glucosamine-chondroitin - is it for you?

ACSH > Facts & Fears > February 23, 2006 offers their commentary on this study. In general, I can see where there may be usefulness in using GC for osteoarthritis in the knees, but it did NOT work for me.

I tried it many years ago and then stopped. It didn't seem to be working... then a medical doctor suggested I try it as an alternative to pain medications which have so many side effects that are almost as bad as the problem. I tried it for three months, using it as prescribed... I believe it was 3 times a day... and it's quite expensive even when purchased in the economy sized bottle at my favorite discount store.

Perhaps it works for some cases but not mine. Prescription pain medications helped the pain but did nothing for my knee joints which continued to deteriorate. A friend had total knee replacement surgery and it worked so well on her I had the same surgery on my knees. It has been over a year now for both knees - operated on three months apart end of 2004 and beginning 2005 - and I have not been so well in several years!

I guess I would still suggest you try GC if you are too young or don't want to have knee surgery. Sounds like it works for some people suffering from osteoarthritis.