I keep losing my grip—any advice?

Man, what kind of nonsense is this? Glucosamine and Arnold Schwarzenegger? 😲
Arnold Schwarzenegger is in the Yucatan, that other supplement used for the same thing... it's not in the glucosamine.

brisknomad6 said::kola:

Angela Wright, do you honestly believe that over-the-counter herbal supplements would actually contain a dangerous substance like a corticosteroid? 😉

Look, I’m no biochemistry expert, but common sense tells me something just doesn't add up in your theory.

I don't think Glucosamine sulfate counts as an herbal supplement.

On another note, my mother is currently on a corticosteroid (dexamethasone) to deal with brain edema, and the doctors at the hospital told us she can't be weaned off it anymore because her adrenal glands—which are supposed to naturally produce steroids—have essentially shut down from long-term dexamethasone use. So, where do we draw the line between what's "natural" and what isn't?
The whole thing you're calling my "theory" is incredibly nuanced, and frankly, we need a medical professional to step in and break this down for us properly.
Maybe once Jose Miller3 gets a chance to talk with the doctor involved, he can provide a clearer explanation, so let's just hang tight for now.
I'm starting a new thread for this discussion since we've gone completely off-topic here.

Angela Wright said:I honestly think it’s pretty rude to call someone out for talking nonsense, especially when they actually back up their claims! It feels so dismissive when someone says, "I'll get back to you whenever I feel like it, but you're still wrong," or something similar. You know what I mean? It just feels so unnecessary!👎

🤔 What’s the hold-up? You already got your answer!
They even told you that you’d get a more detailed response once things settle down! I remember waiting on a similar update last month during a busy week at work, and it was totally worth the wait.
You know, sometimes some of us actually have to clock in and deal with deadlines, meetings, and all those other little corporate distractions! 😉

Sorry, Aesop, I’m done arguing!
It’s my full moon today! ✨ 😬 I'm just feeling so incredibly motivated today!
Just to recap! Absolutely! Go see your doctor and grab those prescriptions for everything you need!
I’m just sharing this based on what worked for me, but I’d definitely recommend making sure at least one of those is a must-have for your neurologist!

@ezop

You should definitely head to a primary care physician, just like everyone else here suggested, and get all those tests ordered.
While there’s a chance this could be neurological, what you’re describing sounds exactly like what I deal with—and what my mom dealt with, too—since we both have degenerative issues in our hands. Don't go spiraling into thoughts about neurological diseases just yet; just go through the diagnostic process step by step and let God handle the rest.😘

Angela Wright, I finally found a second to breathe, so I’m going to give you two replies here. The first part is just personal—I want to clear the air about how I talk on this forum and my whole history with being a moderator—and the second part is the actual technical stuff, specifically for anyone interested in inflammatory diseases, treating them with corticosteroids versus NSAIDs, and finally some info on Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate.

On the personal side... I’m still standing by what you said in your very first post on this thread—it was just nonsense. Glucosamine sulfate is NOT a corticosteroid. It isn't even in the same ballpark, let alone having a similar mechanism of action. On a subforum like this, where people actually come looking for helpful advice, spreading a mistake like that can be genuinely dangerous.

In the year that I’ve been a moderator for the health section, I have never once deleted a post, issued a ban, or even given a warning for bad advice outside of the specific threads themselves. I’m sure there are spots where I’ve stepped in to point out when someone is flat-out wrong; I’m also pretty sure I did that before I ever became a mod, and I’ll definitely keep doing it whenever the forum management decides to finally let me step down—which, honestly, is something I’ve been asking to do for nearly a month now. In this last month alone, I haven't moderated a single thing, deleted a single post, or handed out any bans.

All up, during my time moderating the health board (and no, I’m not counting those people who just show up to spam ads for their own products), I’ve only banned 2 users, and that was just for three days because they kept being abusive. Your implication that I ever threatened you with a ban—or anything like that—just because of your views (which are often wrong, let's be real) is actually offensive. It hits harder than that low blow about how "being a chemist doesn't make you a medical expert." Look, I am NOT a medical expert. There are areas like pharmacology that I understand pretty well, and things like physiology or oncology where I know a decent amount, but there are huge parts of medicine where I know absolutely nothing. What I try so hard to do is avoid giving advice in those areas where I don't feel comfortable, mostly because I'm terrified of accidentally giving someone bad information.

My communication style is what it is; just because you don't like it doesn't mean I'm going to change it. I don't see myself as a bully, and I don't think I'm hijacking conversations—I just consider myself someone who isn't afraid to speak up when I know I'm right 😉 and that’s really the core difference between us, both here and everywhere else.

Anyway, because of all that, and honestly because of the way you talk to other people on this thread, I’m done addressing you directly on this forum. You can rest easy. I’ll definitely keep trying to warn people when you're giving out wrong info, and I’ll keep letting future mods know if you start getting abusive, but I’m not getting dragged into private messages or your whole thing about sharing phone numbers for imaginary doctors. I’ve got enough on my plate, you’ve got yours, and I think we can both live our lives without crossing paths much more 🙂

Rachel Brooks63 said:...

Jesus Christ😲
I honestly think I'm done commenting here; you’ve completely lost the plot and started spinning every single thing into some wild conspiracy... claiming I insult people, attacking some imaginary doctor (seriously, if you just did a quick Google search, you'd realize this "doctor" doesn't even exist), accusing me of prejudice, and then twisting my private messages😍 just to try and drag me down to "your level"😂... good grief, give me a break.🙂
Anyway, thanks for the exhaustive lecture.👍
Have a nice... whatever you do.👋

Okay, time for some "expert" talk (though I've only got 🙂 seconds
):
Most inflammatory conditions in the body have been treated—looking at modern medicine over the last 30+ years—in two main ways: using corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Corticosteroids are actually complex chemical compounds—they're part of a biological class of hormones that our own bodies produce for specific physiological reasons. It's been shown that similar structures act as powerful anti-inflammatory agents by hitting those glucocorticoid receptors in the body. Unfortunately, though, long-term use for treating symptoms has shown they come with some pretty heavy systemic side effects... which is why doctors try to minimize them, especially when taken orally. Some of the most well-known corticoids are things like dexamethasone, fluticasone, budesonide, and the rest—names you probably recognize if you or someone you know deals with asthma or similar stuff.

Once people realized how much damage systemic corticosteroid use could do, scientists started hunting for other anti-inflammatories that didn't work through a steroid mechanism. They actually had some luck finding drugs that inhibit COX enzyme activity, providing a significant anti-inflammatory effect through a totally different pathway than steroids. Probably the first and most famous one out there, aspirin, falls right into that COX inhibitor category, and since then, hundreds of other molecules have been developed to target one or both COX enzymes—working as anti-inflammatories while carrying their own set of well-known side effects. The big names among NSAIDs are Voltaren, ibuprofen, and so on.

So yeah, those are the two most studied and common ways to handle inflammatory diseases.

Now, regarding Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate—like I mentioned before, these are chemical substances with very similar compositions. In both cases, we're talking about sugars that serve as precursors for building vital components of joint cartilage. Glucosamine is a monosaccharide, whereas chondroitin is made up of a bunch of sugar units linked together—sometimes up to a hundred of them.

The way they work isn't actually anti-inflammatory... instead, the belief is that they help the body more easily synthesize the cartilage that’s been lost due to inflammation, mechanical wear and tear, or whatever else happened.

I want to be crystal clear: there is ABSOLUTELY NO CORTICOSTEROID in Natural Resources Glucosamine-sulfate tablets!!!!! Corticosteroids are dangerous drugs—even short-term use can trigger side effects, let alone long-term, uncontrolled use without a doctor watching over you. Glucosamine-sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are what we call dietary supplements. They aren't drugs. You buy them at a drugstore without a prescription, so it's honestly wild to think they could contain something like a corticosteroid.

So, to wrap this up: inflammatory diseases can be treated with either steroid or nonsteroidal drugs, and glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate don't fit into either of those categories. If I didn't explain that clearly enough, I'm happy to dive deeper if anyone's interested...

My deepest apologies to the OP for going off-topic here. All I can say again is: go see your primary care doctor and ask for a referral to a neurologist. 🙂

Angela Wright, where are you hiding now that it’s actually time to apologize to the people you were being so rude to?

including that total low blow from just a second ago 👎

you love acting all tough and making fun of everyone, but the second you have to say sorry, you suddenly get all petty...

really classy move there, you definitely showed your true colors

btw, Jose Miller3 was only bringing up the UN because of me, so now you think you can just turn around and be incredibly disrespectful to me?

Alright, here’s the lowdown on glucosamine sulfate—and before anyone starts yelling, no, there isn't any corticosteroid in it. Believe me, I get the skepticism, but it's just not there. 😛

LINK

brisknomad6 said:Angela Wright, where are you now that it’s time to apologize to the people you were so rude to?

including your little outburst just now 👎

You love to mock and sneer, but when it comes down to apologizing, you suddenly turn weak...

Really classy move, you’ve truly shown your true colors

By the way, Jose Miller3 was the one mentioning the UN because of me, so now you feel entitled to take that rudeness out on me.

I started a thread regarding Glucosamine sulfate where I apologized simply because I wanted to address the spread of misinformation (http://www.example.com/thread/217797) that I actually encountered on several occasions. I can't say I imagined any of this, because that would be a lie. In fact, it would be easier if I had just made it up, because right now I am deeply bothered by why and how this happened.

I don't believe I was being rude, and I honestly have no idea what you interpreted as mockery or sneering, because that isn't who I am. Perhaps the only thing you could view as "rude" is the fact that I didn't blindly trust some random person on an internet forum whose credentials I don't know; instead, I trusted someone I sat across from face-to-face in a clinic who gave me incorrect information—but I suppose that's just down to your own personal standards.

The only thing I feel is cheated 👎 , because once again, I fell for false information provided by "brilliant" doctors.

Linda Jones71 said:At first, I thought it was kind of funny—you know, laughing off the clumsiness—but after spilling coffee all over myself and my kitchen counter a few times and smashing a couple of glasses, I’m actually starting to get worried.
For about two months now, I've been feeling this weird weakness, like a slight stiffness in my fingers. Honestly, I can't even feel things properly; it's like the pads of my fingertips have gone totally numb. All these symptoms feel pretty mild, but the actual fallout is obvious enough.😬
I'm 47, which isn't exactly "old age" territory, so I shouldn't be shaking like an elderly person just yet.
It's already becoming a nightmare at work because my grip just... slips.
Does anyone have any clue what's going on???

I went through something almost identical a few years back. I completely lost sensation in two fingers on my left hand—it was terrifying, seriously. They sent me for an MRI, and while the scans looked fine, it turned out those fatty deposits around my neck and shoulders were pinching a nerve, causing the numbness. They treated me with all sorts of electrical stimulation machines, and thank God, my sensation finally came back. Since then, I haven't missed a single physical therapy session or massage. Seriously, go see a doctor immediately.

Olivia Lewis75 said:I dealt with something pretty similar a few years back. I completely lost feeling in two fingers on my left hand, and honestly, it terrified me. They sent me in for an MRI, and while the scans looked fine, it turned out those fatty deposits around my neck and shoulders were actually compressing a nerve, which is why the sensation vanished. They treated me with all sorts of electrical stimulation therapy, and eventually, thank God, the feeling came back. Since then, I haven't missed a single physical therapy or massage session. Seriously, go see a doctor immediately.

Maybe it's Myogelosis? I mean, how much damage can that actually cause?😲

Where the hell am I? Honestly, I can't even remember what my actual diagnosis was—I’ll have to dig through my medical records at the clinic to be sure. If it was called Myogelosis, then yeah, that's the one. The doctor told me straight up that it’s all because I spend way too much time glued to my computer screen—just sitting there like a statue—so everything just kind of... built up. And yeah, let's be real, I haven't moved an inch lately.

Yeah, it’s myalgia in the deltoid and trapezius muscles—that’s just the fancy Latin way of saying they're sore. Anyway, they actually sent me in for an EEG and an EMG on my limbs (I mentioned an MRI earlier, so if anyone wants to come for my head, please don't—I probably mixed up the terms)
mostly I just hope you've already made it to the doctor. Seriously, though, if that neck and shoulder area is killing you—like, if even a light massage feels unbearable because the pain is so sharp—you might be dealing with something similar. Good luck, you'll need it.

Olivia Lewis75 said:Yeah, it’s Myogelosis in the deltoid and trapezius muscles—those are just the Latin names for them. By the way, they actually sent me for an EEG and an EMG of my limbs (I mentioned an MRI earlier, so if anyone wants to call me out, I might have mixed up the terms).
Basically, I hope you've already seen a doctor. If that area around your neck and shoulders is killing you, or if you can't even handle a massage because the pain is too intense, you might be dealing with something similar. Good luck.

That’s brutal. Honestly, it feels like every other person who spends half their life sitting at a desk deals with this.😲 So, are you feeling any better now?

Hey there... honestly, everyone needs to go to bed, you guys are really overdoing it here 🙂

By the way, glucosamine sulfate is NOT a corticosteroid—it’s just a dietary supplement with some questionable effects. Everyone deals with muscle soreness; it's hardly a medical diagnosis.

It’s not even that we’ve gone off-topic, it’s more like we’ve wandered miles away from it. I’d suggest the OP goes see a neurologist, just to rule out anything actually serious...

Casey Palmer5 said:Hey, hey... everyone just go to bed already, you guys are totally overdoing it 🙂

BTW, glucosamine sulfate is NOT a corticosteroid—it’s just a supplement with some pretty questionable effects. Most people deal with muscle soreness anyway, it's not exactly some rare medical diagnosis.

It's not even that you went off-topic, it's more like you've wandered miles away from it... Honestly, I'd suggest the OP goes see a neurologist just to rule out any nasty underlying issues.

🙏 🙏

I second everything said here

Angela Wright said:That's just awful—honestly, half the people out there spend all day sitting around anyway.😲 So, you feeling better now?

Thanks for asking! I'm doing fantastic now (if we're just talking about that one thing🙂). Back three years ago, it was a nightmare—I couldn't even do basic stuff like turn off my alarm, use a hairdryer, or flick a lighter. I couldn't hold anything heavy... nothing at all. But now? Now I'm out here lifting weights like a total beast.😎

Casey Palmer5 said:Hello? Hello?? Seriously, everyone just go to bed—you guys are totally overdoing it here. 🙂

By the way, glucosamine sulfate is NOT a corticosteroid. It’s just a dietary supplement with some pretty questionable benefits. And honestly, everyone deals with muscle soreness—it’s not exactly some rare medical diagnosis.

You haven't just gone off-topic; you've wandered miles away from it. I’d actually suggest the OP goes see a neurologist, just to rule out any nasty underlying issues.

Hello to you too... maybe try reading the whole thread before jumping in. The girl already finished telling her story and even started a new thread.

As for the muscle stuff, I was just sharing my own experience so the woman doesn't immediately jump to the worst-case scenario. It could be something completely harmless and super easy to fix.