# Does Glucosamine really work to relieve joint pain?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 16, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803 "2006-02-16T15:37:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/1 "2006-02-16T15:37:52Z")
I’m 47 and in reasonably good health. Lately I’ve been having some significant late evening joint pain in my shoulders and elbows if I did some weight lifting earlier that day or the day before. It’s mainly evident in hoisting myself out of my computer chair in the evening.
I was talking with a friend a few days ago and he used Glucosamine for his old golden retriever who recently passed away. Some of his friends with arthritis were curious about it and tried (and liked it) and soon his wife was ordering cases of it for the neighbors (he lives in an exclusive gated community with mostly retired professionals and they all know one another)
Anyway this is one of the bottles left over from the pooches stock [Syn-Flex glucosamine complex](http://www.easysource.com/synflex/?id=) which he gave me and I started taking it today. Does this stuff really work?
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### Author:  [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/2 "2006-02-16T16:03:51Z")
[A previous thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=63565&highlight=Glucosamine). I started one, too, but I can’t find it now.
It seems to be working, some, for me.
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/3 "2006-02-16T16:07:45Z")
My doctor, at my last physical, says that it seems to be effective in about 1/3 or 1/4 cases. I have no cite.
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### Author:  [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/4 "2006-02-16T16:12:30Z")
From [SupplementWatch](http://www.supplementwatch.com/suplib/supplement.asp?DocId=1140&templateId=100):
> [@](#):
>
> There are numerous European studies showing a clear benefit of glucosamine supplements for relief of joint pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. Many of the studies have been criticized for lack of scientific control, short duration and small size, but recent meta-analyses of the smaller studies have supported the beneficial role of glucosamine supplements as a safe and effective approach to treating osteoarthritis.
Note that there are some concerns about the effect of glucosamine on insulin sensitivity, so if you have any blood sugar issues, you may want to consult your doctor.
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### Author:  [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/5 "2006-02-16T16:19:24Z")
It has really worked well for my knees. One had a torn ligament and eventually had surgery, which helped, but still had some pain when doing strenuous exercise. After taking glucosamine, eventually all the pain left, as it did in the other knee.
My orthopedic doc said it is one of the few suppliments that he will recommend, as it can actually restore ligament tissue.
It does, however, often take 4-6 weeks before you notice the effect. Many people give up before this thinking it does not work.
Give it a try. Most people take a combination of glucosomine, chrondritin and MSM. However, as I take a blood thinner, found the chrondritin should not be used with that, so just get the plain glucosomine and take a MSM tablet separately.
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### Author:  [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/6 "2006-02-16T18:51:56Z")
Anecdotal evidence: My father, who is rather skeptical about such “quick fixes” has claimed to have experienced a reduction in joint pain from using it _regularly_.
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### Author:  [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/7 "2006-02-16T19:52:52Z")
I took Synflex for a few months to help ward off creakiness, and it had zero effect. I called the Synflex folks and was told that it’s effective only for about 50% of their customers.
One of my Rottweilers has elbow dysplasia and will have early arthritis. The ortho surgeon told me 3 1/2 years ago to start him on glucosamine and I am religious about it daily. If I get lazy and stop for a week or two, he is definitely stiffer, I can tell by how he moves. The dog is five and competes in agility; I swear by glucosamine for him.
There is some evidence that it’s more effective when taken in conjunction with omega3 (fish or flax oil.)
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### Author:  [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/8 "2006-02-16T19:59:21Z")
My doc, who is quite conservative recommended it to me (who is also quite skeptical and conservative). I had sore knees from trying to run a little. I play racquetball, which doesn’t bother my knees at all, but running made them both sore as hell. He said I should try 1500 mg per day. Not with chondroitin, by the way, but just Glucosamine. I said I thought that stuff was pretty much health food nutcase stuff and he said he believed it was moderately effective with joint pain due to cartilage damage and arthritic issues. I tried it. In about three weeks I noticed a difference. I’ve been using it for about three years. It works for me. Additional evidence - I ran out of it and didn’t get around to getting a new bottle for a few weeks and my knees started to bother me, which motivated me to stop at Walgreens to get a new bottle. After a couple weeks, my knees stopped hurting. I’m a believer. Stuff works for me. Two 750’s every day.
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### Author:  [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/9 "2006-02-16T20:03:27Z")
> [@CC](#):
>
> Not with chondroitin, by the way, but just Glucosamine.
I meant to say just Glucosamine sulfate, actually.
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### Author:  [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/10 "2006-02-16T21:20:18Z")
Another data point. I’m 54 and a natural bodybuilder. I’ve been taking glucosamine for years and I can definitely feel the difference when I’ve run out now and then. It works for me. Everyone’s body is different and you simply have to experiment to find what works for you. If you lift heavy, you might also find that supplementing with BCAA helps reduce tendon/muscle/joint pain.
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### Author:  [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/11 "2006-02-16T21:38:06Z")
Uh, yeah - I’m not sure how age fits into the equations. I’m 62. It may be that joint issues that are related to aging might respond differently from those that are the result of trauma. Don’t know for sure. Daffy Duck may be experiencing the effects of years - sorry, dude - that I am. Maybe not, but as he says, every body is different. Worth a try, I say.
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### Author:  [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/12 "2006-02-16T23:12:55Z")
My 51-year-old husband, a veteran 23-year letter carrier, takes it for his knees and says yes, it works.
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### Author:  [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/13 "2006-02-16T23:22:09Z")
The National Institute of Health did a study with [these](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/glucosamine/DI00048) results:
> [@](#):
>
> The Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), funded by the National Institutes of Health, was designed to rigorously assess the effectiveness and safety of these supplements when taken separately or in combination. Almost 1,600 patients with painful knee osteoarthritis were recruited from 16 U.S. academic rheumatology centers for the study. The participants, who had experienced significant knee pain for more than six months and had X-ray evidence of knee osteoarthritis, were evaluated at the beginning of the study, and at weeks four, eight, 16 and 24. Each participant was randomly assigned to receive glucosamine hydrochloride, sodium chondroitin sulfate, the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, celecoxib (Celebrex), or placebo therapy. Participants were allowed to take up to 4,000 milligrams of acetaminophen daily. Those taking glucosamine and chondroitin achieved a 20 percent reduction in knee pain by week 24.
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### Author:  [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2006, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/14 "2006-02-17T02:45:20Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Those taking glucosamine and chondroitin achieved a 20 percent reduction in knee pain by week 24.
Doesn’t tell us much without knowing what results the other groups got.
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### Author:  [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2006, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/15 "2006-02-17T02:51:39Z")
More anecdotal evidence. I’m 45 and an autoworker with a chronic shoulder problem. I’m also a weight lifter (it helps rather than aggravate the problem) and supplement consumer. Glucosamine did absolutely nothing for me.
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### Author:  [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2006, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/16 "2006-02-17T05:46:52Z")
We’ve discussed some of this before.
[Here’s a thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=63565) that, as I recall but can’t be certain (I haven’t re-read the whole thing), covered most of the glucosamine bases.
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### Author:  [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/17 "2006-02-17T20:35:34Z")
It works for me. My problem is that once it kicks in and I feel better, I forget to take it.
Rinse, repeat.
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### Author:  [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/18 "2006-02-17T21:23:42Z")
Of course all this stuff is anecdotal.
But I take it (I have chondromalatia in both knees) and they’re a lot better than they used to be. OTOH, I’ve done a lot to build up the musculature in my legs to help the bones fit together better too.
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### Author:  [@WalkAndTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WalkAndTalk)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/19 "2006-02-18T00:20:11Z")
> [@astro](#):
>
> Does this stuff really work?
I developed such bad arthritis in my neck and shoulders that I couldn’t lift my head to shave under my chin. I started taking 4-6 tablets daily containing (each) Glucosamine HCI 1500mg combined with Chondroitin Sulfate 1200 mg. It took about a month to notice a change, but the change was dramatic.
I quit, for financial reasons, after about one or two years. I never did return to being as bad as I had been, but I did develop some pain and lack of mobility. That proved it to me: I wanted to always be taking this supplement.
I might add that I took/take such large amounts because 1) My problem was long-standing and severe. and 2) I am a very large man (football player size).
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### Author:  [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-glucosamine-really-work-to-relieve-joint-pain/344803/20 "2006-02-18T01:47:53Z")
I’ve been giving my fifteen (and a half) year old dog glucosamine for over three years. Again, while it’s anecdotal, it certainly seems to have been effective for him. Three years after starting taking it he is still more agile than he was five years ago.
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