Glucosamine and chondroitin are popular supplements often used for joint pain relief. While most of their evidence relates to arthritis, glucosamine and chondroitin have been used for pain relief for other diagnoses as well, including TMJ and degenerative disk disease. Both are available over the counter, there may be different dosage guidelines based on your condition.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Glucosamine and chondroitin are two substances that occur naturally in the body and contribute to the health of our joints. Glucosamine helps build cartilage, while chondroitin helps maintain and keep it lubricated for function. While we do produce both of these substances naturally, there is some evidence that taking them in supplement form may help control certain types of pain. Their main use has been for arthritis relief; however, these supplements may help decrease other related types of joint pain as well.
Pain Relief
The results for both glucosamine and chondroitin have been mixed when it comes to pain relief. However, they remain popular supplements. The Mayo Clinic gives both glucosamine and chondroitin an "A" grade based on the scientific evidence that they can manage some of the pain caused by osteoarthritis. Glucosamine has been studied as well for its role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, TMJ and knee injury rehabilitation; however results on its effects have not been completely clear. While joint pain seems to be the main pain control focus, chondroitin's effects on reducing muscle soreness due to inflammation has been studied and has been given a grade of "D" by MayoClinic.com. Both the dosage and the length of time for which glucosamine and chondroitin are used may play a role in whether or not they work.
Dosage Guidelines
Most of the arthritis studies reviewed by MayoClinic.com recommend 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine daily, either in one single dose or in three 500-milligram doses. They cite one study in which 2,000 milligrams was used for short-term treatment. Chondroitin's dosages vary a bit more. MayoClinic.com recommends between 200- and 400-milligram doses of the pill version of chondroitin two to three times a day, or a single dose of between 800 and 1,200 milligrams. The injectable form generally consists of 50 to 100 milligrams per day total, in one or more doses. The guidelines for dosage when it comes to other joint pain conditions are less clear.
Warnings
Per the University of Maryland Medical Center, you may need to take these supplements for several months for them to have any effect on knee arthritis pain; it could take between two and four months of steady glucosamine and chondroitin supplementation for optimal results. However, their guideline for glucosamine recommends a shorter-term course. UMMC recommends taking supplements for 30 to 90 days only, unless advised to do otherwise by a physician. Long-term effects of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are not clear, which may account for some of the variance in data.
