Growing Your Own?

[Guest guest]

Greetings<br><br>I, too, have heard about

cartilage farming. A friend is involved with the material

that's used as " soil " in the farming effort. That part

of the project seems to work. However, getting the

" sod " to take root is more difficult, I think.

Cartilage generally has a poor blood supply, which is why

it's so hard to " repair " torn cartilage. (It does work

in select cases, depending on the site of the tear.)

Therefore, it may be a bit like laying down sod on

concrete--you can grow great sod, but it won't make it on

concrete.<br><br>I know there are microfracture procedures designed

to stimulate blood flow and cartilage regeneration.

I don't know how well that works, but will start

digging on the web for answers. I have read that, when

cartilage does " grow in " , it's more like scar tissue, and

not the smooth, tough cartilage needed to handle what

we put our knees through daily.<br><br>I've been

trying the glucosamine/chondroitin/vitamin C regimen for

about two months. Supposedly, it takes around two

months to show any good result (mainly less pain). I'm

waiting. At least it's not harmful, except a little to the

wallet.<br><br>Pain management? Good question. I'm in the NSAID of

the Month Club, and my OS's nurse has indicated that,

in my case, there's probably not one that will work

very well. Definitely quit eating the Motrin, or you

may need to join the " Ulcer Community " ,

too.<br><br>In the meantime, grab an ice bag (or two), put your

leg up, and relax, if you can. That's about the best

pain management I've found yet.<br><br>Joe

B.<br><br>P.S.--Did your problems start after a specific traumatic

event, or was it the damage cumulative? (I know all

about the miles of running, etc. the Army likes to do.

Been there, done that, have the scars to prove it.)

[Guest guest]

Joe, I think that in my case the damage was

cumulative. I was told once that I had an excessive " q "

angle. When I was doing PT after about three months they

tested my leg strength and found that my left leg (the

one with the problem) was 15% stronger than my

" normal " leg.<br>As far as the NSAID of the month club, I

don't take anything until I absolutely have to, if you

know what I mean.<br>A word of caution, I have been

told by a doctor that long-term use of the NSAID's can

cause liver trouble. I was tested after daily doses for

three years and I'm o.k., but that's why I don't take

anything on a regular basis.<br>If this keeps up I may

have to look for a new job. As a locomotive mechanic I

have a very hard time climbing up and down the darn

things and squatting under them.<br>Thanks for the

feedback. I will also be investigating the cartiledge

farming and will post any findings here.