I'm lost

bigharj

Hi, sorry for my long post but I just found this forum and am looking for inspiration.

A couple years ago my Diabates Consultant suggested a personal trainer to lose weight and it was the best thing I had ever done. As a result I took up running and it became my 'thing'. Last October I ran the Birminghan Half Marathon, people could not believe how much weight I had lost.

A week later it all changed, I went for short run and injured my knee. After 8 months of treatment and waiting lists, I decided to go private and was quickly diagnosed with Osteoarthritis of my left knee, with the high possibility of the right knee going the same way.

I had key hole surgery to repair a torn cartlidge, a general tidy up and more seriously a microfracture procedure where bone met bone. After 3 months of rehab the pain has returned.

Last week and another visit to my consultant, I was injected with hydroxychloroquine and told it will take 10-12 weeks to take effect.

On my consultant's advice I gave up running and just recently started cycling, I still continue to exercise hard at the gym but my knee pain just does not go away. Sometimes I feel on top of the world and think at last I am over my pain and the treatments have finally worked but then the pain comes back and I go down in the dumps. I find it frustrating and stressful that I am doing all the right things but see no improvement.

Is this the way it will be from now on? Any advise or similar experiences will be much appreciated.

Harj

skezier

Hi Harj

Welcome to the forum but sorry you have the oa.

I hope the cycling will be ok for you as its a lot lower impact than the running and can help keep the knee moving but don't over do it and make it hurt a lot. Thats the key to find the balance between keeping a joint mobile and knackering it out all together.

When do you see your consultant again? there could be some help and possible surgical interventions they can try. I also hope you have the right meds for the inflammation and also the pain.

Is it how it will be.... the honest answer is can't say. OA burns in its 1st and 2nd stages and in-between the burns you get a bit of remission and when it gets to the 3rd stage it can still have less painful days. Hang in there and nice to meet you. Cris x

stickywicket

Hello bigharj and welcome from me too. You have some good advice there from skezier. Unfortunately, OA doesn't just go away: it's a matter of keeping everything moving as well as possible. As skezier says, low impact exercises such as cycling and swimming are best. Running puts a strain on the joints. Apart from that it's a matter of managing the pain with medication until such time as surgery becomes necessary.

Have you looked at the 'Publications and Resources' at the top of the page? You may find some of the booklets helpful. I hope so.

Helenbothknees

Is this how it will be? Very, very difficult to say. Osteoarthritis doesn't go away, but mine did almost completely for about ten years - then eventually it got worse rather quickly and I ended up with two knee replacements.

Like you, I was very fit and active - I had a Guinness Book of Records entry in the 1980s for a 5,000 mile walk round the coast of Britain, and I did loads of sport and exercise, though not running. Running is hard on your knees, and is probably not a great idea. But there are other things you can do! And, speaking from personal experience, if you're the sort of person who gets seriously into things, I suspect you'll find something else which grabs you just as much...I ended up flying helicopters, but that's a long story, and that's just me, not you.

I'm just trying to say that on a basic level you may have to take more care of your knees, but osteoarthritis isn't the end of the world and there are loads of things you can still do out in this big wide world. And although it got worse in my case, and with many of the people on here, lots of people just have it mildly for ever and learn to live fully but with a few limitations...and they don't bother to come on here!

You've had a shock, and I'm not surprised, and I feel for you. But things may get better....

loovechocolate

Hi
Welcome to the club it's a big club unfortunately it's growing, sorry if I sound tongue in cheek, but not wanting to make you feel down the previous post was correct re the stages. Chin up hope your stages are slow in developing

frogmorton

Hi Harj

You sound like my Sis :shock: (you aren't her are you?)

Serioulsy though it was her ankles - she lost a total of 6 and a half stone initially walking and diet but later on running.

It was 'her' new identity too - everyone was so proud of her Then the ankles kicked off - she has steroid jabs etc into them, but she so, so, so misses her running - I think exercise give you such a mental and physical BUZZ.

I go swimming if I can and a gentle walk (as fast as I can) on the treadmill.

I am so glad you found us - the feeling of being with people who understand and care is truly amazing - i remember cryig my eyes out reading the replies on my first ever thread.

Love and HUGs

Toni xxx

bigharj

Thanks for all the replies, I suppose in the overall scheme of things my issues are quite small.

But I'm either All In or All Out, I felt like chucking the towel in yesterday and today I'm thinking a change here and a tweak there, use my crutch on long walks and may be I can minimise the discomfort.

I'll be visiting this forum on a regular basis now I found it, you just don't know what's out there until you have to look for it.

Thanks

Harj (Mr!)

frogmorton

Well Harj

(MR) :oops:

You can't be my sister then

Yes please do stay around we are rather shorter of men and they need the company!

Glad you have a plan

Take care

toni xx