Still lame...leg wise, not personality! I hope :-)

[Nettac]

I had a steroid shot two weeks ago. This made a huge difference in terms of stiffness, hip and foot pain. My left achilles and knee, however, is a nightmare. I'm hobbling around with a stick. It hurts like hell, swells and I don't seem to be able to straighten it.

Any suggestions?

[SoulmanPaul]

Hi. I sometimes have trouble with my right Achilles tendon...it appears to shorten for some reason. An OT gave me an exercise which helps to stretch it. Maybe it'll help? Stand facing a wall, as close as you can with toes touching skirting. Without lifting heels off the floor bend knees to touch wall and hold.

Best wishes

Paul

[Nettac in reply to SoulmanPaul]

I do those stretches almost daily. However, too painful at the moment. Ouch!

Thanks

[Neonkittie17]

Hi Nettac, Was the steroid shot in the knee itself? I have them when my knee swells and stiffens and my ankle is up and down with swelling often. My physio said the ankle isn't always pumping the fluid back up the hence the ankle pooling from time to time. If there is too much fluid over or behind my knee also I cannot straighten it easily. Boomerang leg. I've had fluid over the knee cap drained before which helped and was done at the time of having a knee injection. The knee shots last very well from 5-7 months for me and remove all my swelling and pain but the general steroid shot lasts me only a couple of weeks.

Physio and hydro have helped a lot in the past. Supportive orthotics too. My physio put a rolled hand towel behind my extended leg whilst I was laying on the physio couch and told me to press gently with the back of my knee onto that towel and hold for five seconds which strengthened my surrounding muscles and stretched the tendons at the back of the knee and leg. That is where the most of my trouble is. It helped/helps a lot. Good luck. x

[Nettac in reply to Neonkittie17]

Thank you. Your problem sounds just like mine!

I had a general steroid. I don't think they will drain fluid in my knee or give a steroid into knee at the moment, due to possible infection. However, I have it in mind to ask for it next time....it's an ongoing issue.

Went to docs today as feeling generally very unwell. He's taken bloods, which is reassuring. Probably picked up a bug after steroid... feel cack!

Thanks fot your useful response.

[Neonkittie17]

Yes I would ask next time Nettac about a steroid into the knee joint (it's not an awful thing to have I assure you. . A tiny discomfort for a second or two but they numb your knee beforehand with cryo spray and it is all over and done with quickly. The worst bit is keeping still for 24 hours after!) Worth it to be rid of a fat and painful knee.

For me the exercises my physio gave me and doing hydro have kept mobilty good.

Hope you soon feel better. x

[Jules13 in reply to Neonkittie17]

I had cortisone injected directly into my knees and hip. Helps brilliantly. But you can't have them more that 3-4 times a year.

[Nettac]

Thank you

It's disappointing that my knee is giving me issues...I had two partial replacements a couple of years ago! Actually, the right knee has always been problematic. Bleh.