Are you Taking GLUCOSAMINE? What are YOUR results?

I have taken glucosamine/chondroitin for years and can't live (pain-free) without it. I know some people say it doesn't work for them, and I have heard that it is only good for knees. There was a period of time where I didn't feel like I could afford it and my office was on the second floor. My knees were in agony. Glad those days are past me. Something else that's interesting; when I first started taking the supplement, the directions said that you had to give it at least a month to build up in your system and start working. Based on comments, that no longer seems to be the case.

I understand that the literature doesn't really support its use.

I'm a research nurse, I weighed up the odds and checked the recommended therapeutic dose (1500mg) and have been taking it for some years and would say I am better on it. I was taking it combined with 1200mg chondroitin but can't get it in a combined tab now.

Some research here (UK) put people off but it was done in older people with advanced osteo arthritis and examined it's effect on pain - as I don't fall into the cohort I opted to not be swayed by the findings.

Working in research you know to take some findings with a pinch of salt and also that another piece of contradictory work will follow and unless/even when you know how to critique it it can be mind boggling.

Frankly people will still make choices regardless of research not because of it.

I've been taking it for a few months now and I love it. It helps so much.

Absolutely. My husband and I have been taking Osteo Bi-Flex for about 15 years and it makes a huge difference. My Rheumatologist also recommends it.

I have recently added Glucosamine to my supplement regimen because I was recently diagnosed with Osteoarthritis on my right knee. I honestly feel better for the short time I have been taking it.

I would like to hear from members who have tried this and have you felt a difference?

I was taking it because my knees were hurting. I stopped taking it because it did something to really lower my blood pressure, and I got pretty woozy, and I could really feel my heart working, particularly when I would drink a glass of wine or something. Turns out that it's one of the side effects (lowered blood pressure).

Figured out that better (read FLAT, minimal heels) shoes/boots and losing weight helped my knees - I don't have pain there anymore, and I'm not arthritic.

I actually STOPPED taking it after years of use. My radiology doc (I was diagnosed w/breast cancer last summer) said there's no firm evidence that it actually works. Since its so expensive she suggested stop taking it and doing the same workouts and see if there's a difference. My knees are actually feeling better so I think I'll continue to not take it. My husband swears by it.

I start my 3x/week workout with 2 trips up and down the stairs (8 floors) and running down the stairs I don't have the tweaky pain in my knees that I had when I was taking gluco/MSM. Go figure. I've had years of knee pain from an old ski injury and now its gone.

That said, it's helped a lot of people (and dogs!).

I have taken all sorts of supplements off and on for years now. I can not tell the difference between when I am taking them and when I am not. I have tried glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, fish oil, zyflamend, bioflex, you name it.....and honestly I have never been able to tell if my knee pain gets better. Losing weight is what helped the most!

I've been taking it for about a year or so--arthritis in my hip. Not sure if it has helped or not. Any effect has been confounded by my increased activity--especially biking. Riding my bike really seems to help alot. I should go off glucosamine, continue biking and monitor the impact.

Take it!!!! And cold liver oil. They both do wonders.