Glucosamine & Chondroitin Supplementation

As I slowly increase my weekly running mileage in preperation for the triathlon and marathons I'm doing this year I've found that after long runs my knees and to a lesser extent my ankles kinda hurt a bit.   The pain is only for a short time and I do stretch extensively before and after running.  It was suggested that glucosamine / chondroitin supplementation would offer some benefits for sore achy joints.   Has anyone used these supplements in the past and did they offer any noticeable benefit?

Thanks.

Chad.

I am just finishing up my first bottle and I have not noticed an improvement at all.  I have more knee problems than I did before.  It could be just me though.

I have crunchy knees, if you know what that is, and I take Cosamin.  I definitely works for the crunchy knees but I can not say that it affects the pain that much but I also have knee pain from the muscles and tendons in the knee area.  Cosamin is pretty expensive, 29.99 for 72 capsules, they are cheaper on www.vitacost.com , 65.00 fro 210 capsules.  Vitacost have good prices on other supplements.  you have to take 3 a day and after a couple weeks you can switch to 2 a day. Let me know if you need more info, Eugene

I developed osteoarthritis in my right hip about 14 months ago.  It went away for about a year after a month of physical therapy (the PT thought that the problem was primarily muscular), but has recurred. Both when I started having this problem and when it recurred, I tried glucosamine and chondroitin, and I honestly have to say that it didn't have any effect on the pain in my hip, whereas the PT was virtually miraculous--I started limping, had to use a cane, and then within a month, the pain resolved. Oh, yeah, a year ago, I had also been prescribed a Rx-NSAID: meloxicam, which probably also helped a lot.  But that ended up raising my blood pressure, and of course, isn't an option for me now, 5 weeks post-op a RNY.  I'm just hoping that the weight loss with help ameliorate the pain, and if not, I'll get another insurance approval for a month of PT. My sense is that the role of glucosamine/chondroitin isn't completely understood.  Luckily, the stuff is virtually non-toxic, except for rare allergies or sensitivities.  I have read that glucosamine SULFATE has been shown to be superior to the more common glucosamine hydrochloride, so you might look out for that. /Steve

Yay!  I bought the glucosamine hydrochloride at GNC just now.    Oh well.  

Hopefully my brain will probably trick my knees into thinking they don't hurt anymore because I'm taking the pillz.

Thanks for the info gents.

I took both for about a year for knee pain and it didn't do anything for me.  I saw some research a few months back that indicated it is more effective with more severe joint degeneration but not so for moderate degeneration.  It won't hurt anything but your wallet! CB

It's GNC Gold card week so at most I'm out $20 for two bottles.

I used it about a year ago and it seemed to work at first but then it seemed to lose its effectiveness.  I saw an article in the paper about 2 months ago that said its totally worthless and works no better than a placebo.  But, it said many people who were taking it thought it was working.  I guess if you believe it is working, then it may be of help.  I just don't bother anymore.  Extra strength Tylenol sure has its limits.

 [ SNAKE OIL ALERT ]   I have been told by pharmacists and my own PCP don't believe the "joint replacement/maintenance" claims of the sellers of that stuff ..  It hasn't been shown positively to have any such benefit, they tell me  ..      Just another good example of how lax the feds are about allowing the makers of supplements to make almost any claims they want to in regard to their product these days, so long as they attach that disclaimer to same (e.g. "this product has not been shown to treat, cure, or diagnose any disease or condition", etc. etc.)