Can raw food heal a knee injury?

[charika]

Hi everyone,
I injured my knee during exercise a few months ago (I tore my cartilage, meniscus) and was told I can either have minor surgery or live the rest of my life with pain. I was just wondering if anyone has ever been healed with raw food from this type of knee injury without having surgery? Or if I should just opt to have the surgery and transition to raw food for help in recovery?
Thanks in advance...

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

First of all. Raw foods doesn't heal anything! But it can allow your body to heal itself.
I partly healed from a similar injury when I went raw. I do feel it every now and then, but not at all like I used to, barely noticeable. And I can carry on with most exercises. I try to stay away from jumping up and down on a hard surface though. But I don't think that's something anyone should be doing. :)

[streetsurfer]

The meniscus has little to no blood supply. Instead of blood, Synovial fluid is pumped through and nourishes the joint during compression of the meniscus (iirc) so something gentle like rebounding should help recovery. Doing what you can to stabilize the joint through core and leg work will help align things properly, remove laxity in the joint (which is usually the biggest cause of pain), and then reduce the wear on the knee and to the existing tear. I find the wrong foods can hinder healing.

I really don't think it means you are doomed to a life of pain because you have a tear, unless maybe it is a severe bucket handle or flap type where you are having your knee lock up and you choose to avoid surgery. Otherwise I think you prognosis on a raw diet is good to great....I'm no doctor though, mind you. Do you have details on the type of tear or size/grade of it?

[Amarynth]

Hi :)

I started 100% raw back in January, about a week after my own knee surgery. It was my second surgery on the same knee, for the very same tear. I don't know if I had been raw before the surgery on whether or not that would heal my knee, but I have to say this. My recovery time with this second surgery was phenomenal and absolutely nothing like it was the first time around. The first surgery left me in such discomfort and the doctor didn't even seem concerned at all about it. He was actually very rude and not very understanding. So...I found a new doctor after about four years of suffering and he did the surgery. My pain was minimal and once I started the PT and my new Raw lifestyle...I was doing great within a few weeks. :)

Now...I just had surgery on my shoulder four weeks ago. My rotator cuff was torn completely free of wherever it was supposed to be attached to, the bone I think (Nursing student but I haven't taken A&P yet. lol) The doctor said that this was torn for quite some time, so I can only assume it might have been too late going on the raw diet to heal it? Who knows...but once again, my recovery time seems to be swifter....

[Juniper44]

I wondered about this also. I've injuried my knee/hip from exercising way too much through out the years. Last year I was taking painkillers and I could barely walk a block without hip pain. I turned to Raw in Jaunary of this year for the 3O days and I felt so much better.
I then started to eat 65% raw , and I went hiking up to a lake that had way too much elevation gain and reinjured my hip/knee again. After this, I couldn't even ride a stationary bike without hurting afterwards. If I can I'm going to try to remain raw as long as I can because I'm love to see what eating raw can do.

[Raw Angel Mom]

I got the same injuries. Raw did help but didn't heal me. Rebunding has helped a great deal. I don't feel my knee is back 100% but surely 98% now.

Raw food will help your body to heal. Look also of the way you are walking, this can lead to have weak knees and subject to injuries. The proper way for what i read is: heal to center toe. I used to put my way on my big toe when i ran, now i tried to walk as i read and i found a great deal of improvement.

[revdrcyn]

I went from vegan and approximately 80% raw to completely raw when my triathlon training started causing knee and hip pain.

Eating a raw diet does not mend injuries; however, it does support your body to heal itself more quickly - and that has certainly been my experience. Not to mention the countless other benefits, e.g., radiant skin, more energy, less PMS, etc.

When I run, I still get pain, but it does not last as long. If I eventually choose to have a corrective procedure to repair my knee, I will do so knowing the recovery will be much easier "in the raw" so to speak!

[charika]

Hi to all of you who replied! :)

My internet was out for a little, so I'm sorry for the late reply! Just want to thank each of you for your very wise advice and for sharing your personal experiences. I am strongly leaning toward having the (minor) surgery and transitioning to raw, knowing it will help tremendously with recovery as well, of course, with a whole lot of other benefits. Thanks again! :)