Knee Supports

bounce

Hiya all,

sorry I havent been around for a while but I have had and still having a lot of trouble with my knee, been to the drs 3 times in 2.5 weeks and only on the last visit are they doing a xray on my knee, as its been very swollen, very painful, pain dullers really ramped up in doseage, and I am still hobbling about, dr said he is looking for the extent of the OA in the knee, but I could only stand up with the aid of a basic knee support, but it seems like I will be needing to use a proper Knee support now, as this hurt a lot more then when I wrecked my cartlidge many years ago, and this is the first major upset with it.

so my question is can anyone advise me on a really good knee support, prefably with an open patella part, something that I can stand in for a few hours if it hits me at work, and something that will last a while and nice and comfy, and im a skinny lass too, small sizing in supports, which are fun to find at times,

Can anyone help, as Im desperate, I asked dr and it was you can get them in any chemists, but I dont want to shell out money and find its uncomfortable, so I need some help from anyone who can point me in the right direction.

I have had to completely rest it for 2 whole weeks, and the swelling is slowly coming down, and I can actually bend the knee a bit again.

Thanks again for any help in advance

Julie

tjt6768

Hi hun.
I used to fork out nearly twenty pounds for the elastoplast ones with open patella and three velcro straps.
I now get the very similar ones from asda for six pounds. Definitely as good.
Best wishes hun..

valval

i got mine from sp*rts s*cer velcro so fits all works a treat good luck

bounce

Tony and Val,

Thanks a lot for your help, I looked on a site or two and there are so many kinds about it makes your head spin at times.

I like the sound of about £6 instead of about £25, I am just trying to get prepared ready in case I get another awful spell like this.

I wasnt expecting the knee to get as vicious so quickly, its been so bad I have expanded my brothers knowledge of rude words.

He has bourne the brunt of my being unable to move around much, bless him he took over the housekeeping duties without blinking an eye.

but thanks so much again for your help, as I always seem to have trouble finding the right splint/brace.

so I can at least get my hands on one soon. thanks heavens

barbara12

Hi bounce
Sorry I cant offer any help, but I do hope that whatever you get eases the pain for you.
Just a point do you use ice on your knee, I have seen that the TKR people use it, just to take the swelling down.
Wishing you well with it all x

bounce

Hi Barbara,

I iced it, heated it, took ibruprofen, plus the heavy duty pain dullers, after nearly 2.5 weeks the swelling is finally slowly disappearing, I havent been told about OA in my knee for many weeks.

Biggest shock I had going from really fit to hobbling around like I am 30 years older then what I am.

Never knew a knee could hurt so much.

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it

freesia

Hi there - I know everyone is different... but my physio said knee braces for oa and swollen knees were not worth buying "for myself..."
So if I were you, and your GP said to get one, I'd definately try a less expensive one first... try ebay...

Good Luck
hugs freesia x

bounce

Hi Freesia,

thanks for the ebay tip, I will get my mate onto that, I think its a case of better get one just in case as im on my feet for 8 hours a day at work, and if it goes wonky on me again at least I will have something handy to help.

Thanks again.

Julie

tjt6768

those I mentioned from asda are pretty good, especially for the money..
Definately worth trying.
Knee pain is horrid (OA), I've had it thirty yrs or so now. It's the worst of all my pains I must admit, although I now also have some inflammatory going on with them too lol..

Best wishes

bounce

Hi Tony,

I will be popping into Asda on saturday, I can get a lift to it then.

will certainly look for them and get one.

The knee pain is worse then my hands, and I thought that was bad, but knees OMG,

I dont know how you can stay sane with that amount of pain for 30+ years,

Its just another thing to kick into touch, but it kicked me first.

valval

i have inflimation in mine doc said to use one as felt like was going to give way but to also use ankle weights to exercise it keep tendons and muskles strong just sit on chair and do leg lifts has helped a lot but brace was great when so bad ice helped but well always put it off till tried every thing else lol

tjt6768

you really must be careful not to become over reliant on your supports though.
I wore mine for many yrs and it was very difficult to stop wearing them. Even now my legs are weak. It's not am easy situation to be in, on one hand you want to be able to move around with them on but on the other you don't want to totally rely on them..
I think they're usually somewhere near the sports type stuff in asda. They do wrist and bal sports too. In white and green boxes I think..

Hope they help hun.

As for the pain, sadly you never get used to it.. There is always folks much worse off though.
Keep ya chin up

Annah

I wear various neoprene supports on various joints when I do martial arts (actually, I kind of mooch about the dojo more than actually do martial arts, but I'm trying to keep some of my old life going). I find they are useful when you have a pain day, but as others have said, its important not to weaken your leg. So how about not wearing them at first, and only putting them on for part of the time?

Sometimes they just work by keeping your limb warm, so other days, I've found some thermal leggings work just as well.

Would it be possible for you to get something like a perching stool at work? I use one in the kitchen - it's supposed to be for ironing, but I use it all the time.

Whatever you do, do keep those knees working - use or or lose it, as they say

sbolam

hi annah, I did karate for years, but had to give it up..as the pain was getting too much.

I struggle with now is going from fit and active to slow and painful..its a lot to deal with sometimes..

for me i found that wearing a knee support for too long did not help the swelling i was getting so stopped wearing them i do exercises when the pain dulls enough for me to do them.

and I am only just turn 40 and yet there are days i feel 90

stephen

bounce

Hi all,

Thanks for all the great advice given to me about the knee supports, there is some really great info there, and I really appreciate all the help you are giving me, as a new wonky knee person.

I will be getting one for if the knee goes wonky on me again, just in case the worst happens like my mum always said, just be prepared,

I understand the not relying on them for too long, as it weakens everything, I will use it just for the worst periods, but at the moment the swelling is still going down thank goodness and its being easier then what it was.

all I hope is that it wasnt the OA in the knee causing this big problem as it has caused me to have 2 weeks off work, and it could cause trouble at work due to all the jobs there are standing on your feet the whole of the time, but I will be definately asking management for a stool so I can at least take some weight off the knee in times of trouble.

The whole episode has shocked me by the severity, and when it happens the first time you just dont know what to do, so thanks once again my Arthur family for giving me all the help and advice I so sorely needed.

You lot are Diamonds,

Julie

dreamdaisy

I used to buy neoprene supports from my local chemist btu I don't bother now. My knees are far too gone and they no longer help, but I do occasionally wear ankle supports as they are now on a similar road to ruin. Please measure your knee at its 'fattest' part, because buying a support that is too big is pointless. For many years supports didn't fit my left knee as it was truly vast! I do the exercises I was given after my knee ops to help keep my muscles as strong as possible and take an anti-inflammatory for a few days if really needed. Are you able to rest at all at work? Standing as much as that could possibly be the cause of the inflammation, although it does happen with OA. Do you have an anti-inflammatory tablet from your GP? I wish you well. DD

bounce

Hi Daisy,

Thanks for your reply, I am going to have to bring that up to the management team when Im able to return to work, saying it will be better for me to have a stool to rest on, as the amount of standing is doing me no favours, and see where we go from there, I know they will be doing a risk assessment when im back, but I have been there 10.5 years, and they do know if I call in sick then I am sick. so hopefully they will show they have a heart and provide me with a stool or something similar.

I have ibruprofen to take when I feel the joints begin to mess around, I dont take them all the time though only at first signs of I could be starting a flare up or when a joint gets warmer then normal then Im on them straight away.

Thanks for your wishes, and for the advice, I appreciate it,

Julie

dreamdaisy

You're more than welcome, fat knees are one my areas of 'expertise'! My left knee ended up being 27" round before the first surgery, the right never made that sort of size but I remember the heat of the joints, the pain and the discomfort very, very clearly. Now it's just the OA pain as my PsA is controlled (that's a different pain) but the damage that did caused the osteo-arthritis. I think you should have a chat with your boss/es, give them some literature about arthritis first so they can read and digest and then, hopefully, talk with you with some intelligence! DD

bounce

Hi Daisy,

We are thinking alike there, I am gathering information about OA and its effects on the body, and the good and bad days and the remedies that are available to ease the situation at hand.

They have relations who have arthritis I have been told but clearly they do not understand fully what arthritis can mean to an individual over time, so I am trying to do the best thing and give them all the printed information to read so they can see and understand the arthritis better, then we can hopefully work from there to our muteral satisfaction. as I dont want to cut hours or work, as I love it there. and they have told me Im a respected member of staff, so we shall see how respected I am in due course.



Thanks again

Julie

bounce

Hi all,

well Im back from the Drs and I have the result of the xray, and it shows no OA in the knee, big big relief, so I asked the dr why I got told a few weeks ago why I got told I did have it in the knee. and that dr is off work for a while, but I got told wrong.

I have actually damaged a muscle in my leg around the knee area, and thats why it went so bad and was thought it was OA earlier this week even, but she said knee pain symptoms are very much alike so its difficult, I understand that alright but thank heavens its not in the knee, as I could see major problems hitting fast, but even now Im going to be reviewed, but the dr stipulated on the fit note I still have to wear knee support whilst on my feet, and Im to have a stool or chair available by me to sit on to help relieve the knee pain.

Big weight off my mind as well as my knee. :lol

So I am a very lucky lady today. might get a lottery ticket today as well.

Thanks again for all your help

Julie