Comments for Rational Knee Pain Information http://rationalkneepain.info Science and myths about knee pain problems, especially iliotibial band syndrome and patellofemoral pain. (And occasionally shin splints. And plantar fasciitis.) Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:58:17 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Glucosamine flunks yet another test, this time for knee pain by Paul Ingraham http://rationalkneepain.info/2010/07/27/glucosamine-flunks-yet-another-test-this-time-for-knee-pain/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Paul Ingraham Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:58:17 +0000 http://rationalkneepain.info/?p=86#comment-61 It is peculiar that we’ve gotten a decade into the 21st Century and many physicians still haven’t realized that the plural of “anecdote” is not evidence, and that medical advice needs to be based on evidence as much as <em>possible</em>. There’s nothing wrong with saying that something is experimental and discussing it as an option, but it’s crazy to recommend treatments that have bombed numerous fair tests of their effectiveness. But people will believe in nearly anything — there were testimonials for radioactive hot springs as a treatment; people have literally taken poison and claimed “it worked for me”; etc — and doctors will continue to defer to patient’s anecdotes. It is peculiar that we’ve gotten a decade into the 21st Century and many physicians still haven’t realized that the plural of “anecdote” is not evidence, and that medical advice needs to be based on evidence as much as possible. There’s nothing wrong with saying that something is experimental and discussing it as an option, but it’s crazy to recommend treatments that have bombed numerous fair tests of their effectiveness.

But people will believe in nearly anything — there were testimonials for radioactive hot springs as a treatment; people have literally taken poison and claimed “it worked for me”; etc — and doctors will continue to defer to patient’s anecdotes.

]]> Comment on Glucosamine flunks yet another test, this time for knee pain by Colleen http://rationalkneepain.info/2010/07/27/glucosamine-flunks-yet-another-test-this-time-for-knee-pain/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Colleen Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:51:38 +0000 http://rationalkneepain.info/?p=86#comment-60 I was just in to see my orthopedist yesterday for PFPS sustained during an acute trauma. Having read the Wilkens et al piece earlier in the month I was amazed when he suggested I get on glucosamine...mentioned the study to him and he said "It seems to work for some people, so it's up to you." What kind of madness is this! "Take 3 lizards twice a day with a dragon's tooth for knee pain" would be just as rational. This is a great blog, thanks for injecting science back into pain treatment! I was just in to see my orthopedist yesterday for PFPS sustained during an acute trauma. Having read the Wilkens et al piece earlier in the month I was amazed when he suggested I get on glucosamine…mentioned the study to him and he said “It seems to work for some people, so it’s up to you.”
What kind of madness is this! “Take 3 lizards twice a day with a dragon’s tooth for knee pain” would be just as rational. This is a great blog, thanks for injecting science back into pain treatment!

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