I cannot comment on Dr. Schulze , but to rebuild cartilage, according to my research, your body needs lysine, vitamin c, copper, selenium and type 2 collagen. I've been taking Twin Labs Maxilife - 6 capsules a day (3 twice a day or 2 three times a day) on an empty stomach. I've tried all sorts of pain meds otc, rx and natural. I've found that 5-Loxin (Life Extension -- iherb.com) and Devils Claw helps with pain and inflammation better than nsaids. Devils Claw can be a little rough on the tum, and can make you nauseous if you take too much so start with 1 capsule in the morning with food and at bedtime with food. In addition, CMO (Cetyl Myristoleate) is supposed to be helpful for pain.

Also, in my research, 400mg of vitamin E (mixed tocopherols, natural) is extremely helpful in osteoarthritis. Boron (Tri-boron) is also supposed to be helpful.

In addition, I am taking Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Hyaluronic Acid (which is in the MaxiLIFE Collagen 2).

To cover all my bases, I'm taking (in capsule), Dr. Christopher's Bone, Flesh and Cartilage formula -- original that contains comfrey. I get it bulk at herbsfirst.com. But I've also found it cheaper elsewhere by googling. It's about $45 per pound, but it will last you a while.

Now my back story:

Last August (about a week or two before hurricane Irene, I stumbled and fell on my knees coming down our back brick stairs to the deck. At the time, I didn't have much pain in my left knee, but about week or so later, it began to hurt. I went to an Ortho doc about a month later when the pain did not abate and had x-rays. It showed bone bruising and slight arthritis. I was given a cortisone shot and told to stay off of it and use ice. I wasn't doing much in the way of supplements, I figured that it would get better with time. After an MRI, another cortisone shot and an x-ray later (about 4 months had lapsed at this time), the inflammation had not abated and the cartilage had worn away even more. The Arthritis had gotten worse. I had another cortisone shot in preparation for synthetic hyaluronic injections Synvisc. This has helped a lot. Around this time, I began to get serious with supplements and take the above. I think I'm getting results. I actually have periods (during good weather) where the pain is minimal. I don't have full pain free motion yet. I cannot walk great distance without pain yet, but I've only been serious about the supplements since mid January.

I think that in my case, I've been deficient in copper (vital for cartilage) due to stomach issues. I've had gerd that had steadily gotten worse for about a year. I finally stumbled across PYLORICIN online that is for h.pylori infections. I took a 2 1/2 month course and it healed my gerd. but, I'd spent the last year relying on PPIs like pepcid and prilosec for relief (even water hurt my stomach) after natural remedies proved unhelpful. In my research for my knee problem, I discovered that folks with low acid (which I had with the ppi's) become copper deficient. I'm thinking that that may have been part of my problem along with the inflammation which can (from what I have read) cause the body to attack the cartilage.

I have not, do you know a good site where I can buy castor oil packs? Thanks.

-Mike