It's a problem that plagues more than 21 million Americans: Osteoarthritis causes cartilage in the joints to break down.

IN the past, if you had a cartilage lesion, there would be only two options to choose fromaccept your fate of early arthritis or, for other cases, get knee replacement surgery.

It's a problem that plagues more than 21 million Americans: Osteoarthritis causes cartilage in the joints to break down. When it hits the knees, walking -- even standing -- is painful.

Gout is a disease that is characterized by high levels of uric acid in the bloodstream in the form of crystals of monosodium urate (MSU) or uric acid and deposited on the cartilage of the joints, tendons and the surrounding tissues. As the uric acid crystallizes or hardens an attack is very painful and could further lead on to chronic gouty arthritis if not treated promptly.

Arthritis is a generic term for inflammation of the joint (place where two or more movable bones meet). The joint, spaces between the bones is composed of fluid sacs, in addition to cartilage (gelatinous substance that caps the end of the bones). Both act as shock absorbers. Ligaments hold bones together. Tendons attach muscles to ligaments. Muscles contract and expand via nerve, electrical stimulation, which in turn pulls and relaxes the tendons, ligaments, moving the bones. There are three t