Glucosamine....Anybody else using it?

[KIDSTYPIKE]

After my recent problems I have started to use glucosamine on a regular basis. After speaking to a local herbalist he advised that for the first month I should take 3 x 1000mg tablets per day to "build up levels", and then to drop the dosage to 1 x 1000mg per day.
I was wondering if anybody else was taking Glucosamine and what their thoughts on the dosage were.
I've only been taking them for a week or so, so it's too early to say if they are doing any good just yet.
Dave

[coasty]

Originally Posted by KIDSTYPIKE

After my recent problems I have started to use glucosamine on a regular basis. After speaking to a local herbalist he advised that for the first month I should take 3 x 1000mg tablets per day to "build up levels", and then to drop the dosage to 1 x 1000mg per day.
I was wondering if anybody else was taking Glucosamine and what their thoughts on the dosage were.
I've only been taking them for a week or so, so it's too early to say if they are doing any good just yet.
Dave

About 3 years ago I dislocated my knee and broke a lump of my knee cap..Following surgery and physio I was advised by a herbalist and my wife,,to take this supplement I took 1000mg tabs of Glucosamine for 20 months,
Cant say I noticed any startling improvements,,, The surgeon who did the ops comments were it cant do any harm,,, But he said he hadnt seen any conclusive proof of benefits,, I stopped taking them 6 months ago,, By what I have read about it you cant build up levels, As it isnt stored in your body.
The most beneficial thing I have done is lost a bit of weight and built up strength in my my knee through regular exercise and try to eat well, I do find that eating lots of fish and omega 3 oils seems to be beneficial. Hope you think that this helps. Generally I think that the selling of all these supplements is more for the benefit of the manufacturer than the consumer...

[PMG]

Originally Posted by KIDSTYPIKE

After my recent problems I have started to use glucosamine on a regular basis. After speaking to a local herbalist he advised that for the first month I should take 3 x 1000mg tablets per day to "build up levels", and then to drop the dosage to 1 x 1000mg per day.
I was wondering if anybody else was taking Glucosamine and what their thoughts on the dosage were.
I've only been taking them for a week or so, so it's too early to say if they are doing any good just yet.
Dave

Yes I take it Dave and a raft of other vitimin and mineral supplements. I have damage to my hip, back and leg following a car accident back in '92 and before that I was knocked off my motorbike in '84 and cos I was travelling slowly I got tangled with the bike and the car that hit me and damaged my legs.......

Sometimes when we go away I don't take all the tabs with me and I do notice a difference even in a few days - I have a lot more pain and stiffness if I don't take them.

Pauline

[coasty]

Originally Posted by PMG

Yes I take it Dave and a raft of other vitimin and mineral supplements. I have damage to my hip, back and leg following a car accident back in '92 and before that I was knocked off my motorbike in '84 and cos I was travelling slowly I got tangled with the bike and the car that hit me and damaged my legs.......

Sometimes when we go away I don't take all the tabs with me and I do notice a difference even in a few days - I have a lot more pain and stiffness if I don't take them.

Pauline

There you are.. More evidence that no one should take any notice of my posts,,,,

[Cotham Marble]

Just to note - anyone with blood sugar problems, diabetes etc, should be very cautious when using Glucosamine.

CM

[The Woodman]

I've swallowing a 750mg tab every morning for four years with no ill effects (apparently!) to combat knee pain and now take 1000mg because the last tub was bought for me. The pain is no worse and I'm reluctant to stop the glucosamine.

[John D]

I take 1*1000mg Glucosamine Sulphate capsule and 1*1000mg Fish Oil Concentrate capsule every morning, to help with my knee and joint problem. I have been taking these for the last four years or so. There is no doubt that they have helped cure my aches and pains.
John D

[zan]

I can't say I have any personal experience of taking glucosamine, but we give it to our dog for arthritis in her hip and 'elbow' and you can see the difference in her, particularly after longer walks - if she's off the tablets she'll start limping quite noticeably, but it goes away with the treatment.

I know this is a bit random, but I imagine it would have similar effects on humans. Certainly coudn't hurt.

[werdnal]

My hubby takes it for his achy knees. He spent 20 years working in engineering, standing and kneeling on hard concrete workshop floors for 7 hours a day, and found he's knees paid the price. He is ultra sceptic of supplements, but I talked him into trying them, and he noticed quite a difference, although it does take about 8 weeks to build up.

I have recently started my 2 14 yo cats on a daily joint supplement, as both tend to get stiff and limp a bit. Hope it will give them some relief too.

[Kayleigh]

I take a standard Tesco glucosamine tablet every day.(1 a day Thingy) I walk the dog 1 -2 hours a day. When I get back from the walk my knees are so painful I have to rest after the walk. I started taking them a few months ago I must say my knees have been a lot better. Could be a placebo affect.

My friend spends £100 a month on glucosamine for her horse, on prescription at the vets.

[jennyb]

I take Glucosamine and have done for a couple of years. I ran out over the Christmas period and found that I stiffened up very quickly. I have been taking fish oils for donkeys years but they have not done anything for me in recent years.

I have back and knee problems caused by 40 years of squash and tennis - who says exercise is good for you!

It was my chiropractor who recommended that I try glucosamine.

BTW CM, what effect does it have on blood sugar? My husband is diabetic and recently started to take my glucosamine.

Jenny

[KIDSTYPIKE]

Many thanks for all your answers. It would seem that it helps some but not others. I'll give it a try for a few moths and see if there is any difference. Thanks to everybody.
Dave

[beckiscott]

I've been taking it 18months now. 1x1000 a day.
It took 2 months to make a difference, but now if i don't take for a few days i know about it.
it doesn't solve my back, hip, shoulder and knee ache 24/7, but certainly makes it more manageable.
My one tip: get the really expensive stuff from holland and barrett when its on special offer. 120x 1000 tabs can be £9.99 when its on special, and works out way cheap! i find them easier to swallow (despite being bigger) and it doesn't matter as much if i miss a day!

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by KIDSTYPIKE

After my recent problems I have started to use glucosamine on a regular basis. After speaking to a local herbalist he advised that for the first month I should take 3 x 1000mg tablets per day to "build up levels", and then to drop the dosage to 1 x 1000mg per day.
I was wondering if anybody else was taking Glucosamine and what their thoughts on the dosage were.
I've only been taking them for a week or so, so it's too early to say if they are doing any good just yet.
Dave

I was recommended a similar regime and followed it to the letter,again my surgeons comment was that it "could do no harm "
I tend to stick with fish oils and folic acid, as my father suffers from
osteoporosis,with vitamin'C'+zinc when my workmates start coughing and
sneezing

[ron1863]

My mother takes it but she doesn't know if it is doing her any good but she also says that it isn't doing her any harm either.
She would only know if it was beneficial if she stopped taking it but is reluctant to do so.

[elleme]

I was thinking of taking glucosamine as I walk regularly and I want to start jogging. One of my knees which was injured in the past is a little creaky and I am nervous about making it worse if I jog. I wonder if glucosame would help it much as it seems it works for some and not for others. Sounds like fish oil could be helpful, I don't like the taste of oily fish so it doesn't tend to feature in my diet. Perhaps I should at least start taking that as a supplement in capsule form.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by jennyb

I have back and knee problems caused by 40 years of squash and tennis - who says exercise is good for you!

My son's class are currently debating whether sport should be compulsory at school and I made a very similar point to him, only in relation to all the people I grew up with who played regular Sunday football, ended up having ops on their knee cartillage and now couldn't run for a bus to save their lives. I also pointed out that the only bone I have ever broken in my life I did playing football. His answer was that sport keeps you fit but not necessarily healthy!

As for glucosamine, I have no experience either way but I do everything I possibly can to avoid taking anything. Some of my elderly relatives are on cocktails of a dozen or so pills and potions per day but half of these are taken to counteract the side-effects of the other half. I don't want to go down that route until there's no other choice. I haven't even taken a paracetemol for over 30 years and am very upset that I now have to take daily omeprazole for heartburn.

Dave P.

[honeybee]

I take Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Omega 3,6,9, definitely helps with creaky joints.
Chondroitin is from shell fish I think.
Too much Omega 6 is bad for you if you have asthma.

The dog had to have these after a cruciate ligament snapped and it def helped the recovery.

[Wendy Bee]

I took Glucosamine for about 6 months last year to help with tennis elbow, bad shoulder and neck. I felt great and so did my bones. Anyway did an experiment and stopped taking it to see if there would be any change. My joints went down hill very rapidly. I can't think of anything else that would have affected the situation except the weather or time of year. I am back on it now and will never stop taking it I'm convinced that it helps my joints no end. By the way i take the liquid you only need one dose a day of that. I was always forgetting to take the tablets especially as you should eat first!

[m1.carson]

Hi,

My wife uses Glucosamine, perhaps I can save you all lots of cash, B&H charge nearly £10 for 30 X 1000mg tablets, Lidl charge Approx £1-50 for 30 X 600mg tabs.

Her honest opinion is, she's not sure if it helps, but she was instructed to take them by her doctor.

Max.

[coasty]

In view of reading the above threads and all your positive comments. I have decided to give them another go. I have purchased Glucosamine with Chondoitrin and Omega 3 high dosage and shall give them 6 months,,,,

They are expensive and I am a penny pinching Yorkshire man this is quite a turnaround...

So all hail the power of the WAB.......

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by coasty

In view of reading the above threads and all your positive comments. I have decided to give them another go. I have purchased Glucosamine with Chondoitrin and Omega 3 high dosage and shall give them 6 months,,,,

They are expensive and I am a penny pinching Yorkshire man this is quite a turnaround...

So all hail the power of the WAB.......

Try swimming as well - if you don't already.

[coasty]

Interestingly enough I suggested that to my Physio.. She was adament that walking was the best thing for my knee injury as one of the problems I have is that it has affected my balance and the walking pressure stimulates this,,,

Also walking is free you have to pay for the pool....

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by coasty

Interestingly enough I suggested that to my Physio.. She was adament that walking was the best thing for my knee injury as one of the problems I have is that it has affected my balance and the walking pressure stimulates this,,,

Also walking is free you have to pay for the pool....

My mum had a minor knee op due to wear and tear this year, she has to keep walking to keep it working and feels if she stopped it would seize up.
She did have hydrotherapy though and swimming is great for gentle excercise without putting pressure on the joints. Maybe a reason to invest in a nice hot tub (not very 'green' i'm sure)

[Pete Collins]

Originally Pos