Hi all. My name is Rik

rikmeister

Quick message about my Osteoarthritis history. ( sorry if it is long )

Back in 1995 when i was 26 i started getting a painfull and inflamed left knee.
I was sent to a local specialist who told me i had Osteoarthritis.

The specialist drained my joint a number of times whilst i was on Diclofenac but it would keep getting worse.

Eventually i had two major operations where they cut away some of the Synovium from the front and then the back of the knee joint.

After that i had reduced movement of the knee joint and i had to have a manipulation under general anesthetic which gave me a bit back.

Had to give up sports and most normal activities.

Now at the age of 40 i can only bend my knee to about 95 degree's in my left leg and i have a torn cartilage in my right knee that was operated on 18 months ago but seems to be back.

I still take Diclofenac in reduced amounts which keeps any inflamation and pain away but i am so sick of not being able to kneel, crouch down or barely even cross my legs. God help me the day i have to jump from the upstairs window of a burning building cus im sure my knee's will snap into pieces.

Also it limits me to the type of work i can do. Currently my job means standing and walking all day and it can give me alot of pain but what choice do i have. Not many other jobs out there at the moment.

My question is that in this day and age why can't they operate on a knee like mine to give me full range back again.?

A new joint isn't an option as i am still too young.

When job hunting i always tell the jobcentre i don't have a dissability. But do i .?

Many thanks for any replies i might get. I probably should have looked up a place like this years ago to be honest.

Regards

RIK

barbara12

Hi Ric,
Just wanted to say hello, and offer my support, this is a really good site you have found , more people will be along soon to say hello.
Sorry you have had OA from being so young, can you not plead with them for a knee replacement, if it needs doing they should do it whatever age.
My hubby has just had his second cartilage op and he says it is better then the first.
Anyway good luck on the job front.
Take care
Barbara x

rikmeister

barbara12 wrote:

Hi Ric,
Just wanted to say hello, and offer my support, this is a really good site you have found , more people will be along soon to say hello.
Sorry you have had OA from being so young, can you not plead with them for a knee replacement, if it needs doing they should do it whatever age.
My hubby has just had his second cartilage op and he says it is better then the first.
Anyway good luck on the job front.
Take care
Barbara x

Many thanks for the welcome Barbara.

Im really not sure my condition is bad enough for a replacement.
The pain and inflamation can be managed ok. It's just the lack of movement which really gets me down. I would love to know if the knee has fused in some way. I don't know what happens after a synovectomy ( the operation i had ). Maybe it was the scaring that caused the problem or bone growth. I would be interested to know if anyone else has over time manipulated their own joint into greater movement or whether this is it until some new treatment comes along. ( maybe stem cell stuff.? )

RIK

barbara12

Hi ric,
Funny you should mention stem cells, I am waiting to have both my hips replaced, not sure if it is stem cell, but I read an article about growing new bone in the hip, and doing away with hip replacement, hope they do it soon .
Barbara x

annie_mial

Hi Rik - welcome to you.

Can't help with the knee problem, but someone will be along soon, I'm sure, just wanted to say hello.

Annie

trisher

Hi Rik

A warm welcome from me too.

I hope to see you posting soon too.

Trisher xx

rikmeister

Thanks for welcome Annie and Trisha.

I turned 40 in 2009 so maybe i am in a mid life crisis but i have finally had enough of just putting up with the problem and allowing it to limit what i do.

I am going to start my own Physio routine today in an attempt over time to get a greater range of movement and quad muscle size back again.

I still take Diclofenac when i need it. Supposed to take 3 a day but usually get away with 1 every other day. Gunna see how low i can actually go on dosage without pain.

I'll let you know how things go.

Regards

RIK

dorcas

Hello and welcome from me too Rik,

hope you enjoy being part of the forum family! lots of support, info, a chance to have a laugh and also a moan at times!

look forward to chatting more. Irisx

elisabeth23

rikmeister wrote:

Thanks for welcome Annie and Trisha.

I turned 40 in 2009 so maybe i am in a mid life crisis but i have finally had enough of just putting up with the problem and allowing it to limit what i do.

I am going to start my own Physio routine today in an attempt over time to get a greater range of movement and quad muscle size back again.

I still take Diclofenac when i need it. Supposed to take 3 a day but usually get away with 1 every other day. Gunna see how low i can actually go on dosage without pain.

I'll let you know how things go.

Regards

RIK

Hi Rik, I'm Jude I'm new to posting messages too.

Sorry to hear you are struggling with your movement.

I'm 44 with advanced osteo in both hips. I've been told today I have an impingement and been referred to an ortho surgeon. Don't know much about this. I have been told I am too young for replacements and have had physio, have hydro, have a tens machine and on four lots of meds.
I've been off work for a while now and getting fed-up.

New to this too, but would be nice to chat to people in similar situations.

Regards

rikmeister

Hi Jude.

Sorry to hear about the osteo problems in your hips.
My issues don't seem so bad in comparison.

How long have you had the problem.? Mine has been 15 years and over time you learn what you can and can't do. There seems to be a cycle when you are having good times then bad.

When i first spoke to my specialist i was nieve and went along with everythig he said and asked few questions about the operation and it's side effects. He just spoke in medical terms and i went along with it.

Now i am older and wiser i wish i had been more proactive.

Im still sure to this day my specialist wasn't the best and may have caused some of my problems but nothing i can do about it now...

Chin up Jude. Take care.

RIK