Marin Runners with Knee Pain

How many serious runners are plagued with knee pain? Well, how many runners are serious, plus many who are not.

What do you do? Most take Advil or Tylenol, which only covers up the pain. Take enough of that stuff, long enough, and you end up damaging your liver, kidneys and stomach. And, by interfering with the natural process of inflammation, these anti-inflammatories cause increased damage to injured joints, especially as you continue to run. You think you're OK when you pop some pills that killed the pain? Think again!

You might, after a time, go see an orthopedist. After all kinds of allegedly definitive, scientific tests, you will receive some useless diagnosis, and probably be given stronger anti-inflammatory drugs, which will "work better," at least for a time, and end up doing even more damage to joints and organs. You might be directed to waste time at physical therapy. Eventually, the orthopedist will be sharpening his or her scalpel. These days, they are prone to just tear the whole knee out, and put in a fake one. Aside from the horrendous cost in pain, time and money, do you really think that this fake knee will be equivalent to a real one. (I know you got the standard "bone-on'bone" talk. It's, for the most part, BS.) Realize that these things wear out in seven or eight years; then, it's time for another replacement. This whole thing is barbaric!

If you have knee pain, the rational course of action would be to get to the cause. First, Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC) must be corrected. This will allow the knee and the whole lower extremity to function right, and to heal, as well as increase coordination and balance, and improve your gait. This is standard in straight Chiropractic. Further, in my practice, I check and adjust extremities as well as the spine. So, I would check, and adjust as necessary, the bones of your knee, and your meniscus (and your other knee), hips, and feet. Doesn't that make sense?

Don Harte, D.C.
Corte Madera Straight Chiropractor
Liberator of Innate