Knee supports

[Nikki_55]

Hello,

I am suffering with my knees and wondered if any of you found it better with supports, braces, sleeves? And do you find you get pain in your knees from having painful hips.. or is it vice versa?

Hugs to you all

[Mmrr]

Personally I don't use supports as I think in the long term they weaken the muscles and create more problems. Other people might suggest different but I hope you do get some relief.

[Nikki_55 in reply to Mmrr]

Thanks for your reply. good point x

[Paula-C]

My husbands got OA in his knees very bad and he uses one of those knee support pillows in bed at night and he says they're very good. I did recommend one to my friend who was waiting for a hip replacement and she also said it helped a lot.

[Nikki_55 in reply to Paula-C]

Thank you. I had a quick look at those too, i might give one a go x

[KittyJ]

What kind of suffering as people will use different supports for different things, RA, OA, an injury. Personally I’d speak to your doctor and maybe get a referral to a physio as you don’t want to use something that could make it worse.

[Nikki_55 in reply to KittyJ]

Thanks for your reply. I have a bad back and hips too and i dont even have a rheumy yet because of the Vid... My sarcoid team have given me Hydroxy to help with the inflammation, and Naproxen but that is all the help i have been given up to now, and been suffering a for year and half and things are gradually getting worse. x

[Nikki_55 in reply to KittyJ]

Sorry... they are saying inflammatory arthritis ( just a very educated guess from my consultant )

[KittyJ in reply to Nikki_55]

Then you definitely need someone who is qualified to help you, don’t buy anything on the advice of someone who isn’t. I’d chase up that rheumy appointment and get things moving towards a diagnosis, they can refer you too but you can self refer for physio where I am, see if you can do that too. Good luck 🤞🏻

[Nikki_55 in reply to KittyJ]

I really do need to get a rheumy, my GP wouldnt do a referral as they wernt accepting anyone. Thank you x

[helixhelix in reply to Nikki_55]

Your GP wouldn’t do a referral because they aren’t accepting anyone!!! Words fail me!!

Then your GP needs to refer you to a hospital that is! This is totally unacceptable, and you need to push hard. Write a formal complaint to your GP practice manager (make sure you say it is a complaint as then they have to take it seriously) saying you feel that you have not received acceptable care. And that you wish to be referred before you suffer permanent damage as a result of their poor care.

Apart from that I’m with Mmrr that sometimes knee supports do more harm than good. You need a physio to assess you - once it is determined whether or not you have inflammatory arthritis.

[Nikki_55 in reply to helixhelix]

I know! i have been waiting for a long time. My feet are stiff and painful and my hands get painful too. and it jumps from joint to joint. with my sarcoidosis it is quite depressing some days. Fatigue is chronic and varies from day to day. and lots of other probs to add to the mix. Thanks for the reply xx

[KittyJ in reply to Nikki_55]

😲 that’s unacceptable 49goingon99, I agree with what HH has said, you need to push hard for a referral somewhere.

[Nikki_55 in reply to KittyJ]

I do.. thank you.. x

[Wobbies]

The hospital refused a referral from my GP when he first made it, so he called me in, examined me again and sent back the referral saying it was absolutely necessary and he did not accept their rejection. It worked and I got an appointment but the rheumy I saw then just told me I was imagining the pain! Wonder if they were getting their own back.

[Nikki_55 in reply to Wobbies]

That's not good. No wonder some of us get too far on and end up in more of a mess than necessary. It's heartbreaking really x

[Batteria in reply to Wobbies]

That’s like saying “I don’t know what’s wrong with you. Therefore, you are hallucinating”. Do not accept this behaviour. Con amore bx

[Wobbies in reply to Batteria]

No, I didn't. Spent £250 on a private consultation who diagnosed me instantly and wrote to my GP requesting an NHS referral., which GP was happy to do and all great since then. Could not wait to go through the complaints process and anyway lost all faith in that hospital and that was the last straw. xx

[Jesnaskah]

Hi! Before I ever had RA, I was super athletic and as I upped my game, eventually my knees started to really hurt! I saw an orthopedic and he noticed that I had flat feet. I guess from always wearing flip flops my whole life. He suggested a shoe insole (Superfeet, but there are other brands equally good). He noticed due to my foot being flat, the inner part of my knee would turn in, wasn't straight or aligned with the rest of my leg. However, with the right foot support, my knee looked better. I immediately bought a bunch and put them in all my sports shoes, even my spinning shoes for when I would ride my bike. I ditched my flat flip flops and purchased Orthoheel flip flops, as they come with the arch already made in the shoe. It has helped tremendously. And I noticed my hips hurt less too. Just wanted to share in case you find your knees doing the same thing as mine were doing, they were turned in. After RA, my knees are severely affected. Any little bit of cold makes them ache endlessly. So I try to keep them warm with knee sleeves or if its rainy and humid weather. So I wear knee things more for warmth rather than support.

[rabbits65 in reply to Jesnaskah]

Your reply is very interesting. I have very flat feet too and severe arthritis in my feet and swellings. However when I went to an appointment and they gave me some orthotics to put into my shoes they were/are impossible to get on with as they are too “ hard”. I just hobble about so I took them out. I know it says ten minutes a day but honestly even 10 seconds is useless . Any ideas?

[Jesnaskah in reply to rabbits65]

I know I had to cut the tops of mine a little bit, like shave them down to fit into my shoe comfortably. The material felt like a hard foam. Otherwise it was impossible to get the darn thing into my shoe! Also, the way it feels is unpleasant! So I just bear it. Eventually your foot will adjust to the shape, but of course having the horrid pain of RA will make it practically impossible. Maybe you can try the orthoheel sandals to start with because they already come with the arch built in? At least to wear around the house, if not outdoors, to start to adjust. All I know is when my feet are bad due to RA, I can't walk at all. So maybe try when feet are feeling a bit better.

[rabbits65 in reply to Jesnaskah]

Thanks for your reply . So are orthoheels easy to obtain. Do you know who sells them ?

[Jesnaskah in reply to rabbits65]

If you don't mind shopping online, here is a link to a website that sells a variety of styles.

orthoticshop.com/vionic-sho...

I haven't bought a new pair in a while, I may also get myself some. I wear the very first style, called "Tide II"

Hope it helps!! 😊

[rabbits65 in reply to Jesnaskah]

Thank you so very much , I have awful trouble with shoes/feet . I buy the pull on Skechers but they keep altering the style. I try to buy Skechers go walk . It’s all I can wear. 🦶

[Blodynhaul in reply to rabbits65]

Like you, Skechers were helping me a lot - but, as you say, they keep altering styles - and even what I thought was the same style and sizing ended up bigger or smaller, or harder etc! disappointing when can't rely on something being consistent!

[rabbits65 in reply to Blodynhaul]

I completely agree . The Skechers. Go Walk used to feel really cushioned and spacious . The last pair I bought felt like they had cut right down in padding . When you have painful feet you need that padding and they are not cheap

[Blodynhaul in reply to Jesnaskah]

Thanks for the link. I shall also check it out

[Safado]

I too have problems with my knees due to RA chewing them up..I use knee supports and they help greatly, I wouldn't be without them now...

[Gilliancheche]

I wear supports occasionally if my knee pain is particularly bad and I am doing an activity that puts extra pressure on my knee - like trying to play a few holes of golf or going for a long walk. I remove them as soon as activity over

[ATSF]

I used them on and off for many years up to about a month ago. When they seemed to stopping giving any relief from endless pain.

[Hidden]

Hi. My Rheumatology nurse ‘told me off’ for using a knee brace. She referred me to a MSK Physio for exercises to strengthen ligaments etc.

Your GP should refer you to one (Community Health team), or try and self refer if GP being obstructive. You should also ask for an Emergency referral to a Rheumatologist if you are not seeing one atm. [they are doing f2f emergency appointments].

[Mumcon]

My husband and I have both used the sleeves but I’m not to keen We then bought the pillows for the knees and I find these so much better I hope you get relief

[Jig-saw]

When I started my journey I had swelling in my joints, I

would have the fluid drained from my knees and kenalog

injections, I wore a knee sleeve but would remove it and

gently massage my knees to help it drain naturally. I would

only use a knee sleeve for the shortest time possible.

At night I would sleep with a pillow under the knee, hope

you get something that helps soon.

[Ritaritis]

Hi, I did think about knee supports, some containing magnets, thought about it, posted query on this site and decided against. At night I get some hip pain but my nurse agrees this is related to an old dance injury, I used to do American Square Dancing and smashed into a stage one evening, (don't ask!). Heat helps with the pain discomfort for me. I'm trying to use my exercise bike for a few minutes daily as I rarely go out and spend too much time at the computer (I am studying) and that also is helping. Good luck.🐕🐕

[hc75]

I too have knee problems related to osteo arthritis and my experience is that working with my excellent physiotherapist who gave me daily exercises to strengthen my thigh and other leg muscles and also using laser to help the healing process meant that I could throw away my walking stick. He told me just how important the muscles are in keeping your knees supported. He also said,,, NO SUPPORTS, etc etc if my knees hurt, walk through the pain and get them moving. Quite a relevation but very successful. I hate doing exercises but that is what it is! takes me 25 mins when I awake. With ankle weights means I do them just once a day 3 or 4 times a week. He warned me against injections which he said ultimately destroy healthy tissue. I am 77 and pretty mobile thanks to him. Keeping my weight down helps and to help my hands stay free of arthritis I knit a lot, Use or lose it is the name of the game I think!!!. Find a good physio and you will surely find much better mobility and less pain.

[Klc2ict]

Both my knees need replaced as with my right hip. I have been receiving injections into both my knees from my orthopedic doctor every six months (Ins only approved for every six months)and a steroid injection if needed in between. I have been doing these the last year. I was told it is a new approved injection. Like a gel??? I’m sorry I don’t know the name but an orthopedic dr would know. It has kept me out of surgery. I know it’s a matter of time before one knee goes out but so far the injections are working. Minimal pain and no knee brace. Hope this helps. Good luck!

[BonnieG123]

Hi. I found sleeves the best but I’m not comfortable with any of them.

[Nikki_55]

Hi... Thank you all so much for your info and help. I have just had a good read and you all have some great points. xx