Joint Health - How To Tell

Discussion in 'Health & Wellness' started by Frank Sanoica, May 13, 2019.

  1. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
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    I started taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin about 6 months ago, daily. Supposedly, it aids repair of Osteoarthritic joint deterioration.

    Do any of you take it? Think it helps?

    My pain now is worse than ever, nearly need pain killers to "walk the mile". But, the pain which began plaguing me some months ago, appearing in my right knee as I walked, placing weight on it, now seems concentrated below the joint. As I walk, my entire lower leg feels painful, and stiff. Those're muscles hurting there.....I don't understand.......

    Would it have been worse without the Glucosamine and Chrondroitin, or the same? Or hopefully, better? For several weeks, I walked pain-free for the 3-mile river walk, 2-3 times a week. I thought reprieve was at hand.

    Hardly. Frank
     
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  2. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Frank, I don't take any joint supplements since thankfully I haven't had any problems so far. I'm thinking you might need to get the pain in your lower leg checked out, though.

    My husband has PAD (peripheral artery disease) and had pain in his lower leg as a symptom due to impaired circulation. Also, his foot on that side got very cold so we knew something was wrong. He had to have a stint put into a blood vessel at the top of his leg a couple of years ago to get the circulation going again.

    Sorry I don't know more about the joint supplements.
     
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  3. Don Alaska

    Don Alaska Supreme Member
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    My wife took both glucosamine and chondroitin when she had trouble with her hands, shoulders and such, and she swore by them. She felt the liquid supplements were superior to the tablets. I have never taken them, so I can't testify personally. I would give them a few months trial and see if your condition gets better.
     
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  4. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
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    My husband took Glucosamine and Chondroitin for a problem with his ankles, some years ago... and he's not a person who will take meds, hardly even a headache pill, but he was in such pain with the ankles, he took those... but they never did a thing for him!!
     
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  5. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    I use to take Glucosamine (tablet) each AM, but I found out they raised my blood glucose number, so I stopped. Wife and I now take, in the AM, a Turmeric capsule. It helps, but my daily dose of 800mg ibuprofen helps better. My VA doctor has been prescribing me an AM dose of 50mg Tramadol, to be taken every-other day. Some days I can go longer without taking one, but have to take the ibuprofen almost on a daily basis. OS in left shoulder, after having rotator cuff surgery and sometimes get it in right shoulder where I've also had rotator cuff surgery.

    And, BTW, we also use Go Green Hemp Balm (1000mg) that has Eucalyptus & Lavender mixed in. Good stuff, but cost some $54 for a small can online. But, is good stuff!
     
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  6. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
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    @Cody Fousnaugh
    You are the first person I've heard from who takes Tramadol. It's getting difficult to obtain because it's an opioid. I would like to try it, but Doc won't prescribe.

    Anyone else aware of Tramadol, it's effectiveness, etc.?

    Frank
     
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  7. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I have a friend who has Fibromyalgia, and she takes Tramadol as well as a bunch of other pain medications. Apparently it is quite effective but she is afraid to take it often.
     
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  8. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
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    @Beth Gallagher
    A similar opioid, Demerol, which has been around forever, was prescribed when I had excruciating back muscle spasms, when I was in my 20s. I took one tablet, and could not remain awake......no more.
    Frank
     
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  9. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Frank--you need to find out what's causing the pain in your lower leg before attempting to mask it with pain medication. My husband had to see a cardio-vascular specialist for the PAD. He (husband) is 64 years old, active, and lanky... still wears the same size (30 x 32) jeans he wore when I met him over 30 years ago. I never dreamed that he would have circulatory problems.
     
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  10. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
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    @Beth Gallagher
    It certainly doesn't sound as though his physical make-up would be typical of finding circulatory problems. My biggest concern with lower leg pain is fear of clots......

    However, one of the last meds I would ever accept taking of would be blood thinners.
    Frank
     
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  11. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    It seems to help quite a lot with my cat but I tried it for a few months once and didn't notice any changes whatsoever, good or bad, so I quit taking it. When it helps, I believe the relief is a cumulative effect, meaning that you would have to take it for a while. I can't imagine why it would increase the pain, though. I am taking CBD oil now and that seems to help some.
     
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  12. Joy Martin

    Joy Martin Veteran Member
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    A friend who is now gone at 95 had been walking miles before her heart finally gave out. She claims glucosamine/chon kept her going as she took it for 25 yrs. I took it off and on for years but since her story I decided to stick with it and a friend telling me about Cosamin DS which I have taken every day for about a year now. I get my best price on ebay. Would I be worse without it, don't know, but I stick with it.

    I've had OA starting in lower back at 18 and years of wear and tear and dancing and exercise just made it all worse...and I believe sugar and refined carbs too. Then a hip replacement in 2010, which left my body was a big load of surgery complications. So I live with a lot of pain, but take NO hard pain meds...and I was told I had fibro back in 1999 but I believe it's a bag of stuff doctors don't know what to do for us, so it got this name.

    As for a blood thinner I do not take any but Grape Seed Extract is a blood cleaner and thinner, so I don't worry about clots.

    My right knee began making noises when I was 57 and I'm 81 soon...and so so fear a knee replacement since I had s uch a bad hip replacement outcome.

    Frank, do you mind saying your age. Your photo looks like you are a young man.
     
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  13. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
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    @Joy Jones
    Ahhh, Joy, you must have been the "joy" in many lives! "My" photo is indeed of me, but taken in 1975 I believe it was, up atop a mountain near the beautiful town of Susanville, California; I was then 33. The avatar clips off part of it, here is the original:

    [​IMG]


    But today, I am thus:

    [​IMG]

    Frank
     
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  14. Joy Martin

    Joy Martin Veteran Member
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    Oh Frank, you stinker...I question those avatars and if I knew how to do one I would but I don't have the capability I don't think...does not matter.. You were sure a pretty boy and I was a pretty good head turner.....still pretty cute as my friends tell me.
     
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  15. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
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    @Joy Martin

    And I have absolutely no doubt of it! Er, are we decidedly away from the thread topic?
    Frank
     
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