creatine monohydrate

[snubbyfan]

In my never ending search for supplements that may help with my peripheral motor condition, my research came around to creatine monohydrate.
I'm trying to prevent or reduce atrophy of the affected muscles and maintain or even increase strength of the muscles that are still activated. I've also heard that it can reverse motor nerve condition.
Does anyone here use this supplement?
Does it really do anything or is it just another snake oil?

 

[Farmer17]

Creatine really works great the first few times you take it, after that it might help a tiny bit. About 15 years ago when I turned 40 I was in pretty flabby shape at 5-9 and 173lbs. I decided to start working out and the guy running the gym suggested I try creatine so I started taking it and stepped on the scale a couple of weeks later and I was at 186 and my strength increased a lot also. Eventually I got up to 220lbs and 19 inch biceps and I'm older and have lost a lot of size and strength but am still pretty strong compared to a lot of guys my age.

 

[Absalom]

Like all supplements, it's food, not medicine. It doesn't "do" anything by itself, but it does support the muscles when you exercise them in the long term. I've been taking about 4000mg/day for years on the recommendation of my neuromuscular specialist doctor (not some alternative medicine quack!), because I have some issues in that area. Can't really tell you how much the stuff has contributed, but I could be in worse shape.
Try it; won't hurt anything, but don't expect miracles.

 

[alwslate]

I took it for several years back when I was able to do heavy weight
lifting. It does help with strength building and gaining weight if you
are doing hard training. Without training...I don't know. While using
it your body will retain water somewhat. Guys who take it for several
years sometimes find that their body weight tends to steadily increase
beyond the weight they want to maintain. Some develop a roll of
waistline fat even if they are pretty muscular. There doesn't seem to
be any dangers associated with it but you may find that you visit the
latrine more often.

 

[USAF385]

I took it for a while when I was heavy into lifting (pun intended).

It made me retain water like crazy while making me feel dehydrated. I didn't need it for weight, but at that time I wanted to see if it'd help increase muscle mass. It's hard to say if it did for sure, but my money is on "no".

As far as taking it for motor nerve condition, I have no idea.

 

[Gamecock]

My experience same as others above. Yes, it helped me add muscle, and I also added a few pounds of water weight. I quit using it after about 6 months because it started giving me indigestion.

"Does it really do anything?"

Yes, it really does. Webmd.com even said so. But I don't know that building muscle mass relates to your "peripheral motor condition."

 

[snubbyfan]

Thanks for the feedback guys.
I have been working out and doing lotsa hiking. My diet is mainly lean protein and green vegetables.
With my neuropathy I was supposed to have been in a wheelchair years ago. Instead I relearned to walk using the muscles that still work.
My condition affects 1 in 100,000 people (lucky me) and there's been little research done. I've been doing my own research and I've found that staying active and fit really helps.
I just priced creatine monohydrate. That stuff's cheap! I'm going to give it a go for a coupla months. If it helps, great. If not, hey, I gave it a shot.

 

[Absalom]

I just priced creatine monohydrate. That stuff's cheap! I'm going to give it a go for a coupla months. If it helps, great. If not, hey, I gave it a shot.

It's cheapest in powdered form. But I absolutely hate slurping down the gritty stuff, so I'm spending a bit more and buy it in pill form. You can find it online from i-herb and other places. The pills are the size of torpedoes, though, so you can't have swallowing issues.

 

[Farmer17]

Take it in powdered form with some grape juice, it tastes better and just buy the cheap stuff from Walmart, all creatine is the same no need to buy the high dollar stuff. If you want to gain muscle there are MANY things you need to do beside lift weights and eat healthy. You need to consume 400 more calories a day than you burn, you need to train properly, you need to change the training when your muscles get use to it, you need enough rest, vitamins, the proper intensity, plenty of water, and several other things but that's a start.

 

[Gamecock]

Don't exceed recommended amount. As I recall, I read somewhere that taking too much can be harmful. And a scoop a day works fine.

I would make a daily shake with 12 oz whole milk, a scoop of CM, and two scoops of whey powder (protein source).

 

[Hapworth]

Creatine monohydrate is one of the most researched, well-documented sports supplements available; its safety and efficacy are considered proven.

We all get it in our diets, mainly from wild caught meat and fish, to a lesser extent in farm raised.

It works to increase muscle stores of Adenosine Tri-phosphate, critical to energy for contractive force. In that regard, in most users it allows a few extra reps when lifting where otherwise fatigue has set in, and is generally best for exercise that requires explosive force, like weight training and sprinting, and isn't much use for endurance work.

Along with increasing ATP stores, it draws water into muscle -- hence some immediate weight gain is due to water retention -- but this also signals protein synthesis, so if your training and diet are on, creatine will help build muscle via both increased work capacity and increased protein synthesis.

A simple dose of five grams a day is all that's needed -- no more, and no loading if you take it longer term. Not all creatine suppliers are created equal; there's plenty of cheap Chinese made junk out there I'd avoid. Creatine from the company Creapure (many company's creatine products use this supplier and usually say so), is of proven quality.

I'm unaware of any studies linking creatine use with improved neurological effects, but if improved muscle strength helps mitigate the effects of your neuropathy, creatine in conjunction with smart lifting, eating and rest will likely be a benefit.

 

[snubbyfan]

Welp, I went and did it. I got me a 50 day supply of creatine monohydrate. It was only $8.99 plus tax from GNC. If I see any results by the time I'm getting to the bottom of the jar, I'll get some more.
If not, it cost me less than $10 to find out.

 

[American1776]

Creatine really works great the first few times you take it, after that it might help a tiny bit. About 15 years ago when I turned 40 I was in pretty flabby shape at 5-9 and 173lbs. I decided to start working out and the guy running the gym suggested I try creatine so I started taking it and stepped on the scale a couple of weeks later and I was at 186 and my strength increased a lot also. Eventually I got up to 220lbs and 19 inch biceps and I'm older and have lost a lot of size and strength but am still pretty strong compared to a lot of guys my age.

Impressive stats! ( you were 5-9 and 220 with 19 inch arms). For comparison, Reg Park was the most muscular drug-free bodybuilder in history, and at his peak, he was 6'2 and 220, with 19 inch arms. Clarence Ross, another top level drug free bodybuilder in the pre-steroid era, was 5'10, 200 lbs, and had 17 inch arms. And John Grimek, another massive pre-steroid era bodybuilder, was 5'9 and 215 with 18 inch arms.

Do you have any pics of your condition at that time? I'd be interested in seeing your peak level progress (you can blank out your face if you'd like). I ask because those approximate stats (assuming you weren't fat) would put you in world-class drug-free muscular condition--quite the rare and extraordinary accomplishment.

to the OP: I've been a competitive (local/state level) power lifter and non-competitive bodybuilder for over a decade. I hold a state record in the bench press in my division and class. I've taken Creatine off and on. For most people, it works. 5 grams per day, mixed in juice or water. Be sure to drink roughly a gallon of water everyday to ensure proper hydration. A workout program is recommended, of course, whatever is within your medical limitations.