Back injury / glucosamine sulphate

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: John J
Date: 12 Mar 02 - 07:44 AM

Thanks for all your very informative and most interesting replies.

Gypsy: re your comments on sciatica not being reduced by taking glucosamine sulphate. I wouldn't expect glucosamine sulphate to touch sciatica, but perhaps it would help reduce the cause of the sciatica. I use the Robin McKenzie exercises, I have 'Treat you own back', a very good book.

John Hardly: Your comment are very interesting, particularly regarding massage. I went to a sports therapist recently. she said a lot of my pain was caused by my UPPER back being in spasm ('like an eleastic band'). Massage helped a bit, but at that point the injury itself was the main pain.

I'm going to go through all your comments and I'll post more specific replies later today.

Thanks once again for your replies, at least you've all given me some hope that this pain may one day subside and that running can once again be taken seriously.

Cheers,

John

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: ddw
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 10:02 PM

John,

I've been using glucosamine sulfate and condroitin sulfate in combination for quite a while and find it works wonders for my arthritic hands, elbows and knees. But I also have some disk degeneration on my spine and occasionally have a round with sciatica from that. The GS/CS will lubricate and and rebuild joints, but do nothing to regenerate disks or relieve the pressure on the nerve that causes sciatica.

A very simple thing I do — which several other people have tried and all agreeded it helped — is just find a playground bar (or even the floor above as you're going down some steps) and hang like you're going to do chin-ups.

I find it stretches my back and takes the pressure off the sciatic nerve.

good luck,

david

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: GUEST,Martin Nearing
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 09:51 PM

Glucosamine(500Mils)should be taken with(400mils)of chondroitin sulfate to work.You can buy it mixed in one capsule.It worked for my sciatica and as previously stated ,makes your cartilege grow faster than you wear them out.If you have Rheumatoid Arthritis here is my cure.1000 mils.flax seed oil...50 mils. zink...1000 mils MSM(this is the newest wonder Element and causes no harm as its natural).I also take Cal-Mag with vitamin D.Must have vitamin D in order for body to absorb the Magnesium.About 15 months ago I got arthritis in both knees so bad I couldnt sleep and 1 week after taking the above herbs and vitamins I was fine.

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: John Hardly
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 09:05 PM

John,
A topic dear to my heart. I'm a runner too and I currently depend on Glucosamine to keep me on the road. I have torn cartilage in my knee and have to this point avoided surgery. I'm back to four mile runs after about 2 months of complete inability to run. A few thoughts from my own experience and research;

1.Glucosamine will not grow new cartilage.
2.You may find that it will honestly take a month of steadily taking it before you feel any benefits. This was my experience. As an interesting aside, I also have shoulders that are so bad I rarely was able to sleep through the night. When I play guitar for a half hour or more my shoulder pain would nearly bring tears to my eyes (great when I'm playing for someone -- they assume I'm "into" the sad ones). Anyway, the glucosamine I was taking for my knee has almost completely aleviated my shoulder pain.
3. Chondroitin(sp) as an addition is non-effective as it passes through the body too fast to be metablized. It only adds unnecessary cost to the glucosamine -- buy the glucosamine by itself.
4. Take MSM with the glucosamine -- I do it 'cause my wife tells me to and I always listen to her.
5. Speaking of my wife -- she was layed up from running with back pain similar to yours. She is a runner -- seriously! -- she has sub 39 min 10K and sub 20 min 5K times. After years of consulting numerous orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists, the best results she ever had was from deep massage and acupuncture.

Good luck. I do think it's worth a try -- it has been for me.

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: Ian Darby
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 08:23 PM

Dear John.

Never thought I'd write a 'Dear John' letter.

I believe Picnogynol (probably spelt it wrong) is very good for repairing damaged cartilage etc, it might be worth a try.

Also, have a word with Bernard at the place where our kid gets his vitamins and supplements from.

He's got loads of info on this kind of thing, he won't steer you wrong, and you'll get a discount if you tell him we sent you.

Give me a ring if you want any more info.

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: harpgirl
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 04:48 PM

...at Will McLean Fest this weekend a lady told me she had terrible sciatica and that acupressure and other combinations of holistic medicine helped her more than all the pain medicine from allopathic physicians...

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: GUEST,native
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 04:42 PM

I believe that coumadin is good for Arthitis,you need a doc prescriphion and his concent

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: Morticia
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 12:02 PM

John, I have a degenerative back condition( facet joint syndrome) and did try Glucosamine.......didn't find it helped all that much. I don't know what you do for a living but beware the Office Chair.......them wee beasties , if set up badly, can do an awful lot of damage.Get a work station assessment from your company, if appropriate, don't sit for long periods of time,take gentle exercise although swimming is one you should be a little careful of if you tend to do breast stroke as that arches your back in an unnatural way ( well, it does mine, anyway).

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: Gypsy
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 11:41 AM

Glucosamine rebuilds cartelidge. We often recommend it in the chiropractic office i work in. However, i don't think it will be particularly efficacious for sciatica...that is a different problem. I would try chiropractic, and excercise for that. "How to treat your own Back" by Robin MacKenzie has specific excercises for sciatica. Also, look at your shoes, are there lumps? Carry your wallet in your back pocket? QUIT it! especially if driving, it will tilt your pelvis and mess up that sciatic nerve.

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 09:55 AM

Glucosamine sulphate for arthritis is helpful only for osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, although it has a similar name, is another thing entirely.

I have some osteoarthritis problems with my hips, and GS has been a real help.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: kendall
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 09:20 AM

G.S. has made a big difference in my life. Went from constant joint pain to mild discomfort.

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: John J
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 09:07 AM

Thanks John, I'll try Superdrug. Are you aware of the specific benefits that you get from glucosamine sulphate? ie what it actually does.

Nutty: I take cod liver oil also, and have done for some years. Your back problems sound similar to the description my doctor gave me for my back. I do a bit of swimming, but I find I can't do too much because of the pain. I managed 3.5 lengths last week; I would normally swim 30-409 lengths.

I wonder if this will ever get better.

Thanks,

John

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: nutty
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 07:04 AM

Unfortunately Glucosamine Sulphate didn't work for me ....I felt no benefit at all but a daily Cod liver Oil tablet does keep these old bones (rheumatoid arthritis) moving.
I also have a back problem (degeneration of the spine) and find aqaua-fit (exercising in deep water) gives a tremendous amount of relief, without putting any pressure on my back ....... there are sessions at most swimmimg pools/leisure centres.
Also regular swimming can be of great benefit.

Subject: RE: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: GUEST,john from Hull
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 04:52 AM

Hi John, i take Glucosamine Sulphate for knee problems (I have arthritis in my knees) i started taking it last winter and it made a big difference, the pain is still there but not as severe, I don't need to take as much Nurufen as I used to.I get my Glucosamine Sulphate from Superdrug, have a look if there is a branch near you (it is a lot cheaper than the local pharmacit).john

Subject: Back injury / glucosamine sulphate
From: John J at home
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 04:31 AM

Sorry but this is non-musical.

As one or two of my Mudcat friends already know, I have a problem with running (I like doing it).

This has caused a lower back injury resulting in sciatica. I'm due a course of treatment at the local physiotherapy dept, but as this is a recurring problem I really need some impartial and informed advice.

Where better to ask for advice than the Mudcat.

This episode is far more painful and longer lasting than any previous ones. I exercise gently, following recognised physio-type exercises. I rest a lot although I'm not too good at that, the pain makes me rest.

I take Ibruprofen and I have just started taking glucosamine sulphate to help the injury repair.

There is a very limited amount of non-commercial (and therefore quite biased) information available on the web regarding the use and benefits of this supplement.

Is anybody out there in Mudcatland able to advise? Any help or advice on back problems would be more than welcome.

Thanks loads,

John