OA of the knees and medication

Rhonddaborn

I am new here and I am after some advice on OA of the knees.

I have been told that I will need to have 2 new knees, I am 52 and working full time and have always been active. For the past 4 years I have walked less and less, I am holding back as long as possible with the operations.

My Doctor gives me painkillers, I have had all the usual anti inflamms over the years ,I do not like taking anti inflamms. My Dr. says " You rule the pain dont let the pain rule you " thats ok for him he's not the one who cannot get his socks on at 5.30 in the morning.

I do not want to take the easy way out of cutting working hours and let my wife walk the dog every evening but am leaning that way because of the pain.

I am making another appointment this week with the Dr. can anyone on here give me advice on any treatments or medications I can ask about please.

I have physio at the local hospital as the consultant said he wants to try this first.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Gareth

barking1

Hi Gareth i also have oa but mine is in my back and hips, i know what you mean about the socks though :roll: would it be possible for your doctor to send you to pain clinic i am waiting for an appointment and have been told they are very good and will know what to do for you, sorry i am not more help but i am sure someone will be along soon with more advice . Jane

JuliaHod12

Hi Gareth

I too am 52 and need at least 1 new knee immediately.

I also work full time and have been struggling on for the past 2 years. I have come to the conclusion that my quality of life will be far better and the effects of my arthritis on my friends and family will be much improved if i have the replacement sooner rather than later!
Why struggle on in constant pain when that can be remedied?

As for medication, wellI have pretty much been through it all and nothing has much effect;
Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Glucosamine, Amytriptiline, Methocarbamol, Steroid Injections
Some people have some temporary relief after Steroid Injections (sadly I didnt)..........have you been offered this?
The only other thing I have found to help at all is swimming (I dont swim, but tread water in a heated pool) and this helps strengthen the muscles too.

Best of luck with whatever decision you come to.

Julia x

stickywicket

Hello Gareth and welcome to the forum.

The standard treatment for OA is pain relief followed by surgery. Physio is very useful as it keeps the muscles strong and strong muscles support the joints which means less pain. Even though you have been used to doing a lot of walking it might be that some muscles are not being kept in as good condition as possible and the physio will help these. Swimming is always regarded as good exercise because the water supports the joints while they are being taken through their paces. Hence hydrotherapy is much valued by most arthritics.

I'm not quite sure I understand why you are putting off surgery. On here, it's usually the other way round - the patients want it and the surgeon says wait. I had my first two TKRs aged 35 because of OA setting in after years of RA. One of them lasted nearly 30 years and I still have the other. They do last if you get a good surgeon and then look after them.

I didn't quite understand your third paragraph either. Surely by taking the anti-inflammatories you're more likely to be able to get your socks on? (I use a sock aid, anyway .)

freesia

Hi Gareth & Welcome to the forum..

I too have OA in both knees.... It's PANTS...

Physio will help you build up the muscles around the joints, which in the longterm & post-surgery too should help in your recovery progress...

I found that pain-relief gels (on-top of meds) can also give some extra relief when applied to the knees... on a bad day...

Have you been given any idea of when they will operate..?? Will they do both knees together...??

Good Luck
Hugs
freesia

Folara

Hiya Gareth

I have OA in both knees, both hips and upper and lower spine and yep it's a right pain in the proverbial.

As for meds, you shouldn't see them as pill popping but as a means to an end. They are what most of us on here have to rely on to get our sorry butts out of bed everyday and moving. I am currently on 50mg tramadol 3 times a day, 600mg ibuprofen 3 times a day, 40mg of Zomorph twice a day and 25mg of Amitriptyline once a day plus a few other meds for my stomach and another for depression. I am about to have pregabolin added as well. It's a bit of a cocktail but If it keeps me going then I'm taking them. I'm not strong or brave enough to fight the pain anymore.

Definately get some physio to keep it all moving and to strengthen the muscles. Also give acupuncture a go. I, and a few others here, have had good results from it.

I certainly wouldn't put surgery off. I have been battling to get my left knee done for months now but at 45 they still deem me too young - grrr.

Rhonddaborn

Thanks for all the replies.

on the matter of not understanding the socks issue etc. Anti inflamms are not good for stomach ,liver etc, i take them a few days and then leave off them then take pain killers but that masks the issue.

As I work full time and do what i can the surgeons will hold off as long as possible. They have said when your quality of life goes downhill then it can be done, ive had a major spine op last year which lost a lot of time at work. ive had 3 arthroscopies in 4 yrs with a cartlidge op which meant more loss of work.
I had a wrist fusion which cos 22 weeks work just 4 yrs ago. i dont particularily want to miss more work for a while.

Its the old vicious circle situation. hopefully by reading the ideas on this website i will get on and maybe things will be easier.

As for getting socks on. ive used a bbq tongs before now when needed then give them back to next door when they have a Barbie ha.

Thanks again

stickywicket

Rhonddaborn wrote:

As for getting socks on. ive used a bbq tongs before now when needed then give them back to next door when they have a Barbie ha.

I hope you washed them first

diamond

You will know when you have had enough of the pain and just want a reasonable degree of mobility.I basically had done physio,accupuncture painkillers etc the time had arrived for TKR had one done nearly six months ago next one due in 8 days time.I can understand that you have had back surgery and that you therefore would rather wait before going for another op too soon,the decision is yours to make.I wish you well in whatever you decide.Kind Regards.x

JuliaHod12

Hi Gareth

I can totally empathise with the need to continue working!

I had 3 arthroscopies in the last 2 years, with sporadic periods of time off work, and other timeswhen GP has signed me off whilst trying to get pain management under control.............all adding up to 4 and a half months off in the past 12 months!

My employers have been great and would rather I have the Op in the short term if it will enable me to get back to full fitness in the longer term and not be struggling on in the office each day, in pain and not really concentrating fully!

Julia x

SteveBurns

Hi Gareth,

My OA is both knees but only the insides. Started about 5 years ago in the right and soon developed in the left.

I just take Tramadol and Paracetamol but they do not take away all pain.

I recently reduced the paracetamol due to Analgesic headaches. No headaches now but more pain.

I was first offered half knee ops about two years ago and declined due to being self employed. (Money talks).

I have now decided to go for it and brought forward my next appointment to next month, I will ask for my right knee to be repaired.

All I know is OA is a very painful disease, causing lots of different and various pains - sometimes all together, other times individually, but there is always some pain.

As has been said, you will know when the time is right. Keep up the work as long as you can but do not get miserable about it. A better life awaits us all (I hope).

Take care

elnafinn

Hi Gareth

I am sorry to hear that you have knee problems. I can understand why you do not wish to take time off especially as you had a spinal op that resulted in being off work for some time.

I have had both my knees replaced, two years apart and quite a time is needed for recuperation of course. I do know of someone who started back at work part time just after three weeks, travelling on the tube and train and using two crutches and was soon working full time again. He enjoys his work and is self employed so had a big incentive to return to it. That is what I call determination though and I must say I was really surprised that he was able to do this, but he did get on very well post op.

I would suggest you take the anti inflammatories along with a stomach protector and the painkillers on a daily basis. The whole idea is to take them regularly, if not they do not work to their full capacity and you are not getting the maximum benefit from them. Wheat bag, heated in the microwave and placed on the knees was helpful to me. Cold is good for inflammation but my preference was always heat. Keeping the knees/legs working is good because if muscles are strong post op recovery is easier. Do you have trouble bending because of your spinal op?

I wish you all the best and you will know when the time is right for you to have a TKR(s). Sometimes we have to put ourselves first although I totally understand you do not wish to take too much time off work.

Elna x