Hi there Has anyone had any success with glucosamine for OA please? There are so many varieties and I'm confused! Thank you
My wife and I tried it some years ago. It did not help and gave us heartburn. Turmeric did not help either. However they both work for some people so it is worth trying it for a couple of months.
It helped me when I first started having issues.
Many thanks, Derek76.
I don't want to take any tablets if I can help it but if people think it's really good I'll try it!
Hi there Did you take tablets or capsules and what quantity please? Many thanks
If you are in the early stages of osteoarthritis, it may help. Generally, I have read if you do not notice improvement after 3 months, stop. I had more success with turmeric extract for 9 months, at the mild stage.
I don't remember. It's been 20 years. I only remember that it helped.
So it cured you and you no longer have issues ??
No, sorry to say, it only helped a few years. Maybe 5 at the most. Then I lost all the cartilage in most of my joints.
I now have both knee replacements, both hip replacements, one shoulder, and lower back fusion. I had the surgeries over 9 years. Before that, I had torn meniscus in both knees. Doctor smoothed out the cartilage and trimmed meniscus. I was told that I should have had replacements then. I was too young. I got by for 10 years. Had pain, couldn't walk very far. Then began surgeries.
I have severe osteoarthritis. My sister is almost as bad. The generations above us had only one replacement. Every time I got one done, another one got bad. My fusion was in the lower back. L 3, 4, 5. My stair step is what I called it was bad. Spondylolisthesis. Now I am starting to have symptoms in my neck. I will wait awhile.
It's odd, in my shoulder, I did not have a tear where most people have issues. I had no cartilage left.
All of my joints where bone on bone.
I really did feel like the glucosamin and Chondroitin helped at the beginning.
I have taken glucosamine for many years. I take 2 doses a day of 1000 mg. each. I take a supplement which is a powder in a capsule, not a solid tablet, and always have it with food. Have never had any problems with it, but I have by mistake bought the tablets and find them impossible to swallow, so never actually found out if they were hard on the digestion! You do need the higher dose for it to be effective. it is also a long term medication. It will not relieve pain, but what it will do is help keep the cartilage healthier and probably slows down progression of the osteoarthritis.
Avoid NSAIDS (including aspirin) because they actually interfere with cartilage regeneration.
I was first diagnosed with OA when I was 40. I am now 71. There has been very little progression of the OA in terms of symptoms, but in fact x-rays show OA in hands and feet (actually you can see that!) in my lumber and cervical spine and starting in my knees. So I have quite an extensive amount of OA and have had it for more than 30 years. So perhpas the glucosamine has helped. That and keeping weight down and exercising to maintain range of motion and keep supporting muscles strong.
I suspect that studies which claim it is not effective have not gone on for long enough.
It probably did help in the early stages but does not stop it from progressing. An old neighbour of mine had almost as much surgery as you.
At the time, my arthritis Doctor was adamant that I take it. I do believe it helped. Less pain, and was able to move easier.
Did he recommend any particular brand or dosage. My present and last GP's do not think it helps.
I don't remember. It was 20 years ago. Sorry. I agree with JayJay, early stages. I did feel different, for the better.
The best thing you can do is avoid taking any NSAIDs for your arthritis. You can use a painkiller occasionally for things like a headache, but not as a daily analgesic for the arthritis pain. These meds, including aspirin, interfere with cartilage regeneration. And doctors also say to keep the weight down to avoid stressing the joints. In my case I've had quite a lot of back pain and other problems associated with the spine, and my physiotherapist of many years ago prescribed exercises to keep the muscles strong so the spine was well supported. I know these are very important and I continue to do them nearly every day, morning and evening. These are things which can help and do not involve taking more pills!
I agree totally !! I rarely take NSAIDs and not for arthritis. My Mother also ruined her stomach from them.
I also took NSAIDS (Ibuprofen) over an 18 month period and also had severe stomach problems. I was taking turmeric at the same time. I have tried many alternative options for pain relief but nothing seems to work. for me. I have OA in both thumb joints and an considering an operation to remove my trapezium joint with reconstuction. I understand it's a very painful procedure.
Thanks everyone for your emails. An interesting read I think the first thing I need to do is lose weight (but I do love food!) and do some research into glucosamine.
Interesting isn't it that a cure for the ailments which eventually most people get, like the common cold or osteoarthritis still elude the researchers.
A fortune awaits someone. I had better not boast about not having had a cold for about three years or one will strike me down tomorrow. I put it down to my disabilities that have reduced my use of public transport. When I do get a cold the homeopathic remedy Aconite stops it in its tracks.