Glucosamine sulfate, a naturally occurring chemical in the human body, is found in fluid around joints. Glucosamine sulfate is used to treat various forms of arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage in your joints wears down gradually and may eventually result in serious health complications and the need for knee-replacement surgery.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis--the most common form of arthritis--can affect any joint in your body, but most commonly affects your hands, hips, knees, neck and lower back. The cartilage of the joint gradually wears down and eventually causes bones to rub against each other. Osteoarthritis worsens over time. Though no cure exists, properly treating this painful condition can help relieve symptoms and increase mobility.
Symptoms
People with osteoarthritis often suffer from pain in their joints during or after movement, tenderness during pressure, stiffness in the morning or after activity, or loss of range of motion. Osteoarthritic people may also feel a grating sensation in the affected joint or experience bone spurs--a symptom occurring when extra bits of bone form around the affected joint.
Causes and Risk Factors
The aging process, joint injury, joint stress, heredity, muscle weakness and obesity can all be factors in developing osteoarthritis. Women are more likely than men to develop osteoarthritis, and people who suffer from bone deformities or diseases--such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, Paget's disease of bone or septic arthritis--have a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Pain Relief from Glucosamine Sulfate
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, most research on glucosamine sulfate has been regarding its benefits on knee osteoarthritis, but some evidence also supports its benefits for osteoarthritis in the hip and spine. Although glucosamine sulfate may reduce the pain of osteoarthritis as well as drugs like Tylenol, Motrin and Advil, it takes longer. While these other over-the-counter drugs take about two weeks to start relieving associated pain, glucosamine sulfate may take as long as four to eight weeks.
Joint Maintenance
In addition to helping relieve pain, glucosamine sulfate may also slow the breakdown of joints when taken long term. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, some evidence shows that taking glucosamine sulfate may make patients less likely to need knee-replacement surgery as the condition worsens.
Tips and Precautions
Though glucosamine sulfate may be effective for people who suffer from osteoarthritis, it doesn't work for everyone. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, glucoasmine sulfate may not work well for people who suffer from severe osteoarthritis, or for older or more overweight patients. Side effects of Glucosamine Sulfate include nausea, heartburn, diarrhea and constipation. Uncommon side effects include drowsiness, skin reactions and headache.
