Hi im new here. Knee pain .... Really struggl... - Pain Concern

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Hi im new here. Knee pain .... Really struggling!!!!

Mills66 profile image
21 Replies

After 10 years im getting help for knee arthritis. I've never known pain like it. I've insomnia too....night time is horrendous. Ive a knee brace to wear indefinitely. Ive had everything including morphine. Nothing touched the pain. (Im 54 and apparently too young fir a replacement) Please can anyone offer advice.

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Mills66 profile image
Mills66
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21 Replies
Aoibheann profile image
Aoibheann

Hello and welcome Mills66, I feel your pain. I too am taking loads prescription medication for pain. After trial and error I bought Pernaton gel over the counter from the Chemist and it is just brilliant. I had my knee replacement aged 57 amongst other surgeries so I know what you are going through and now awaiting back surgery for which I am terrified. XX 😊

Mills66 profile image
Mills66 in reply to Aoibheann

Thank you for replying. I've just googled it....not heard of it so will give it a go. Take care.

Aoibheann profile image
Aoibheann in reply to Mills66

You're welcome. Take care. ☺

Mitch48 profile image
Mitch48 in reply to Aoibheann

Hi there, what back surgery are you having? I’ve just had this week, one huge lumbar surgery to help with Arthritis, Early Cauda Equina Syndrome & Grade 2 Spondylolisthesis. I can give you more details if you’d like. Regards

Aoibheann profile image
Aoibheann in reply to Mitch48

Spondylolisthesis, arthritis, osteoporosis

Mitch48 profile image
Mitch48 in reply to Aoibheann

I’ve just had open surgery on the following -L3/4/5 Laminectomies

L3/4/5 Foramenotomies

L3/4 & L4/5 Discectomies

L3/4/5 Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (Pedicle screws & Onlay Bone)

I’m used to severe pain having been injured in a road traffic collision 17 years ago and having C5/6 & C6/7 Radiculopathy. I’ve had 2 ACDF’s at those levels the first one didn’t work & the second one was better until an osteophyte grew & compressed both nerves again. I’m feeling more pain from the back surgery of course, especially from the muscles that were cut to gain access to the spine. I’ve only taken the odd Oxycodone on top of my Fentanyl 75mcg & coping well with the pain. Moving about regularly and not lying down all day is key to getting better quickly. There is no physio for your back as the staff do not know how flexible your back was prior to surgery. I’ve been doing yoga when possible for the past year & im convinced that helped.

Mitch48 profile image
Mitch48

Hi there,As well as having spinal injuries, I’ve struggled with my knees since being a pre teen, mainly with maltracking knee caps & early arthritis. I’m female, so my story may be slightly different if you’re male. I’ve had 8 knee surgeries some with several procedures in each. I’ve just had my knee replacement postponed to have extensive lumbar spine surgeries. If you give more details of conditions, pain areas, surgeries etc, I may be able to come up with suggestions.

Regards

Mills66 profile image
Mills66 in reply to Mitch48

hi mitch. wow 8 surgeries. .....for a very long time i havent been able to bend my left knee or crouch. it feels like theres a cushion behind it and gives me an electic shock. some have said its a bakers cycst. ive also been told i have old maids knee ?? as doctor couldnt get needle between knee areas.....it does feel like knee cap is touching my shin bone (sorry dont know bone names) to date ive had so much physio, mainly to concentrate on strengthening my legs. ive been told i have mesial osteoarthritis.also varus OA.

the horrendous shooting pains are center of knee cap and side.

any help would be amazing x

Mitch48 profile image
Mitch48 in reply to Mills66

Hi there,Does your knee ‘stick’ and release with a cracking sound? That’s usually when the knee is arthritic and catches. I don’t have any knowledge of the electric shock element of your pain, it does sound like a nerve is involved, (although I can tell you lots about my spinal injuries unfortunately). Strengthening your quadriceps is a great way to help the knee track properly. I wish you all the best.

Mills66 profile image
Mills66 in reply to Mitch48

not sure about sticking? if im on my side i have to be careful how i twist it. both knees click. ive knoticed it doesnt actually give way but 'catches me' and feels it could. it just seems im dealing with differnt pains in the same area, back and front of knee. thank you for your reply... take care

Mitch48 profile image
Mitch48 in reply to Mills66

You could have meniscus problems as well as arthritis, I’ve found that pain from the meniscus can ‘burn’, including down the shin. Pain at back of knee could be arthritis & is often at the inside, depending how severe it is. Potential to ‘give way’ again could be arthritis or some other condition that I haven’t experienced. I hope you get some answers and relief from pain.

Aoibheann profile image
Aoibheann in reply to Mitch48

Wow, you know your stuff. Thanks for taking the time to reply. x

springersrule profile image
springersrule

Hi Mills66, i know your pain intimately!! I have osteo and psoriatic arthritis in most of my joints (I'm 53). Last year on top of the 'normal' pain, i had a low impact injury to my left knee and fractured the femur head (in knee joint) and tore the meniscus. It happened in July but due to covid i didn't get any treatment until late October. Morphine didnt agree with me but i've been taking dihydrocodeine, normal ones through the day and a slow release one before bedtime. They have really helped me. I'm waiting for a half knee replacement, the damage cant be resolved any other way, which should be next month.

For reference, it may be worth seeing your doctor again, face to face if you can. I only got seen in October because i went into the surgery and refused to leave until i was seen. Not something i would normally do but i was at breaking point - no pain killers and not able to walk without crutches or a rollator since it happened. Pain killers prescribed and an mri appt the next day, results the day after!! They can do it when push comes to shove.

If the circumstances are right they will do joint replacements at a younger age. You just have to keep pushing til you get to see a consultant. 12 years ago my gp was telling me i had early arthritis in my hip and sent me for physio. The physio wasn't happy with how my hip felt so i saw a consultant and it was replaced the same year.

The best advise i received before seeing my gp was from one of the practise nurses. She told me to stop trying to be ok and walk into his room in a way that showed how it feels. The more we put on a brave face the less serious they think it is.

Sorry i've gone on a bit 😁 I hope something in my essay is of help xx

Mills66 profile image
Mills66 in reply to springersrule

hi springersrule🤗 thank you so much for the reply. you defo been thro it. im like you i have always put a front on and coped......i finally admitted to gp that is what i do. but ive had so many tears, id rather have my leg off, its the sort of pain you just dont know what to do for the best, and i actually feel deflated and angry. with the new brace i can feel pain (like i have in the bad leg) in the other knee which worries me. thank you again for your in put. take care xx

Aoibheann profile image
Aoibheann

Hello, I would love to hear more. I live in the north of Ireland.

Mills66 profile image
Mills66

hi JoJoJerseyGirl.....thank you for your reply.

🤗ouch yoou too have suffered. my gp just fobs me off....my specialist physio was the one who said im too young, as the replacements apparently last 20 years.....but theres no way i can cope with the pain im in. hope things ease for you x

Mitch48 profile image
Mitch48

Just a quick one, knee replacements nowadays last lifelong and that is from my knee surgeon (who has performed my last 6 surgeries) and who is replacing my knee shortly. I’m 51 (I’ve struggled for the past 5 years needing it doing then a Tibial Osteotomy on the other leg)) & it was a concern of mine. Unfortunately, we women have to wait longer than men for a knee replacement due to having to wait for our bones to harden around the perimenopause. Patients who are told they are too young for a replacement seems to be commonly told. I’ve heard that it’s usually when their condition isn’t severe enough yet or they have not had enough surgeries to try to rectify their pain/condition. Knee replacements are a last resort and not quickly sought.

Mills66 profile image
Mills66 in reply to Mitch48

thank you for your reply......i have heard recently of people younger than me having knee replacements, which did make me think. the pain at night is unbareable....a gp even suggested its fight or flight pain.....im under a lot of stress doing a divorce. i had stress pain years ago but the pain in my knee is the area of arthritis...so its not all stress pain.... think my gp just doesnt know what to suggest. thanks again x

Mitch48 profile image
Mitch48 in reply to Mills66

Hi there, my surgeon told me there are 20 & 30 year olds having replacements but they are usually for Rheumatoid Arthritis or cancer etc, rather than Osteo. The pain at night can seem worse, you’re laid there trying to sleep, get into a comfortable position etc. It may be also that you haven’t got other things on your mind to concentrate on & push the pain into the background. It’s like that with the pain I have with my cervical & lumber spinal injuries. I use a Tens machine & listen to podcasts to try to distract me. I use the Tens on my knees too. I’ve got a great electric heat pad that my hubby bought for me from Boots a few years ago, it really helps. So does Biofreeze, a gel that I put on my knees, arms etc that helps to ‘cover’ the pain. I can also meditate and also use ‘stomach’ breathing to calm myself when in severe pain (which is daily). I’ve learnt to cope with pain by not trying to fight it, accept it’s happening and calming my body & mind using breathing techniques. It’s rather like dealing with contractions during labour! When was your last knee surgery & which ones have you had? Have you considered a pain clinic?

Regards

Pte82 profile image
Pte82

Mills66, please investigate boron for possible relief from your knee arthritis. Pain causes loss of magnesium complicating an already bad sitiation with possible insomnia resulting from a magnesium deficiency that is a key activating component for vitamin D and thiamine to name a few. There are many forms of magnesium however magnesium glycinate a good gentle relaxing form. Boron increases magnesium absorption. Calcium fructoborate is a plant based well absorbed form of boron. Boron glycinate and citrate are other forms. Discuss them with your health care professional before using any supplement.

psychologytoday.com/us/blog...

caringmedical.com/prolother...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Mills66 profile image
Mills66 in reply to Pte82

wow thank you Pte82 thats really informative. i will give it a try.

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