I have had horrible pain between my shoulders for months now. My rheumy gave me an ultrasound and determined that while I had some deterioration/arthritis, it was most likely a tendon problem. The plaquenil helped me not have that nagging horrible pain daily, but I was taken off it due to anemia.
I have since injured my knee and have had an orthopedic surgeon tell me it's tendonitis, while my physical therapist thinks it's a torn meniscus. Honestly, the tear seems more likely based on what I've read, but the surgeon (who gave me a 1 minute exam) is convinced it's tendonitis. I asked him how long they typically take to heal, and he told me 3 weeks. I have been having pain/swelling for 2 months now despite taking high doses of prednisone!
I made an appointment with my GP for a second opinion. My other knee is having problems too (the surgeon calls it "irregularity") and I'm terrified of losing my mobility. My muscles burn constantly, like I'm overexerting them, and I have terrible fatigue.
I don't understand why the doctors/health professionals don't work TOGETHER! Each person thinks they know best, yet I'm worse off now than I have been in a long while. I take vitamin d3 and calcium daily, but haven't noticed any improvement since starting them months ago.
Thanks for listening to my vent
Written by
momtomany
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i recommend getting another orthopedic analysis -- from what you've described it DOES sound like a torn meniscus -- i should know -- that's what happened to me and i had surgery in april of 2009. and it takes a LOT longer for the torn meniscus to heal -- get a different doctor.
initially i was told that i had a knee strain -- it wasn't until i got to PT that the PT told me it was actually a torn meniscus.
and yes, once the first knee develops a problem -- so does the other one.
good luck to you,
how much vitamin d 3 are you taking each day? please consider at least 5000 a day.
You really shouldn't be recommending medicine doses as that is specific to each patient and too much is just as bad as too little!
I know you're just trying to be helpful here but we should leave this to the doctors.
My D was way too low this past winter and I'm now on Mega doses. I immediately realized a huge difference in symptoms reduction but still have daily pain and stiffness.
Not sure if you can request a MRI but that would show any damage within the knee.
Is the other knee painful now because you're favoring it? Torn meniscus isn't going to migrate.
Also have you been evaluated for the different types of arthritis?
I was originally taking the prescription mega doses of d2, but I cannot tolerate them. They give me urinary symptoms and horrible nausea, so my doctor told me to switch to 4,000 iu of d3 daily. I have been taking this much for nearly a year, and while my levels have gone from 19 to 33, I feel absolutely no difference, and even on the mega doses I only reached a 29. I know I have malabsorption issues (not just d) but the doctors don't seem to be concerned.
Yes, my other knee is going out because I was/am in this horrible brace that forces me to put all the pressure on my "good" knee. My xrays didn't show any arthritis, and my physical therapist said it almost seems like the swelling is coming from inside the joint.
it's really nice -- but because my knee collapsed again on me in 2011 --which resulted in a broken right arm, dislocated jar, my glasses got ruined, and something ripped in my left knee -- i now need support for that knee.
I do believe my physical therapist over the surgeon as her exams were much more thorough, and my symptoms more directly align with the torn meniscus. I will definitely be getting a new doctor.
I really don't want surgery, but most of the literature I've
many people do not have the knee surgery but opt instead for knee support -- like braces.
if i had had a choice i would have opted JUST for the knee support. i didn't start falling down upwards of 20 times a day until AFTER i had the knee surgery - and i started falling down literally the day after surgery. here it is 4 years later, and i still have the knee problems. BUT, with my ossur knee brace, i can feel the knee cap shifting so when that happens, i just stop for a few moments, and then i don't fall down as often.
from what i've read on other web sites and message boards -- if one is deficient in vitamin d3 -- then the minimum dosage each day should be 5000 iu a day,
if you go to dr joseph mercola's site -- he has an article about how to calculate how much vitamin d3 to take each day -- it's based on a person's weight. i can't remember the exact numbers but i do know that a 200 lb person should be taking 10,000 IU of vitamin d3 each day -- hope that helps
My sister works in a hospital, and she basically told me the same thing you just did. She said that orthopedic surgeons like quick fix surgeries and they don't want any other type of patient. How frustrating!
My GP is very wonderful, and she wanted me to get an MRI a month ago. I'm sure she will be none too pleased when I tell her about my latest appointment. I hope she can find me a better doctor.
are you with an HMO? if so, there should be a list of doctors at the hospital or medical clinic that you go to.
here in WA state, although we have blue cross/blue shield -- most people go to either the everett clinic doctors or the providence hospital doctors. if they want specialty care, then they usually go to one of the seattle hospitals -- like university of washington, or swedish medical.
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