cartilage damage
September 28, 2012 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring
Dear Sir or Madam,
I have been suffering from pain and cracking in my right knee for about a year. I had an MRI on Tuesday and a cartilage damage was diagnosed. Unfortunately, I was not informed of the degree of cartilage damage.
My knee cracks when climbing stairs, squatting, etc. Long walks or hikes are no longer possible without pain.
Now my question is:
How is this treated?
What activities are allowed with a cartilage damage (sports, jogging...)?
Do I need to be careful with anything specific?
What treatment options are available for this condition?
For about a week now, my left knee has also started cracking - but so far it does not hurt.
Thank you.
Good morning,
It's a shame that you didn't tell us your age. Even in your forties, if you put a lot of strain on your knees through work or sports, cartilage damage can occur. The degree of damage is irrelevant, as the treatment is based on clinical symptoms. The MRI was only used to rule out meniscus and ligament damage.
There are several treatment approaches: I would start by improving cartilage supply with Dona 200 capsules, and treating pain with acupuncture (which is free for insured patients with this diagnosis). This often helps for a whole year. For advanced damage, hyaluronic acid can be injected into the joint by an orthopedic specialist, but this can be expensive and you would need to pay for it yourself (it often helps for 6 months).
Muscle building is very important and can be best achieved through swimming and cycling. Jogging is not great for the joints, unless you have perfect shoes (with cushioning!) and run on soft ground; walking would be a better solution and is recommended. If you have severe pain, you can find relief with Ibu acute 400 tablets (please ask your doctor if there are any objections).
"Hanging legs" is good for the joints... It not only improves mobility, but also gently separates the joint.
I wish you a speedy recovery!
With kind regards,
Dr. Frauke Höllering, Specialist in Internal and General Medicine, Acupuncture
