Can anyone help pls?

Rosie1

Hi, I’m 58 and new to this forum! I’ve had OA in both knees for past 10 years but last summer it deteriorated significantly. From being active/gym/competitive dancing I can barely manage a 15 min walk as my knees are so painful. Despite loads of physio to strength my knee pain, it’s now affecting everyday life such as walking and driving. I wonder if anyone has had similar issues and has any helpful advice?

Ellen

Hello Rosie1

Welcome to the Versus Arthritis Online Community on behalf of the Moderating team. I am so sorry to hear you are struggling so badly with your knees. I am attaching some information about Osteoarthritis of the knee. Apologies if it's 'old news' to you, but it might be worth a read:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-knee/

I'll leave the members to reply now.

Best wishes

Ellen

frogmorton

Rosie
Welcome to the forum from me. I'm so glad you found us.
Have you got any walking aids? It might be that you need something to help you get around now and take some of the pressure off your joints?
It may even be that they are ready for surgery now bit given the COVID pandemic not much chance of an up to date XRay atm - although you can get a Drs apt over the phone maybe?
What medication are you taking too? It may be your Dr can help with pain relief too in the short term?
Sending some virtual ((()))

dreamdaisy

Hello, I am sorry about your knees, I can truly empathise as mine are shot to bits and have been for years. My ankles and hips also have OA and my toes have psoriatic arthritis. I can walk unaided, not far or for long but that does not stop me exercising in a suitable manner to keep my muscles as strong and flexible as possible to better support the joints. This reduces pain not one jot but that is not the point.

I used to ramble, cycle, play tennis and dance but that all fell by the wayside as my arthritis progressed. I reason it all would have done anyway due to ageing, I just took the accelerated path is all. As I say to my husband, it's all a case of mind over matter: I do mind, that doesn't matter. I began the first arthritis when I was 37, I got my first rollator when I was around 46, was refused new knees when I was 52 due to extreme youth and am now 61. I do what I can when I can, don't beat myself up when I can't manage much, I have altered how I do things, replaced household equipment to make life easier (a cordless vacuum is fabulous) - in fact we moved house so stairs became a thing of the past.

Do I wish things were different? Well, I would be rather odd if I didn't but they are as they are. I am more than my disease, I always have been: it has changed how I live my life but has not changed what I get from it. DD

Rosie1

Many thanks for your responses, they are much appreciated. I don’t have walking aids but this will be something I consider. I’m presuming I ask my GP. Unfortunately my GP has not been very helpful so far, but after months of asking they finally agreed to make a referral to an orthopaedic consultant for me but that appt was cancelled due to the virus which is quite understandable. I take naproxen and ibuprofen plus joint supplements. Previously they helped but not recently as pain is getting worse. Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

dreamdaisy

Replies are what makes a forum tick, I always do my best to do so. I was issued hospital crutches in 2002 after my first synovectomy and never looked back. 🙄 I have always sorted my own aids, the standard issue stuff is necessarily at the bottom end of the price range and as the dross spread to my upper body my needs became more complex.

GPs are somewhat stymied in what they can offer, it is just pain relief, an anti-inflammatory medication and a referral to physio. There are around ten million arthritics in the UK, the majority with OA. I often wonder if its ubiquity as a disease works against it. It doesn't end life, no dark glamour there: it merely spoils it. DD

Mike1

Your Council should have something like an Adult Social Care department, get hold of them and ask for an Occupational Therapist assessment. They will be able to suggest a range of aids around your home and even provide many of them. Like DD I purchased my own crutches as they are a lot more comfortable and the NHS variants, plus I had to buy Monkey Bars for my bed as they would not provide those. Luckily being ex-forces I had grant funding for my wheelchairs after further OT assessments.

Rosie1

Many thanks for your responses, they are much appreciated. I don’t have walking aids or haven’t had any other assessment but will definitely enquire. Apologies for sounding naive but I was not aware this was an option as my GP has not been very helpful unfortunately simply suggesting endless physio which is not helping! However after much nagging and months of asking they finally agreed to make a referral to an orthopaedic consultant for me but that appt was cancelled due to the virus which is quite understandable.

Mike1

Most of the support that I have had I have had to find out for myself, GPs are exactly that - GENERAL Practitioners and some do not have specific experience of OA or RA or even an appreciation of how it affects us afflicted.

dreamdaisy

Physio does help but not in the way we might wish. It does not stop the disease spreading but it might slow it, it does not stop the disease hurting because damage to joints canot be undone until replacement (and that is no guarantee of zero pain either) and it won't cure the disease. Apart from all that it's useful and good to do.

Never wait to be told stuff by GPs or others because the assumption is you already know it. Over my many years as a patient I have learned to be pro-active, to do my own medmin (medical administration) as those who should often don't due to the pressure of numbers and to channel information between those who should talk but don't. I am one of thousands on myGPs' list and one of hundreds on my rheumatologist's so try to stand out for the right reasons!

The professionals deal with theory, they are not living your reality. Sadly with the current situation you cannot go out to try aids but cheap rollators can be bought for around £60 - if it's no good it can always be sold on. Crutches can be as little as £25 a pair - always check you're getting a pair! One is OK but two more evenly spreads the load and is better for balance and support. DD