glucosamine - miracle or hype?

[gmcunni]

Anybody ever try this stuff?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucosamine


my left knee has been sore for several weeks. No idea what brought it on but i suddenly found that laterally movement results in discomfort, bordering on pain. backed off excercise (always looking for an excuse to do that) but really noticed no improvement. the pain was most noticeable AFTER i do something.. like if i have my legs crossed (left ankle resting on /under right knee) i wouldn't really feel anything until i straightened my leg out. then WOW.

so anyway, heard someone talking about this Glucosamine stuff. grabbed a bottle @ costco and after they checked my receipt i started taking it. wouldn;t you know, 4 days into it i actually feel better?!?!?! knee still a little achy but nothing like it was.

 

[severine]

I just read an article the other day about this. I was skeptical at first, too (especially given the price). But my bad knee was getting worse so I figured I'd give it a shot. Started taking glucosamine sulfate and lo and behold, I felt an improvement.

The article I read was a small study of the other kind of glucosamine hydrochloride. It basically found no significant difference between it and placebo. However, there was mention that glucosamine sulfate may have tested positively in other studies.
http://www.active.com/nutrition/Art...ite=C25kfacebook&Dy=11_10_09&Note=Glucosamine

The verdict is still out in the medical community, but I've found it to make a difference. Considering I doubted its benefits, I don't think it's psychosomatic...but who knows?

 

[RootDKJ]

I've been taking it for over 5 years. I was having real problems with my knees hurting when walking up stairs. I went to see my doc about the pain and he suggested I try it. I started to take it and one day I kinda just realized that my knees didn't hurt anymore.

I do notice my knees start to ache when I forget to re-up, but after a few days the pain goes away again.

 

[St. Bear]

Anybody ever try this stuff?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucosamine


my left knee has been sore for several weeks. No idea what brought it on but i suddenly found that laterally movement results in discomfort, bordering on pain. backed off excercise (always looking for an excuse to do that) but really noticed no improvement. the pain was most noticeable AFTER i do something.. like if i have my legs crossed (left ankle resting on /under right knee) i wouldn't really feel anything until i straightened my leg out. then WOW.

so anyway, heard someone talking about this Glucosamine stuff. grabbed a bottle @ costco and after they checked my receipt i started taking it. wouldn;t you know, 4 days into it i actually feel better?!?!?! knee still a little achy but nothing like it was.

I bought a bottle of "Joint Juice" from Sam's Club a few years ago which supposedly had Glucosamine in it. I've had a lot of knee problems (partially tore my ACL and dislocated my patella twice each) and figured I'd give it a shot. I really didn't notice a difference, but it was probably due to a cheap product.

 

[Dr Skimeister]

The theory behind glucosamine supplementation is that it's providing the body with the building blocks necessary to repair damaged joint (articular) cartilage. Problem is-body has no ability to repair damaged articular cartilage.

Placebo effect. But sometimes that's all it takes.

 

[deadheadskier]

I attempted to start taking it every day this summer and fell off the wagon. I simply lack the discipline to try any sort of supplement regularly.

 

[severine]

I attempted to start taking it every day this summer and fell off the wagon. I simply lack the discipline to try any sort of supplement regularly.

I have that problem, too. It was hard enough remembering to take prenatal vitamins and the various other herbal supplements I took for Vitamin K, etc. Placebo effect or not, I do notice if I forget to take glucosamine for a few days, though.

 

[tjf67]

The theory behind glucosamine supplementation is that it's providing the body with the building blocks necessary to repair damaged joint (articular) cartilage. Problem is-body has no ability to repair damaged articular cartilage.

Placebo effect. But sometimes that's all it takes.

Hey Doc,

What about for dogs. Mine is 9. I have been giving glucosamine to him for a while. I asked him if it helped but i cant understand his answers. His hips get sore after hiking a high peak or skinning the toll road.
Is one product better than others?

 

[deadheadskier]

I'd have 17 babies by now if I were responsible for birth control pills. :lol:

 

[Grassi21]

I have a degenerative disc in my neck. I have been thinking about trying glucosamine for a couple years. Lately, I have been getting achy knees like gmcunni. I really want to give it a try but the stuff isn't cheap especially if it becomes a daily/life long practice. As for the placebo effect, I'm convinced. I heard/read this supplement should be taken for close to a month before it starts making a difference. Those who claim relief within days make me skeptical... The other side of it is if I stay active the pain in my neck and knees go away. Tough to spend X dollars a month so that a supplement can make me feel better about my sedentary life style.

 

[bigbog]

Ditto on Grassi's and to having medical people look at cartilage issue(s) is a good idea. ..But the placebo thing really isn't the case, not with maybe some instances. I've had knees that couldn't take much weight on them directly, most likely from a bit of generational-skipping-arthritis landing on me from birth...definitely not helped by what horrible things we old-school canoeists kneed upon while paddling in our early youths(major roll-eyes). Some pain in certain levels of bend/twist in outer fringe of knees...some glucosamine over a week+ and I can get down on my knees on a hardwood floor without pain...just the normal discomfort of kneeling on wood....and really makes a difference over 2-4 continuous days of hard skiing. NEVER could do it before. Only start taking in moderation from this week...on through ski season. Great feeling in the knees carries onward after ski season...so there must be something at work. As long as the minerals(?) aren't in any way contributing to possibility of any type of cancers...I'm happy.
$.01

 

[drjeff]

The theory behind glucosamine supplementation is that it's providing the body with the building blocks necessary to repair damaged joint (articular) cartilage. Problem is-body has no ability to repair damaged articular cartilage.

Placebo effect. But sometimes that's all it takes.

Likely the exact reason that it "works". All I know is I've been a daily taker of it for the last 6 or 7 years now and my joints feel great, inspite of a bunch of high impact sports. So whether it's just my good fortune or the glucosasime I'm sticking to it, since I'm sure my brain would cause me to have great mental anguish over my joints if I stopped

BTW, I've had the exact same placebo effect conversation with one of my friends whose an orthopedic surgeon and he's of the same thinking - questionable actual benefit is very likely trumped by a great deal of positive psychological effects!

 

[RootDKJ]

Tough to spend X dollars a month so that a supplement can make me feel better about my sedentary life style.

That's what the blueberries are for. :smash: Gloucosamine is a joint lubricant.


Oh wait...that didn't come out right. Oh well.

 

[Grassi21]

That's what the blueberries are for. :smash: Gloucosamine is a joint lubricant.


Oh wait...that didn't come out right. Oh well.

8)

:lol:

 

[Dr Skimeister]

Hey Doc,

What about for dogs. Mine is 9. I have been giving glucosamine to him for a while. I asked him if it helped but i cant understand his answers. His hips get sore after hiking a high peak or skinning the toll road.
Is one product better than others?

If you think it's working.....it's working.

One thing for certain-it does no harm.

 

[Sky]

HEH! Like elephant repellent! See any elephants!?

I take it and have taken it for many years now.

I've been really fortunate with my height and activities that I don't have joint issues (well....aside from my back). SO I take the stuff and hope my luck continues!

 

[gorgonzola]

works great for me - and my teeth are whiter and i might have lost my hair by now without it!

 

[ctenidae]

Tough to spend X dollars a month so that a supplement can make me feel better about my sedentary life style.

Sshhhhhh! The pharmaceutical industry might hear you, and you wouldn't want them angry at you.

 

[andrec10]

I started taking Osteo Bi-flex close to tens years ago after reading about it in a Ski mag article. It works for me!

 

[mondeo]

I figure if it had the impact it was advertised as having, there wouldn't be any issues proving it clinically, so if there is a physical impact it's small.