Hey, new to the group. Had a motorcycle accident a few years ago, went doen and punched the pavement with my left knee, no fractures or anything else. It got progressively worse, the pain finally came to a head a few months ago and finally I sought out help from an orthpaedic surgeon. I had a very large bone spur and torn cartilege, bone spur was so large that the doctor said it was the largest one himself and the or had ever seen, but all went well arthroscopic surgery and I felt great on the 4th day. Apparently overdid it in PT and was in incredible pain, saw the dr and he gave me Methloprednisone (sorry spelling) for a week, which did not help and he ordered and MRI. got the results today and actually I was hoping I had torn cartilege and he was going to in again and presto well again! nope, it is advance degenerative osteo-a.
Any insight or encouragement that anyone can give I would appareciate. I can say thought that i
Well, once you have degenerative OA and the cartledge is gone there's not much you can do. I'm having my first knee replaced on July 16th and the other knee replaced 6-8 weeks later. I've had cortisone shots and Synvisc injections to both of my knees several times and I've run out of options. Have you talked to you ortho about Synvisc inj. It's like shooting WD40 into the joints. For me it worked well for a year but since I'm bone on bone there's not much can be done but knee replacements. Ask about Synvisc. I understand not being able to exercise and diet. I've just lost 25 lbs. and my goal is another 35 lbs. I know I have to get the weight off my joints. I plan on golfing 3 months after I have my second surgery. Keep us posted on how you're doing and talk to your doc about Synvisc. Lindy.
[QUOTE=godey1863]
Hey, new to the group. Had a motorcycle accident a few years ago, went doen and punched the pavement with my left knee, no fractures or anything else. It got progressively worse, the pain finally came to a head a few months ago and finally I sought out help from an orthpaedic surgeon. I had a very large bone spur and torn cartilege, bone spur was so large that the doctor said it was the largest one himself and the or had ever seen, but all went well arthroscopic surgery and I felt great on the 4th day. Apparently overdid it in PT and was in incredible pain, saw the dr and he gave me Methloprednisone (sorry spelling) for a week, which did not help and he ordered and MRI. got the results today and actually I was hoping I had torn cartilege and he was going to in again and presto well again! nope, it is advance degenerative osteo-a.
Any insight or encouragement that anyone can give I would appareciate. I can say thought that i
[/QUOTE]
Sorry to hear of your trouble. You are not alone. About 5 years ago I was on a ladder which collapsed and from what they tell me it basically crushed the cartilage between the talus and subtalus bone in my ankle. Living with this for the last 5 years has at times been very painful. If I stand around or go to a shopping mall or warehouse store I can pretty much count on severe pain afterwards. For me I also try to avoid taking many drugs and only take asprin. It works a little but not a magic bullet. I would suggest to you that for getting your exercise swimming is a wonderful way to be able to work up to a very good lengthy workout for weight control. The gym that I belonged to had a full size olympic pool. If yours doesn't look around for one that does. Also, you might find a ube (upper body exercisor), basically an arm bike. You peddle with your arms and you can get a good work out. Whatever you do, listen to your body and work out in a way to keep up your cardio, there are many ways to do it with out over doing it with your knee. Try to keep your knee moving as much as you can comfortably. The swimming is probably the best cardio to keep movement in your weight bearing joint, without putting so much stress on the joint. Good Luck!
Bummer! Your situation sounds a bit like mine: excellent recovery from knee surgery (tear on articular cartilage of femur) and then overdid PT (quad sets). Now I am into 4th week of extreme swelling & stiffness. I'm on the couch with ice day after day and can't seem to get better. Like you, I wish it was something my doc can go in and fix but she says no, it's osteo.
In my opinion, most family practice and internal medicine doctors use treatment routines they learned by rote in medical school -- without even thinking about what they're doing. I told my family doctor that years of taking NSAID had never helped my hand before I had surgery, and now the pain in my knee was seriously affecting my ability to work. As a devoted “pill pusher”, he told me to try Vioxx, a new NSAID, for 6 months. At first it was helpful, but that didn't last. It did, however, cause severe side effects involving my stomach/esophagus, and I was also breaking out in giant hives because I'd became so sensitized to NSAIDs. So I quit taking it. (Good thing--it was later taken off the market for causing hearts attacks, etc.) When I returned to my doctor, my right knee was very swollen, very red, very hot to the touch, and extremely painful. He examined me, muttered a few "tsks", then he sent me to Physical Therapy! I couldn't believe it. My knee was so painful I couldn't even get through the initial assessment! So I went back to my doctor and insisted he refer me to an orthopaedic surgeon. He did, but was reluctant, saying I must "want" surgery! (Excuse me, but orthopaedic surgeons actually do more treatments than just surgery!) The Ortho I saw discussed several options with me, and told me also I'd probably be looking at surgery in not too many years. Since joint replacements don't last forever, I wanted to wait as long as I could before haveing surgery. (The surgery works longest for people who are less active--usually older people.) One option was a series of Synvisc injections. They are intended to act as a "cushion" in the joint where the cartilage has been destroyed. FYI: Some people have good improvement; some don't. People allergic to EGGS shouldn't take them. I'm not allergic to eggs, but since my problem starting with an allergic reaction to "something" in a flu shot, it was not a good option for me. My best option was steroid injections. (For one thing injections don't hurt the stomach!) The steroid injections directly into the knee joint were not very painful. He did it right in the exam room and it was over in a few minutes. After a few days I was able to return to Physical Therapy and complete the prescribed course. FYI: The steroid injections aren't recommended more often than every 6 months. They didn't completely eliminate my pain, but they did help a lot. I could no longer take NSAIDs and I could not function using pain meds. However, I managed with a COMBINED TREATMENT PLAN consisting of the direct steroid injections every 6 months, a home exercise program (learned at Physical Therapy), and a combination of ice/ heat/ rest for pain and swelling (applications also learned at P.T.), as well as a "positive attitude" and distracting myself mentally, rather than focusing on the pain (techniques I'd learned in Hand Therapy post op), I was able to continue working until I could get on social security. (Nursing can frequently get very “physical”!) My OA is end stage now. I use a cane to walk outside my home—takes away from some of the “weight bearing” on my right knee. (Unlike “Dr. House” on TV—use the cane in the hand opposite the affected leg!) Personally, I just love using the "disability" sign in my car--I hate to walk across big parking lots! The most important thing is to keep moving to the best of your ability—USE IT or LOSE IT! I found a pretty good set of DVD’s at a book shop with exercises for people with arthritis. There are things out there—find them. Also find a well-reputed Physical Therapy facility -- Ask your Ortho. A good therapist has "magical" things to teach you for a home program! (After you learn what you can do safely, then maybe you can return to your gym!) Gaining weight is a problem. While I was still active, I was a small woman who could eat like a longshoreman and never gain weight. Well, those days are gone! One of my biggest pitfalls is being married to an Italian who is a gormet cook. I need to lose weight because I'll be scheduling total knee replacement surgery for sometime this winter. From what I've heard, Weightwatchers works pretty well. It will take dicipline on my part...and possibly hurting my husband's feelings by saying “no” to his delicious food.
You may have to “reinvent” yourself a bit, but you’ll find your way.
Well, once you have degenerative OA and the cartledge is gone there's not much you can do. I'm having my first knee replaced on July 16th and the other knee replaced 6-8 weeks later. I've had cortisone shots and Synvisc injections to both of my knees several times and I've run out of options. Have you talked to you ortho about Synvisc inj. It's like shooting WD40 into the joints. For me it worked well for a year but since I'm bone on bone there's not much can be done but knee replacements. Ask about Synvisc. I understand not being able to exercise and diet. I've just lost 25 lbs. and my goal is another 35 lbs. I know I have to get the weight off my joints. I plan on golfing 3 months after I have my second surgery. Keep us posted on how you're doing and talk to your doc about Synvisc. Lindy. I have PA(psoriatic arthritis), and have OA in my back and knees, because of the autoimmune. I also have done the steriod shot, and got amazing results...within twenty four hours the swelling in my knee was gone. I could walk on it*without the other complications* very comfortably. Now I am on the third synvisc shot, and I am not having as much luck with this. It does seem to recreate the pain a lot. I don't know if we waited too long or what, but this is not what I had envisioned either. By the way I have had three surgeries on the knees. I have had two on the left, and one on the right. Doctor will not replace them for nine more years(until I am fifty). Sorry for your pain
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com