Question for fellow joint-pain sufferers.

Nathan S

Nathan S

Joined
May 31, 2001
Messages
4,379
I have knee problems (bone necrosis) for which I've been taking a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement for about two years. It really did seem to help, but in the last couple months I've been experiencing more pain. I'm wondering if a change of brand might be in order. Currently I'm using Cosamine DS.

Anybody else out there taking glucosamine/chondroitin? If so, which brand do you use and how would you rate it?

Thanks
 
My first thought is, are you seeing an orthopedist? That is where I would start. I also take glucosamine/condroitin and it helps, but it won't regrow bone and it won't regrow cartilege.
It will help with maintaining cartilege.
If you have necrosis of the bone, you will reach a point where you will need a surgical remedy.
Bob
 
Took the Holista brand on a fairly regular basis last year and it really seemed to make a difference.
 
rdg said:
If you have necrosis of the bone, you will reach a point where you will need a surgical remedy.
Bob
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Yeah, that's what my docs have told me. I'm taking the glucosamine/chondroitin in an effort to make that happen more later than sooner.


cockroachfarm said:
Took the Holista brand on a fairly regular basis last year and it really seemed to make a difference.
Click to expand...

I've never heard of that particular brand. Is it Canadian? Did you get in it stores or through a web site?
 
I would look seriously into fish oils/cod liver oil, in addition to what you are already doing. Don't take any of my advice without asking a competent health care practitioner because I am not your doctor and I'm just sharing info with you. It's up to you to do the due diligence of finding out if this stuff is safe for you to take considering your total health history. Now that that's out of the way:

I've been seeing excellent results with patients taking fish oils or cod liver oil. The research is out there for the taking (see www.omega-research.com) so I won't waste time with it, but the bottom line is that good quality fish oils are powerful anti-inflammatories that work by shifting the bioechemical inflammatory cascades in your body toward anti-inflammation without blocking enzymes or doing things like a medication would (that have harmful side effects). I had a patient cut daily spinal pain resulting from 3 failed low back surgeries in half by taking about 2-3 teaspoons of fish oils every day (within 2 weeks he noticed this difference). Carlson's makes a decent product, but Nordic Naturals is the best, in my opinion, and I have researched the heck out of this.

I also find herbal support to be very effective. I use a product called Boswellia Complex with patients, which is essentially a traditional Ayurvedic formula using the best herbs modern science can find. It contains boswellia, celery seed, turmeric and one other thing I can't think of off the top of my head. I deal exclusively with an Australian company called MediHerb for herbs with patients. Sold only through doctors (no, I won't sell any to you) and their quality is unsurpassed. Very good for inflammation, especially in joints, and safe for long term usage (again, check with one of your own health care practitioners).
 
Chiro75 said:
I would look seriously into fish oils/cod liver oil, in addition to what you are already doing. Don't take any of my advice without asking a competent health care practitioner because I am not your doctor and I'm just sharing info with you. It's up to you to do the due diligence of finding out if this stuff is safe for you to take considering your total health history. Now that that's out of the way:

I've been seeing excellent results with patients taking fish oils or cod liver oil. The research is out there for the taking (see www.omega-research.com) so I won't waste time with it, but the bottom line is that good quality fish oils are powerful anti-inflammatories that work by shifting the bioechemical inflammatory cascades in your body toward anti-inflammation without blocking enzymes or doing things like a medication would (that have harmful side effects). I had a patient cut daily spinal pain resulting from 3 failed low back surgeries in half by taking about 2-3 teaspoons of fish oils every day (within 2 weeks he noticed this difference). Carlson's makes a decent product, but Nordic Naturals is the best, in my opinion, and I have researched the heck out of this.

I also find herbal support to be very effective. I use a product called Boswellia Complex with patients, which is essentially a traditional Ayurvedic formula using the best herbs modern science can find. It contains boswellia, celery seed, turmeric and one other thing I can't think of off the top of my head. I deal exclusively with an Australian company called MediHerb for herbs with patients. Sold only through doctors (no, I won't sell any to you) and their quality is unsurpassed. Very good for inflammation, especially in joints, and safe for long term usage (again, check with one of your own health care practitioners).
Click to expand...

OK, thanks. There's a lot of interesting information there. As a matter of fact, you're not the first person to suggest the fish oil thing to me. I'll have to look around for those products here in Italy.
 
Nathan, I didn't realize you were in Italy! I lived there for a time when I was younger. Nordic Naturals products can be ordered anywhere online. Their Arctic Cod Liver Oil is great stuff and tastes great, too. I don't know what the state of herbal medicine is in Italy, but I know of at least one Italian herbal manufacturer that is of good quality, so maybe you can get what you need.
 
All weekend long I've been having problems with my knees. I must've fallen about ten times over the weekend from my knees just going out on me! I've been pounding the ibuprofen and have used two tubes of joint pain reliever. I'm going to schedule an appointment and get something for this! Other than weight loss, any more ideas Doc?
 
My advice is to get it checked out by a doctor who can see you, then go from there. Knees that give out on you could be anything from pain to a neurological problem, so it's impossible for me to responsibly advise you in any way other than to get checked out by your own doctor and see what he has to say about the problem, then I may be able to help you a little more...
 
I have some problems with my joints because of psoriasis and about a 9 months ago I started with omega-3 oils, so dar results are good, pain is mostly gone (it was intermittent) and so far no side effects, fairly inexpensive too. My recommendation is to try it and go to a doctor (who actually might not care much about fish oils) but if it works, why not.

TLM
 
TLM, check out that website I mentioned. The research is there on fish oils and they are very well understood biochemically. As long as you use a good quality product (there are plenty of overpriced bad quality garbage on the market) you should be able to see results without spending more than $20-$40 per month, if that.
 
Osteo Bi-Flex, double strength caplets. It's a little more expensive than some of the others, but works well for me. I couldn't get out the door without it....................
 
Nathan S said:
.....I've never heard of that particular brand. Is it Canadian? Did you get in it stores or through a web site?
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One of the few 'natural' products that I've ever taken where I could actually feel an improvement. But, as my doctor warned me when I started taking them, you have to give it a month or two before you can feel any improvement. If you don't feel an improvement after 60 days, he said it probably isn't working for you and you can stop taking it.

http://www.holista.com/index.aspx
 
Thanks Holger. I started taking fish oil supplements last Saturday, so now we'll wait and see if they do anything for my pain. Even if they don't, they're supposed to be good for a bunch of other problems (cholesterol, etc), so it shouldn't be a total loss. :)
 
Hope things work out Nathan,

A little over a year ago my Doc was telling me I needed back surgery. I was in some nasty pain and it would take me 20 min or so just to stand up straight in the morning and on most days I could not feel the ground with my feet. Driving a car was more torture than a stay at GITMO and I had to use a cane a lot of the time. :D

(Too much kayaking for an old codger like me and/or it may have had soemthing to do with the anvil I hauled out of my car trunk. ;))

Found an excellent chiro (it took a while), followed the regime she set up for me to a T. It took a while for it to go away all together, but I am not hurting anymore and hope to be on the rivers in the next month or so. I hope things work out for you.
 
Bastid said:
Hope things work out Nathan,

A little over a year ago my Doc was telling me I needed back surgery. I was in some nasty pain and it would take me 20 min or so just to stand up straight in the morning and on most days I could not feel the ground with my feet. Driving a car was more torture than a stay at GITMO and I had to use a cane a lot of the time. :D

(Too much kayaking for an old codger like me and/or it may have had soemthing to do with the anvil I hauled out of my car trunk. ;))

Found an excellent chiro (it took a while), followed the regime she set up for me to a T. It took a while for it to go away all together, but I am not hurting anymore and hope to be on the rivers in the next month or so. I hope things work out for you.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the kind words, Gus. I have pain now, but was hurting a lot worse a couple years ago. It got to the point where I couldn't walk without limping, and I was seriously considering using a cane. Then I started using glucosamine/chondroitin, and that got my pain down to a manageable level. I've gotten used to it, really, though it sucks not to be able to run or go on hiking trips anymore. More to the point, however, would hate to see the pain ratchet its way back up again. Sooner or later I guess I'll have to have replacement surgery, but I am gonna put that off until the last possible moment.
 
Spine in trouble is what the MD's call it. Have lived with it for 10 years and tried a number of remedies, none of which helped much. After a period of time you just accept and live with it. :(
 
I've been taking glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM off and on for years, and been consistent with it lately, along with fish oil. Keeps the snap, crackle, and pop out of my joints, except for my knees which aren't cooperating any more. I broke down and bought some of this "Fluid Joint" stuff that claims to be far superior to glucosamine, etc. and claims noticeable results in 7-14 days.
I'm on day four, so we'll see.
 
I am taking the glucosamine chondrotin from Wally world. It recieved the best rating in Consumer reports. It is the Nature's valley. I also taking fish oil. Still have the pain though. It finally came to be too much, especially after sitting down awhile. My doctor gave me a prescription for Diclofenac Sodium 75mg, 1 pill twice a day. This is for swelling and irration, and inflammation. I could feel it start to work in about 3 hours! My knees no longer hurt and I can do some pretty good front snap kicks! This stuff is amazing, I am know longer in pain! It does have the typical side effect, but it is better than total knee replacement. I just took some MRI's and will be metting with a specialist. I am going to see about getting some of those lubricating shots that they give every 6 months. That and possible knee surgery to fix the degenerating bone. Like they say "Try it you'll like it" No sense suffering with that pain. Good luck Joe.
 
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