anyone missing some cartilage, I need advice

My wife is in the process of a cartilege transplant. Your own cartilege cells are removed, grown in a lab, then put back in your knee. Her problem is with her articular cartilege. The doctor says there is a 80-85 per cent sucess rate.

Was she told that she could continue to run after her surgery (assuming she is a runner)? If so, at what level? I ask because some of these things seem to be for older people whose intention is just to be able to walk comfortably.

Have you tried Glucosamina Complex? It is suppose to help with rebuilding cartilage, I think, don't take my word for it. The doctor gave it to me after a shattered cartilage in my toe last year, now I am back training 100% So whatever the hell it did, it helped.

Yes, I've been taking it. It does help but not enough. Over time it just feels like I've been taking Advil. It doesn't seem like it's actually solving my problem. I appreciate it anyway.

If successful there should not be any limitations. She is a P.E. teacher, so she is active. This is a surgury that is normally for people 45 and under and is considered a treatment for youger people. Older patients are looking at some type of treatment that is not a biological one. As far as running, she is not a runner, but like I said, there was not any limitations mentioned. Rehab time is around one year because the cells have to re-attach and then be given the chance to grow back stong enough to take activity.

Thanks for the info. If I can convince myself that it is possible to take a year off and I can put together some money I might try it. Until then, best of luck to your wife. Wish her a speedy recovery.

I'm still open to any non-surgical means to resolve my knee problem.

You can type in Dr. Jack Farr in a search engine and his website should come up to read more about the surgury.

Just a reality check....my dad played soccer for 50 years and had about 3 or 4 knee surgeries where they removed cartilage. He cannot qualify for a cartilage transplant, but has tried gel injections. At most, they injections offer only temporary relief from chronic pain that he now and for the rest of his life will suffer from (although he attempts to hide it from everyone). Anyhow, my reality check is not to negative in such a way that discourages you from running (it as not as stressful on the knees as soccer anyhow), but get at least this message: I'm my dad, if he had the chance, would have chosen a non-ipact activity where he could go all out in and still managed a relatively pain-free retirement, if he had known the ultimate effects. Granted that you are young, that you don't play soccer, that you are in an entirely different context, it is still good to note this warning to stubborness. Theres a fine line between stubborness and determination, or maybe they're the same thing. Either way, check your values. What are you running for?