So, my knees are bone on bone and OA . I get steroid injections every 90 days in them but they don't give me much relief anymore. I am 63 and was told by a Dr. 15 years ago that I should have knee replacement surgery. I have been toughing it out. Winter is worse than summer. But stairs....the act of bending my knee and placing weight on my one foot is painful. When going downstairs, I turn sideways or I compensate by bending my hip, which also has OA. It is in all my joints, and that messes with my balance. But, going downstairs is actually an accident waiting to happen. One of these years I may have to get my knees replaced.
Can anyone relate?
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NoRegret
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I can relate to that. The consultants have been offering me replacements for a while now but eventually discharged me because I don’t want the surgery. But yes, I do find I’m going down stairs far more carefully now than I used to, and it worries me when I go down carrying things.
Yeah, the surgery is expensive, money I don't have. That is the main reason I'm not having surgery. Eventually I will just have to work out some kind of payment plan. That time is coming sooner than later. Going down stairs while carrying something is near impossible. My Son lives near so I get a lot of help. Bless his heart.
To be honest if your knees are bone on bone then there is going to come a time when the steroid injections do nothing.
Not sure how long you have been having injections, but here in UK most doctors dislike you having too many (damage to the surrounding tendons/muscles which support your joint) and will only allow 3 per year.
I had my left knee replacement op 2 years ago, and have to say it’s brilliant. Have also had right hip and left shoulder replaced (still recovering from that), so would recommend getting them done.
I appreciate you probably didn’t want them done when you were younger, and maybe as you are in the US, medical costs may be an issue, but we only have one life, so if you can do something to make it less painful, do it!
Although with the current coronavirus situation that might be easier said than done.
The time has come already where the injections in my knees aren't doing anything to relieve pain. Thanks for letting me know about your knee replacement success.
Hi try going down the stairs backwards it helps, not so much strain on the knees, yes think about a stair lift here in the UK you can actually hire them, then even if you don't use it all the time it will come in handy to take things up or down the stairs. I had a new knee last year and am now on the waiting list to have my other one done, my Consultant aid that the injections rarely work and you are limited to how many you can have, so please thing carefully about having a new knee you only have one life so anything that will improve it would be a bonus Love & Hugs XX
Well I hope it helps you, yes do think about the surgery, auntieb my consultant says it shouldn't matter what your weight is if you need a new knee you need one, as without it you can't get around so exercise is out of the question Love & Hugs Xx
Not a chance here in Yorkshire. When you ask for a referral, you are seen by a physio first. Last time I got to the physio she just said, you are wasting your time. You have to have a BMI no higher than 33 before we can refer you to see a consultant. But interestingly, she didn't offer me any help to reach that goal!I've even asked if I can have it done under a local, but no they won't. And that is my point exactly, what hope do I ever have of losing the weight successfully when I can't exercise or walk properly?
I don’t know if it’s safer. I did the “superman” out of my house one night (4 steps) and landed face first on the cement and oddly I didn’t get hurt except when I look back I think I actually hurt my shoulder.
I have Osteoarthritis nd my knees are also bone on bone - both of them. I am overweight, so I have been refused knee replacements. I am trying to lose the weight but it's a very hard battle! Last year I lost 25kg, then life happened and I went off the diet, but I have started again. I don't have steroid injections anymore, they didn't work for me and just hiked my blood sugars (I have diabetes T2) I take Co-codamol, Nefopam and amitriptyline for the pain, but some days they don't even touch it.
I'm not sure I even want them doing anymore. I went into hospital with stomach pain 11 yers go and my gall bladder burst. During the op to fix that my bowel was nipped and I ended up with necritis. I had 14 major operations and die twice. The knees went after that because of the immobility and weight gain. Then last Christmas I was in the same hospital with an infection in my leg, I was sent home with a strong antibiotic which the nurse was to administer every day. On the first day, I complained of itching around my ears and hairline, she rang the hospital to see if it was safe to give me the jab. I heard a mans voice on the phone say, 'oh just give it to her'
Two days later I was covered in huge red angry blisters from head to toe, back in the hospital, the treatment was appalling, I begged to be discharged. I spent the next 3 months in a chair shedding skin everywhere, my hair fell out and my nails are splitting and ridged. So you see, there's no way I'd go back to that hospital for surgery. They'd probably kill me for real a third time!
Interestingly, the only thing I have ever found to give complete relief from the pain is to wrap cabbage leaves around my knees at night, with cling film. (See, I really have tried everything, lol) The next day, virtually no pain at all. But, it's simply not practical to do every night!
Well it sounds like you've also had your fair share Hon. I hope you get some relief from the cabbage, I just found it impossible to keep it up, wrapping it around my knees every night. As a well-rounded lady, it wasn't the easiest thing to do, which is sad because I felt it really did work. It's odd, isn't it? How something so simple can work, yet they spend a fortune on fancy creams and ointments that don't do zit!
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