Meniscus

[Darjeeling2303]

Hi, I am suffering with a unbearably painful torn Meniscus and knee nerve damage. Although I’m taking Napraxon, Tramadol, Paracetamol daily and 3 x Amitriptyline for night times and none of those hit my pain? What more can I do?

[katieoxo60]

Hate to say this but a torn meniscus should be repaired as soon as possible which can be done by laproscopic day surgery but yours sounds passed that but you know that the virus is stopping Treatment at present pain relief is the only choice sorry.

[Darjeeling2303 in reply to katieoxo60]

Thank you. I have Surgery booked but all the drugs I’m taking isn’t helping with my pain. What did you take?

[katieoxo60 in reply to Darjeeling2303]

Hello thank you for reply. It took me 6 months to get a diagnosis. When I did they gave me a steroid injection into the joint to try. It was horrendously painful eventually I could not walk on my leg so had to have total knee replacement. I was taking painkillers for arthritis already i.e Tramadol which was increased, & paracetamol 8 a day. Plus sprays, heat patches and pads. with ice packs to lower the swelling. A lot of people have found the pain patches are good from the GP so worth asking as it could be some time before ops are caught up. My pain is gone since op , but still swells and I don't have full movement due to damage to muscles and arthritis. My story is not one of the best but at least I can walk for now with no serious pain. I enquired into private treatment the cost for day surgery being around £3000 for laparoscopic repair. But knee replacement cost a lot more than that. If I was you I would ask to try the patches unless you have other health issues. Every best wish with finding relief, have you tried alternatives like heat treatments or herbal remedies to lessen the pain there are lots of suggestions on Arthritis website and others like u tube

[bestbuddy]

I had to accept defeat with mine knowing it would only improve with surgery. All the medication in the world can’t heal a tear within a joint. I went in as a day case and recovered really well. They were able to trim the tear and clean out the cartilage space. 18months on I only experience mild pain from the arthritis that is in the knee. So glad I had it done.

[Darjeeling2303 in reply to bestbuddy]

Thank you for that; it reassures me that Surgery is worth it. Can you tell me what you used for pain relief as nothing is working for me and I don’t want to hit the Morphine!

[bestbuddy in reply to Darjeeling2303]

I was given something codeine based but they gave me a very dry mouth, constipation and I felt doped so I couldn’t take them for long. As soon as it was confirmed on MRI after struggling for 18 months I was offered a cancellation day case surgery. Push for what you need ... my GP fobbed me off for so long.

[Cal66]

Hi

So sorry to hear this. I know how you feel about the pain. You don't say what strength Tramadol or Amitriptyline you take but this what I take my Arthritis and Lupus.I take 2x50mg x 4 daily, p mol 2x1 nightly but I also take 1x10mg & 25mg per night. I do increase my Amitriptyline if I am in severe pain, especially after I had both my knees replaced and extra paracetamol.

I don't know if this is of any help to you, but if you want to contact me via chat your quite welcome to. Also you can always ring your GP up & tell them how you are feeling. Good luck and I hope that you feel better soon.

[Darjeeling2303]

I am taking daily 8 x 50mg Tramadol, 8 x 500mg Paracetamol, 2 x 50mg Napraxon, and 3 x 10mg Amitriptyline extra for nights to help with sleeping. None of this is hitting my pain? I can’t believe it isn’t. The pain is a sting mixed with throbbing aim. As long as I don’t bend my knee I can cope but sitting down, going to the loo etc all mean I bend my knee. And if I walk on it because it’s less painful then I suffer after because I’ve walked on it? I can’t win! My doctor said unless I take something stronger that is addictable, she can’t offer me anything else. I have a Pain Clinic calling me next week but I think that’s all about ‘other’ ways of taking control like Mindfulness! My surgery isn’t until mid May. I really don’t know how I’ll put up with it that long!

My Mum suffered with her Arthritis and said it was an intense pain also. I hope that you will get the treatment you need soon.

[Nifflerluck in reply to Darjeeling2303]

Hi Darjeeling. Sorry to hear you are struggling. I know what it's like, I've had 3 meniscus surgeries already.

The Naproxen dose you are on seems rather low, I thought the standard was 500mg twice a day ?

Another one you could try instead of Naproxen is Diclofenic. It's also meant to help with pain and inflammation and at times I've found it to be more helpful than Naproxen.

Don't know if it would help yet there is also a cream called Capsaicin which I got on prescription from my GP when I was really struggling with my knees so maybe see if that could work ?

Have you tried any pain patches ? I've not personally tried them yet I am on a similar cocktail to you pain med wise and a friend of mine suggested prescription pain patches so not sure if that would be an option for you.

Hope you find something to help.