What actually got me to try it out was that my jaw started hurting really bad! I was chewing a lot of gum at the time and have had TMJ symptoms in the past, but was never diagnosed. It got to where I'd wake up with severe jaw pain every morning and it would hurt to even open my mouth for a while. I already take other vitamins and supplements so I started researching what to take for TMJ and found that MSM is supposed to be one of the best things for that as well as arthritis and other joint issues. I have had arthritis in one knee since I was a teen and I'd been using cherry juice concentrate for a couple of years to help with that. I figured if nothing else, it might help my knee and other aches and pains of "aging joints", so I started taking it. Within days, my jaw pain was GONE! Gradually my knee and other joint pain eased and I have since stopped using the cherry juice concentrate and only use the MSM. Since I run, knee pain is aggravating and always concerns me. I was already using Glucosamine and Chondroitin for the cartilage but didn't know that MSM had additional benefits until I started researching.
My Mother In Law had problems with her fingers on one hand being so arthritic that she could hardly move them and was having problems even holding a pen to write. I asked her if she would try some if I bought it for her and she said she was willing to try anything. After the first week, she could already feel the difference and she has continued to take it and has nothing but great things to say about it. She is able to take 500-750 mg twice a day(1000-1500 mg total) with no problems.
It's also supposed to help with allergies/asthma and quite a few other things and since it has no real side effects, I think it's great. Like I said, though, I can't take a lot or it bothers my stomach. I'm not sure if it's from the fillers they put in or not, but I'm like that with certain supplements and I have pretty much narrowed it down to the fillers as being the problem. I just take what I am able to and fortunately, that is enough to help.