I'm going to try glucosamine

[Janice]

Well, it's a new year so I've decided to go ahead and try the glucosamine for my poor aching joints. I'm 53 years old and I can tell in my hands that the arthritis is starting to kick in. Even my right shoulder aches at night and I'm chalking it up to arthritis.

If anyone out there takes glucosamine for joint pain, please let me know how it has helped or hindered your weight loss. I've held off taking it because I did not want to stop the weight loss. Now that I'm close to my goal, I think I want to start taking it and see if it will help my joint pain. I take the Atkins Basic #3 vitamins, the Essential Oils twice a day and, of course, Calcium w/D twice a day. I'm starting to add the glucosamine Monday. I guess I'll need to take it a while before I see any results.

Thanks for any input on this subject.

[Iapetus999]

I take it now and then. Sometimes I tweak my joints during my workouts.
However I've found losing 65 pounds does wonders for my joints
It seems to work really fast for me too, just a couple hours and it's better.
But I don't have arthritis (yet knock knock) so it may act different for you.
I don't think it will affect weight loss.
Remember, YMMV

[Janice]

Thanks, Iap. I thought it had to be taken for a while before I would see any positive results. It's good to know it will work sooner. I know losing the weight has helped my knee joints.

My hobby --- if I even can call it a hobby --- is redecorating and remodeling my home. My husband and I have literally moved walls and put up new walls by ourselves. I hurt my hands several years ago when I was sanding sheetrock for days at the time. I think I just wore out my thumb joints. They've given me fits ever since. Sometimes I can't even lift things because of the pain. It's very annoying because you can't use your hands without using your thumbs. It's a little scary because if it's this bad now, what shape will I be in when I'm 10 years older. I still think of myself as a very active person and I just hate the fact that I might have to suffer with arthritis. One of my grandmothers lived to be 99 years old and she was VERY healthy except for arthritis in her knees and shoulders. I'm thankful that there are so many "older" people now that the pharmaceutical companies are really coming up with drugs to help with "old people's" complaints. Maybe a new drug will come out soon and I can benefit from it before the good Lord takes me home.

This was a LONG post. Didn't mean it to be but I wish arthritis wasn't so painful and debilitating. One thing we have in common and can't get around is the fact that we're ALL getting older ----- like they say, it beats the alternative. LOL

[FarsideMom]

Glucosamine

I used to take it, but listened to a doc who said I need anti-inflamatory meds instead. Should have stayed with the glucosamine. Now, after the arthroscopy, I realize that it does work without the nasty side effects of drugs like Naprosen.

I'm going back to it myself this week although it doesn't work quite as quickly for me as it seems to for Iap. Give yourself about a week on it to see the effect.

[brandywine1241]

I've been taking glucosamine/chondroitin regularly for about 3 months now - I took it sporadically before that. It helped the pain and stiffness in my knee and didn't affect my weight loss at all.

[Janice]

Thanks so much for the input, ladies. I have tried to take Naprosen and it doesn't agree with me very well. It affected my weight loss also so it just wasn't worth it at the time. Hopefully the glucosamine will be the answer. I will give it a little time to work. If it will help with some of the pain and stiffness that's all I can ask right now.

Thanks again!!

[drakelin]

I've been taking glucosamine for ~3 months now & notice a big difference. When I would rise from a sitting position the pain in my knees would be excruciating. It took about a month to work but I am pain free now. I just started Atkins this past Saturday so have no idea if it will hinder weight loss.

[Janice]

Thanks drakelin. I appreciate your input. Please let me know what you find out about it affecting your weight loss. Hopefully it will not have an affect at all.

Good luck to you!!!

[Desertthorn]

I found it works also. The only problem that I found with it, is that you have to take it regularly and not skip any days because the healing effect builds up over time. I am so forgetful, it didn't do me much good. Also, its expensive and insurance will pay for the prescription.

[Topjobja]

I started taking it before while off Atkins so I can't say if it affects it, but hey I'm losing. I've been told you have to take the glucosamine/chondroitin combo for it to work and was told not to expect results for 3-4 weeks which was my experience. Good luck.
G.F.

[JTtoo]

Janice

How is the glucosimine working? Any results yet?

JT

[Janice]

JT, well --- the vote is still out. LOL

Actually, my shoulder is much better and I only feel a slight "twinge" once in a while but no "nagging" pain like before. My thumbs seem to be some bit better but they still hurt when I do certain tasks. Maybe they just need more time cause they are in worse shape. They might also be beyond help. LOL

As far as the weight loss, I'm not really losing right now. I cannot, however, blame that directly on the glucosamine. There are too many other factors involved that I feel were more reason for that. I haven't gained but I haven't lost. I'm just holding my own. I need to get on the ball and get those last few pounds off.

I'm going to continue to take the glucosamine since I do feel that it is helping my arthritis symptoms. Hopefully it will keep it from getting worse and maybe keep new areas from flaring up. I'll try to remember to post again once I buckle down and reach my goal. I really don't think the glucosamine is the culprit for the "standstill". I'm sure I'M the culprit there. LOL

[RCFletcher]

I have taken glucosamine/chondroitin since getting a pain in my hip which I thought might be arthritus. My doctor (who thought it was muscular) told me to excercise and apply heat. I did all this and the pain has gone. I still take glucosamine/chondroitin every day just in case and I figure it must be a good preventative measure.

[FarsideMom]

Inquiring minds

urplequ: Just curious, how's the glucosamine working for you, Janice???

[Janice]

Well, I think I'm doing some better. My shoulder is fine now and my hands have not been nearly so bad lately. Even while we were having a lot of rain for almost a week, they seemed to be better and not hurt so bad.

I think it's worth taking if you are have arthritis type problems. My doctor thought it was a good idea when I told him I was taking it. I would recommend telling your doctor BEFORE you start just to be sure it's okay with other meds you are taking.