How we dose Vitamin C for Chronic Joint Pain

In our practice, we use oral vitamin C to support soft tissue healing for patients with chronic orthopedic pain, like annular fissures, tendonitis, or rotator cuff tears. Vitamin C plays a key role in collagen formation, which is crucial for tendon, ligament, and disc repair.

Many people underdose vitamin C, typically taking 250-500 mg once or twice a day. However, we recommend starting with 1,000 mg twice a day, and in some cases, up to three times a day. For severe cases, we may go as high as 8-12 grams, but this should only be done under physician supervision.

If you’re new to my channel, my name is Dr. Drew Timmermans, ND, RMSK. I’m the founder of Regenerative Performance in Gilbert, AZ, specializing in interventional orthobiologics, which is just a fancy way of saying we help people reclaim their life from chronic pain without steroids or surgery. We challenge the conventional pain management approaches by addressing the root causes of chronic pain.

How I got here…
22 yrs old: Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario.
23 yrs old: Competed as a long sprinter, anchoring the 4x400m relay to a silver medal at the Canadian national championships, contributing to Western's first national title in men's track and field.
23 yrs old: Started working as a personal trainer for GoodLife Fitness in Canada, quickly becoming one of the Top 10 Personal Trainers nationwide.
23 yrs old: Herniated two discs in my lower back, ending my track and field career and sending me into a multi-year battle with chronic pain.
24 yrs old: Enrolled at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (now Sonoran University of Health Sciences) after discovering my passion for naturopathic medicine.
26 yrs old: Still battling chronic back pain, I finally became pain-free through a platelet-rich plasma injection.
28 yrs old: Graduated and become a licensed naturopathic doctor.
29 yrs old: Completed the first-ever residency in regenerative medicine and integrative pain management at the Neil Riordan Center for Regenerative Medicine.
29 yrs old: Co-founded Regenerative Performance to help people with chronic pain just as I had been helped.

Today: We help people who have chronic joint pain reclaim their life with cutting edge treatments like platelet rich plasma, and stem cell therapy.

To everyone battling chronic pain, remember that your story is still being written.

Never give up.

Dr. Drew Timmermans, ND, RMSK

FULL DISCLOSURE: I create content to share my expertise and help as many people as possible. My goal is to build trust and provide valuable information to those seeking alternative solutions for chronic pain management and bring in new patients into our practice.

[Optimizedforlife]

Great info, but for how long on and off Vit C?

[andrewhadjimichael]

I want to believe as I need all the help I can get but any thoughts on the link between high dose vitamin c (2000mg +) and kidney stones? I been researching on the internet and the literature does generally say that high doses above 2000 mg raises the risk of kidney stones.

[SleepyIronBear]

Would you recommend ascorbate or ascorbic acid? Thx!!

[andrewhadjimichael]

What would be the criteria you would use to determine if someone needs 2000mg or 3000mg of vitamin c? Is there much difference going from 2000mg to 3000mg?

[andrewhadjimichael]

Wow! I did not know this. I have recently restarted taking Vit C but only 500mg. Seems I have to up my dosage. I can take 2000mg on an on going basis? Most of the medical stuff I can find online suggests 500mg and the UL is 2000mg...

I see a lot of things online related to potential kidney stones and taking 2000mg of vitamin c?

I guess I'm gonna give it a go for a bit.

1000mg morning and evening. (2000mg)

My multivitamin contains 250mg

Plus what I get from food during the day.

Sounds ok right?

[prabs]

Sir, have partial tear in brevis and longus tendon and Grade 1 ATFL Tear and Mild Subtalar Joint Effusion. What do you suggest? Please help

[andrewhadjimichael]

If we are only taking one 30g worth of collagen a day with 1000mg vit c (2000mg in the day total), is there any benefit to taking another dose of vitamin c (3000mg per day) if we are not taking collagen with it?