Just wondering if anyone can help me please (well my Mum). My Mum has had sero positive RA (which I have now been diagnosed with) for the last 28 years. Her left knee is badly affected with osteoarthritis to the point where the two bones are rubbing together. She is in a great deal of pain and unable to put any weight on her knee hence has very limited mobility. She has tried various pain killers and splints but none to any effect so far. The only solution is a knee replacement but unfortunately she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in April 2014 and unable to have any invasive surgery due to the risk of not being to handle the anaesthesia and infection. The Orthopedic Team were also talking about a steroid injection but said because the gap between the two bones is virtually non existent they don't know if they will be able to inject in the correct place and even if they do they don't know if it will be effective or not, last two days or 6 weeks with the additional risk of infection. Does anyone have any experience of how best to make Mum more comfortable please? Any splints they know of which may help? She is a petite, frail lady and was recently provided with a heavier splint (with metal on each side) to even out the pressure of the two bones equally. She finds this too heavy.
Thank you so much.
xx
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Mistydawn
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I'm sorry to hear your mother's latest diagnosis & afraid although I have OA in knees fortunately it's not progressed as your mother's has. All I can think of is to go back to the Ortho team & see if there is anything more suitable to make her comfortable. I don't know whether they'll be helpful but certainly an option.
I have found hourly release BuTrans patches have relieved my OA pain but maybe not suitable for your mother given her age & situation. Certainly worth seeing her GP though to go through any options she's not yet tried to give some relief. I know steroid injections are done with the aid of imaging in some circumstances but I'd be more concerned about putting her through that with a low expected success rate & fear of risk of infection.
I hope someone can be of more help & you find something eases her pain.
Thank you Nomoreheels, we are seeing the Orthopaedic Consultant on 15 January and I shall be speaking with Mum's GP on Monday. I didn't know about the Bu Trans patch so thanks for the heads up on this.
Thank you Cathie. Mum has had some physio already and has been given some exercises to do. It looks, to me, that her myeloma is flaring up again so this is making things much worse than they would be in isolation. I will add that to the list of things to ask Mum's GP tomorrow. Getting old is not very nice is it...
Best wishes
I have osteoarthritis in both knees and my right knee is bone on bone. Cant have new knees as I am too heavy and only 55. My GP couldnt give me steroid injection as my bones are too close together. I totally understand the pain your Mum is experiencing and it doesnt let up. I have tried Butrans patches and they dont seem to touch the pain but they are low dose so if I asked for increased dose they may work and tramadol which has to be taken with caution is the only thing which eases the pain (doesnt take it away completely) The only thing I have found helpful is hydrotherapy and this is helping strengthen the muscles around my knees. Has to be done gently though or more pain occurs. Hope your Mum finds something to help soon. Gentle hugs Joolz.x
Thanks Joolz, so sorry to hear about your arthritis being 'bone to bone' and at a relatively young age! I will add your thoughts to my list of questions for Mum's GP tomorrow. Usha x
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