new to boards and I am 48 with arthritis

I am new here. I am 48 years old and just had my second orthoscopic knee surgery, First one was in 1999 and now second one 2 weeks ago. I had a torn menicus this time and they clean up my knee of arthritis the best they could. The doctor said it is worse this time. He says it is really bad and that he has never seen arthritis this bad in someone my age. I am now in Physical Therapy 3 times a week but I still feel the same pain of bone against bone. He said said in some spots in my joint that is what it is. But my PT says he can get it feeling better. I asked him why my doctor is not mentioning knee replacement and he said because they like to prolong it. Well I have been suffering from this knee pain since the last surgery, I do not know if this time will make any difference.

 

Has anyone my age had knee replacement before? I am on an antiflamitory called Voltarin 50 MG of it and he also has me taking 2000 mg of Gulcosmine. But I am still in pain though and if I am on my knee any length of time it swells like crazy and that is what it did before the surgery too. I am hating this and it is depressing.

Thanks for the warm welcome. I have OA and it is bad he says. I do not want to even think about shots in my knees...getting them before the surgery to have a knee and leg block was enough...do not think I could handle shots in the knee at all....thanks ~Hope~

Dear hope,

So glad that you have found HealingWell!  Our forum here has tons of people with all sorts of arthritis, rheumatic & autoimmune conditions.  One thing is for sure...empathy and understanding you'll get a lot of!

I have a question.  What brought on the OA of the knees for you?  I am hating tonite just thinking about how docs, SSI, and DIS throw in peole's faces their AGE!  HELLO...disease and illness does not infortunatley discriminate against age.  Was is injury, athletics, trauma?  When did you realize the beginnings of it?

{{{{{{{{{{{{  big hug  }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}  Sufferring and waiting are the worst things in the world.  Personally I am sick of it myself too!

 

A total knee replacement would be so wonderful for you!  It's like 50 is the magic number for TKRs.  And even 50 year olds get the run around too.

If this is the "worst case of bone on bone" your doc has seen...I would think that would bump ya up on the totem pole a bit.

Gosh, it makes so much sense to have the knee replacement.

How many opinions have you sought?  In many instances, in a a severe case where TKR is inevitable finding an orthopeadic surgeon that's  scalpal happy is a great thing to come upon!

Have you any MD or surgeon that is really pushing for you and advocating your case?  If you seek a 2nd and 3rd consult with a surgeon or knee specialist maybe someone will get things going and this can be done sooner.

 

Ah, no way PT will make things much better.  No way for a PT to put fluid and cartiladge in your sockets! All PT is doing is keeping the blood flowing, strengthening the supporting ligaments, muscles & tendons so overall it will help make walking easier on that knee.

Some other supplements maybe think about adding if ok are: gelatin (Knox Gelatin); a higher dose of Glucosamine and chondroiten with MSN; SAM-E; and Cor-Omega Fish Oil.  All adds in the hopes of building back some of the cushy stuff.

 

Are you happy with your pain management?  Can you take Tylenol along with your meds?  There is a topical RX pain patch that I find actually HELPS knee pain!  They're called LidoDerm Patches and you apply them to the knee and can keep them on for 12 hours straight and even wrap an ACE bandage to support the knee (so ya have pain reliever plus compression and support).  It basically numbs the area, pretty good.

Yikes, I know what ya mean about the joint injections! They are NOT PLEASANT!  Then again, it's not the worst thing in the world neither (I've found that EARLY ICE is key to swelling and bad pain after the shots).  There is SYNVISC and a slew of lubricating synthetic for the knee joint via injection.  It may benefit you in the meantime.

So what's your next step?

I wish you the best and QUICK intervention. Hate to hear of someone sufferring.

Sincerely,

erin 

Erin,
 My arthritis is not due to sports when I was younger it was from a bike accident which I banged my knee bad and was laid up for awhile then a year or two later I ran and fell knee first on same knee yes and it swelled up bad and I had an infection set in and they had to clean it out and take gravel out...both times with bike and ice....then about 6 years later I was in an accident with my step mom...my head hit the windshield and my knee yes the same one banged into the dashboard and it swelled big time and I was on cructhes for awhile...nothing since then so I figured it has to be from all that abuse.
My other knee aches too but only had one accident on bike with it.
The one I had surgery on is still hurting...achy bad if I have been on it a lot and after PT...feels like a dull ache inside when I sit down. Sometimes makes it hard to sleep. Taking Vicatin for the pain, I take one pill every 4 to 6 hours but it does not help any..I take percocet at bedtime if it gets too bad. This bone on bone SUCKS ..when I walk I use one crutch now and lean on it a lot. My knee has been doing a lot of popping too....is this normal with OA or after surgery? The pops hurt. When I sit for any length of time it is stiff and hard to walk...it hurts and I almost loose my balance a few times now...UGH
Deb,

 I see my doctor again Aug 15th and if it is not any better by then going to see what other options I have. Do you mind me asking what you mean by rumy? and do you go to two doctors one for pain meds and the other is a rumy? Why do you have to get blood work done? Did it hurt when you got the injection in your knee and did it help, if so for how long?
So sorry for all the questions...just nice to have someone to talk to that really understands and feels my pain.
Thanks

hey there *hope*,

ah i see now.  that's some major trauma to that knee!  infection too...wow.  well hon, that'll do it!  how awful.  like deejane said..."we do feel your pain".

the "pop" noises you here:  this is a benign (normal for your condition) reaction.  MOST TIMES that is.  if there ever is a "POP" or snap with sharp, sudden, acute pain followed by severe swelling and inability to move your leg or if the knee "locks" and you can not bear any weigt on it at all...that's an emergency & one should go to the ER.  the meniscus or patella could be injured. it's a freak thing that happens sometimes. 

but the normal pops & cracks when bending, sitting up, or standing up comes from fluid or inflammation, and it's the noise of the material making up the knee capsule moving around or rubbing up against each other. ***crack your knuckles...it's the same proces****also the same thing goes on when you twist @ the waist, crack your back, neck and the bone crackin' the chiropractor does. so musical aren't we?

to answer your question about it being normal for OA and all? Yes. normal in the sense of it being expected to happen.

 

oh, a Rheummy is our pet-name for our Rheumatologists. you'll see a "rumo" "rheummie-doc"  i praticularly like Aldo's name for his rheummy...what is it?...shoot can't think!  and some of our GI docs? well, they can be "Asstronauts". hah.

 

hey what about using both crutches? i'm on & off crutches for my knees as well (for RA) and after i get joint injections. it's hell on your back using 1 crutch (and 2 at that but at least we're balanced).

i really really wish you that TKR.  what a shame to make people wait...wait for what?  wait for things to get worse? wait to just be in pain? i don't get it.

write back soon!  and i'm so glad that you found HealingWell.  in fact, perhaps you'll get in contact with folks similar to you and they can guide you in how to fight for your TKR, ya know...who are the right MDs and surgeons to seek, who's the best peolpe to get in contact with and so on...

take good care hope,

erin

Hey Razzle.. OA is OsteoArthritis... here is some info on it...

What type of Decompression Surgery did you have, Razzle? What does your daughter take for her PA? How long has she had it?