Is there any real evidence that glucosamine helps with arthritis?

[Bonnyjars]

Just been diagnosed with arthritis in my hips and neck... sugestion from medic is that I try glucosamine - but he acknowledged that only evidence of benefit is anecdotal. Does anyone know of any real evidence (not merely anecdotal) that glucosamine is useful for alleviating arthritis

[slaney]

As long as it works for you Shaneystar!

Do you know what the active ingredient is?

[shaneystar2]

It's called Pferdesalbe.
http://www.pferdesalbe.de/index.php?navID=478

[jno]

and it'll get you over Becher's Brook, shaney... I used to be on regular diclofenac (not for arthritis) but when I saw another doctor for something, he took me off it, saying it had been implicated in heart attacks. So I don't know how widely this is prescribed these days.

At any rate, try the supermarket stuff, it may help and is unlikely to do harm or cost (so to speak) an arm and a leg.

[shaneystar2]

I used to take Diclofenac when they first diagnosed this Jno and am convinced these drugs messed up my stomach (IBS) .
You name it ,they gave it to me including Vioxx ,which has now been taken of the drugs register (I think ) because of some problem with heart attacks and strokes .
The only actual painkiller I ever found to be effective was Co-proxamol.But that has also been taken off the register .The government seem to know more about our bodies than we do .

[pastafreak]

Re your shellfish allergy- you can get vegetarian glucosamine-both Holland & Barret and Healthspan do it.

[askyourgran]

Mr Ask takes Glucosamine but he still suffers from arthritis pain. I used to take Rose Hip tablets before I had my hip replacement, they worked to a degree but if the pain was bad, nothing would help it. Now I have it in my back and my knee which could be the other hip that needs doing now. I just take paracetamol two morning and two last thing at night, which helps.

[jno]

sigh... I was on Vioxx a while too (for gout) but it didn't work for me. Coproxamol was good but they took it off the list after David Kelly (the UN weapons man) used them to kill himself - possibly they thought everyone would know about it and shouldn't.

I used to take indomethacin for gout until I realised what was giving me the unbearable headaches three days later.

[shaneystar2]

Yes Jno there was some hoo ha in parliament about Co proxamol .
Not only David Kelly but they also found evidence that people were taking it with large amounts of drink in order to commit suicide .
I think it was Caroline Flint ( an arthritis sufferer herself ) who lobbied against the withdrawal of it to no avail .

[Bonnyjars]

pastafreak

interesing you should say that Holland and Barret do a vegetarian version of glucosamine.... I wonder if for them "vegetarian" does include ground up crustacean carapaces (the usual source for glucosamnie) for they have not come back to me with any product when I asked for a non-shellfish derived product - I will give them a couple more days but it is not looking good at the moment

[Davethedog]

Bonnyjars, from what I can see clinical trials don't show ant benifit. The internet articles that offer the anecdotal evidence also offer the chance to buy glucosamine :-(

I have also noticed articles that show side effects though I never read them beyond the headline entry.

The cynical side of me says that the purchase of this stuff will only relieve you of money.

[Wak]

I don't know if this will help anyone or not but I believe that most people wait too long before getting concerned about that occasional pain in the joint(s) as, "Oh, it's not to bad at the moment and I can still play golf, etc."
In the 1980s I read that uric acid in the blood can form crystals in the various joints and these crystals grind away like sandpaper at the cartilage which, as we all know, acts as a lubrication between the bones of the joint. Eventually, when the cartilage has been worn away, the actual joint bones start rubbing together causing even greater pain and concern.
The item I was reading also stated that Apple Cider Vinegar is able to dissolve egg shells and will therefore dissolve the crystals which formed in the joints.
At my first twinge of pain in a joint ( which I assumed was the start of Arthritis) I started taking liquid ACV with honey. The daily mixing of this concoction eventually became too much of a hassle and I decided to take the tablets instead.
I still take 3 tablets twice per week just to keep the crystals at bay and after over 30 years am still completely pain free with no joint problems whatsoever.
ACV is very good for arthritis providing it is taken early enough before the crystals have done too much damage. In the later stages of arthritis it may also help other forms of treatment/medication by keeping the uric acid crystals at bay.
My interpretation of what I read many years ago may or may not be correct but it all seems very logical to me and what's more, it worked.
As I mentioned earlier, Googling for ACV will turn up much more information.

[holoscofo]

Most glucosamine is derived from shellfish so that will pose an obvious problem, however Healthspan.co.uk sell a plant derived version that they market as Optiflex. It's available through their website and it's not very expensive.

[Bonnyjars]

I have now heard from Holland and Barret - they do do a "vegetarian" version of Glucosamine hydrochloride - made from a fungus.