Is there any evidence this supplement really works? I get regular joint pain and have used it with very minimal success. I thought it was more mental than anything but I wanted others opinions

I started taking GLucosamine abotu a year ago and my knees stopped grinding, and my one shoulder got alot better too. I open the lil capsules up and dump them into my protein shake.

when I put them in my test tube they wouldn't burn, (hahaha-- dang I can be funny)

so I had to just take them for awhile and it made a major difference. EXPENSIVE too and I have little money. But I will ditch the protein before I ditch Glucosamine.

I am with flyinfree on this one. I have a bad shoulder and it was really cutting into the fun in my life. I couldn't kayak, jet ski, or even fish for long without a lot of pain. On the advice of my neighbor, who has bad knees from decades of playing hockey, I started taking GC, and my shoulder has improved dramatically. I still get some soreness, but only if I really overdo it.

I took a loooong kayak tour last Monday and felt terrific during and after the trip.

I have Lupus and plenty of arthritis...it's so frustrating. I've heard it works, but it takes 6 whole months to get into your system...

It works, but it's not a quick fix, just keep using it.

illusionary correlation anyone? Funny how some claimed it helped their shoulder, shoulders rarely get arthritic.

Basically i wouldnt try them, maybe if i was desperate. I asked my knee surgeon (world class by the way) and his noticed though studies of the efficacy of the drug that they dont really work. I guess the theories good, but does it actually work, im very doubtfull.

it is my personal opinion that you are a twit! and I don't even know what a twit is, but you definately seem to be one.

I've had knee pain for the past year. I went to my orthopedist, and he said that because the joints in the knees and shoulders get so little blood flow, it takes a long time for things to heal. He said I probably had micro tears in the tendon and told me to take Ibuprofen for a while.

I'm also trying some Osteo Bi-Flex, don't know if it will work, but I thought I'd give it a shot.

I take osteo bi-flex as well. I took it for a time last year during my shin splint ordeal and it was when I started taking it that I started noticing big improvements within just 2 weeks. I've been taking it again since I posted this thread and again I'm noticing big improvements. I don't care whether its illusionary correlation or not, the stuff is "working" for me so I'm going to keep with it.

...and Matt-no disrespect, but even though arthritic shoulders happen more infrequently than knees, hips or hands, its still a very debilitating place to have arthritis and it happens. Especially if someone has had previous shoulder injury or overuse injury such as a pitcher, or a swimmer.

can you get it in powder form ? glucosamine that is ?
can i just add it into my shake ?

Just because you have a sore shoulder doesn't mean it's arthritic, an arthritic shoulder pain is most likely to be the AC joint which is very small and is uneffected by any oral drug.

I mean here's a short review on glucosamine..Glucosamine for osteoarthritis: magic, hype, or confusion?

I asked my orthopedic surgeon. He told me that although glucosamine works somewhat,but not on everyone (depending on your stage of arthritis) Chondroitin is almost like a placebo.
I took the combo for 2 yrs and had no difference.

I am not sure if it's mental or if it really works but it DOES help me. I would pop one in after a hard day of hiking, jogging, leg work, or basketball and it seems to easy the pain in the knee for me. Additionally, i would take one the next evening as well and most of joint pains are gone, only the muscle soreness.

Glucosamine made a TREMENDOUS difference for my with my knees. It was like night and day. There was some research done a few years ago that cast a negative shadow over it but if I recall it was poorly done. I may have posted it on here somewhere, I don't recall.