I'm 37 and was diagnosed with grade 4+ osteoarthritis 4 years ago. I've had surgery on both knees, lateral release and debridment,which will need to be repeated every 4 to 5 years. My orthopedic surgeon suggested Glucosamine and Chondroitin, save the 'hard' drugs for when the pain gets really bad. I've been taking Glucosamine Sulphate, 500mgs, and Chondroiton Sulphate, 300mgs, and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) 1000mgs, twice a day for the last 2 years. I have found them to be a good daily alternative to Celebrex, which greatly upset my stomach. I find that these drugs help to maintain the fluid in the joints, which allows me to maintain my mobility. There are some days though when I do need to take an analgesic, usually Ibuprofen 200mgs every 4 hours.
Prior to taking these drugs I had great difficulty getting out of bed in the morning. All my joints would be stiff and would crack and pop while moving, it was rather painful. Now, this cracking and popping occurs much less. Initially the drugs upset my stomach, so now I take them with breakfast and supper with no problem. The MSM has made my skin oily and my hair and nails grow quickly, it also helps to keep you regular.
I find that purchasing each drug separately allows for a greater flexibility in dosage, as apposed to buying a joint formula containing 2 or more drugs. Also, stick to the same brand, I use Swiss Natural Sources,White bottle with a yellow label. I do find that some brands are inconsistent in drug purity and what they mix the drug with varies.
Hope this helped,
Shelly
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Glucosamine Chondroitin 
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