Fish Oil & Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM cap troubles

 Why are you assuming the studies are being done by Big Pharma at all? They don't do studies on supplements unless they believe there's something worth patenting that shows statistically significant improvement. Again, 15 seconds on Google can give you the citation list used by Cochrane. 

Most supplement studies are done by the supplement companies and are usually quite poorly done (or else only the positive studies are released publicly. The really good supplement research is done at the pure research level in universities by nutritionists, pharmacognosists (pharmacognosy is the study of medicinal plants) and the like - not "big pharma"

No one depends more on the power of the placebo effect than supplement sellers (whose profits greatly exceed Big Pharma, BTW) except maybe for the homeopaths.

Look I don't know Chocrane reviews, I am just a man who benefited from Glucosamine and Chondrotiun, they may be as pure as the saints, I really don't know. When I click on Chocranes "CONTACT ME" tab; THE US CONTACT ENTITY APPEARS to be BIG PHARMA TO ME;

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, LLC

http://pma.cochrane.org/contact-us

Try Udo's Oil.  I also have troubles with pills and this oil is wonderful. 

 I am finding this post very intersting, as just yesterday I had arthoscopic knee surgery to repair a torn and flipped miniscus (did it on the  treadmill!). But both knees are very arthritic and the doctor said they will need to be replaced eventually - maybe not that long from now. My VSG doc doesn't want his patients to take NSAIDS for long periods of time - okay for a week or two for something specific, so I have been trying to find alternatives. I really appreciate the above posts with data and those with photos off products to try.

Question: it sounds like the Glucosamine products take a while to work? I did try the pills a few years ago and didn't notice any difference, but I may not have taken them long enoough. How long before any of you noticed a difference?

Judy

 Judy, do you have inflammatory or degenerative arthritis?

Fish oil has been shown to be beneficial in both types.

if you have degenerative arthritis, NSAIDs are of limited use - exercise, fish oil and use of acetominophen is what my rheumatologist would likely start you with. 

if its inflammatory, its critical that the inflammation be reduced - NSAIDs are first line treatment, with DMARDS being used second (drugs like methotrexate, plaquenil) and biologicals (remicade, humira, enbrel) used last.

 I have degenerative arthritis. I have re-started my fish oil and couple of months ago. I appreciate all of the very specific information. I'll talk to my dr. and try to come up with a decent plan. My hope is that as I contunie to lose weight, it will be easier on my knees, and any additioanl surgery will be esier as well. I would just much prefer to put off knee replacements for a few years at least if I can.

Thanks.

I took Lifetime Glucosamine 1500 mg Chondroitin 1200 mg gel caps, once in the morning and once at night along with about 120 mlg of Hyaluronic acid once a day for many many years.. and I would say it took at least a month before I was a believer. The last 3-4 pre op, I used ones from Costco, they were cheaper but not quite as good. I quit before surgery and only started again a few days ago on Joint Juice, not because I believe its good but its liquid and Costco had it, I will know in a month or so how I fell about it.. I know Lifetime vitamins sold, the owner was my friends hunting buddy and I don't know if they still sell it but however they made it, they did a good job. I would speak to the manager of a good Vitamin store, not one pushing their own brands and ask for a quality capsules if your going to go that way cause I cant swear by the liquid, Wellness Company is known to me but not that drink.

BUT, this MSM to me is amazing as well. I could not take it with the others and most companies add it to the blend today. So I bought it alone and only took it when I went to bed because that stuff worked so well to mask my joint pain at 425 pounds that If I took in the morning, I would hurt myself because it would mask the pain and I would over due it and pay for it that night or the next day, so I had to be care full with it, but while I slept it helped to cover the joint pain... The guy that discovered MSM, said it did not build or save cartalidge and I see many making those claims but in MY body, its masks joint pain better then all I have mentioned... Your going to have to try them to see if they help your issues, I had one friends mom, an elderly lady with arthritis all over her body and she could not get relief from them but most I have spoken too have.. I just met a guy at support group this week telling me, how much this stuff had helped him too... These are my experiences, I have no other skin in this game... Good Luck...

PS... I also take Fish OIl and do reccomond, so I am not throwing any cold water on that, I think its joint healthy as well as for the arterial heart health...

 Thanks again. As soon I recover from this surgery I will be on the prowl, looking for the good stuff to try. Losing weight has to help, although I know the damage has already been doen. Thank you for all the great information.

I have also developed an aversion to swallowing capsules - converted to chewable calcium citrate from Bariatric Advantage and Coromega Omega 3 squeeze packets from Amazom:
http://www.amazon.com/Coromega-Omega3-Squeeze-Packets-120-Count/dp/B003V7YLIG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1334374497&sr=8-3