Is Glucosamine useless?

[4Maddie44]

In the British news today it says that taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin was no better than a placebo for pain of arthritis.  Now I take not for pain relief, but because I thought it helped keep our joints supple and not dried out.  Only last week the physiotherapist who was treating me at my local hospital told me to take 1500mg a day.

I thought it was something that acted as a building block for cartilage in our joints.  I assumed it would help in the long term.  For pain, I thought pain killers prescribed by doctors for arthritis was the answer.

Has anyone had a doctor tell them to take glucosamine for arthritic pain?

[4Maddie44]

The point was in this news article, that it is a waste of time take glucosomine and chondroitin.   It says has no effect on arthritis.  Yet I am taking it because I was told it would help.  I cannot take NSAIDS because of internal bleeding.  Are we wasting time and money taking glucosomine??

[GettingOlder]

Glucosamine is commonly taken in combination with chondroitin, a glycosaminoglycan derived from articular cartilage. Use of complementary therapies, including glucosamine, is common in patients with osteoarthritis, and may allow for reduced doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.