Severe OA of the knees

I was wondering if you ever got any answers?  I too have gone thru cortizone shots and most recently the series of 3 shots that they said would ease my pain...I ahd the shots in dec 08 and still have no comfort..I do weigh 190, but I've lost my job(which was aon my feet on concrete all day) and I'm 48..too young for a total knee replacement...what are the options?  why won't anyone help us?  Carol

Hi...

I am 43 yrs old and have OA from the time I was 26 yrs old.  Other joint disease run in my family.  The past two years I have been getting cortizone injections every 3-6 months.   l do take a NSAIS's once a day but in the last 4 years my weight has gone up too.  I would suggest seeing if massage therapy for help with the chronic pain.  Some people I know have acupunture, I have not tried this yet.  My doctor said we may have to start talking about replacement surgery when the cortizone shots stop working.  I do walk over a mile every day and that does help.  My dr. who is a specialist also advise bike riding.  I would strongly suggest seeing an orthopedic specialist over your family md.   I know if I am not in pain, the weight lose is easier.  In addition, make sure you speak to your Dr. if you are getting depressed.  People who have chronic pain are very likely to suffer from depression too.  Hope this helps everyone! 

All the Best,

Snowshoe Woman

Dear Linda

   My name is Angela and I'm 48 years old. I have OA in my left knee that has progressed very fast. Over the past 4 years I have gone down hill at a rapid speed. I also have RA in the rest of my body. Hands,Neck and ankles. My right ankle is also severe. I was in a wheel chair last year for 2 months . I was taking 40 mgs of prendisone a day. I was taking a Humira shot every week. At first this helped but soon did nothing. I have had several steriod shots in my knee. More than I can really count. My right ankle has just been a problem now for about 6 months. Just a little swelling to start now so severe I can barely walk. I gained 60 pounds due to taking prednisone for so long. I joined weight watchers in the last week of January and have lost 27 pounds so far. I can not exercise at all. I can barely stand long enough to fix my self a pancake for breakfast. I do no house work . My husband does it all. With weight watchers the weight comes off slow but is worth it in the long run. At one time last summer I was going to the pool and doing some water exercises but due to my dads bad health and me taking him to the Dr. so much I had to give that up. I read somewhere on the internet for each pound lost was 4 pounds of pressure off of a persons knees. Not sure if this is true but I am willing to try to lose the weight to try to some day be able to do the things I used to do. I have a 2 year old grandson and It breaks my heart I can't even get in the floor to play with him. I can't take him outside by myself , because I'm scared he may get away from me and I won't be able to catch him. He loves for you to run him ,to try to catch him . After my husband lost him job of 34 years and we now pay for a insurance policy that won't pay for any arthritis treatment  my arthritis just continues to get worse by the day. I do work at a retail store but only because they let me sit on a stool to run the register. My Dr. told them last year no more than 20 hours per week , and to sit on a stool or not work at all. So I'm really lucky that they work with me. My heart goes out to you because I know how I would love to be able to do the things I once did. I think You are lucky to even be able to ride your bike for at least 15 minutes. My knee won't bend enough for me to peddel at all.And I know how you feel about shots not helping . When my do help they only help for about 3 weeks then I'm right back where I started from.I am now trying to get in on a study so I can get free meds for my condition. I don't like being a lab rat but I'm tired of taking an ungodly amount of pain pills a day just to function. I just pray the meds they test on me will help me. If not me maybe someone else can get some satisfaction with it. My prayers are with you and I wish you well.If I can lose the amount of weight I have lost and still be taking prednisone I feel you can do it also.I wish you all the luck in the world.

Angela

Hi Linda I have the same problem, it was my left knee but now since I have put so much presser on my right knee it is acting up now. I have had 3 surgery on my left knee and I don't want any on my right. I have been trying this 3 day diet and you lose 10 lbs in 3 day it work really good for me and I need to lose some weight myself my name is Kemmie

I am 52 years old and suffered with severe oa in my right knee. Finally, the knee pain progressed and I finally decided to do something that would change my life for the better.

I had a total knee replacement and it has made exercise and life so much better. First, I tried just having some repair work done about 4 years ago. I waited until my 7th and final child got their driver's license. Since I couldn't drive right after the surgery. I went to a hospital that had a great program called Joint Camp. Everyone who had a knee or hip replacement did a group physical therapy in the hospital. I was the youngest in the group but the whole group going thru the after surgery thing was super. After 2 weeks, I was driving again. I can ride a bike and play doubles tennis. I attended physical therapy for 3 months and still do a lot of stretching exercises for range of motion. Please if you have a great deal of pain.. see a good orthopedic surgeon. Get your knee fixed and improve your quality of life. Exercise is better without pain.

Linda,

I too have OA of the knee and have been trying to avoid surgery for as long as possible.  I have been doing steroid injections and have tried a series of the Synvisc injections (which did not help for very long).  My doctor has been telling me to lose some weight to take some of the pressure off my knee.  Easier said that done!!  However, during this last year I began to do water aerobic classes at an aquatic center in our county and it has actually helped aleviate some of my pain (it does not put a lot of stress on your joints).  I have also been following the Weight Watcher program along with the exercise and have lost 40 lbs over the course of a year.  It is a struggle every day but postponing surgery is my goal.  Hope this is helpful for you. 

Doris