I've been taking the glucosamine stuff myself for a few weeks now, due to a major messup of my left arm which is combined shoulder and elbow damage (not fom playing, it was yanking too hard on a chainsaw pullcord.)

My better half who is in fact a health food store promotions manager told me to take it as a general "thickener" for the fluids surrounding all those ball-and-socket joints that start screwing up when you're my age (43). And my hospital physiotherapist said it was very popular and quite possibly effective.

Its worth a try say I--not a doctor either--whats a couple more large pills a day? But a quick fix its not.

Good luck with it.

Bill