anyone take Glucosamine/chondroitin regularly?

[vash]

be honest..any benefits?

i take my regular daily vitamins. wondering if adding some joint insurance would be beneficial.

i am dropping weight, eating right..running, biking. my knees sometimes feel it.

embarrassingly enough..i should really learn how to swim properly.

[GH85Carrera]

I take it, but I often suspect the only real benefit is to the store that sells it.

[stomachmonkey]

Been for a long time.

Felt some benefits whether real or psychological who knows.

Switched to a brand that also contained MSM and really noticed a difference.

Used to take it in the morning but found a better result taking right after dinner.

I'm a believer.

[IROC]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I take it, but I often suspect the only real benefit is to the store that sells it.

I have arthritis in my knees and asked my orthopedic specialist about this stuff and he says it has the same efficacy as "breathing air". In other words - waste of money.

Also, I ran for years until after one particular run I got some significant swelling/pain in my right knee (prompting the orthopedic visit). After the doctor told me I could never run again and that running most likely led to my worn out knees, I asked him about all of the studies that show that running isn't bad for your knees. He said that's only if you're not prone to knee degeneration. All of the people that run all their lives without knee issues are only able to do that because their essentially "lucky". Running is rough on your knees. Especially for someone my size (6'3" and about 215 right now).

[pete3799]

I use it every so often. Seems to help for me.

[dad911]

I take it daily. Knee pain is definitely reduced.

[gatotom]

problem with glucosamine and chondroiten is the molecule size, kinda big for it to pass thru the walls, so you don't absorb too much of it or you need to take a boatload to absorb some.

MSM is much better, a derivative of DMSO, the wonder drug of the 20th century, it causes a slipperyness to the cartilege surface. Its cheap, oderless tasteless sorta and a side effect is that it will slow down that hair loss.

HA or hyaluronic acid is another additive you should consider. It comes from Rooster combs, its in us but as we age it dimmishes. It sorta thickens the fluid between the cartilege. So MSM causes slippery surface and HA causes heavy duty motor oil between.

Not all HA is created equal, yrs ago they created a 2 tier supplement market and the good stuff you can get from Docs, ND, DC anyone with healthcare license. The first tier which you can buy anywhere, etc. Walmart, has a larger nano size or molecule size so you need more to absorb it, the second tier is way better for you and it is cheaper because its not mass marketed out there.

The best source for HA is from Pure Encapsulations, find someone that can buy it.

A side effect from HA is softer skin with less wrinkles, its the secret stuff is skin care products like Oil of Olay.

[gatotom]

You can also get injections of HA, Synvisc or Supartz shot right into the knee and for 6-8 months you will be running marathons.

[gatotom]

Too be honest, my knees are more or less gone, after over 5000 days skiing on them, not much left.

After 5 surgs to the knees, my Ortho said anytime you want the metal knees, you got them, NO thank you.

I have had the synvisc injections and they are wonderful, but expensive and in 6-8 months you need them again.

I now take 2 1000 mg MSM and 2 70 mg HA and I still ski and bike but am not so aggressive and I am 64 yrs old. I can live with it, I will go hiking but you can carry the heavy pack. Going uphill is good its the downhill that kills, I guess that's why hiking poles were invented.

Weight is huge on the knees, keep your BMI to the low number which helps

[Zeke]

The use of acronyms makes it tough for those of us that are not aware of what you are talking about.

I have taken Glucosamine/chondroitin over some weeks for a couple of periods and have noticed nothing. I would like to know more about this.

Just started Meloxicam yesterday for the shoulder pain. Doc told me to lay off the Motrin.

[enzo1]

[dan88911]

Have not use it.
I read more research needed to confirm effectiveness.
I take omega 3's. And various exercises to strength muscles in legs. squats,luges ,single leg ,step ups. No front leg extensions its bab for the joint its an unnatural movement.

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by dad911

I take it daily. Knee pain is definitely reduced.

Same here, although staring down the barrel of delayed surgery.

[stomachmonkey]

The use of acronyms makes it tough for those of us that are not aware of what you are talking about.



I have taken Glucosamine/chondroitin over some weeks for a couple of periods and have noticed nothing. I would like to know more about this.



Just started Meloxicam yesterday for the shoulder pain. Doc told me to lay off the Motrin.

Takes a couple of months to start working.

Try the MSM, it's labeled that way on the bottle.

Used to be I could only reach half way over my head due to my right shoulder.

These days I can reach all the way and touch my left shoulder.

Knees and neck are much better as well.

Neck is no longer stiff and creaky.

Don't look for immediate results, its gradual but one day you'll realize how much better you feel.

[flatbutt]

Glucosamine/chondroitin was ineffective for me.

[Superman]

My GF happened to have a "prostate health" supplement, which contained only three ingredients, two of which were chondroitin and glucosamine. It made the ache go away in my lower abdomen.

[Joeaksa]

For many hears I took Celebrex, the "old folks" medicine.

Then finally started hearing difficult things about it and your heart, as well as found out that it causes you to gain weight. Went from one 200 mg tab a day to once every two weeks if that.

Started taking the chondroitin and glucosamine pills and it took care of the joints and so on for the most part. Two 1500 mg tabs a day...

What is the "HG" and "HA" mentioned above Tom?

[56 nomad]

[QUOTE=gatotom;6793444]problem with glucosamine and chondroiten is the molecule size, kinda big for it to pass thru the walls, so you don't absorb too much of it or you need to take a boatload to absorb some.

MSM is much better, a derivative of DMSO, the wonder drug of the 20th century, it causes a slipperyness to the cartilege surface. Its cheap, oderless tasteless sorta and a side effect is that it will slow down that hair loss.

hi, i used at one time but read that dmso had some serious side effects...any upadates? whats the dosage for msm...any drug interactions to be aware of...i take it that it is over the counter. where would one get it?
thanks , ben

[Drdogface]

As in a lot of other OTC meds, it depends on the brand you are taking. I had ulcerated cartilage on both hips from loss of blood supply. One hip I had replaced because it hurt so bad. I was just waiting to do the other hip but it never started hurting quite bad enough. I was taking Glu/Chond religiously and that other hip is now healed...or so the docs say. Collateral circulation developed and that healed it but the meds gave it time. Meds came into the joint and was in the joint fluid.

I also just had my dog's elbows operated on for elbow dysplasia which is a hereditary deformity. The joint deteriorates and arthritis develops. The ortho vet told me to give him this stuff too.

[LeeH]

After having knee problems for several years (trouble running or hiking) my wife bought a giant bottle of Glucosamine from Costco. Knowing I was reluctant to take it, she opened the bottle so that it couldn't be returned. "Fine. I'll take it, but it's not going to work." Well, right as the bottle was getting low, I seemed to be improving a little. By the end of the second bottle I had to admit m knees were noticably better. Years later I run, bike and hike with no problem. I'm still a little shocked (but happy) that it appears to have worked.