Kirkland Signature Glucosamine HCI 1500mg Chondroitin Sulfate 1200mg 220 Tablets/New Increased Count

(See my UPDATE at the end)I've been hearing about this product for years and never thought it had anything to do with me. But I've been suffering from terrible lower back pain for the last couple of years. Sometimes I throw my back out and can hardly walk - for days. In between those times, my back can get really stiff. When I get up in the mornings I can barely move until I lean against the wall and twist around slowly for a few seconds to loosen things up. And during the days I have to be really careful not to get into a position that will throw it out. Sometimes I'll turn and suddenly I'll feel a bad pain and I've learned I have to stop moving immediately at that point - and slowly turn back and work it out before I can move freely again.But that's not what I went to the doctor about a month and a half ago. I went to the doctor for the crick in my knee. When I bend my right knee it actually makes a noise! That couldn't be good I thought, better go to the doctor about that. I figured there was no point in mentioning my back - what could they do anyway?So he suggested I take Chondroitin with Glucosamine. I asked him how I would know if it was working and he said the sound will go away in your knee. But it'll take 2-3 months to begin to work, he said.Well, after about a month and a half there's still the sound in my knee, but about a week and a half ago I got out of bed one day and was pretty shocked when suddenly I realized I had no pain or stiffness in my back!!!I thought it couldn't be true and eagerly waited until the next morning to see if it would happen again. I mean, to see if -nothing- would happen again. And it did! Or it didn't - whichever way you wanna look at it. There was no pain or stiffness the second day. Now a week and a half later - still - nothing. No pain or stiffness when I get up. And the frequency and severity of the pain during the day has gone away about 90%!I'm so excited - I had no idea this would do anything for my back! But apparently it has. When he told me to take this I scoffed. I said I hear that advertised on the radio all the time - it can't be any good. I took it reluctantly but promised him I'd take it for at least a month and just see. Well, now I've seen! And I couldn't be happier.Now that I've gone almost two weeks with little to no back pain I'm realizing how bad it really was. It had happened so gradually and over such a long period of time (3-4 years) that I didn't realize how bad it had gotten, I had gotten so used to it. I had totally forgotten that it's not normal to not be able to move at all when you first get up! It's amazing what our minds can adjust to, and forget.If the pain comes back, or the crick in the knee goes away, I'll post an update.UPDATE 4/16/2012: I'm happy to report that the back pain hasn't returned. I would say it's 99.99% better! I would give it 100% but a few days ago I had a little incident with my back (very minor) lasting about a minute where I felt that old pain when I twisted the wrong way. But I was able to straighten it out and it hasn't recurred since.So, for the last two months I've only had one incident. I used to have several each day. So that's about as close to 100% better as you can get.As for the crick in the knee - it's still there. Still makes a sound. But it has never caused any pain and still doesn't so I'm okay with it. I want to say the sound is a little less loud than it used to be but that could just be my imagination. My rule was to only report if the sound went away completely. That way there could be no mistake.By the way, when the doctor first told me to use this he told me to take 3 a day - 6 hours apart. He said the point was to keep it steadily in your bloodstream all day long. So taking 3 a day all at once won't help. Spread it out throughout the day and it'll work much better.

I have been taking Glucosamine 1500mg for about 25 years, I think, usually with the Chondroitin in it because I read that that is the best combination. No one seems to know WHY it works, and it doesn't work for everyone, but it works for me. I have had bad knees since I was in my early 20's. I stopped riding a bike because my knees would swell up like balloons afterward. Now I ride the stationary bike at the gym with no problem.Three years ago an orthopedist told me I'd need a knee replacement on my right knee within 5 years because there's not much cartilidge left, but so far I have only a twinge now and then. I wouldn't go mountain climbing, but I've gone on long walks of several miles on trails and been on my feet all day and my knee has been fine. But here's the thing -- I was sent to the orthopedist because my knee was acting up A LOT. At times it was even tender to touch. I was really afraid it would be all downhill from there. Then I realized that I had switched brands of Glucosamine, and in doing so I had unwittingly been taking half of my usual dose for a few weeks. I change brands all the time, just to get the best buy because the stuff isn't cheap! It all works, as long as the dose is right. So anyway, I increased the dose back up to the 1500mg, and within a week my knee was okay again!From what I've read, most people can reduce the dose after the Glucosamine has started to work. I can't. I think the only reason my knee even gives me that twinge now and then is that I twist it on my steep driveway when I'm in a hurry. The Glucosamine really works for me. It's on sale pretty often in the drug stores -- buy one get one free -- and there are some pretty good deals at online drug stores sometimes, but this is a good price if you don't want to shop around to save a bit. I've been using Kirklands for a while now. I've ordered a couple at Amazon and I've bought it at Costco too.Bottom line -- I LOVE Glucosamine Chondroitin because it keeps me pain-free. I'm giving this 5 stars because it's a product that works and this is a good price.

Dr. recommended but I really can't say if it actually works because I can't compare it to myself over a long period of time. Maybe? There are no rigorous peer reviewed scientific studies to back up any claims. I guess if you are on a budget you can leave this one off your list of must-have products.