By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Pain Experts There Are Biological Points of No Return Cartilage does not regenerate indefinitely. Ligaments do not re-tighten themselves once instability progresses. Muscles that protect joints can shut down quietly over time. There are structural thresholds in biology. And once those thresholds are crossed, your options narrow. If you want to Avoid Joint Surgery in Dallas, the smartest strategy is early structural clarity not late-stage reaction.