am new

celebrationb

I have just been took that I have Arthritis in my left knee which i have also a trappped fermol nerve. The fermol nerve can be soo uncomfortable, they mri my knee because it keep buckling as i call it, it was soo painfull. I have had no help from the doctors at all, so not sure whats going to help.
I am self emplyed so am working most of the time on on my feet, my husband and myself work together. I can be stand for a while or out on site working with balloons.
I also teach and try to train at ju-jitsu. I teach kids to pass their gradings but my training has slowed down because of the fermol nerve.
I will not let it stop me what am doing but it does get me down.
I have so lost 12lb in weight to take the pressure off, i have not used forum before, anyone can advice with my problem. please

dreamdaisy

Hello, I am pleased that you have found us and I hope we can help. The forum is generally quieter at the week-ends so you may not gain too many answers. If you have osteo-arthritis then yes, sadly, you are right because there is not much that your GP can do. (I have both types, an auto-immune (psoriatic arthtritis, PsA) and OA, my rheumatologist ignores the OA and my GP the PsA. Well done on losing the weight because that can make a difference, but I don't know much about a trapped femoral nerve. One thing I do know, however, is that once one has any form of arthritis diagnosed life-adjustments should be made, so it may be time to give up the ju-jitsu training because your joints need some ease. This is about you and your quality of life, not that of your pupils'. I wish you well and I will be back later or tomorrow. DD

stickywicket

Hello celebrationb and welcome from me, too. The problem with odsteoarthritis is that, other than physio, pain relief and distraction, there's not much GPs or anyone else can do until the joint is bad enough to be replaced. I've had knees giving way and it's no fun.

You have done really well on the weight loss front and I think your attitude of not letting it stop you is a good one but.... I'd take advice on the ju-jitsu. The arthritis isn't going to go away and I would worry about the amount of weight bearing plus twisting moves you might have to do. A physiotherapist would be the best person to ask, especially one specialising in musculo-skeletal disoreders. Swimming and cycling are generally considered good but weight-bearing exercise much less so.

celebrationb

Thank you for reply. Am 47 years old have been in business 12 years . I have been suffering with the fermol nerve for years so not able to change much. I went black belt last Nov with help from my daughter. I have not been able to be thrown or throw for a long time. So training has been cut down loads . I don't want it to stop me doing what I enjoy. Anyone can train with any medical problems in our club.. am glad of any help it advice you can give its the buckling that can cause so much pain. Just can't believe I have it too

stickywicket

I assume that by 'buckling' you mean the knee keeps giving way. Mine both did this before I got my TKRs. The only help was a knee support but these shouldn't be worn all the time.

Has the knee been x-rayed to determine the damage done? I'm sorry but I know nothing about femoral nerves. Maybe a chat with our helplines people would be useful.

The idea that 'anyone' can train with any medical condition sounds attractive but unrealistic. I used to do Riding for the Disabled but they insist first on a doctor's note to say it will not be detrimental to the would-be rider's health. I think that's a better approach.

dreamdaisy

None of us want to stop doing what we enjoy but at times we have to accept that this is how things are going to be. Arthritis of any kind pays scant heed to our wishes and desires. DD

bubbadog

Welcome celebrationb, you've come to the right place! My left knee gives way a lot, I assume that's what you mean by your knee buckling? The problem with Arthritis is you have to make changes to your lifestyle to compensate for it. We have all had to make some sort of changes in our lives. I used to Ju-jitsu before my Knee's started to give way (Many years ago now!) and the pain hit. So I had to give that up I even tried Ti-chi but managed to break my metatarsal!! And recently I tried Pillates but that was given up! You just do as much as you can without causing injury and pain. You just have to find the right balance!

barbara12

hello and a warm welcome from
You do seem to be doing the right things losing weight keep moving...ask you GP about taking vitD ..apparently lots of people are deficient in it...it helps us to absorb calcium ...x

celebrationb

Thank you for reply. yes I got an mri scan on my knee. I have to make a decision . i contacted the arthritis care in belfast and had a lovely cofee and chat. ..Soome great advice too.

dreamdaisy

What decision is that, celebrationb? I am glad you have found some direct help, that is a good thing. DD

celebrationb

The decision is to try to keep up the ju jitsu which i dont do much, and it keeps me fit from the knee up. Also have had to make changes in the way i work my business. I am not going to let it ruin my life.

dreamdaisy

Any high-impact form of exercise is potentially damaging to our joints. There are many forms of exercise that will help keep you fit which won't be so harmful. I now struggle with any form of exercise (my toes, ankles, both knees, sacro iliacs and right hip are affected plus some joints in the upper body) so don't let that happen to you. Preserve what you have for as long as you can because any form of arthritis is progressive and degenerative; I started in 1997 with one joint and now have close to forty which are affected. DD

celebrationb

Dont mind me asking how does it affect you with every day life. I have been told to keep active as much as possible

celebrationb

Just wondering how this affected everyone. What changes did you have to made or medinces . did it help.

dreamdaisy

Of course I don't mind your asking, it now affects every aspect of my daily life but bear in mind I am seventeen years in and have two kinds of arthritis plus something called fibromyalgia.

I can still walk (with pain) but I need either crutches for short distances or a rollator for a longer time out and about. I have had to learn to do food prep sitting down (and not all in one go) I cook sitting down and I iron sitting down. I have to stand to wash up but break that task down into chunks. I really struggle with stairs so we are shortly moving to a house which has everything I need on the ground floor. I have had to alter my car, I went from a rather heavy diesel to a small Micra but now I have to go up a size because my rollator is becoming increasingly hard to shove in and out of the Micra thanks to the OA in my neck and the other sort in my wrists, elbows and fingers. It can take me up to a day to change the bed but at least it gets done. Occasionally getting dressed is not easy, and I adopt a Johnny Wilkinson stance in the shower to try to ease the pressure on my knees and ankles. I am perpetually tired, thanks to the combination of the arthritis meds for the auto-immune one and the arthritises themselves. I find very little relief from the drugs (my rheumatologist describes me as 'treatment resistant' ) and I keep the pain relief to a minimum so I have an 'escape route' for when things get really tough.

I began my little business in 1995 then the arthritis began in 1997. I battled on and on as my pyhysical ablities deteriorated but have finally called it a day. I do not need the extra pressure of trying to do something I feel I cannot.

Exercise is important for those with OA because it helps to keep the muscles surrounding the affected joint/s as strong as possible so they can better support the joint. It also aids a quicker recovery after joint replacements. The only meds one can have for OA is pain relief and maybe an anti-inflammatory drug. DD

stickywicket

I think you may get more replies which are relevant to you if you start a new thread entitled something like 'How does OA in knee affect your life?'. Many of us here, like DD, have more than one form of arthritis and many joints affected so how it impacts on our lives is obviously different.

However, the exercise thing still holds true. Non-weight-bearing exercise is very necessary to keep the muscles protecting the joint strong but any exercise that puts pressure on the affected joint is bad. Cycling and swimming are considered the best as you can see in Arthritis Care's Healthy Living booklet (Publications and Resources near the top of the page).

I like your determination but, with arthritis, we often have to concede battles in order to win the war.

celebrationb

Thank you . Very much .

celebrationb

Thank you for letting me know your info, I have had a bad time with my knee as walking around a shopping area for a halloween party and deliverlying my business the other night. i could not walk back to the car with out a lot of discomfort. My kids waited with me as my hubby brought the car to me. This has now got to me and am feeling a bit down. Seeing the doc again again in couple of weeks but i have been buckling again, can a sport knee strap help this.
I thought that i could not let it get to me but this has been the bad few days and going shopping with my daughter in belfast tomorrow worries me now.. I do feel alone becasue my daughter has been told she has dyxlia and i told her to fight it and battle through it now am feel as if i cant.

stickywicket

I'm sorry I missed this as I've not been around for a few days due to family and friends' commitments. I hope the shopping spree went OK but it would be one of my least favourite tasks

In answer to your question, a sports knee support will help but only wear it for brief periods otherwise the supporting muscles become slack and so you get more pain. eg I'd have worn it to go shopping then taken it off once home.

celebrationb

Thank you for the advice yes shopping went well but after a while the knee/leg was very very uncomfortable. The knee got sore so i took painkillers then the leg started to burn which can be uncomfortable. I just slowed down and stopped more often But spending time with my daughter was great. I was sore the next day too.