Glucosamine

[wifeG]

I have encouraged my husband who is the RA sufferer to take daily glucosamine for the past 3 weeks and we have both noticed a dramatic difference in hi ability to walk up and down the stairs. He says that he isn't so stiff and his feet and ankles don't hurt so much. Has anyone else experienced such a quick effect as this from glucosamine. WifeG

[helixhelix]

There are all sorts of dietary things and supplements that seem to really make a difference to a few people, but not for the majority. I've tried loads in my time, including glucosamine which didn't do anything for me. Although if I fall off my healthy eating wagon (lots veg & fish and not too much fatty food etc) I really notice it as I feel rubbish. But if glucosamine works for your OH then brilliant, keep it up! Polly

[Hidden]

I found glucosamine made no difference to me but like Polly found healthy eating does help. Great news that your husband has found it so beneficial.

Paula x

[earthwitch]

From a quick bit of research it would seem that it is more likely to be useful in osteoarthritis than RA:

This article says it doesn't have anti-rheumatic effects (i.e. doesn't slow down the disease) but may have an effect on symptoms mayoclinic.com/health/gluco...

This is a blog by a pharmacist and says definitely NOT to take it for uncontrolled RA dearpharmacist.com/2012/12/...

And this is a medical journal paper that says the same as that first article (doesn't do anything for the disease but may improve symptoms a bit) ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/169...

My thinking on any kind of supplement is that if its cheap enough, its worth a try.

[wifeG in reply to earthwitch]

Thanks to all. I too have found it very strange. I know that he has OA in his knees but not in ankles and feet. Now it was 8 years ago he had similar symptoms which went after 2 years, t but for the last two years he has been diagnosed with RA. We were told that the original problem could have been a virus???? Who knows is going on? WifeG

[lyndah]

Hi there

I got diagnosed in June 2012 i introduced healthy eating and some suplements two one being glucosamine. I discussed this with my rhuemy and he said to stop glucosamine as this would not help my Ra. He said i could keep taking my evening primrose, ginger capsules, and fish oil supplements and multi vit but no multivit day i take my mtx as this has folic acid. As others have said he said this was beneficial for osteo. If it is helping though thats great. I hope your husband is keeping as well as he can. Take care and hope this helps. I wanted to reply as i had a conversation specific on that with my consultant xx

[minka]

the mor you read into this some people i understand it help some people it does nothing my freind has parkinsons and the hospital told him to take this

[sparkymac]

I was on glucosasmine for a few years and thought it did a lot of good. But I got to a point where, with the other medications I was taking for OA and RA that it caused, or contributed to bad constipation. Had some of medics dumped now, so I.m gonna try it again. It definitely worked though. My brother in Australia swears by it, and he's taking it for longer than I have. Hope it works for your husband. good luck.

[parkie]

Hi, am pleased that Glucosasmine's working for your husband, I was on Glucosasmine, but my Rhuemy Consultant told me to stop taking it as it wasn't benificial for my type of RA (Stills) and to take Rosehip capsules instead. Good luck Ann

[Neonkitty]

Boswellia. I would be interested to know if this is really safe to be taken in conjunction with DMARDs because I once took some Boswellia tablets from the health shop early on in my RA about fifteen years ago and my ESR went back to an absolute normal count and I had no stiffness and improved mobility ..... Great I thought .... but when I mentioned to my rheumatology nurse about this she told me stop immediately as they are powerful plant steroids and did not work in harmony with my Sulphasalazine. I did but this plant made me feel definitely better but she lectured me on the herbal aspect and how many things are not trialled in the same way as other prescribed drugs/DMARDs and other arthritis meds so she said it was a definite no no.

Neon Kitty

[Neonkitty]

Parkie, Do you have to take a really really high amount of Rosehip for it to make an effect?

Neon Kitty

[Hidden]

I'm not sure about this but I think I read somewhere that Glucosamine can impact on the liver? My sister was advised to come off shellfish when she had a bad liver for a while as they said she must stop eating shellfish and cod liver oil (isn't that what Glucosomine is?). So I've presumed that if you are on MTX then it's best to avoid these supplements - also expensive so want to be sure they are working. If not taking any DMARDs then I don't see the harm at all though. Tilda

[Victoria-NRAS Partner Moderator NRAS]

Hi all

If you've not seen this report by ARUK it may be of interest. It looks at some of the complemetary therapies that have been commonly used for OA, RA and fibromyalia, and includes information on glucosamine, rosehip and other supplements:

arthritisresearchuk.org/art...

Kind regards

Victoria

(NRAS Helpline)