I have been competing in USMS meets for the last 14 years. During that time frame, I have have some persistent shoulder and knee problems. Recently, I trained and competed in my first triathlon. My knee problems really flared up badly during the running training. So I took a short break from running and at the same time started taking a Glucosamine - Chondroitin supplement. After about three weeks of taking the supplement, all of the pain disappeared, not only in my knees, but also in my shoulder and lower back. I even stopped taking ibuprofin. My performance in the triathlon was well beyond what I expected, especially in the run. Has anyone else had so much success with this supplement?
I have been using the Glucosamine - Chondroitin supplement for about a year. I have had shoulder and knee problems. It does appear to help my knee. Not that the pain has gone away but seems to be significantly less. It does not seem to help my shoulder at all.
From a scientifc point of view it would be difficult to attribute your improvement to the Glucosomine or to the lack of running.
Your post changed two variables at the same time so it is not possible to attribute your success to just one factor. Your success could be do to the medicine or allowing your body to recover from the pounding that running gives it.
Based on the composition of joints I doubt that the Glucosomine helped . There is no GOOD scientific evidence that I know of that shows Glucosomine rebuilds cartilidge or fluids in the knee. It is more likely that the inflammation in your joints was reduced from lack of use and the ibuprofen. Antidotal evidence suggests that Glucosomine does not work. I have seen a decrease in sales of this product and have noticed that hardly anyone comes back to purchase a second bottle. I NEVER recomend this as I believe that this medicine is a fad just like so many others I have seen over the years. That last statement indicates I am getting old.
Best advice: Do not over work your body, use correct technique with all endevors, listen to your body. If it hurts rest it and fiind out what is causing the pain. Pain is your body telling you that you have a problem which needs to be addressed.
Have a great day
Paul
A meta-analysis of all placebo-contolled clinical trials of the supplement (1980-2002) was published in the July 2003 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. A meta-analysis involves pooling the data from multiple small studies and applying statistical analysis to the results. This approach is used in the absence of larger studies. The authors concluded that the supplement is effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Apparently the supplement is effective in osteoarthritis, which could explain why your knee improved but your shoulder did not. Your shoulder pain may well be secondary to something else (although osteoarthritis can affect the shoulder too).
I had a meniscectomy in 1975. The doctor guaranteed that I would develop osteoarthritis in that knee, and he was right. Years later, I had daily pain and swelling which I controlled with a knee brace. Several times a year when the pain was severe, I would knock it out with a round of ibuprofen -- 6 a day for 5 days. That worked for a while until one time I ran the ibuprofen regimen and it didn't even touch the pain. I was scared! I was very into triathlon and was petrified at the thought of losing my athletic endeavors!
I heard about the book, The Arthritis Cure by Jason Theodosakis, and after considering the known risk factors (virtually none -- other than it might not work) I started taking a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement. Like your experience, Nate, it was a miracle cure for me. I no longer have pain or swelling in my knee. I don't think I could even find that knee brace now! I dropped my dosage to about half the recommended level a couple of years ago and that seems to hold me.
The supplement is still working and I am continuing to run. The only place where I occasionally feel pain is where I broke my leg a few years ago. Now that I am running, I feel that my flutter and fly kicks are stronger. The other thing that I notice is that my lower back pain (minor arthritis) is gone. I am going to buy a bike. The one I used for the triathlon was borrowed. :)
