Glucosamine, Vitamin C for back injury - Vitamins & Supplements Message Board

Kari7171 · 04-02-2005, 10:57 AM

Does anyone have any experience with this? I read it is supposed to help in cartilage growth and lubricate the joints. I have a back injury and wonder if it would help my back heal. I know I have read that Vitamin C is very important for healing. That how fast we heal is directly proportional to how much Vitamin C the body has available. Has anyone else heard that?

mellowfish · 04-02-2005, 03:34 PM

Hi Kari,

I just sprained my back last Saturday so I started taking a liquid supplement containing Glucosamine/Chondroiton/MSM to help speed the healing. Besides being good for your joints, this stuff is also supposed to help your body build connective tissue.

I've never hurt my back before so this has been a frightning experience for me. I also like working out and lifting weights, so the gym is off limits until I am fully healed

This is also my first sprain, but it seems to be healing very quickly (I'll know for sure when I go back to school on Monday and sit in one of those old ergonomically designed desks

) I've also been seeing a good chiropractor since this happened. I am sure the adjustments and massages are increasing circulation to the injured area which is speeding up the healing as well, I am well pleased with the improvement.

As far as the vitamin C goes, I know it is necessary for the absorption/assimilation of minerals and other nutrients. Excess amounts of vitamin C that are consumed and not able to be used by the body bind to toxins, heavy metals, excess minerals, and other things in the bloodstream that do not belong in the body, which then is filtered by the kidneys into urine so it can be excreted from the body (so when you hear people say there is no point in taking large doses of "C" because you only "pee it out", that is partially true-- it is not without benefits). This is the reason why megadosing with vitamin C is suggested for many different causes. Regards.

Kari7171 · 04-02-2005, 03:55 PM

Yeah mine has been pretty frightening also. I actually have disc damage. They say in 90% of cases it heals within 6 months. I know I sprained it also. It's been two months now and I am making progress but I still have good days and bad days. Mine was actually so bad 6 weeks ago I could not walk on my own. This lasted for a week. I had to have my husband come home from work to bring me to the bathroom. It was very scary. I know how you feel when it comes to back injuries being frightening. Really take it easy with the weights. Don't try to start up too soon. I was into lifting weights for 9 years and had hurt my back. I did not wait long enough to start lifting again and I hurt it all over again. That was many many years ago. I learned the hard way that you really need to take it easy with the weights sometimes. I haven't been into weights for about 5 years now. I was about to start my routine up again but I hurt my back before I got the chance to even lift weights. I'll have to get me some of that glucosamine. When you started taking it did you notice a difference in the pain level that you had?

Kari7171 · 04-02-2005, 04:01 PM

Can you describe the adjustments you have been getting from the Chiropractor? I am afraid to go to one because I had one make me worse one time. I might benefit if I went to one that knew what they were doing though.

mellowfish · 04-02-2005, 04:14 PM

My gosh, I'd be scared out of my mind if I got an injury half as bad as yours! May you continue to have strength as you work through this!

Honestly there really wasn't a lot of pain when I got my sprain, just the initial nasty twinge when the injury occurred. Sometimes when I was sleeping and turned wrong or sitting/bending a certain way I would get these "spasms" like, but other than that it was a constant, dull ache that burned a little bit.

I started taking the Glucosamine/Chondroiton/MSM on that Sat. night, just a few hours after the sprain occurred. I used ice off and on the first few days. After three days (and day 1 of chiro) there were no more "spasms", just kind of a tight feeling in that area. Now, after a week, I feel almost completely normal. It could be the supplement and/or the chiro, maybe not, but I feel better so I'm not concerned one way or another.

It can take a long time for ligaments (and other tissues) to heal, especially in your back. Nearly all we do uses our back, which makes it difficult to stop everything so we can experience a total recovery.