Re: glucosamine/chondroiten

[Guest guest]

My mom and Dad tried this. They both have ostioarthritis. They took it for

about 3-4 months and it didn't do anything. It's one of those 'helps for some

and not for others.' Go ahead and try it. The dr said you will know in about

3-4 months if it works or not. I've known it to work for other people. Good

luck.

Smile,

Becky

[Guest guest]

I take it daily along with MSM. It seems to help some and is supposed to help

retard joint damage. I also take 5 mg of prednisone and that really helps. I

get mine at Albertsons or Wal Mart. Albertsons has a store brand and Wal Mart

carries several brands.

[Guest guest]

I have been taking glucosamine/chondroitin (I think its 1000 mg glucosamine, 500

mg chondroitin) for some time now. I think it helps the joint pain. But I have

to keep regular about it. I take it three times a day, when I remember, and have

little or no pain at night or upon awaking in the a.m. Of course, I also take

an aleve before bed and upon arising, but I hope to be able to get off that soon

if the g/c keeps being effective. Costco has it, as does Safeway and almost all

health food stores. I getthe cheapest I can

find. -- Jan O', Alaska

[Guest guest]

,

I have been using glucosamine/chondroitin combo for about 1 year. It has made

a tremendous difference. My hips, knees, and feet do not hurt nearly as bad.

I also don't snap, crackle, and pop as much.

I live in Vancouver, WA, and the brand I use is Schiff Move-Free. It cost

about $19.00 at Wal Mart for 120 pills that are taken 1 pill 3 times a day

(equivalent to 1500 mg of glucosamine and 1200 mg of chondroitin) which is

the recommended dosage. There is also Schiff Move-Free with MSM for about the

same cost, but you have to take that 1 pill 4 times a day. For me, the 1 pill

3 times a day combo works just fine without the MSM. Lately the bottles have

been coming with a $5.00 off coupon to be used on future purchases, so that

is a big savings. I recommend these supplements for everyone. They have been

very helpful.

Hope this helps.

Carol in Vancouver, WA

P.S. I haven't written in a while to the group. I have kind of been lurking

about.

I had to recently up my dose of methotrexate to 20 mg a week and change my

medication from naproxen sodium 500 mg twice a day to Lodine 400 mg twice a

day. It seems to be helping. I have started having problems with my hands.

The end joints in the fingers on my left hand and the joint at the base of my

thumb on the my right hand and well as my shoulders bilaterally have decided

to flare up and become very painful. This of course doesn't help when you do

medical transcription for a living and you type constantly 8 hours a day. I

had to have the right shoulder injected with cortisone for

tendinitis/bursitis, and the thumb joint injected also because that is the

thumb I use to hit my space bar on my keyboard. I also now have to wear the

lovely night splints at night because I am starting to develop some carpal

tunnel in my right hand. And then there is still the ongoing, never gone away

yeast problem. Let's also not forget the psoriasis. I now have sausage digits

for my little toes. I didn't even know it until my rheumy told me because

they don't hurt. I thought they were just that way naturally. Fortunately,the

only other psoriasis I have is on still on my scalp and some on my eyelids,

as well as a few pitted fingernails. I am also taking ranitidine for

heartburn, tamezipam for sleep, methocarbamol for muscle relaxant, Benadryl,

and Arthritis strength Tylenol along with iron and calcium.

I never thought at age 43 that I would feel so miserable most of the time.

This is supposed to be the prime of my life, but mostly I feel about 80 years

old. I am thankful that the methotrexate has not made me nauseated. I just

kind feel real drugged out the day after I have taken it.

The bright spots are that I have 2 great daughters and a wonderful

16-month-old grandson. So, I just keep plugging away. I may not be able to

beat this disease, but I am not about to just give up.

Okay I have rambled enough. I will try to write more often. I read the

e-mails from everyone every day, so you guys all feel like family. It is nice

to know there are so many others out there like me and all of us to compare

notes with. This disease is so much more common than I ever thought possible.

I have 2 or 3 other people in my office alone besides myself who also have PA

and P. What a small world.

Bye for now.

[Guest guest]

,

Suggested maximum dose is 1500 mg Glucosamine and 1200

mg Chondroitin. If you have success with less that

would be your theraputic dose. I need the maximum.

I use Osteo Bi-Flex triple strength caplets. When I

use a different brand or a different delivery system

than caplets this drug is not effective. I have no

explanation for this other than this is the way it is.

I have tried other brands and delivery systems and

every time my osteo arthritis flares.

My results are very positive. I was never much of a

believer in supplements until I tried Osteo Bi-Flex.

Dr. Dan Lake