Collagen supplements?

[CBLindsay]

So...My wife's mom recently informed us that she began taking a collagen supplement for her skin (she lives in the hot, dry Arizona desert and has been complaining about her skin itching) and after taking it for some period of time she noticed her chronic back pain had improved. Her back pain has been something her doctor could offer no real solutions to although he did suggest several treatmetns that ultimately brought no releif. Impressed and happy about the releif she recomended the same supplements to my wife's brother who has a ton of residual joint and muscle pain from some injuries incurred from an automobile accident. HE reported some improvement as well. Funny enough she never mentioned whether the supplements helped her skin.

Having not found any releif for my chronic/worsening neck/berve pain caused by disc collapsing and nerve impingement the idea that collagen supplements might help is interesting. Since my pain is apparently a result of disc collapsing/degrading and arthritic changes that the Dr says "is normal for men my age", it seems reasonable to draw a conclusion that if collagen supplements have the ability to improve disc/joint health I might find some relief from taking collagen...or at a minimum I might prevent or slow further degredation of the discs and prevent new or worsening issues. It should come as no surprise that the doctors I have spoken to about my neck/nerve pain that when I ask specifically about "drugs" that might help treat the disc issues and/or the resulting arthritis and nerve impingement they have all said there is nothing they can suggest. I have another visit scheduled with another specialist next month (its taken 4 months to get this appointment) and I will definately be asking this doc about collagen supplements.

In the mean time my wife and I have decided to start taking a "multi-collagen" supplement in hopes it results in improvement or relief. While the concept that somehow improving my body's ability to produce collagen might lead to improved joint and disc health, which might lessen the nerve impingement that vexes me so...I am somewhat skeptacle about whether consuming collagen will stimulate or improve my body's own collagen production. Alas, with minimal downside and a very desirable up side I am taking the plunge. I will hold off mentioning the brand/type of supplement I purchased (it wasn't top dollar) until i have an oppinion to share. I will also bring up Collagen supplements and its possible benefits with my concierge doctor next week, she has proven to be rather skilled in such things (she recommended some herbal/natural supplements that have allowed me to stop taking most of my prescription meds).

So I ask... Have any of my fellow Cadre memebers taken collagen supplements? Why, what were you hoping to achieve AND did collagen do what you expected?

 

[CBLindsay]

UPDATE:
Well, it's been about 2 weeks since I started taking a multi-collagen powder supplement and I've had a chnace to talk with 2 of my doctors about it as well. The powder mixes very quickly into any drink or liquid and doesn't have any tastes or smells, so consuming the supplement is not difficult. I keep some at my office so I can add it to my coffee. For ease of use I give it a 10.

Two weeks is probably too soon to form an opinion or experience any REAL benefits so the fact that I have not seen any improvments in my neck pain or numbness should come as no surprise. The only thing I think I can attribute to the supplement is the seemingly increased speed of growth of my finger nails (particularly in the last few days). So as far as results go I will hold off giving a score.

What did my doctors say? Neither one felt or implied that taking a collagen supplement would provide any magical relief of my particular symptoms but BOTH agreed taking the supplement may have long term benefits of one kind or another. The one DR who has helped me replace various prescription drugs with a few choice supplements felt that the collagen supplements may help alleviate or prevent joint pain and help my muscles to be more flexible so as to avoid potential injury and allow me to remain on a more aggressive workout regimen. But she also felt my generally improving health and weight loss would ALSO provide similar benefits...so her feeling was more along the lines of "it won't hurt".
Of particular note, my neurologist was very clear that no medicine or treatment existed to "reverse" the arthritic changes or "fix" the collapsing/bulging discs. He DID however beleive that focusing on maintaining good health and beign active would go a long way to preventing further damage or worsening symptoms. ...and to THAT end he felt the collagen supplement MAY help support health joints, tissues etc (along with proper nutrition and activity of course) and felt that my taking collagen and hyaluronic acid supplements was a worthwhile endevor.

I will provide another update when I have additional thoughts to share

 

[Fenster]

Interested in any improvements in joint health/pain relief it may bring hou. Hope it helps you.

 

[Majorrich]

I hope you eventually get some relief.

 

[CBLindsay]

Another update:
It's been about a month since I started taking the multi-collogen supplements and about 2-3 weeks since i added ana additional Hyaluronic acid supplement to the mix. Most things you find when searching "how long does it take for XYZ to start working" seem to default to the 6 week mark, I imagine the same is true with the collogen supplements. As far as my personal expereince goes, I am reluctant to say there are any substantial improvements in my joints or the neck pain that buggers me so. There have been several times when I HAVE felt better by comparison but those times have all been followed by a period of increased pain. Since there have been some small modifications to the meds I am taking (prescribed by the doc) I am more inclined to attribute any possitve results to those changes rather than the collogen. So at about the 4 week mark I am going to say there are minimal if any benefits observed.

The collogen poweder IS however a great addition to my morning fancy coffee. If I sprinkle a teaspsoon of the stuff into the milk steamer/frother the resulting froth is super decadant and stable.

As a side note for those currious about whether taking the collagen supplement will provide relief for old joints, perhaps in hopes of finding relief for themselves. I suggest looking into a low inflamatory or anti-inflamatory diet. I am alsway skeptical of such things BUT I will say that I gave a serious go at a low inflataory diet about a year ago (gave it a month) and it DID reduce a lot of the general discomfort I was feeling (not the specific neck pain/numbness). During the process I learned what foods resulted in more or less discomfort and I have modified my diet (as much as I am willing) to maintain a less inflamatory diet. For me this means eating much less pork, oats, and dark green veggies.

I'll check back again around the 6 week mark to give my impressions and possibly draw a conclusion.