Digital Gee

So I've started taking these tablets twice a day. How long do you think it takes before I feel a difference in my knees? And how long before I would be ready for the TdF?

JBBOOKS

3-4 weeks on the knees. You should be ready to watch the TdF in July.

linux_author

^ along with Lance!

:-)

waldowales

Give it two months before you give up on it. That's how long it took my wife and I to give up. I hope your results are better.
If you have digital TV, Digital Gee, you're ready for the TdF now!

WillisB

It worked very well for me until I realized that it was raising my blood glucose. I really loved the stuff. I really wish I could use it again.

kk4df

When I have knee problems, I'll stay on it for about 3 months. But I don't keep taking it all the time.

NOS88

I started to feel relief in about three weeks... not only the knees but the hips too. Now, as for the TDF... are you seeing Dr. Fuentes any time soon? I suspect you may need him in addition to the gluosamine and chondroitin.

MNBikeguy

If you google the issue, many studies have found this to be ineffective in it's more popular uses of joint strengthening and discomfort relief. It may have limited value for moderate to severe knee pain. Side effects are increased gas and insulin resistance.

From the New England Journal of Medicine:
"Conclusions- Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate alone or in combination did not reduce pain effectively in the overall group of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Exploratory analyses suggest that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may be effective in the subgroup of patients with moderate-to-severe knee pain. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00032890"

yamura

I took it for about 6 months to help deal with knee pain. I don't think it helped but no side effects either.

Digital Gee

How come these things taste so bad? Calling it "grape" flavor (chewable tablets) is irresponsible and false advertising!

Nightshade

Nothing can put back the lost cartilage nor smooth bones ravaged by arthritis.

This stuff is nothing more than a placebo for the believers since it can't really help rebuild
damaged knees.

Tom Bombadil

The studies have shown that there is no discernible effect on those with severe osteoarthritis. However, as you indicated, there is preliminary evidence that supports it having some effectiveness with those with moderate-to-severe pain. It also did not rule out potential positive effects due to knee pain from other than osteoarthritis.

https://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/gait/qa.htm

"For a subset of participants with moderate-to-severe pain, glucosamine combined with chondroitin sulfate provided statistically significant pain relief compared with placebo—about 79 percent had a 20 percent or greater reduction in pain versus about 54 percent for placebo. According to the researchers, because of the small size of this subgroup these findings should be considered preliminary and need to be confirmed in further studies."

"Were there any side effects from the treatments?

There were 77 reports of serious adverse effects during the study. Of those 77, only 3 were attributed to study treatments. Most side effects were mild, such as upset stomach, and were spread evenly across the different treatment groups. In addition, although GAIT was not designed to evaluate these risks, no change in glucose tolerance was seen for glucosamine nor was an increased incidence of cardiovascular events seen with celecoxib."

Note that there were 1583 participants and only 3 side effects attributed to the study treatments, with no one having a glucose tolerance or an increase in insulin resistance.

There was also a European study, the GUIDE study, that was just completed last year, which did find the glucosamine had a statistically positive effect.

https://www.newswise.com/articles/view/515938/

"Results showed that both glucosamine sulfate and acetaminophen had greater efficacy than placebo use in reducing pain. However, patients taking glucosamine sulfate appeared to experience more relief than did those on acetaminophen."

tntyz

I have never heard of this before. Anyone have a source they could cite?

Tom Bombadil

If you read the post above yours, the study of 1583 patients found that none of them had significantly increased blood glucose levels.

Not saying it can't happen, but if it does, it appears to be a very rare side effect.

MNBikeguy

I was incorrect re my previous statement about insulin resistance. No human study has substantiated this.

Dr. Stephen Barrett:

"The most common side effects are increased intestinal gas and softened stools. However, animal research has raised the possibility that glucosamine may worsen insulin resistance, a major cause of diabetes. So far, studies in humans have not substantiated that risk. Nevertheless, people with diabetes should monitor their blood-sugar level particularly carefully when using that supplement."

daredevil

I've developed sudden problems with both knees. Before making an appt with a doctor, I've been poking around for symptoms, causes etc. Am I right in guessing that osteoarthritis wouldn't suddenly manifest itself in a one month period? I'm hoping instead an overuse type of injury where glucosamine wouldn't help.

Nightshade

Osteoarthritis is a slow steady wearing away of vital bone and tissue so it sneaks up on you slowly.

That said, the sooner you see a doctor the sooner you can get help to properly manage the progression
of the osteoarthritis. These pains are telling you play time is over, now you need to manage your body
better.

daredevil

That's what worries me. Thanks, I will.

rumrunn6

They make no improvement - but what they do is help prevent further deterioration.

Nightshade

Please do ASAP it's that important! I let my symptoms go to long and wound up with the choice of
a wheelchair or new knees.....I took the new knees. That said, total knee implants limit many
activites that we all once took for granted. You can walk/ride but you soon learn to guard your
legs to protect the implants since a knees redo is a real no no.

Oh yes, most ortho doc's tell you to........stay off your knees after you get implants. Do you
know how many activites you do on your knees ? (let me give you a hint...sex springs to mind...
is but one)

daredevil

got an appointment on Friday with an orthopedic specialist. He's trained in sports medicine too.

My wife suggested I go to a chiropractor. No thanks.

This has already eaten into my riding time and has me concerned that it could become permanent.

Nightshade

VERY smart man, indeed!

One other point........
Most ortho doc's want to put off knee replacement for as long as possible depending on your age now. There are
many good drugs to deal with the pain until it's time to do the deed. The reason to stall on knee replacment is
the life of the implant. They do not last like the knees God gave you and redo's on knees is a real issue yet today.

Very best of luck!!

P.S. Cycling & swimming are the two best activitys for folk's with knee replacements!!

Hermes

Who knows...G/C affect people differently. However, I did place a call to Bruyneel and he is expecting your call. Not as a racer nooooh. You get to clean bikes.