My menisci, in both knees, are well-trimmed from decades of being morbidly obese. In 2005, I had a bariatric lap-band fitted, which partially solved the problem by serving as a "speed-brake" on my eating compulsions.
I found, over three Caminos in three successive years, that walking with a rucksack, over uneven terrain caused pain each day. The symptoms were pain, stiffness and some swelling. On the Camino, I took Tylenol / Paracetamol; iced the knees with ice in a ziplock bag, wrapped in a towel; and elevated the swollen knee(s).
My doctors told me afterwards that this was a consequence of not having the full meniscus cartilage. After a while, I had bone-on-bone contact - ouch! There was nothing to be done, until and unless science came up with effective menisci replacements. We are slowly getting there. Some good work is being done with stem cell therapy, using one's own stem cells. but I digress...
At the time, on the second and third Camino, I dealt with this discomfort by taking Tylenol (Paracetamol) in the morning before starting out, and wearing elastic knee braces. They are commonly available in Spanish pharmacies. The Spanish word for knee / knees is rodilla / rodillas. But, by the third Camino, I was bringing a pair of Futuro braces from home. they are already packed for my April Camino from Madrid.
After last year's Camino I started taking Glucosamine (1500 mg) with Chondroitin (1200 mg) in two HUGE daily caplets. I swear that when I first saw them I had to consult the directions to find out WHERE they had to go... These pills are so large I have to crack them in two at the score-mark to get them through my bariatric lap band.
Anyway, after a month of this regimen, all pain was gone. I have been taking this supplement for nearly a year now. I believe it helps...ME. My doctor just repeats his mantra that: "there are no scientific studies that categorically establish the efficacy of taking this supplement for this condition..." Blah, blah, blah....the pharmaceutical companies cannot turn a profit on this, so they ignore it...again, I digress...
It might be something you want to consider and research on your own. I also went to Consumer Reports (
www.comsumerreports.com) to see if they had done reviews of these supplements. They had done. The results were categorical.
The report helped me locate the brand I use. However, I will not share that here, as it is likely crossing the line in to a commercial endorsement and a medical opinion. If you are interested, send me a private conversation.
I hope this helps.