J Rheumatol, 31:767-74.
Kraemer, W.J., Ratamess, N.A., Maresh, C.M., et al. (2005). A cetylated fatty acid topical cream with menthol reduces pain and improves functional performance in individuals with arthritis. J Strength Cond Res, 19:475-80.
Kraemer, W.J., Ratamess, N.A., Maresh, C.M., et al. (2005b). Effects of treatment with a cetylated fatty acid topical cream on static postural stability and plantar pressure distribution in patients with knee osteoarthritis. J Strength Cond Res, 19:115-21.
Sharan, D., Jacob, B.N., Ajeesh, P.S., et al. (2011). The effect of cetylated fatty esters and physical therapy on myofascial pain syndrome of the neck. J Bodyw Mov Ther, Jul;15(3):363-74.