Went to PM yesterday

 My right knee has been making some awful grinding noise for over a year but wasn't painful until a couple months ago.  When I mentioned it to the doctor at my last visit he just told me that I move alot better than some and that it was just age.  So nothing was done.  But I did tell him that on my last visit the PM assistant had scheduled me for steroid inj. in my neck but that I had canceled them because the pain was better and I was scared of steroids after my shingle outbreak after the last one.  He noted in my folder "No steroids for at least 6 months".  He did say there were things they could do without steroids but nothing was scheduled. 

So, I went again yesterday and saw the PM assistant.  Told her my knees are worse, I can't stoop down anymore without pain and something to hold onto to get back up.  She wanted to do a steroid injection.  I told her about the "No steroid" note in my chart.  She did check and it was there.  She did check out my knees and she said there was too much play in them and scheduled me for x-rays on both.  I know from when I had surgery on the left one in 2000 & 2002 that there was osteoarthritis even then.  In the past Celebrex has helped them so I will try this for a month.

I was previously scheduled for an inj. at L-5/S-1 but I had to cancel due to my shingles and it was never rescheduled.  So I am finally scheduled in December and no steroids will be used.  If this helps hopefully we can try a nerve abalation (?).  I've had lower back pain for 7 yrs now and I am really hoping this helps.  The fusion didn't and the pain meds just mask it.

My pain always gets worse around 3pm and my PM had switched my ER med from Avinza to oxycontin to try to help.  Didn't see much change so yesterday I asked the PM assistant about trying the Neurontin 3xday instead of 2xday.  So anyway she agreed with this so I'm hoping this helps.  

This is getting long.  I'll let everyone know in a month what they find on the x-ray and the med change.  She did talk about synvisc for my knees, I've never heard much good about this but has anyone out there tried this? 

 

Hey Jag, I sure hate to hear you are having a bad time of things. I do not know what part of the country you live in but we have been having so many weather changes that my pain has kicked a lot here lately,. In fact, the last two mornings when I get out of bed it is not a pretty sight. I have a pump refill on December 2 and I plan to call my nurse a few days ahead of time to let her know what is going on. That way she can have my pump meds adjusted at the refill.

Since your having so much trouble with that knee I do not understand why someone doesn't order an MRI. Plain film xrays are really pretty useless, except to show fractures or breaks. If its something like a torn meniscus that will only show on an MRI, try to push for one. I have had both of my knees injected after surgery on both in the fall of 04. I would not have this done until an MRI is done to rule out internal problems in the knee. My ortho was partial to Supaartz over Synvisc, he said it was better. My ins would not pay for the injections so, he wrote out a script for the Supaartz and my script card paid for the stuff, 5 bottles for each knee. The pharmacist said the stuff was expensive, $2000 for both knees. I had alot of problems after surgery. It took a very long time for my knees to heal because of the crohns medication I was on at the time slowed down the healing process, then I twisted one knee horribly ten days post op. I was in a Don Joy brace one year after that little deal. It was quite a while before I could really tell much difference in my knees. One of the first things I noticed was it stopped the Rice Krispie noise I had with my knees. about two years ago I noticed I had a lot more movement and not so much stiffness going on. It had been years since I was able to squat down, my knees would not bend enough to allow it. Now, I can squat down and actually get up pain free. I can climb stairs now much easier but going down is still a problem. I like you, know people that had it done and did well and others didn't.

I have been having a loud clicking noise with my right knee which is my best knee, its had only 1 surgery for a torn meniscus. That scares me because the quad muscle has atrophied in that leg pretty bad. I am just not sure I even want to go there. Good luck, Susie

Thanks so much for the replies everyone. It's not a torn meniscus cause I've had two before on the left knee and this is nothing like it. The x-ray is just checking for arthritis which I believe will show up on a x-ray. I'd rather not have another MRI if I can avoid it cause my insurance only covers 85% so I end up with the rest which is alot when money is tight anyway.

Scarred when I had my torn meniscus my knee would pop loudly, swell up and eventually would lock on me when I stooped down (I'd have to move it around to get back up).

Susie, thanks for the med info. I will check this out thoroughly before having anything done. At this point with no swelling I think it is just plain old arthritis but about the only thing I can do pain free is walk so I don't want to screw that up.

Hi Jag
I had the snap, crackle pop knees too for a long time. I've had both replaced and there is no knee pain or noise. If they could just do that well on my back I'd have it made. Good luck and I hope tomorrow will be a better day. Take care. I care.

Rice Krispy knees. Guess a lot of us have them!

PaLady