New here. I am 49 yrs old and have been battling osteoarthritis in right knee for about 7 years. I have had 5 laps. done - cleaning out, drilling holes, and cutting so knee cap will stay on. (sorry - don't remember the technical names). I am in pain day and night. I am limping to the point that my lower back (have had fusion due to scoliosis) is in pain. I have tried glucosomine, cortizone shots, brace, physical therepy. I cant restructure my lifestyle as we live in a split level home (stairs), have 9 year old, mom lives with us (82 with dementia) and my husband is just getting over prostate cancer surgery - plus 1 work full time. I just can't be down with this. The dr stated knee replacement is definately down the road but too young now - I should use a cane. I am allergic to birds so the dr stated they did not want to give me the one shot you take 3 times that lubricates the knee - can't remember the name. I have set an appt for another dr. to get another opinion- but how should I go about talking to the dr to make them understand I need help now -not in another 10 years? I am at mywits end as it is keeping me from doing about everything and things I do - I am in pain. Any input is most appreciated. Thanks.
Hi! I am so sorry about your knee. I posted above (my post title is OA and Synvisc) and I'm in the same boat, basically, except that my ortho has not mentioned my age (44) in being a deterrent to the knee replacement. Here's my question -- how did you get your ortho to agree to scope your knee to clean it out? Mine won't -- he says since I'm bone-on-bone, it wouldn't be beneficial, and we're going to try the Synvisc (the injection of three shots) and see if it can buy me some time. Do you have quite a bit of degeneration in your knee?
Take care.
Lisa
They have gone in and "cleaned up" the knee, drilling the holes in the cartilage in hopes in would generate new - which it didn't. I am not quite "bone on bone" but close -I've lost alot of cartlilege on the one side and my kneecap doesn't track right. I went out today to get groceries and could hardly get back to the car the pain was so sharp. One dr in the past had mentioned I might be a canadate for a procedure called a osteotomy but that seems more drastic than a partial knee replacement. Guess after this next appt with the new dr I may know more. I hope the Synvisc works for you.
When the first quack cleaned up my meniscus, I knew IMMEDIATELY something was wrong. I should have had improvement, but knew right away it was far worse. I changed to a new ortho, tried the injections to buy time (I was 45) to no avail, and ended up with a partial knee replacement in my left. When the doc "went in" he told my husband that it was definately time, but you couldn't tell that from the x-rays. He doesn't do partials any more, and I've since had a full on the other knee. TELL THEM you can't stand it anymore. Take control of your treatment.