Arthritis Pain Relief Using Glucosamine - Does It Work?

If you've been looking for relief from the pain of arthritis, you'll know that there are no end of people willing to sell you a "miracle cure". It's no wonder that many people become skeptical. But have you heard the claims being made for glucosamine? Here we investigate whether this could be a product worth trying.

Glucosamine is a product that is naturally produced by the human body. It is also found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans (crab and shrimp-like creatures). It is claimed to have a role in the rebuilding of cartilage, which is the substance that surrounds the ends of bones in a joint.

In osteoarthritis the cartilage protecting the ends of the bones in a joint becomes thinner, as part of a degenerative 'wear and tear' process. This can readily be demonstrated on X-rays of an arthritic joint. This process can lead to inflammation with resulting pain and lose of full movement.

The typical drugs that are often used as a first line treatment for osteoarthritis will deal with the symptoms but not the underlying causes. They aim to reduce the inflammation and to control the amount of pain.

So how is arthritis pain relief with glucosamine different? It is believed that glucosamine works by getting to the root of the problem. By helping to repair the cartilage in the joint, there should be a resultant reduction in inflammation and also in pain and discomfort for the patient.

There has been a number of scientific studies carried out to examine the effect of glucosamine under controlled conditions. A number of these have had very positive results with patients reporting a reduction in symptoms. It seems to work particularly well in cases of mild to moderate arthritis.

If you are interested in trying out glucosamine, ensure that you are using a good quality source from a reputable supplier. The generally recommended amount to take is 1500mg a day. This has been shown to be effective in patient studies. Taking a tablet that also contains chondroitin increases the effectiveness of the product.

Unlike many herbal supplements, there is some evidence that glucosamine can achieve arthritis pain relief. It is widely available in easy to swallow capsules from health food shops and online suppliers.