I'm a 44 year-old man, and I've been dealing with Osteoarthritis (OA or degenerative arthritis) for more than 10 years now. For me, OA has attacked my hips the hardest. My mom and grandmother have both had multiple joint replacement surgeries. When I found out that I have OA, I wanted to do whatever I could to slow down the degeneration process. For years I've been taking a product that is an all natural formula with glucosamine and chondroitin. Are there any long-term studies on the potential side-affects of these products? I have been taking a herbal supplement called Flexoprin for awhile and i have more flexibility and less pain nowadays. Since herbal supplements are all natural with no side effects i take it with my regular medication.
Not all natural herbal supplements are without side effects...St. John's wort, for instance, can alter your reaction to anti-depressants -- so it's always good to search for interactions and treat herbal remedies like drugs. that said, glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM supplements have a good track record and no known side effects unless you're allergic to shellfish.
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