So I have watched enough of my own horses and dogs deal with arthritis as they age, and I have also seen the difference that quality joint care can make. Mostly Cosequin, Adequan, polyglycan, etc.
I do not currently have any arthritis or specific issues, but given that 40 isn’t that far off, I thought that now might be a good time to start taking a preventative. What do you all recommend?
Given that you probably have at least another 40 years of life, do you really wish to ingest chemicals before they are necessary? Stay active, keep fit.
There’s zero evidence that joint supplements prevent anything.
Some certainly find that they can help address the symptoms of degeneration once it’s already there.
I’ve used this as a comprehensive, cover the popular elements, option:
Until you have something to treat, though, taking a supplement is just creating expensive pee.
I have tried a few different supplements for end-stage arthritis and the one that has helped me the most is collagen peptides and HA injections into the joint.
I am just starting to have trouble with my knee, and the doc I saw today said there were no options but joint replacement (huge big issue because I have a femur rod). I KNOW there are other treatments as you mention - what sort of doctor suggested HA? And which collagen peptides do you take?
And I remain convinced the pain I have now is soft tissue not bone, but of course he only took x-rays…
@lorilu a pain medicine specialist is my go to for something like HA injections. With replacement off the table, you might also explore the biologics like PRP or stem cell. Your local Regenexx practitioner is a really awesome place to start there.
thx. I want to explore those - just didnt know where to start. I’ll google Regenexx… must be something around here.
A former rheumy recommended MSM to support my lax joints (EDS so even if the studies were more promising, collagen would have null effect). I’m not sure it actually does anything but it’s not that expensive.
Get sugar and other foods that promote inflammation out of your diet.
My orthopedic surgeon recommended injections as I was out of all other options including joint replacement, thankfully they help me. My issues are for sure in the joint. I did try PRP but I did not have success with it. As for collagen, I am in Canada so not sure if we get the same brands but the scoop contains 10 grams of type 1 & 3 in a powder form, you do need to take it for a couple of months before you start to notice its effects.
This is probably the best advice and it actually works, doesn’t cost you anything and is better for your overall health.
My husband & I both take 900 mg’s of Omega-3. No fishy after taste and I have noticed a difference in how our bodies feel.
Additionally I take 3000 IU’s of vitamin D3 as well. My vitamin D levels are very low, but I suspect a correlation between that and my thyroid issues.
Like others have previously suggested, eating healthy and keeping active does far more than popping handfuls of pills to only pee them out later.
Thanks for the suggestions! I am very active, but my cross training of choice is running, which I know is not the best on the joints (maybe actually the worst) I’ve been trying to find another sport (other than riding) that sticks but I really just like to run. I eat pretty healthy, but I didn’t realize sugar was so inflammatory. Guess I’ll try to cut that back!
I don’t have anything clinical yet but I can feel how stiff my fingers are in the morning (years of braiding in my youth) and my knees are starting to tell me the weather, so I know that things are starting to change, hence my question. I just see those 80 year old ladies out hunting and doing half marathons and I want to be them when I grow up!
Bumping this thread to see if there’s anything new out there.
It started with my left knee, but my right knee is also not feeling great and even my elbows are starting to get a little sore.
I take Omax Tumeric nightly, along with Nordic Naturals fish oil (about 3000 mg), already.
Are there any joint supplements that you would recommend?
I don’t know about knees – my issues are with my LS/SI. I just exercise daily and try to keep the structures around the joint strong.
Do note that both of these impact your platelets and can cause bleeding (like nsaids.) Turmeric can also hit your stomach.
Do you know what’s actually wrong? What works for arthritis may be pretty different than what works for a tendon issue for example.
I like topical diclofenac a lot, especially for more surface stuff (like it’s probably not going to do much for a cranky hip joint, but a knee or elbow is a better bet.) It’s available otc now, hooray. Or steal your horse’s Surpass 
I also like this gizmo. It’s a little PEMF loop. I find it helpful worn overnight.
Many decades ago I developed osteoarthritis in my hands–from doing a LOT of 10-Key work fast.
I was eating at least 6 aspirins a day.
When I finally got diagnosed with MS Evening Primrose Oil was recommended (there were no MS drugs yet.) After around a week on the Evening Primrose Oil my hand pain went away and I stopped eating aspirin every day.
It has Gamma Linoleic (sp?) acid in it, which is the only Omega-6 fatty acid that acts as an anti-inflammatory. It worked so well that when I was disabled from work I was able to stop the Evening Primrose Oil since I was no longer irritating my finger joints everyday for hours on end.
We get it now from Walmart where it is often in the Women’s health section instead of in the supplement aisle (now my husband takes it for some minor help with his gout.)
I have ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. I’m in my thirties.
A lot of people in my autoimmune groups take pretty high doses of turmeric. I have no idea if it works since I consume it in food, and not as a supplement.
I cut out sugar, most dairy, and red meat, and I have found that a much stricter diet does help. That said, I’m on an immunosuppressant and Celebrex. But I do notice that I feel worse when I eat certain foods, especially sugar and red meat. I’ve been advised to cut out night shades, but I haven’t consumed foods like tomatoes in a long time.
This is an older thread, but I take Vegetarian* Glucosamine and MSM daily. I use this brand, but there are other options:
NOW Glucosamine & MSM Vegetarian – 120 Veg Capsules - Vitacost
If I don’t take it my right knee will swell up and get very painful, with it I can live normally. I know the cartilage in my right knee is bad, I also have damage in my left knee. I figure the longer I can keep going, hopefully the better the treatments will be.
*AFAIK I’m not allergic to fish or seafood in general, it just grosses me out
I think it totally depends on the root cause of someones joint issues. My joints hurt because of EDS which is a connective tissue disease. All the joint supps in the world don’t really help with that because it’s secondary to the condition itself.
Interestingly, my rheumatologist kept encouraging me to add red meat back into my diet and after a couple years, I figured fine, Ill try it. I feel a LOT better with it in my diet. I go for organic bison/venison/elk for the most part since its a bit leaner and cleaner. I’ve never had an iron deficiency or anything, but there is something about it that agrees with me these days.
I’ve got Ehlers Danlos, triple positive Antiphospholipid syndrome, POTS, and degenerative disc disease which my rheum suspects is autoimmune related.
I found the most impactful thing I did was severely limiting anything with added sugar in it. I used to eat a lot of sweets so that was a tough one, but once I got through the first week or so life was much better. Not only did I not really have cravings for sugary crap, I could completely ignore it if we were at a get together. Or I could have a bite, and be done. I add a little bit of maple syrup to my tea but that’s the worst of it on a daily basis. Lost the last couple pounds that never wanted to drop off too.
I also avoid gluten/wheat. I’m not celiac, but I have a threshold that makes everything suck if I exceed it. Gluten and sugar can both wreak havoc, especially for others of us with existing health issues. I’m pretty convinced that added sugar is indeed the devil 
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