Knee Update

That doesn't sound good. I hope that the surgeon can give you some solutions without surgery. But what about the option of arthroscopic surgery? It is less invasive and you recover faster.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

But for today, I am feeling sorry for myself, and scared.

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There is absolutely nothing to be sorry for. Life does this stuff to you, you didn't wake up one day and decide you wanted knee problems.

Take care of yourself, not just physically but emotionally as well. Being in pain can be very tiring and frustrating, but it's ok to say "I can't do that today.". It does not make you any less of a person.
As for being scared, that's normal. If it comes to you needing any sort of surgery it might help you to look for others who have went through it to explain it from their point of view and offer advice.



-there was more I had intended to say but my meds have me too fuzzed up to gather my thoughts at the moment.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

If it comes to you needing any sort of surgery it might help you to look for others who have went through it to explain it from their point of view and offer advice.

-there was more I had intended to say but my meds have me too fuzzed up to gather my thoughts at the moment.

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It wasn't too much for me...I appreciated it. Though I don't have the time to be actively involved in another list, I had thought it might be a good idea to find one for folks with this kind of knee issue, at least to get some info.

Originally Posted by Kiwideus

That doesn't sound good.

I hope that the surgeon can give you some solutions without surgery. But what about the option of arthroscopic surgery? It is less invasive and you recover faster.

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Thanks...I don't know if arthroscopic is an option, even short term. My hunch is that eventually, I will have to have a knee replacement because of the arthritis as well as the issues with the cartilage. wah.

Well, I SOOOO know where you are. I just want to say that just having gotten a new hip at 44, it was a horrible journey to get to that point, but I feel fantastic now. I would not wish it on anyone, but if I had to do it again, I would have done it a year sooner! Big hugs!!!

I'm so sorry for all the pain you're having -- but listen to yourself now: you know what you need to do, and you're doing it! That's a major breakthrough! Maybe you'll inspire me to reach the same point...

Please keep us updated on your progress, okay? We're pullin' for ya!

Originally Posted by kluchetta

Well, I SOOOO know where you are. I just want to say that just having gotten a new hip at 44, it was a horrible journey to get to that point, but I feel fantastic now. I would not wish it on anyone, but if I had to do it again, I would have done it a year sooner! Big hugs!!!

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I am so happy for you, and it helps me to hear that this has gone well for you. Thank you.

Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

I'm so sorry for all the pain you're having -- but listen to yourself now: you know what you need to do, and you're doing it! That's a major breakthrough!

Maybe you'll inspire me to reach the same point...

Please keep us updated on your progress, okay? We're pullin' for ya!

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I will keep you all updated. I think it would be neat if this inspires you...it is helping me that both my husband and a friend of ours, are both working to lose weight with me, all of us on about the same eating plan. Helps to have someone to share this with!

Well I had my apt. today with an orthopedic surgeon. He did some more x-rays, then showed me the mri and the current x-rays. I have moderate osteoarthritis in both knees, and the torn miniscus in one. He said at this point, my option is a cortizone shot into the right knee, and in the future, a knee replacement. I asked if he thought that we were talking maybe 5 years in the future and he said no. So, I need to get my weight down and get into better shape for this surgery in the next couple of years.

I declined the cortizone shot feeling that the level of discomfort has been ( I should say it's become, it was awful for a while as I've posted previously) so minimal that it wasn't necessary. Of course, now that I'm home, I'm having some icky pain but I think it will pass.

He didn't recommend my returning to PT, so I will start doing the at home exercises my pt gave me (I called and told him I'd be back for rehab after my knee replacement, and thanked him for helping me so much) and looking for an exercise bike since for now, I can't handle the treadmill.

Oh boy. I still have my tonsils, my appendix, the whole surgery thing is very rare for me (if it weren't for uterine polyps I'd never have had any).

I'm such a woose (using this as hiding my head...)

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

Well I had my apt. today with an orthopedic surgeon. He did some more x-rays, then showed me the mri and the current x-rays. I have moderate osteoarthritis in both knees, and the torn miniscus in one. He said at this point, my option is a cortizone shot into the right knee, and in the future, a knee replacement. I asked if he thought that we were talking maybe 5 years in the future and he said no. So, I need to get my weight down and get into better shape for this surgery in the next couple of years.

I declined the cortizone shot feeling that the level of discomfort has been ( I should say it's become, it was awful for a while as I've posted previously) so minimal that it wasn't necessary. Of course, now that I'm home, I'm having some icky pain but I think it will pass.

He didn't recommend my returning to PT, so I will start doing the at home exercises my pt gave me (I called and told him I'd be back for rehab after my knee replacement, and thanked him for helping me so much) and looking for an exercise bike since for now, I can't handle the treadmill.

Oh boy. I still have my tonsils, my appendix, the whole surgery thing is very rare for me (if it weren't for uterine polyps I'd never have had any).

I'm such a woose

(using this as hiding my head...)

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Sending along some good luck vibes for whatever you choose to do.
Have you thought about swimming and water exercise as an alternative. It would be much easier then an exercise bike. You will get the resistance you need to strengthen the muscles, plus you are a lot less likely to cause anymore damage.

Also if you have access to a whirlpool or hot tub they go a long way in helping to relieve the pain associated with osteoarthritis. Also keep in mind that the cortisone not only relieves the pain but also the stiffness so your less likely to cause more damage.

I have cortisone in both my knees about every ten months..and it has been a god sent for me..

Originally Posted by tierre0

Sending along some good luck vibes for whatever you choose to do.
Have you thought about swimming and water exercise as an alternative. It would be much easier then an exercise bike. You will get the resistance you need to strengthen the muscles, plus you are a lot less likely to cause anymore damage.

Also if you have access to a whirlpool or hot tub they go a long way in helping to relieve the pain associated with osteoarthritis. Also keep in mind that the cortisone not only relieves the pain but also the stiffness so your less likely to cause more damage.

I have cortisone in both my knees about every ten months..and it has been a god sent for me..

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I have thought about swimming wishing it were an option, but the only place I know of would take a hefty yearly membership fee, and that's not happening right now.

I don't have access to a hot tub either but with our newly remodeled bathroom, will soon have a bathtub that works again as more than a place to stand while showering and I plan some glorious bubble bath soaks

If you don't mind my asking, are the cortisone shots painful? Per my PT, and his patients, they are. If they are, I'm likely not to get one unless I can't sleep/move around etc.

Oh man Pat! So, did I read that right in the fact that it will be less than 5 years from now when you'll be haivng a knee replacement?

Oh goodness! Lots of feel better vibes headed your way hon!

Originally Posted by white cat lover

Oh man Pat! So, did I read that right in the fact that it will be less than 5 years from now when you'll be haivng a knee replacement?

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Yes. And it's likely the other knee will develop the same way so I won't be surprised if that one has to be done eventually too.

Lovely..I'll be having a new knee before I'm 55...

the shots are painful ... I had them in my caudal space in my back many yrs ago .... once in my knee felt great later and not much pain from the shot ( thou needle could cause ya some umm ) but mine was done in 95 ish so

Cortisone injections are not as bad as people say they are - I think they were trying to wind me up. You can expect to have pain for a couple of days after the shots, but that is normal. I wish you all the best.

I've had a cortisone shot in my elbow (for tennis elbow caused by holding abdominal retractors at work) and two (several months apart) in the heel of my foot (for plantar fasciitis.) The elbow one was completely painless and my elbow felt great almost immediately. The ones in my heel were....um....less than enjoyable. The doctor froze my heel with an aerosol type of freezing agent and did the injection, which wasn't too bad, but the space where the medicine goes into is so tight that it was kind of painful. I think that's why knees and elbows aren't as painful, because the joint space where the medicine goes is quite large. For all of my injections, the cortisone was mixed with a local anesthetic (xylocaine) which numbs the area for a while and usually brings instant pain relief. My first heel injection was nearly ineffective, but the second one brought lasting relief...it's been over 18 months and my heel still feels good. Of course, I still do my exercises and wear my shoe orthotics, which help.

Don't be afraid to have the cortisone injection if you need it. A couple seconds of discomfort (not pain) is definitely worth the pain relief that you will get from it. My mother had a cortisone injection in her knee and got several (5+ perhaps) years of relief from it. She did need a knee scope last year about this time, for a torn meniscus. You might be able to delay the need for the total knee arthroplasty for quite some time with the injections.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

I have thought about swimming wishing it were an option, but the only place I know of would take a hefty yearly membership fee, and that's not happening right now.

I don't have access to a hot tub either but with our newly remodeled bathroom, will soon have a bathtub that works again as more than a place to stand while showering

and I plan some glorious bubble bath soaks

If you don't mind my asking, are the cortisone shots painful? Per my PT, and his patients, they are. If they are, I'm likely not to get one unless I can't sleep/move around etc.

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The ones I have had in my knees aren't all that bad, you do feel a sting from the needle at first and there is some pressure when they are putting the cortisone in. I was really nervous just before I had my first one done, now I don't even think about it. And the results are well worth it. As I said it's not even just the pain relief, it is the issue of stiffness. I am always concerned that I am going to hurt my knees when they are stiff.
I also had one in my thumb this past April, now that hurt a bit more then my knees but think it was because it was a smaller joint.
Hope that answers your questions a bit.

I hear that the smaller the joint, the more the cortisone shot will hurt. Of course, that's what my hip doctor said, LOL. My hip shot didn't really hurt that much, but was a little painful the next day. I've also had one in my foot between the foot bones, and, well, I cried.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with cortisone shots. I can't say I'm eager to get one, but I'm more relaxed about it now