Most also have a numbing agent in it too.
My husband had his elbow done 10 yrs ago. His was a mess from years and years of body building. He was told only surgery would help.
I will say that he didn't listen and used his arm right away.

Boy was he in pain that first night. Duh? After that..it's like new. He has been back to lifitng heavy for 10 years. Now he is thinking of having his shoulder done. He should have done it then, but taking gluecosimine has kept it from getting too bad.