The Short Answer
In short, yes, glucosamine chondroitin works for hip pain, but only to an extent. The combination of glucosamine and chondroitin may help to slightly reduce inflammation, which in turn reduces hip pain and joint pain in general. However, the results of studies have been mixed. Some evidence shows minor improvements in arthritis symptoms in people who take glucosamine chondroitin, while other evidence shows no results. As with any supplement, your mileage may vary. As they’re both safe and commonly used compounds, you can try glucosamine chondroitin for yourself to see how they will work for you.
Glucosamine for Pain/Inflammation
There are many studies on the effectiveness of glucosamine in treating arthritis and osteoarthritis, but there is not enough evidence to support its use in these conditions. There are mixed results on the effectiveness of glucosamine on osteoarthritis of the knee and hip.
The best evidence we have points to a small benefit from glucosamine sulfate on pain relief in those with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis, though this may not be clinically significant.
But how does glucosamine help with pain? One of the ways is by potentially increasing the synthesis of a compound called hyaluronic acid, which is an important part of the joint tissue and decreases pain by increasing cushioning. It also combats inflammation by reducing the production of certain compounds that cause pain and swelling. In addition, glucosamine promotes cartilage repair. This is helpful if you have long-term joint damage or are experiencing loss of joint mobility after decades of chronic joint tissue breakdown.
Side effects with glucosamine are rare. Most people use glucosamine to treat their chronic joint pain. That said, there are some exceptions. Some people use glucosamine to help with weight loss. In that case, you might experience some side effects such as stomach upset, nausea and diarrhea.
If these symptoms become intolerable, you should stop taking it. People who’re taking medications that affect the stomach, like some antibiotics and anti-seizure medications, should talk to their doctors before taking glucosamine.
The most common side effects of taking glucosamine are minor symptoms like diarrhea or constipation. These usually resolve quickly with time and treatment.
You may also experience a headache, nausea or stomach ache as a result of taking glucosamine if you’re particularly sensitive. Again, these side effects only occur in an extremely small number of people, and they usually resolve quickly.
Chondroitin for Pain/Inflammation
Chondroitin is a type of sugar that is found in cartilage. It is usually taken as a supplement for people who are experiencing joint pain. The supplement may be able to provide relief from some types of arthritis and other joint conditions. There are many different types of chondroitin supplements on the market, but they all have the same active ingredient: chondroitin sulfate.
Chondroitin sulfate is found in cartilage, and most commonly taken as a supplement for people with joint pain due to osteoarthritis. Some brands will also add glucosamine and MSM to their products, which may provide additional benefits. Chondroitin can be taken in pill form or as a cream that can be applied directly to the skin. It’s important to talk with your doctor before using any new supplements because it could interact with medications or other treatments you’re currently taking.
The effects on chondroitin on joint pain are mostly anecdotal, but some evidence suggests that chondroitin may be helpful for people who experience joint pain due to osteoarthritis. This includes hip pain which is often experienced alongside other symptoms such as pain in the knee, lower back, or neck.
In a trial of people with knee osteoarthritis, those who took three grams of chondroitin combined with glucosamine experienced less pain than those who received only glucosamine. However, this study was small and most participants did not improve at all on chondroitin alone.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Hip Pain – Does it Work?
The combination of glucosamine and chondroitin is a popular treatment for people who have osteoarthritis or hip pain. The two supplements work together to reduce inflammation, repair cartilage, and ease pain. They can even help with the trigger finger to an extent.
The specific inflammatory pathways that they affect include keratinocyte migration and proliferation, cytokine production, and prostaglandin release. Chondroitin sulfate is believed to work by binding to the receptors of cells in cartilage and stimulating the release of molecules that relax their tension. This in turn increases their ability to deform without pain. By increasing this response, it allows more room for incoming healing cells to accumulate and aid in repair processes.
As you can see, the theory is that glucosamine chondroitin works by reducing inflammation and stimulating the growth of new cartilage. The key word here is theory, though. There is not enough evidence to support this theory. There are some promising results but we’ll need more study reviews to confirm these findings.
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