Good News for Those With Bad Knees

[Ken Scharabok]

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/TECH/12/07/cathy.terrell/.

Rather promises to some day make knee cartridge replaced via injection possible.

I had ostroscopic surgury done on one knee about eight years ago now. At that time the surgeon said there was almost no cartridge left between the ends of the leg bones and the knee cap. He recommended I use either Double Strength or Osteo Bi-Flex Double Strength glucosamine/chondroitin complex. An x-ray about four years later shown significant cartridge regrowth in that knee. He said he had seen studies which said, at that time, only DS or O B-F had the complex at the levels/strength specified.

While I was still in Ohio I knew one dog owner who gave it to their dogs. Their reasoning was the canned or dried dogfood they used didn't provide the cartridge maintaining/regrowth they needed and weren't getting because they were not fed bones on a regular basis. I know dogs are living longer today, but rather makes one wonder if it isn't at least part of the reason so many older dogs seem to have artritic problems.

[bulldinkie]

I wished there was something.I fell down my basement steps about 15 years ago.I stepped down I then felt I was too close to edge of step.I landed on hip,then did a split.One leg stayed on landing the other took off.Ended up 3/4 way down I caught myself going head first.I ruined both knees,my hip.

[sweetbabyjane]

Lots of people give glu/con to dogs on a regular basis. It's used on greyhounds and race horses, too. Not unusual for people to buy the animal med (cheaper) and take it themselves. I was instructed to use it on my old dog to help with her hip displaysia (can't spell this morning).

I take the people kind, but it's really hard to tell whether or not you're getting a good dose. Different brands give differing amounts, some have more filler than good stuff. But after one industrial sized bottle my knees can tell a difference!

Expensive but it works,
SBJ

[BCR]

I had surgery for a meniscus several years ago. Wish I hadn't frankly, but it was the best decision at the time. I know more since then. Her are a few things I learned:

For $10 you can buy a new copy of a small book called "Treat Your Own Knees" by James R. Roberson wherein you will learn 4 simple things to do to help yourself and the science behind it. They are easy and take little time (except for the 'build your endurance part they each take less than 5 minutes).

Considering surgery? Tests? Want to kow more about what 'normal' is?
Try this book, thought the title is a bit corny:
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Knee Pain and Surgery : Learn The Truth About MRIs And Common Misdiagnoses--And Avoid Unnecessary Surgery by Ronald P. Grelsamer M.D.

For pain relief: The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief (Paperback) by Clair Davies
This is a paperback available new for $20, used for about $9. I use it as a professional, but it is meant for the average person. I actually copy pages and work with clients to show them how to do it easily themselves. Alternatively, show this book to your massage or PT professional and ask them to apply the techniques to your situation. The book covers the whole body so it isn't just for knees. Any location of pain will be addressed in here.

So for an investment of about $30 you can have three awesome resources at your disposal. Using the above books and practicing the exercises and working the trigger points I decreased my pain by about 85% in 10 days. It is continuing to decrease as I continue to practice. In the first three days I saw significant changes (ie. my knees quit hurting when they touched as I slept)

[GoatsRus]

Just my 2 cents worth, but I have a Chow that was born with hip displaysia. At 6 months we were going to put her down because the vet showed us the xrays and both hips are bad and so are her knees so even hip surgery was out of the question. The vet ended up giving her a shot of Glyco-Flex to jump start the cartiledge and then told us to give her the pills once a day. She's now 12 years old - and yes, we have to carry her up the stairs to the house, but she can get down when she wants to. She's up to 4 pills a day and still gets around pretty good for an old dog...except for the stairs. Before we started giving it to her, I read up on it and it's been used extensively over in europe by humans. It was not FDA approved in the US, but years ago the defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Bucs, used Glyco-Flex on himself and some of the players. I'm sure it was ordered from overseas in some type of shot or liquid form since it's horrible smelling. The pills are made out of green mussels, which gives them the fishy smell.

[Terri]

I spoke to my vet about glu/con. He said that a lot of people reported major relief, but not everybody does.

He says it is the same with people: for some it is awesome, for others it gives no help.

[Ravenlost]

I am a firm believer in Osteo-Biflex. Take it daily. So do my older dogs and one of our horses (need to put the older mare on it too).

My mom is having knee surgery in January. For years she has insisted that it was to late for her to take Osteo-Biflex (she hates to take pills of any kind). I'll bet she'll hate the surgery more!

[Paula]

I've had knee problems on and off for years. For the last few years one of my shoulders bothered me too. Took glucosamine/chondroitin and msm to no avail. For the last couple of years ALL my joints were hurting. Bummer when you're only 43 yrs old and thinking you'll be in a wheelchair within 10 yrs.
Long story short I realized gluten is my problem. Cut it out of my diet, no more problems! It's like a miracle to go from being in pain all the time to feeling like a normal person.
I found out in all the research I did about arthritis (rheumatoid and osteo)that it's been found that many, many people have joint inflammation and pain due to food sensitivities. By going on an elimination diet (google it, easy to do) and re-introducing foods slowly you can identify the foods that cause you problems, then stay away from them. Pay attention to things you wouldn't normally think about too, like ingredients in sauces, dressings, seasonings, medications, etc. For a while I kept getting "glutened" by a few of these things till I figured it out. Most recent was last week when I took some cranberry extract caps for a bladder infection. Gluten was not listed specifically in the ingredients but hidden under some chemical sounding name.
Depression was something I had always had a problem with too. Gluten was causing it! This is the first winter I can remember not being depressed. Hallelujia!!!