Christine was first seen in my office back in April of this year. She consulted with me for a second opinion for her chronic knee pain.

As Christine put it..she was at her "wits end" with the advice she was getting from her family physician as it related to her knee problem.

Vioxx was the best that medicine could offer her and she simply refused to accept the fact that her knee pain was due to arthritis. Nothing revealed any hint of arthritis.. x-rays, MRI all were negative.

Even a referral to an orthopedic surgeon proved to be non-eventful.. As Christine commented.. "it was "same old.. same old..nothing different but a change to a different medication".

Christine's history revealed that her knee problem started approximately 4 years ago. She had no idea what caused... just came on slowly. With each passing month, she recalled the pain getting worse and worse.

Waking up in the morning and taking that first step was excruciating. Forget about walking up and down the stairs...just unbearable.

Christine also commented on the terrible pain she would have after sitting at her desk for no more than 30 minutes and try to get up and walk.. She said she felt like someone had a "hot poker" in her knees.

As I listened to Christine discuss her problem, I saw a 42 year old woman like many of my patients, who was "fed up" with the "patch-up" medicine approach. She looked me straight in eyes and said.."

There MUST be an answer to why I am hurting...how in the world could this be happening and no one have a "clue" to the reason why"?

Although this might sound like I'm bragging.. I knew half way through the consult what Christine's problem was...This was not the first time I heard Christine's story. Matter of fact, it has been a problem I have seen quite frequently..

I have come to realize that the "key" to solving a patient's problem is first having a "clear" understanding of the nature of the condition and being able to identify the underlying cause.

Simply using drugs to cover up the pain does not make sense. It is illogical and down right dumb (sorry for boldness). Now I want you to understand.. I am NOT against the appropriate use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Matter of fact, using medication for an acute injury and a variety of conditions DOES make sense and many times can be a lifesaver.

Unfortunately the way the drug commercials present it, it appears that we should be taking drugs for everything under the sun that ails you.. How gullible do they think we are?

I have discovered that there is a growing percentage of people who are not buying into this and many are seeking common sense answers to many of the health challenges that plague this world.

Anyway... back to Christine..

Following her consultation, I performed an examination and found that she was suffering with a condition called Patellofemoral Arthralgia.

Let me explain..

Patellofemoral Arthralgia simply means that the knee cap (patellar) is not tracking correctly.

The knee cap moves up and down in a groove. Visualize opening and closing your desk drawer.. can you see it..good.. Now visualize your drawer getting off the track making it difficult to open.. Yes you can still open the drawer.. but it is now "resistant" and feels stuck.. you can still open the drawer.. but again.. just feels like it is "hung up". Make sense??

Guess what happens when your knee cap tracks incorrectly?? Yes, you're right it gets hot and guess what that means?? Right again.. inflammation!!

Let me ask you a simple question.. If the knee cap is tracking incorrectly causing friction and inflammation does it make sense to take a drug like Vioxx (forever).. or is it better to determine why the knee cap was tracking wrong in the first place so that their is no more friction..??

Wow.. I'm impressed.. I have a smart reader..

Are you with me on this??

The following is the "exact" treatment I recommended for Christine. It took only 4 treatments and three weeks for Christine to end her 4-year battle with knee pain. Four treatments of a hands on treatment, exercise instructions and another three weeks to stop the inflammation..

a) Instructed Christine on patellar tracking exercises

b) Performed transverse friction massage on the patellar tendon

c) Patellar tracking brace

My Comments:

Christine's problem is not uncommon. Matter of fact, tens of thousands of people suffer with this problem and most are not being helped with the traditional pharmaceutical approach. It simply does not work and never will work.. The day when people stand up and say.. "I'm simply not going to take it anymore".. will be a day of rejoicing.. Unfortunately, with the financial power of the pharmaceutical cartel, I believe we will be waiting a looooong time before we are offered safe and common sense solutions from the drug reps..(sorry :(