Last updated 17/03/2020 by The pain clinics - Interdisciplinary Health

Glucosamine sulfate against wear, osteoarthritis, pain and symptoms due to these.

Glucosamine sulfate is a preparation that is sold both on and without a prescription in Norway. Glucosamine is part of the proteoglycan skeleton of the articular cartilage, and can be used in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, hip, wrist, ankles and other joints.

Osteoarthritis is the term used when it comes to the degradation of cartilage in one or more joints, often called "osteoarthritis". This can occur naturally as the person gets older, but it can also occur more frequently after an injury in the area, for example after a traumatic knee injury or the like.

How does glucosamine sulfate work?

Glucosamine should ideally prevent further breakdown of articular cartilage and help prevent some of the symptoms that can occur due to osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, the evidence disagrees a bit as to whether it actually does this. Studies have shown that around 20% of glucosamine sulphate taken orally is present in the synovial synovial fluid when checked.

Lack of evidence?

A major study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2006 showed that glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and celecoxib did not have a statistically significant effect on the treatment of pain due to knee arthrosis - but that glucosamine in combination with chondroitin sulfate could be effective for those with moderate wear and tear.

The conclusion was:

“Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate alone or in combination did not reduce pain effectively in the overall group of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Exploratory analyzes suggest that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may be effective in the subgroup of patients with moderate-to-severe knee pain. "

A statistically significant improvement of 79% (in other words, 8 out of 10 improved) was seen in the group of moderate to severe (moderate-to-severe) knee pain due to osteoarthritis, but unfortunately this was of little importance when the results of this study were published. in the media. Among other things, the study was mentioned in the Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association 9/06 under the heading "Glucosamine has no effect on osteoarthritis", although it had a statistically significant effect on a subgroup in the study. One can question whether the author of the article had only relied on the articles in the daily press or read only half the study conclusion. Here is the evidence that glucosamine in combination with chondroitin sulfate has a statistically significant effect compared to placebo:

Glucosamine study

Explanation: In the third column we see the effect of glucosamine + chondroitin in combination versus the effect of placebo (sugar pills). The effect is significant as the dash (bottom of the third column) does not cross 1.0 - if it had crossed 1 this indicates zero statistical significance and the result is thus invalid.

We see that this is not the case with the combination glucosamine + chondroitin in the treatment of knee pain within the subgroup with moderate to severe pain, and questions why this has not been given more focus in relevant journals and daily press.

Glucosamine sulfate side effects:

There are no major side effects for the use of glucosamine sulfate as shown by a study by Felson (2006). They are said to be the same as for placebo (sugar pills), only headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, rash, redness and itching were described in a few patients.

What can I do even against pain in muscles, nerves and joints?

1. General exercise, specific exercise, stretching and activity are recommended, but stay within the pain limit. Two walks a day of 20-40 minutes make good for the whole body and sore muscles.

2. Trigger point / massage balls we strongly recommend - they come in different sizes so you can hit well even on all parts of the body. There is no better self help than this! We recommend the following (click the image below) - which is a complete set of 5 trigger point / massage balls in different sizes:

3. Training: Specific training with training tricks of various opponents (such as this complete set of 6 knits of different resistance) can help you train strength and function. Knit training often involves more specific training, which in turn can lead to more effective injury prevention and pain reduction.

4. Pain Relief - Cooling: Biofreeze is a natural product that can relieve pain by cooling the area gently. Cooling is especially recommended when the pain is very severe. When they have calmed down then heat treatment is recommended - it is therefore advisable to have both cooling and heating available.

5. Pain Relief - Heating: Warming up tight muscles can increase blood circulation and reduce pain. We recommend the following reusable hot / cold gasket (click here to read more about it) - which can be used both for cooling (can be frozen) and for heating (can be heated in the microwave).

6. Prevention and healing: Compression noise like that like this can increase blood circulation to the affected area, thereby speeding up the natural healing of injured or worn muscles and tendons.

Recommended products for pain relief in pain

Biofreeze (Cold / cryotherapy)

References:

Clegg DO, Save the DJ, Harris CL, Small MA, O'Dell JR, Hooper MM, Bradley JD, Bingham CO 3rd, Weisman MH, Jackson CG, Lane NE, Cush JJ, Moreland LW, Schumacher HR Jr, Oddi's CV, Wolfe F, Molitor YES, Yocum DE, Schnitzer TJ, Prince DE, Sawitzke AD, Shi H, Brand KD, Moskowitz RW, Williams HJ. Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and the two in combination for painful knee osteoarthritis. N Engl J Med. 2006 Feb 23;354(8):795-808.

Dietary Supplements. US Food and Drug Administration.Retrieved December 10, 2009.

Felson DT. Clinical practice. Osteoarthritis of the knee. N Engl J Med. 2006; 354: 841-8. [PubMed]

Related issues:
- Self-treatment of knee pain and osteoarthritis - with electrotherapy.

- Prevention and training of ACL / anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

- Sore knee?