Aussie wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2025 at 5:41pm:

I’m too afraid to let go of the health insurance.
I would love to… what a saving it would be!
Just not confident to let it go.

Aquarius wrote on Jun 13^th, 2025 at 10:01am:

And I bet many get knee replacements when all they needed was glucosamine!
I’ve heard and tried it all over time…both hubby and I try most health stuff… what I do is not have too many vitamins at any one day… and take it in turn for each lot…at present… as hubby cramps up a lot from being on his feet all day (mechanical work)  we find that anything magnesium works for him!
I will buy more glucosamine for the next run of pills, potions, and lotions for the joints as this cold weather has taken hold! 
All I feel like doing is stand in front of warm fireplace! 

Sophia wrote on Jun 13^th, 2025 at 10:57pm:


Studies have shown that glucosomine can rebuild and repair cartilege. It definitely does for me.  At this stage I only need to take a maintenance dose of one tablet every two or three days.  But if I were to go off it for some time, such as a couple of months, I'd soon be reminded to start taking it again!  Regarding knees, I did notice back when I had the hip trouble, I could hear my knees creaking when I went downstairs in the morning to the kitchen. I've never had this problem again since taking glucosomine.

However it's the only supplement I take apart from fish oil. 

Regarding the magnesium, I discussed all those supplements with the dietitian.  She said that before anyone goes on it, they should have a blood test first to determine whether they actually are deficient because it is so abundant in food and most people do not have a deficiency. You would have to be suffering from some very stressful symptoms such as muscle spasms, cramps and weakness, nausea and poor appetite, tingling and numbness.  As you said, your hubby does have muscle cramps. 

But he could also try an Epsom salts bath!  The jury might be out, but some do believe that magnesium can be well absorbed through the skin.  I found it helped enormously with the aches from physical exertion. I know I would come home at 11 pm after a particularly difficult shift and just lie back and soak in an Epsom salts bath for half an hour or so and then have a good nights sleep till 8 or 9 in the morning. 

And yes, warm fireplaces are great.  I've just come back from the Blue Mountains and the wood burning heater just warmed up the whole house.  Downside, you have to chop wood.  

Glad to hear that the magnesium cream works for you.

Agree - log splitters, chainsaws and a place to store it!  In my son's case, it's the stone house.  A lovely building of sandstone blocks with stain glass windows of native birds - all built by the guy who first owned the property.  It was meant to be a pleasant outdoor place to have dinner parties and so on in summer or winter.  But now just used to store wood.   

Oops, wrong camera.

This is the one they use: