Experiences with (human) over-the-counter joint supplements?

[ZuzusPetals]

When I left riding 25 years ago and switched to serious figure skating to stay in shape, I started taking MSM and vegetarian-based glucosamine. I discontinued them when I stopped skating, as my joints weren’t taking that kind of beating any more. A few years and a bunch of orthopaedic surgeries later, I’m on a big dose of turmeric. Non-prescription NSAIDs also are part of the program.

Everyone’s different, of course, and efficacy is debatable for supplements marketed for joints. But I’m curious whether you take them and if so, which ones. Have you noticed any difference in flexibility or injury recovery?

Also, tossing in an endorsement for Topricin. Witchcraft in a jar, that stuff.

[Obsidian_Fire]

I’ve tried all that at one point or another. I never found any relief worth mentioning. Currently taking an RX NSAID which my doctor would prefer I get off of… but for what? To go back to taking lethal doses of Advil or Tylenol? Which don’t work, which is how I ended up on an RX? Which BTW is also nowhere near as effective as it used to be.
Sigh.
There needs to be better options for us mere mortals.

[Calvincrowe]

I agree with Obsidian_Fire-- My experience has been the ‘feed through’ joint supplements for humans are, well, fairly useless. Just as science has shown they are in horses. (other than Cosequin).

The best relief I’ve found has been direct joint injection (hey, just like horses!) My pain management doctor and I have a program that seems to be working decently for my lumbar pain. I combine anti-inflammatories with muscle relaxers (my faves being baclofen or flexerill), stretching and periodic trips to the procedural operating room for steroid injections.

For my other joint issues (torn up shoulder, arthritis in my finger joints, fused toes left foot, neuromas, ACL/cartilage damage left knee), moving, stretching, rest and anti-inflammatories seem to keep everything happy. (I have had joint injections in my thumb, foot and shoulder). But my PT has repeatedly said this truism: Keep moving! When we stop, we seize up and make everything worse.

Once you know you aren’t making anything worse (hello, doctor!) then the goal is to simply keep the body active, fit and at a good weight. I am so much happier, body-wise, when I’m sitting correctly, walking 10K steps a day, stretching gently, fit and at ideal weight.

[Christa_P]

I take MSM and vegetarian glucosamine daily. Without them my knees, especially my right knee, are painful and frequently swollen. With them I feel pretty good and can do what I want including riding, hiking and snowshoeing.

[Renn_aissance]

I take fish oil for the omega-3 support and if it’s done a blessed thing I haven’t noticed. In the past I took glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and HA and if it did a blessed thing I haven’t noticed. I’ve been thinking about trying it again now that I have a grumpy joint.

[pony_baloney]

Collagen peptides have been helping my knees and hands a lot. If I can find the video I’ll link it below. It shows a knee xray before and a year after taking daily collagen. It created space between the joints where there was none before.

[Bogie]

I take a high dosage Curcumin supplement which helps. It took me a few tries to find one that I felt made a difference (for me it’s Omax brand). I recently started taking Sam-E and have after a few days, felt much better (I have basal thumb arthritis and almost no cartilage in my left knee). I’ve just added collagen peptides.

I had no success with glucosamine, HA, Rose Hips, etc. I was poised to get Cortisone shots but right now my hands are feeling quite a lot better.

ETA, I also take an Omega-3 supplement.