Advice on knees please

[Elisi]

Is anyone suffering from Osteoarthritis in their knees please? If so what has been recommended for you, or what treatment have you had?

Mine are worse, especialy the left kneecap which began to plague me a month ago worse than ever. I had X-rays last week and GP says the right knee hasn't changed much since 2010, but the left knee has "spiking" which is a sort of growth on the bone (patella) and it is considerably worse than the other one.

So she said, "take pain killers and see me if it gets any worse" and I calmly replied that I could hardly get up the stairs and the nights were painful when I turned over and I was sure there was more that could be done, for example, cleaning out the cartiledge etc. So she huffed and puffed, told me it was a painful proceedure and my reply was that it could surely not be as bad as a full knee replacement

In the end she told me she was sending me for an MRI (or photos, whatever that means) to see if anything could be done!

Honestly it is like drawing teeth trying to get anything sorted with doctors these days. Except for OH who gets first class treatment and never has to wait for anything. I suppose it is because I am female of a certain age and expendable Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Gemini]

Elisi, I have a lot of trouble with my left knee too. On holiday is was particularly bad, which I put down to the heat and lots of walking. It really hurts in bed. I have had no diagnosis (because I haven't seen a Dr abut it) But I am sure it is arthritis. One of my clients had her knee replaced and is really pleased with the result. Like you I prefer not to go down that road unless I really have to however!

[Oma]

Yes I have it in both knees but worse in my right knee, I have had tablets cream physio etc etc then they gave me steroid injection in them and it made a world of difference , my Dr said I could have a replacement but because they only last about 10 yrs and im only 59 they don't like to do it as I would have to go through it again when I was 70ish the jabs last me about 12-18 month I have them in my fingers too much better than going through a op . Night time make mine worse and the pain and stiffness on a morning is bad

[Daisy]

Elisi, I have no experience of knees, apart from having a couple of them which more or less do the job they were designed to do. But it does sound as though you need a GP who is more empathetic. It sounds as though she's fobbing you off - photos? What does she mean? That kind of attitude really annoys me - it's as though they think because we are a certain age we can't possibly have intelligent, reasoning brains!

[Enfys]

I have had problems with my knees for years. Have had X-rays, physio etc but then had a steroid injection which helped enormously. The last 18 months or so they have been so much better, not sure if it's the gentle walking I've been doing or the cod liver oil and glucosamine supplements. Mind you, I was never in much pain just stiffness and achy. I will carry on with the supplements and exercise and hope I can avoid any surgery. Hope you can get some help.

[Nana]

You poor thing Elisi & all you other sufferers. I have been told by my GP last year that he THINKS I might have Rheumatoid Arthritis in my bones in my right hand, after X-rays. That was it....no treatment. I agree with Daisy, as we get older we're presumed not to have any intelligence or brain come to that.

[Elisi]

Many thanks Ladies very helpful. The steroid injections sound as though they may be helpful. Of course the GP didn't mention that

Like you Gemini and Oma, it is painful at night. Recently getting upstairs is really bad. Apparently I haven't slipped the kneecap out of place but it sure feels like it. The "clicking" is apparently normal for my age whatever that means!

Daisy, thanks for your words of support re: unhelpful GPs. I find that by sheer persistence I can get somewhere, but it does take it out of you doesn't it. No one should actually have to fight their GP for a diagnosis or treatment?????

Nana, so sorry to hear that. RA is so much worse than what I have. xxxx BTW they can do a quick blood test which will tell if you do have it. I know this as my late mother suffered from it also.

[WeeGranny]

I had an athroscopy on my right year a few years ago and the surgeon said I'd probably be looking at knee replacement in about 10 years time. Think I've got 5 or 6 to go yet! I also take glucosamine, the highest dose you can get, (recommended by surgeon!) and that seems to help too. I still get a bit of pain if I've walked too far or am wearing heels, but it's nothing compared to the pain and the locking of my knee that I had before.
Hope you can get this sorted out Elisi. Could you see another doctor who might be more sympathetic?

[Oma]

I also take Glucosamine have done for about 10 yrs but I have to take vegetarian one as I'm allergic to shell fish and the ordinary Glucosamine Is based on shell fish , I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis but I had blood tests to confirm that

[Qwerty]

I am sorry for all you who suffer with it, I am lucky I don't have the problem it must be agony as far as doctors go although I have nothing but praise for NHS doctors are slow at sorting things out believe me I should know hope you get some relief soon Elisi

[Elisi]

I'm like you Oma, allergic to shellfish so I take the veggie one and that's most likely why there is not much deterioration on my right knee. Good stuff.

Wee Granny, you never see or speak to the same GP twice at our surgery. When you go in (which I try anything NOT to) they ask you why you are there and then stare at the computer screen. I was unlucky enough to get the one and only female Gp there who is notoriously sharp and wants you OUT fast! So I may be able to see someone else when my results come through after the letter I may wait a month for with an appointment I do have private health care but it is only for hospital stays if the NHS cannot treat me within a certain time limit.

I am going to ask about the steroid injection,, and thank you for this as all my research didn't bring that up!

[Grauntie Mag]

I have recentlyhad a telephone consultancy with the hospital physio!!! She has decided to send me exercises through the post. This is as a result of a fall onto my knees whilst on holiday. Needless to say I have made a private appointment to actually see a physio who can do the job properly! The whole system seems to be falling apart.

[ZIZI]

As you know my husband had a double total knee replacement in March 2013. He had been suffering for a long time with arthritis in his knees and he was told by a a doctor that he was too young to have the operation. Around Christmas time 2012 he got stuck on the loft ladder and couldn't move. I decided to investigate using my private health care from work. It was fantastic. He had an initial appointment, MRI, X Ray. Consultant had the pictures by the time we walked back to his office. He said that the truth was that if he didn't have replacement knees he would be in a wheelchair by the end of the year and if that happened he would never get out. When we said about the age thing the consultant said that it is a cost cutting thing. He also said that for normal people (s opposed to those who do heavy sport or lots of exercise) that even the ones on the NHS should last 20 years.

The ones my husband has were made in the USA and are expected to work properly for up to 30 years. He says he is glad he had it done as he feels so much better and has no pain. Of course my company insurance scheme did pay almost forty thousand pounds. I know we are very lucky to have that resource to draw on. He did have six months of physiology which we did pay for ourselves and he also worked hard going to the gym twice a week a swimming twice a week.

I hope you can get some resolution (all of you in pain)

[Gemini]

Reading back on this thread, I am surprised to read that it was my left knee that was bothering me. Maybe it still is, but my right knee is so painful it has eclipsed the pain from the other?!!
The steroid injections sound a good option. I will see if my GP mentions that when I go next week. I will start taking glucosamine too.

[Daisy]

Elisi, I have a lot of trouble with my left knee too. On holiday is was particularly bad, which I put down to the heat and lots of walking. It really hurts in bed. I have had no diagnosis (because I haven't seen a Dr abut it) But I am sure it is arthritis. One of my clients had her knee replaced and is really pleased with the result. Like you I prefer not to go down that road unless I really have to however!

Gem - I'm sorry your right knee is so painful. Perhaps the pain in your left knee last year wasn't arthritis, as you said, you hadn't had a diagnosis. I thought I had osteoarthritis in my left thumb, but when I actually went to the doctors it was diagnosed as De Quervain syndrome (a fancy form of tenosynovitis apparently). Perhaps we shouldn't try and self-diagnose, but I do hate going to the doctors!