I take it for knees that have spent years well beyond their design limit. Before I started taking it I was in significant constant pain. Activity that taxed the knees (working on the floor, twisting on the golf course, etc.) had me almost crippled the next day. Climbing stairs would almost make me cry. I was looking at knee replacements. It took almost a month after beginning the pills for me to recognize a difference. Now after more than a year, my knees are much improved. I can get up and down off the floor, walk a golf course and climb stairs with very minor pain. That may not sound like a ringing endorsement, but believe me, it is.

FWIW, I have not changed lifestyle, nor lost weight, nor is there any other factor that I can identify that would have made an improvement other than taking Osteo Bi-Flex every day. I feel that the stuff keeps me mobile and off the surgeon's table.

I've been taking Glucosamine & Chondroitin for 5 or 6 years and I can tell when I run out and don't take it for a few days. I don't know if it is getting any better but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse or at least it has slowed down from what the Doctor says.

I just started taking it a week ago for neck and lower back pain, was wondering how many mg most of you take a day

I have done, on and off, religiously when "on", and I have never been able to tell the difference. I'd been taking some prescription extended action nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and those work wonderfully for overnight use, but have no effect on the problem, just the symptoms.

I've been praying about it for about a year now, and I've had almost no problems at all for the last six or eight months, and no drugs or supplements either.

I took it for a while but could never tell any positive results, so gave it up. Either Ibuprofen or Alieve do about the best job for me. Most mornings I can't close my hands until I have taken some and flexed my hands for a while.

gamms

I asked my knee doc this same question friday......and got the answer you posted below

quote:

Originally posted by Drail:
A recent medical research study in Australia has just been released and it claims MSM glucosamine and chondroitin are not an effective treatment and people given these compounds claimed the same releif stats as people given a placebo. I tried it for two years for relief from osteoarthritis and found no benefit. A lot of people swear by it though. I guess it just depends on the individual and the specific type of arthritis. Good luck.

Check out the Life Extension Foundation. They have the most up to date scientific information backed by various studies. They are an association of PHD's that specialize in prevention of life threaten problems.

http://www.lef.org/protocols/immune_connective_joint/osteoarthritis_01.htm

41

I used Osteo-Biflex for several years and recently switched to the CVS pharmacy equivalent. In my case these supplements don't do anything for my arthritis pain, but they do seem to help with joint flexibility. (I take the double strength version instead of triple strength, so the input is 2/3 of what is usually recommended.) For the pain I take a prescription NSAID.

I took them horse pills for months, and it does not work for me.

Sgt Preston here. I DON'T have arthiritis, but I used to have "clicking knees" and some knee pains & weakness when trying to stand. I'm 64+ now & have been taking a combination drug glucosamine / chondroitin 1500 mg of each once a day since I was 45. My knees are not painful nor are they "clicky" & I have no problems raising to a standing position. I do go to the gym 3 times a week & work my legs & knees with a variety of exercizes & heavy weights thru their full range of motion. I also try to ride my bike for 20-30 minutes or so daily thru the spring summer & fall. I feel like it works for me. This is not a permanent fix though, it temporarily fills the voids in your knee joints but flushes out of you body daily. You need to keep taking it. I intend to keep taking it. Sgt Preston USMC

SGT....Those exercises help to build the muscles around affected joints. Muscle weakness is a major cause of disability in people who have joint problems. We lose our muscle tone as we age and the only way to keep it is to work out. I also exercise my back since I have had two whip lashes from rear end collisions.

While I take Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM, I also take other nutrient supplements which help. I have been taking supplements since the early 90's and I am now past 65.

41

41, I take a "Mega Men's" daily multiple viatmin + a 400 IU Vitamin E, + a low dose 60 mg aspirin to keep my blood "thin". I go to the gym 3 times a week & try to work "all" the muscle groups that I can. I begin by spending 20 minutes or so walking on a treadmill where I gradually increase the angle & speed. At that point I have broken a good sweat, am warmed up & am ready to "exercize". Then I hit the weight machines. I try to do most all of the machines but just 1 set of 10-12 using as much weight as I can handle without injurying myself. Finally go to the free weight room & work out with both dumbells & bar bells. I don't use a lot of heavy weights (barbell= 120 lbs, dumbells = 50 lbs). but I try to use all the bench positions: flat, inclined & declined. I also don't do a lot of "sets". I do just 1 set of 10-12 of as much weight as I can handle. For me the gym is my fountain of youth. The other big benefit of exercize is the release of "brain soothing chemicals"(endomorfins?). These refresh your mental outlook & makes you feel "better" about the world aroud us.
41, what supplements do you take & what are your results? Preston

USP Labs Super Cissus RX works better for me.

I powder the tabs and mix them with peanut butter, spread it on a piece of bread for the dog. (hind legs giveing out)

She likes the peanut butter part. Does it help? I dunno, she says it does. But the bitch is prob'ly lieing. (just to get more peanut butter)

i used glucosamine, but the results were poor.

Aspartame was the reason my joints ached. I completely got off of anything containing Aspartame. The sore joints, as well as other symptoms, virtually disappeared over time.

that is some nasty stuff..

http://www.rense.com/general10/term.htm

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum...ame+symptoms&spell=1