Google sponsored links
I was wondering if anyone else has had bad joints, and taken glucosimine chondriton (with or without MSM) as a aid in repairing their knees. I'm only 21, but I went to an orthopedic sureon and had an MRI of my knees. He basically looked at the images and said my knees were aged about 15-20 years beyond that of my body. I don't want to have my knee scoped, not yet at least, and was just wondering if people have had success with the products. I run anywhere from 50-80 miles a week during the year, and race nearly every other weekend during the fall, winter and spring, on top of my bicycling throughout the year. So I know why they are wearing down, and I'm just looking to prevent them from getting much worse. All thoughts welcome.
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content
here.
Ready to buy? Check out these two online bike stores:
-
http://www.nashbar.com (you can find the latest bike nashbar coupons in
this thread)
-
http://www.performancebike.com (you can find the latest performance bike coupons in
this thread)
Cya on the forums,
- The BikeForums Team
-
http://www.bikeforums.net
A recently published New England Journal of Medicine study found that among 1600 test subjects, Glucosamine/Chondroitin had no appreciable effect in relieving knee joint pain (compared to placebo, though the study also noted that placebo affect was ~70%, double the normal rate) ... this was using glucosamine hydrochloride not glucosamine sulfate however, and nothing was mentioned of possible differences in effectiveness.
I have really weak knees as well and have been taking the supplement for 3 years. I would like to say that taking them has helped my knees remain pain free, but I could just as easily attribute the apparent increase in joint strength to the fact that I also lost about 60 lbs over the first 2 years of that period.
My husband takes that for his knee on the recommendation of his surgeon, although he can't really say if he notices a difference, either. I think you're in school, right? Go to the library and ask a reference librarian to help you find research on this.
And take up swimming. ;)
I took them for about 6 months. I have heard that it takes up to 3 weeks to notice anything at all. After 6 months, I stopped because I either did not need them or they were not doing anything. The Pharmacists at my work say that those aren't supposed to do anything really significant. I would suggest cross training to save your knees. A little balance never hurt anyone.
Yes more cross training would be a good idea. I am a chiropractor and I have a lot of patients on them. You want something with glucosimine sulfate, chondriton sulfate and the MSM. Take at least 1000mg a day. Try it regularly for 2 month and see, if no different don't waste your money. Just like everything else what works on 1 may not work on another.
Thanks for everyone's input. I'll at least give the Glucosamine with MSM a try for a two month period or so. Might as well so long as it at least provides a chance for my knees to feel better. I won't keep my hopes up based on most other people's responses, but if it seems to help me, I'll come back and let you know of the progress. Thanks again.
I hate to fly in the face of a double-blind placebo study, but I swear by my Glucosamine. If I stop taking it, I can feel it. I would love someone to sneak into my medicine cabinet at night and replace it with a placebo to see if it's all in my head. It would likely save me a lot of money on caplets.
I get mine from:
http://www.beverlyintl.com/products.html
My knee surgeon had an independent lab run tests on potency, and Beverly was the only one that came close to supplying all 1500mg.
I took it for a while and I *think* it worked (I used it with MSM). Ultimately the best thing for my knees ended up being accupuncture. I went from knee pain every day to absolutely none while doing a half ironman last weekend. YMMV.
I used to 'jog' not run in the
80s til my shins and knees
started aching. I just bike
now at age 55. I take
Glucosamine/Chondrotin
everyday but DON'T USE
MSM. That stuff gives me
a giant headache and I have
not seen any benefit in it.
I swear by the Glucosamine/
Chondrotin. It kept an old
dog of mine off death row
for about 3 years. And it
works for me too.
I wouldn't even give MSM
to my dog!
Best advise I can give is
to GIVE UP RUNNING and
just ride a bike instead.
Take it this way... your
body is telling you it is time!
Pretty funny that people would post that you should stop running in a Triathlon forum. That would kind of make it difficult to get to the finish line.
I found this year that running itself wasn't the problem but rather the way I was running. Once I saw myself on video, it was obvious why my knees and shins hurt so much. Proper form REALLY helps.
Yeah, stopping running is highly unlikely since I'm still competing for my college and able to pull off decent times with the knee pain. Plus the pain has primarily been on road runs of longer distances. I hoping (pending the glucosimine working) that after talks with my coach this spring, my running will predominently consist of off road stuff to help cushion the impact of each stride. Plus, the running is my main sport, biking really became an add on after I sprained my ankle a couple years ago, and I just stuck with it since then, and eventually added the swim for the tri's.
As for running form, my form is fine. I've been analyzed on video year in and year out by my coaches from both high school and college, and they can't find anything odd or out of the ordinary with my stride. The only thing I may do is switch to a more motion controlled shoe or stability based shoe, since I've been running in a lightweight trainer the last 5 years. One, to give more cushioning to my knee, and two for alittle more stability in my ankle. Hopefully with all this in combination with the glucosimine, I can get back up to the level I watn to be at, at this point. Thanks again for everyone's input and help.
I find that offseason squats - barbell squats of one flavour or another, not hack or Smith squats - really help with knee stability during the year. I'm too poor for supplements ;)
I've tried it and didn't see much of a difference. We did have a cat that we gave it to and it really seemed to help her with the symptoms of arthritis. It may have some effect in reducing inflammation and pain, but it's not going to prevent damage. You do seem to be putting in more miles that really seems necessary.
Well, considering I run Cross-country, indoor and outdoor track for my college still, and generalyl do the 5k or 10k, the mileage isn't all that high. Even with injuries, I ran my best after summers with high mileage training. I also tend to do at least one 10+ mile road race each summer, so the mileage is at about the level I want it at right now, considering, some of my teammates put in up to 90 miles per week. I might reduce the mileage minimally and try and keep a faster pace on shorter runs, but I'd prefer not to do that based on the previous experience that had proven to me that high mileage resulted in better times for myself. Thanks for the input.
I take it and also have noticed that my knees feel much more pain free. Again maybe it's all mental. One weekend I noticed my knees hurt and later realized that I had not taken my supplaments. I choose to take them. I also found they are FAR cheaper (75% less than) at a wharehouse supply store like Sams Club over your usual vitamin places.
I added a well designed off season weight program. I paid a respected trainer to help design one that would work for a triathlete to ward off injuries. It was dramatically different than anything I had ever seen before. It included a lot of strength excercises that focused on the legs and hips during the winter (squats for example), then progressed into power moves such as flying lunges and stability/core excercises. So far this is the FIRST season I have had injury free in 7 years. I asked him what he based the program on, and he said that of a football player. Think about running on sand (I race in Florida) or deliver power to your legs going up a hill. Footbal players work hard to keep their knees strongtoo, since it is their most vulnerable joint.
I now place in almost every race I do.
Try looking at leg excecises that use multiple joints at once. Medicine and Stability balls are great too. Oh and Core Core Core! You can NEVER do too many core excercises. It's like putting high tech shocks on your car for the Indy 500. Wal Mart auto center does not cut it!
Good luck!
Next time you go to the gym
You've had your running form checked out by pros. How about your cycling? Not only your technique, but also the fit of your bikes.
Another suggestion would be to see a physical therapist who's used to working with athletes.
You've had your running form checked out by pros. How about your cycling? Not only your technique, but also the fit of your bikes.
Another suggestion would be to see a physical therapist who's used to working with athletes.
My running is analyzed every year by three coaches, 2 of which are certified physical therapists. The cycling I have not had checked out, but I also don't experience the pain when cycling. I think it is more of the blunt force and impact of my weight coming down that triggers the pain.
I used to think it was snake oil. I've got slightly sensitive knees due to a HS career of not taking Merton's advice about squats. I told a friend it was snake oil, and she insisted. Placebo or not, it helps -- and they really aren't one of the more expensive supplements, so it's not significantly more expensive than a sugar pill anyway.
Hate to be the wet blanket, but taking supplements in hopes of building or strengthening your joints is pointless. This is coming from a background in biochemistry, with a large part of that studying the hell out of long chain protien synthesis.
Eating precursor supplements is like eating cow brains expecting to get smarter. If you had some form of deficiency, then perhaps a supplement would do some good, but if your diet was deprived of that much protien you would have much bigger problems than just joint wear (liver/kidney failure, severe tendon atrophy). Any effect is likely a placebo.
Take the advice of others on this thread. Isolate what's likely causing the accelerated wear (running?), and take a break from it for a good long while.
Best advise I can give is
to GIVE UP RUNNING and
just ride a bike instead
I have to agree. You are only 21, and you may be looking at a knee replacement in ten years. You may be able to put up with the pain now, but you won't always be a nimble 21 year old. Personally, I LOVE running, but there are so many other things that you can do that are fun and athletic without causing you to become a cripple. It may seem worth it to you now at the tender age of 21, but if you keep punishing your knees it will get worse until it is simply unbearable to walk across the room. My grandmother and aunt both had knee replacements and it's no picnic. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
Previous -
Top -
Next
Copyright 1999 - 2007
BikeForums.Net - All rights reserved.
Common bike forum topics in clue bicycles, cycling, mountain biking,
cycling jerseys, shorts, socks, shoes and bike equiptment selection.