Knee Osteoarthritis Pain-need advice

Hey Everyone,

I'm new to this forum. I would love any advice for my situation! My doctor said I have level 2-3 osteoarthritis in my knee. I had surgery in that knee last spring for a torn meniscus. I have been on one crutch for 7 weeks, I am in pain 24/7, the pain keeps me up or wakes me up all night, they just ordered me an unloader brace, I've been in physical therapy for 6 weeks, I've had a Synvisc Injection--it's getting worse. I'm losing mobility. I can't straighten all the way or bend it all the way. I've had pain in my knees since I was 12 and had a Bakers Cyst removed when I was 12.

I am 47. Could this possibly be something else? I'm looking for a second opinion soon. I can't live like this.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

I was put on Meloxicam, took it several weeks and it didn't help so I stopped. They gave me Hydrocodone for night time. It helped me enough to get comfortable, fall asleep, then 1-3 hours later I would be awake in pain. I don't like taking meds as it is, I wont take a mood altering med especially if it's not working.

Already had a second MRI, he said I have level 2-3 Osteoarthritis. I think everyone is surprised that it's not bone on bone. That's why I wonder if it could be anything else.

God Is Good,

Hello and welcome to HealingWell. 

My hubby has Crohn's Disease and ankylosing spondylitis along with osteoarthritis mostly in his knees. He had  a severe flare diagnosed as debilitating osteoarthritis which sent him straight to the hospital.

The Ortho Dr. ordered and MRI and discovered his right knee has little cartilage left on his knee.  Lab worked did not support a severe flare of his osteo therefore the Ortho Dr. dx him with  pseudogout after aspiration of fluid from his knee.

Joint problems caused by crystals of a calcium salt called pyrophosphate may be one of the most misunderstood forms of arthritis. Joint problems seen with these crystals often are mistaken for gout and other conditions.

Proper diagnosis  is important. Untreated calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) may lead to severe, painful attacks or chronic (long-term) pain and inflammation. Over time, joints may degenerate, or break down, resulting in chronic disability.

CPPD is a type of arthritis that, as the old name of pseudogout suggests, can cause symptoms similar to gput. Yet in CPPD, a different type of crystal deposit triggers the reaction.

CPPD can cause bouts of severe pain and swelling in one or more joints, which can limit activity for days or weeks. It also can cause a more lasting arthritis that mimics osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The condition most often involves the knees, but can affect wrists, shoulders, ankles, elbows, hands or other joints.

We were surprised at the dx and even a bit doubtful but we now believe the Ortho new exactly what he was doing.

For medication my husband takes Azulfidine 500 mg 2-3 times daily as this covers both his osteo and his Crohn's Disease.  When he has extreme pain he uses Naproxen 220mg tabs X 2 once a day until better. However with Crohn's the NSAIDS are always a risk for him.

I would suggest you look for a second opinion and perhaps see and Orthopedic Dr. if you have not already.

Blessings,

Kitt

 

Hi God is Good

I have bone on bone arthritis in my left knee from trauma. I understand what it's like to have pain 24/7. Your last message was what I was going to say. From my understanding if you can't live your life with any sense of normal (relating to knee pain) that's when the discussion of partial/full replacement is due.

While to surgeons at 47 you're considered young for the surgery you need to discuss quality of life. You may want to speak to your orthopedic specialist relating to knees. They can explain all the up and downs of a replacement particularly relating to partial vs full.

I firmly believe in doing PT that builds strength but doesn't cause additional pain. As mentioned above swimming is a great exercise but doesn't require WB.

Best of luck and for me it's been great to hear of someone with similar knee condition

Shannon

Arthritis is painful in itself. When inflammation around the joint increases so does the pain. When a doctor says your at a level 2-3 or level four that is what he or an other doctor can read off the xray. Bone on bone can still have parts of the joint cartilage intact and that are not bone on bone. And sometimes the pain can be positional bone on bone with what we are doing throughout the day.We have thousand of nerves and no one can say which ones exactly are causing pain or how much pressure put on a nerve ends up hurting a 3/10 or a 6/10. It is how we process the nerve being irritated and how we report the pain level based on our own past painful stimuli. What is totally just a small irritation to one person can be a very painful bout to someone else. We are all wired a bit differently. I was working up to a year ago when the pain got so bad I had to stop. I had only been using ibuprofen up until that time. I just recently found out I am bone on bone. I have always been able to take a lot of pain but that is not a good thing. Had I reported my pain years ago maybe I would not need a hip replacement now. Or maybe the arthritis went crazy on me in one year. I guess we will never know. I take a low dose of oxycodone. Nothing takes all the pain away it only allows me to get done what I can. I believe huge amounts of narcotic's only dull your mind. I keep on a very low level so I know what my base line is. Every person is different. Glad to hear you are seeking a second opinion. Ice and heat at appropriate times does help. Thanks!

I've had oa since I was 12 (am now 30). My arthritis is at a level 2 but I have extreme pain. The orthopeadic says that my pain is from tendons and ligaments that are placed at the wrong spot. That keeps my knee from being stable. We are discussing surgery to relocate some of the tendons to see if we can gain more support.

I am trying to put off a total replacement. I know they aren't meant to last 40 years. I do weight training with a physical therapist. Building the muscle around the joint helps take some of the strain off of it.

Had an interesting visit at the Orthopedics as a second onion yesterday. He said my level 2-3 arthritis didn't justify a knee replacement. He said, one day, I might end up with one-he doesn't believe that it's the Osteoarthritis that is causing so much pain and the loss of mobility right now. He recommended that I see a rheumatolgist. Still waiting for the hematologist to call, hard not to get depressed.

Blessings-