How Does Glucosamine Help Joint Pain?

Posted: Jan 02, 2009 | Comments: 4 | Views: 868 | Bookmark and Share

Glucosamine is the precursor to Glycosaminoglycans, amino acids that are naturally produced in your body to help form cartilage. Based on this, Glucosamine, in supplement form, is being used to treat joint pain stemming from osteoarthritis. Glucosamine is becoming vastly popular among arthritis sufferers as it is easily available at health food stores and pharmacies and is less expensive than some prescription drugs for joint pain. Although there seems to be mixed opinions in the medical world about how effective Glucosamine really is, patients have been singings its praises.

Is it safe?

Studies show that as a treatment for minor osteoarthritis pain, Glucosamine has been proven relatively harmless, though long-term use or use in large doses has not been studied enough to have any conclusive results. Some concerns you may wish to bring up to your doctor are if you are diabetic, as high levels of Glucosamine may interfere with blood glucose levels; if you are nursing or pregnant; or if you have a shell fish allergy. Many Glucosamine supplements are made from the shells of shellfish, and while an allergy usually occurs from eating the flesh of said fish, you may want to take precautions when using a supplement derived from the shells. There have not been any recorded problems from allergies recorded, but it is always best to monitor yourself to play it safe. As always, read the directions of the manufacturers and consult with your physician as well.

Does it work?


Early clinical tests in Europe were not well conducted, leaving dubious results; however, recent studies are proving to be promising to those with joint pain. Many doctors are skeptical of Glucosamine’s healing abilities, as the clinic results look as though it works for “some” people “sometimes,” but are not opposed to a person trying it, as it couldn’t hurt. Full clinical studies are available online for you to examine the results for yourself. Other doctors are enthusiastic about its possibilities and would recommend it by itself or in combination with Chondroitin, which is often combined with Glucosamine in a supplemental form. When used in combination with physical therapy and other forms of pain management, these supplements can be very helpful. Often, patients will report that they don’t notice a significant benefit to Glucosamine until after they have missed using it for a day or two. Many people, despite lack of scientific evidence, swear by Glucosamine and its benefits.

Conclusion?


Since Glucosamine is considered safe and has promising clinical study results, it would make sense to at least try it and see if you notice any significant difference in your joint pain. If it doesn’t work for you, you can then try other more aggressive treatments for osteoarthritis pain and consult with your doctor. However, if it does work, you’ll feel less pain in your joints and will be able to resume every day tasks without as much pain and stiffness. The risk is minimal, and the benefits could be substantial.

(ArticlesBase SC #706114)

Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    RSS
    Print
    Email
    Re-Publish

    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/how-does-glucosamine-help-joint-pain-706114.html

    Article Tags:

    Joint Pains

    ,

    Osteoarthritis Pain

    ,

    Glucosamine Joint Pain

    ,

    Joint Pain Supplement

    ,

    Joint Pain Stiffness

    Symptoms of Facet Joint Pain

    Dr. Wang shares the symptoms associated with facet joint pain. (00:37)

    Health Tip: Joint Pain

    Joe Graedon discusses arthritis and joint pain, from prevention to treatment. (02:13)

    The Relationship Between Menopause and Joint Pain

    Dr. Phillip Sarrel shares his knowledge and explains how joint pain is related to menopause. (01:37)

    How to Exercise with Joint Pain

    Joint pain doesn't mean you have to sit the bench when it comes to physical activity. Try some of these tips to help keep you moving. (01:09)

    Joint Pain Doctor Advice

    Susan Jacobs shares what she would tell a woman who has joint pain, but does not want to see a doctor. (00:40)

    Joint and Muscle Pain is a Condition That Has Many Causes. it is Possible to Relieve the Discomfort That Many People Experience With the Use of Natural Supplements as Opposed to Prescription Drugs and the Side Effects Associated With Them.

    By: John Bradstreet l Health > Supplements & Vitamins l Mar 15, 2009 l Views: 684
    Vijay K Raisinghani

    An effective and a healthy osteoarthritis diet can go a long way in overcoming arthritis pains and aches naturally. Find out the expert facts on what you should include in your diet for effective natural treatment of osteoarthritis.

    By: Vijay K Raisinghani l Health > Nutrition l Jul 25, 2009 l Views: 340

    Osteoarthritis is perhaps the fastest growing form of arthritis in the United States. According to the Arthritis Foundation, one third of all adult Americans have x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis. Last year over 7 million visits to the doctor were osteoarthritis related which is second to cardiovascular disease in America....

    By: Darrell Miller l Health l Mar 11, 2007 l Views: 160

    Arthritis affects the motor abilities of over 30 million people. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis that people experience. While there are over 130 joints in our bodies it can affect any of them. Most commonly it is in our hips, knees, shoulders or elbows. It is caused by...

    By: John Bradstreet l Health > Medicine l Sep 19, 2009 l Views: 27

    In some countries in Europe a combination of Glucosamine and Chondroitin has been prescribed for decades to promote joint health. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis found in people. It can cause moderate to severe joint pain and loss of mobility. It is a natural way to help promote the health of your joints without the side affects of drugs that are currently on the market today.

    By: John Bradstreet l Health l Aug 29, 2009 l Views: 144
    Alex Brown

    Millions of older and highly active dogs suffer from joint and hip pain everyday. It's important to be knowledgeable about all the potential treatments and the side effects that stem from each method. Supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin offer a safe alternative to NSAIDS and vet care.

    By: Alex Brown l Home and Family > Pets l Jan 05, 2010 l Views: 4

    Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affects people. There are over 30 million people that have pain associated with arthritis or joint inflammation. Osteoarthritis is the breaking down of cartilage in our joints. This causes the bones in our joints to rub together and varying degrees of pain. But there are ways that we can reduce or eliminate the pain and discomfort associated with this disease.

    By: John Bradstreet l Health l Sep 21, 2009 l Views: 29

    Joint replacement surgery by We Care is typically recommended to patients who have tried non-surgical treatment but still have joint pain. While this is an extremely effective surgical treatment, total joint replacement should be considered as the last, rather than the first, treatment option for patients with advanced arthritis of the hip, knee or shoulder.A hip or knee replacement done today typically can be expected to last for 20 or more years.

    By: Pankaj Nagpal l Health l Jul 25, 2009 l Views: 32

    Acupuncture in Soma Throughout the United States such as in the community of Soma, it is turning a well fact that many people are turning to acupuncture as an alternative to traditionalistic medicine. There are numerous clinics opening nowadays with certified acupuncturists who have been considerably cultivated in these characters...

    By: James Phillay l Health > Medicine l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 1

    Acupuncture is now something that numerous individuals are turning to as an alternative treatment for numerous prolonged botheration events. It would seem that there is more of an interest in this discipline right away because of the prospective risks of the chemicals that are in the conventional pain medicines. Other...

    By: James Phillay l Health > Medicine l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 1

    Buprenorphine is an alternative medication for drug treatment. It is safer than others because it limits the influence at certain level. So, opt for this painless treatment for you.

    By: Joseph Warner l Health > Medicine l Feb 09, 2010

    de.Pro-Medics.com reintroduces products and treatments that appeal to the growing community of women online.

    By: Marketing department l Health > Medicine l Feb 09, 2010

    Often when you hear word –Hypnosis, It conjures up images of a bearded man with piercing black eyes and a mesmerizing deep voice swinging a pendulum back and forth, chanting, "You are getting very sleepy." Hypnosis is often misunderstood

    By: Cadio Wacian l Health > Medicine l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 1
    bcured

    Bleeding in the digestive tract is a symptom of a disease rather than a disease itself. A number of different conditions can cause bleeding in the digestive tract. Finding the location and cause of the bleeding is important. Endoscopy is the most common tool for diagnosing and treating bleeding. Most causes of bleeding can be cured or controlled. Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins in the anus or rectum that can rupture and bleed. HemorrhoidBalm-Rx is a very potent all natural anti-hemorrhoid remedy.

    By: bcured l Health > Medicine l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 3
    bcured

    Treatment choices for cervical cancer may be a single therapy or a combination of therapies. Most treatments for cervical cancer cause side effects. Side effects may differ, depending on the type of treatment used and your age and overall health. Both cervical cancer and genital warts are caused by a highly contagious virus known as HPV. If afflicted with warts, it becomes necessary to eradicate the HPV infection to eliminate them. HPVCurative eradicates genital warts without any recurrence.

    By: bcured l Health > Medicine l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 1

    Fresh fruits and vegetables, wheat bran, entire wheat, oatmeal and brown rice are a number of the foods that have fiber in it....

    By: Tulip Kiya l Health > Medicine l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 1

    Surely, you have seen hidden object games. They are found in the newspaper, magazines, books, and even online. You have probably picked one up and wondered why people are attracted to these games. After all, hidden object games look tedious and mind-numbingly boring, right? Well, nothing could be further from the truth. These games have a legion of dedicated followers. The dedicated followers play the games regularly because they want the excitement of finding that which is hidden.

    By: Alan King l Computers > Computer Games l Mar 29, 2009 l Views: 882

    One of the best things you can ever have in Internet marketing is a captive audience to market to. That may sound a little extreme, but it’s perfectly doable. Do it right by providing value for your captives, and they’ll make you rich while you make them happy. Here are the three best ways go about it. Lists. An email list is still considered by many to be the ultimate system for making money online. Why?

    By: Alan King l Internet > Internet Marketing l Mar 25, 2009 l Views: 78

    Internet marketing can be a provider of a good and steady income to the person who knows what he or she is doing. But it’s not just about knowing what to do. It’s also about knowing what not to do. Listed below are 4 of the most common Internet marketing mistakes, as well as advice on how to correct them.

    By: Alan King l Internet > Internet Marketing l Mar 25, 2009 l Views: 35

    One of the best and most consistent ways to make money online is to build a strong email marketing list. List-building works in almost every niche. One of the reasons it’s so effective is because you pretty much have a captive audience for all of your email marketing messages.

    By: Alan King l Internet > Internet Marketing l Mar 24, 2009 l Views: 48

    One of the great things about affiliate marketing is that it’s a very low-cost, easy way to make money online. In fact, it’s easier today than it ever has been! At one point, if you wanted to start up an Internet business, you had to buy domain names an a hosting plan. And if your business really takes off, you’ll probably want to do that eventually. But you don’t have to right now.

    By: Alan King l Internet > Internet Marketing l Mar 24, 2009 l Views: 80

    Perhaps the most common question among those new to Internet marketing is, "Where do I start?" If you want something that’s easy to use, trusted by Google, loved by the search engines, and FREE, you can’t go wrong with a blog! Google trusts blogs. Google has trust issues with Internet marketers. This is unfortunate but understandable, since so many marketers make so many spammy, cruddy sites.

    By: Alan King l Internet > Internet Marketing l Mar 24, 2009 l Views: 20

    Paranormal Agency is a Typical Hidden Object Game. You Look for Hidden Objects in Order to Advance to the Next Level in the Game. in Paranormal Agency, the Hidden Objects Can Come in the Form of Outlines to Match, Words, or a Theme. the Themes Can be Anything From Light Sources to Ghosts.

    By: Alan King l Computers > Computer Games l Mar 16, 2009 l Views: 604

    Have You Ever Wondered Why People Play Games on Their Computer? Have You Seen or Heard People Talking About Hidden Object Games and Wondered Why Do They Bother? After All, Aren't Hidden Object Games for Kids? You Probably Have Given Your Own Kids Hidden Object Games to Keep Them Busy in the Car or at the Doctor's Office. Why on Earth Would You Want to Play Kiddy Games on the Computer? Better Yet, Why Would You Waste Your Time and Money Playing Them? I Will Give You One Good Reason.

    By: Alan King l Computers > Computer Games l Mar 16, 2009 l Views: 278

    Add new Comment

     
    * Required fields

    Comments on this article

    0
    1. Adam Rembert January 08, 2009
    Since Glucosamine is considered safe and has promising clinical study results, it would make sense to at least try it and see if you notice any significant difference in your joint pain.
    0
    2. Adam Rembert January 08, 2009
    We need to be practicing preventative joint health so we can enjoy life that much more.
    0
    3. Pain in Joints is Very Common January 14, 2009
    We need to be practicing preventative joint health so we can enjoy life that much more.
    0
    4. Adam Rembert January 15, 2009
    We need to be practicing preventative joint health so we can enjoy life that much more.
    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    0