Osteoarthritis in knee

[completely-zero654]

Hello I am new on this site and would like to thank admin for letting me on here.

Going back about January 2024 time my left knee started to feel a little odd at the back (ham) think this is what it's name is, anyhow about 6/8 weeks ago plucked up enough courage to see a G.P at my local doctors, a lot of them are locums now, got an appointment and she examined my knee, send me for an x-ray but did not get the results back until seeing the nurse for a burn on my tummy. Of course this shows all your medical history and she saw the results, which my husband asked her for, and apparently I have 2 bones at the back of left knee which keep cracking, creaking, crunching noises and really hurts.

I was sent a letter to see the physio person at my local town, she was extremely pleasant and examined my knee again, this was on Thursday 24th. Her assessment after seeing the x-rays and the way my body is bent through chronic back pain again Osteoarthritis, she advised that physio would not do me any good but a steroid injection might take the pain away for a couple of weeks, but also thought that if this did not work it would be a knew knee.

Guess at nearly 62 I am bound to be having these kinds of things but it really does make you think how quickly your body can go into things like this, it did me know that.

Now I am no chicken but these steroid injections do they put you out when doing it, or do they just freeze the area and am guessing when this wears off you will it hurt even more.

Can anyone tell me please what this will entail as am a bit of a worrying kind of person.

I would like to thank you for reading this and any help/advice will be very much appreciated.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Hello and welcome. I am not sure if you intended to post here on this running forum.

Are your questions related to starting the C25K programme. We do have a fair few runners here running with arthritis or similar issues. But there issues will not be the same as yours.

There are other community sites out there, if you are not intending to join us here..

e.g. community.versusarthritis.org/

Hope this is helpful to you. x

[completely-zero654 in reply to Oldfloss]

Dearest Oldfloss, I thank you for these very kind words, I was not very sure as typed in Osteo., and ended up here. Not sure where I need to go but will try the one you have given me.

Do not think I would be able to even walk this as have chronic back pain also, if fit enough there would be no stopping me. x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to completely-zero654]

We wish you luck and maybe, you will find some new hope in the Community support there.

[completely-zero654 in reply to Oldfloss]

Dear Oldfloss, I sincerely apologise for not replying sooner and thank you with all my heart for your kind reply. I have been in quiet a lot of pain with my knee and just hope that when I have the steroid injection it will work, I was told sometimes it wouldn't so am guessing the next will be a new knee but as the waiting list on the NHS is so long it could be years away. Ouch. Luckily the community have been so good to me it is one of the best therapist that one can have. x

[John_W Graduate]

I've had 5 or 6 steroid injections into both left and right knees in the last 20 years - they do not 'put you out' . The steroid is injected simultaneously with a some local anaesthetic to alleviate any pain - it's all very brief .

My right knee issue was chronic due to some misalignment (biomechanical) issues - so the injection provided only temporary relief and the issue was eventually completely resolved with foot orthoses, allowing me to start my running journey 10 years ago.

Ever since, my left knee is now the vulnerable one - I had some acute bursitis /irritated ligament issue 4 years ago and the injection was brilliant at clearing that up very quickly and I was running again shortly afterwards. A year later, I irritated the same knee quite badly and it took 2 injections to settle it - the 1st one didn't go to the right place.

From an OA and running point of view, keeping moving is absolutely key - being sedentary will only makes this worse. If you need a new knee, then you should be reassured to hear that many people are able to carry on running - it would take time to adjust of course.

Good luck!

[completely-zero654 in reply to John_W]

Bless you John_W for replying to me, you certainly have been extremely brave and are still running think you deserve a medal for this as know how much pain it causes before any injections, at present on a scale of 1-10 mine would be a good 12. The physio said the injection might work and might not, if it did not work then she told me I would be needing a new knee, have 2 bones only left at the back and they just keep rubbing together plus the other things mentioned. I guess that you understand what it is like and although we do not know each other I am very proud of you for going through all this and keeping up running.

Thank you for wishing me Good Luck I need it.

[AKatieD]

I don't know if you would consider it or feel it is too late but HRT totally removed my OA knee pain. Oestrogen is needed for cartilage repair so without it you get joint degeneration. Without need for other treatment, can run etc with no problems.

[completely-zero654 in reply to AKatieD]

Good evening AKatieD, Never even thought about it as apart from chronic back pain for over 20 years am on so many tablets also liquid Morphine to try and keep me going, I am almost bent in half because of this pain over the years, and for no reason my left knee just went without warning.

I am really envious of you and all the people who have and overcome some very painful things with their bodies, me just worried about a little injection think the leaflet that tells you about it makes matters worse. I will have a look into what you suggested and thank you so much for replying to me.