[IndigoEarthAngel33]

Last week, I went on a long bike ride (about 25 miles) when I reached back home, I noticed my knee was swelling and very sore; this tends to happen after running and lots of sport activity which I can't do as much now due to problems that may occur in the future. I have had 3 surgeries on my left knee and have a lot of scar tissue and my tendons are still till this day not in the best condition. (Torn ACL, MCL, PCL, and meniscus) I spoke with my orthopedic and he thinks I should start getting cortisone shots (steroids) and take other prescribed pharmaceuticals. In the past, I have take soma, vicodins and other prescribed medicine for my knee, but I don't like the effects it gives me. Leaves me groggy, sometimes upset stomach and feeling a bit apathetic when under the influence of the pharmaceutical drug. After a second and third surgery and still no relief, I find myself being better off with alternative medicine. I am done with all the pharmaceuticals that give me horrible side effects and now practice habitually yoga, meditation, healing herbs and use cannabis. I know my tendons in my knee are not strong, even though I exercise after going through those surgeries I realized not even the best surgeon can make your body as normal as it used to be. Just take my experiences for an example. After every surgery, I did rehabilitation and after the second and third I even did 9 months then 11 months over the actual 6 months of rehabilitation. But, that is why I am grateful for the alternative style and the support that I see here and elsewhere. I just hope more people besides us patients can truly see the good in alternative medicine instead of putting it down. While you see many people die over pharmaceuticals or even have the worst side effects.

[ps-med]

I haven't been on my Mountain bike, or any bike, in over 3 years; since I first tore my meniscus. I first had a repair surgery and a long recovery, but my knee never really felt strong or right and I blew it out twice since then. A few months ago I had a partial menisectomy and I'm hoping that this will allow me to heal up to the point that I can go on the occasional bike ride.

Long term pain and the inconvenience of knee problems can be draining. Good luck with your treatment routine. The Pharmacueticals just knock me out, and I only take them when the pain is out of control; otherwise, a little MMJ helps to numb the pain enough without knocking me out.

[Absynthe]

I take both my pharma, and the MMJ; one or the other isn't doing the job, but together, I'm doing much better than neither.