MSM-For Joint Relief

[tzan]

I'm almost done with my cycle and my elbow joints, and my lower back are killing me. I bought some gluclusomene and I'm going to buy some msm today in hopes of healing me a bit. For those who have used msm: What dosage did you start at, and when and how much did you go up to?? I know if you take too much in the beggining you get sick. Please refer dosages in GRAMS.
Thanks

 

[THeMaCHinE]

MSM is an anti-inflammatory; it won't do anything to heal you -- it may work against you as inflammation is necessary to the healing process. It is essentially expensive aspirin.

If you are using glucosamine, make sure it is of the sulfate variety; not HCL or N-Acetyl. Use glucosamine a 2 grams 1x per day.

You would also do well to stack it with chondroitin sulfate as chondroitin works through a different biological pathway and seems to be as, or more, effective than glucosamine (even with a low bioavailability of 14 percent). Chondroitin at 1.5 grams 1x per day.

Niacinamide is also helpful to the healing process. 250 mg 4x day.

Hydrolyzed collagen is helpful at 10 grams 1x/day.

If your damage is not too severe, it will take 6-8 weeks to really notice these compounds working. You must be careful to rehab, not continue to pound, the afflicted joints as well.

There are other things out there that might offer benefit, but in my book, these are the top 4 (OTC supplements) if your joints aren't damaged beyond repair.

 

[The Terminator]

I started at 6 grams a day for the first week or so, then up to 9 and that worked quite well. Eventually after toying with the dosages for months I came to realize that 12-16 grams a day is optimum for me.

 

[riskybizz007]

I thought Glucosamine HCL is better than the other versions, it's more pure.

As far as MSM I can say that it has helped a great deal at 2g/day

 

[drgoodbody]

I use...

1500mg MSM
1500mg Chondroitin
1500mg Glucosamine sulfate

Everyday and it does give me some benefit, although nothing helps more than giving myself at least 1 weeks rest before reworking the same joints with any serious weight.

DrG

 

[THeMaCHinE]

Glucosamine HCL is a larger molecule; it is not as bioavailable.

MSM will make you feel better, but it won't do anything to heal you (unless reducing inflammation is helpful in your particular case -- which it isn't in most cases).