Question
I have some knee pain that I think is from minor cartilage damage.
  The symptoms for a torn meniscus are swelling and redness, joint instability, sometimes locking of the joint according to what I've read.
   However, I don't really have any of these symptoms, except maybe a slight bit less stability... maybe. My knee feels pretty good, but sometimes it hurts kind of along the joint line, and sometimes a bit above the joint line. It has been a gradual thing, no major event.
   I may have stressed it with martial arts (kicking and possibly twisting the knee). Anyway, what can I do about it? It's a nagging kind of pain that I would like to get rid of. It doesn't feel like a muscle or tendon strain.
Any help is appreciated! Thanks!
-Peter  

Answer
Hi Peter, your a smart man. I say that because most people wait until it's too late to help the patient. You are experiencing the early signs of either chondromalacia patella or degenerative menisical change. Either way taking 3 500 mg tabs A.M. and 3 500mg tabs P.M. of glucosamine sulfate will most likely stop and even reverse your arthritis. Taking this with MSM is even better. This is an OTC supplement that was proven in randomized double blind placebo controlled trials to do just that. Goggle glucosamine sulfate research and you will know what I mean. Take it now before one day you'll need joint resurfacing or replacement.

The only way to know for sure what is wrong would be having a MRI.

Good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com