Glucosamine has been salvation for my DH and me. When taking auto trips or sitting at my desk at the office for house, I could hardly get out of the of the car or the chair. So several years ago we started taking glucosamine daily and now can drive from home to Atlanta (7.5 hours) with no stiffness at the end of the trip. Or I can sit at my desk at the office for hours and get up without looking like I'm 90 years old. The problem I have had, as mentioned above, is getting the right brand. Since I have had some ineffective brands before, I asked the vitamin store manager if she knew for sure that her brand was effective before I bought a jumbo bottle. She was agitated that I questioned it. Well, it was totally ineffective so I took it back after using 3/4 of the supply. The store was in another town so it wasn't convenient but I wanted to take it back because of the manager's attitude. Well they took the bottle and said okay. No refund, no explanation, no recommendations, no apologiesÂzilch. I have had the best and quickest relief from Flexium. The problem with this brand is it's very expensive. Here is a link that might be useful: Good Stuff

Lori, my dear child! Let me tell you what it feels like at 83! LOL. And has been feeling like that more or less, off and on for about 60 years. (I was first diagnosed with arthritis when I was 23.) And getting worse all the time. I have not tried G/C. I have not tried the Gin and raisins, which by the way I think that idea came over on the Mayflower, it is so old. Don't do magnets, either. I've never believed any of those things would help. I could be wrong, but I've never known anyone who would vouch for them over the long run. I have tried a lot of things, including all the Nsaids; they all help, for a while, or until your stomach ulcers appear, or your liver goes screwey. or they are taken off the market, whichever comes first. I did water aerobics for 12-15 years, until just the going and doing was exhausting. I have had several rounds of physical therapy, including through the Pain Clinic. I've had both knees replaced, and yes, they still hurt sometimes. I have had the left elbow problem, which my Rheumo doc called "golfer's elbow." Never played golf. My spine? You don't even want to know. Cold weather? Horrible! I haven't even finished putting away my Christmas decorations, because they go in the garage and it is freezing out there, even though it is attached! We are up to a sizzling 32 right now. Golden years? I've said many times: My golden years turned out to be brass plated! Enough of, no, not complaining, just stating the facts. Even so I still insist that I'm going to live to be a hundred! It does beat the alternative. Stay warm as best you can. Sue

Hello all, I cant get enough of reading these blogs maybe looking for relief. Had my last period in November 2012 , started to get weakness in my legs and knee pains. I felt sharp shooting pains through my legs etc. Hot flushes for a few seconds. Sleep not too good. My body is tired just doesn't feel right . I had xrays on my knees, back some problems there but nothing to explain this great pain. Sciatic nerve problem too. Getting up out of bed standing on my legs is painful. There is an ache there all the time all day, mostly my legs from the knees down. I don't know what to do anymore.. I have read the whole blog and wrote down the names of a lot of the remedies that everyone has mentioned. But am really sick of taking supplements which I have been doing for years. I do Aqua gym 3 times a week, but with a foam belt on and in the deep so there is no pressure on my legs. I feel great in the water and the pain is less. I did a Doppler exam too thinking it might be because of Varicose veins..nothing there too to cause the pain. Just wanted to say my say..and share this with all of you and tell you all..I know exactly how you are feeling!! Its stinks... I'm 53 now was feeling 21 now feeling 70.

I stumbled on this topic and was so glad to see that I am not the only one who has struggled with this. I have been having issues for the past 3 years. My periods stopped almost exactly 2 years ago. I had gotten so bad in the past 6 months that I could not walk when I got out of bed in the morning and could barely walk after sitting for longer than 10 minutes. I finally found a combination of things that have been working for me. I hope it may help somebody else! I admit that my diet has been terrible. I've had a bad case of the "busys" and I have relied heavily on the "bag and box" convenience approach. I read that people who eat a lot of fast/convenience food have magnesium and potassium deficiencies--which affect muscles. I began eating a banana--sometimes with peanut butter for breakfast. I eat baked potatoes (with all the good stuff; even then it 's better for me than fast food!). I concentrated on getting food with real nutrients; particularly potassium. You can google and find lots of options. I began taking a magnesium supplement. I only take about 1/2 the therapeutic dose. Do some research and find out which formulations are best absorbed to avoid diarrhea. I found out that artificial sweeteners can have an affect on nerves over time. (I recalled working with a client in my past job who turned to drinking Listerine as a source of alcohol. It permanently damaged the muscles in his legs.) I have been a HEAVY diet coke drinker for decades. I limit the diet soda to one or two small bottles per week and I began drinking water. Lots of it. I bought a compact fold-up exercise bike so that I could get in non-weight bearing exercise. The treadmill just seemed to aggravate things, especially my foot that had begun swelling. The bike allows me to work my legs--releasing lactic acid build-up that can lead to tightness--without causing new problems. A rowing machine might work too. I do at least 30 minutes a day, sometimes breaking it up into two or three sessions. I like the bike because it is totally silent and I can stop for brief breaks. I watch TV while riding. (I've read that deep tissue massage is also excellent in releasing lactic acid build-up, but I haven't tried it.) I began taking vitamin D3 for muscles and bones. I began taking Krill oil to help with inflammation--and it's just plain good for the human body. On mornings when I am still feeling pretty tight by 9:00am or so, I take 600mg ibuprofen. Previously, this did nothing to help. Now, it makes all the difference. I can feel it within an hour and one dose is all I need for all day. It took about 6 weeks, but the difference has been amazing. My stiffness is not totally gone, but it is remarkably lower!!! I can stand up and loosen up in a few seconds.