By:Robert Remler
Cartilage cell regeneration
Allison Tholl was the star of her high school basketball team until a recurring knee injury threatened her promising career.
Tholl tore cartilage in her left knee in the summer of 1999, while playing for the AAU Silver Bullets in a club basketball tournament at Villanova University in Philadelphia. After she had arthoscopic surgery and completed her rehabilitation, Tholl's physician allowed her to play basketball and any other sport.
Tholl, a center for Sewanhaka H.S., was named All-Nassau County as a junior, and she hoped to earn a basketball scholarship from a college. But in her senior year, when she took to the court again, problems began. According to Craig Levitz, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at South Nassau Communities Hospital, a recurring cartilage tear can spell the beginning of lifelong knee problems or, quite possibly, the premature end of an athletic career.
Today, Tholl, a freshman in college, is working her way into game-shape for the 2002 season. The new outlook on her basketball career can be attributed to carticel therapy. An innovative, minimally-invasive surgical approach, Levitz and South Nassau's Center for Cartilage Repair employ carticel therapy to rescue patients from the persistent pain and potentially debilitating effects caused by recurring knee-cartilage injuries.
The carticel approach begins with an arthroscopic examination of the knee, which requires inserting a small scope into the knee through a tiny incision. The surgeon probes the knee with the scope to locate the tear and remove a piece of healthy cartilage. The cartilage is sent to a lab where it is cultured to multiply its cells rapidly and by the millions. The cloned cartilage cells are then injected, where they will continue to multiply and fill in the tear with hyaline and cartilage.
Tholl says, "I'm just beginning to experience the benefits of carticel therapy. A year ago, I had no hope. Now, I'm shooting hoops...Dr. Levitz says that I am right on schedule to resume my career this fall."
For more information about carticel therapy or to schedule an appointment to determine if you are a candidate for the procedure, call 1-877-SouthNassau.
Diabetes in pregnancy
"Women and Diabetes: Sexuality, Body Changes and Pregnancy," will be the topic at the meeting of the Diabetes in Pregnancy support group set for Sat., Oct. 20, from 1 to 2 p.m. Sponsored by North Shore University Hospital/ Manhasset, the group will meet at 865 Northern Boulevard, Suite 202, Great Neck. Call (516) 622-5123.
Advocacy with pride
"Advocacy with Pride" is the theme of this year's educational conference of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in New York State, an organization that serves as a voice for families with loved ones who have mental illness. Scheduled for Nov. 2, 3 and 4 at the Westchester Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown, the conference brings together recognized experts to update the public on the latest developments in policy, research and treatment in the care of the more than 227,000 individuals with serious mental illness in the state.
Fri., Nov. 2 will be devoted to persons with mental illness who find themselves caught in the criminal justice system.
Dr. Xavier Amador, author of "I'm Not Sick, I Don't Need Help," will be the luncheon speaker and Dr. Richard Harding, president of the American Psychiatric Association, will be the keynote dinner speaker on Sat., Nov. 3.
On Sun., Nov. 4, "New Insights into the Treatment of Mental Illness" will be presented.
Participants may register for the entire conference or by the day. Call 1-800-950-3228.
Other events and activities
[bold] Learning to Live With Cancer [unbold] group is being offered by Mercy Medical Center, 1000 North Village Avenue. The support group begins Mon., Oct. 15 and run for six weeks ending Nov. 19. The group, which is held in the St. Anne's conference room in St. Anne's Center at Mercy Medical is primarily geared to the patient and family members. Time for the sessions will be 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Call (516) 705-1393 to register...[bold] The National Infertility Network Exchange [unbold] is now forming peer-led support groups. Topics include infertility, medical procedures, male infertility, In-Vitro Fertilization and miscarriage. Call (516) 794-5772 for information...[bold] Fibromyalgia support group [unbold] is meeting on Thurs., Oct. 11, 1 p.m. at Island Trees Library, 38 Farmedge Road, Levittown. The topic is "Chinese Medicine and Fibromyalgia" with Eric Adler, licensed acupuncturist. The meeting is open to the public and free of charge. For more information, call the Arthritis Foundation at (631) 427-8272.
