Hi, new member

kay2403

hi i'm new member, i'm 53 yrs old, been suffering osteo arthritis in knees for nearly two yrs i am over weight but lost 2 stone but all my consultant is bothered about is my bmi needs to be 40 or less currently 42.1,at moment am on Tramadol, paracetamol cant take anti inflammitories but am in absolute agony an gp decided yesterday only alternative is morphine, due to present corona virus can't go have injection or specialist appointment an just suffering

Brynmor

Hi @kay2403 welcome to the online community.

I'm sorry to hear about your osteoarthritis in the knees which are giving you so much pain. The pandemic emergency is causing all sorts of difficulties with cancellations and postponement of treatments.

There is some useful information about managing osteoarthritis of the knee, including reducing the strain and some gentle exercises that you might try:

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

Do let us know how you get on. Join in across the Community, come in for a chat or to ask further questions: you will be made most welcome.

All best wishes

Brynmor

dreamdaisy

Hello, I can empathise as my knees are shot to bits thanks to OA caused by my other arthritis. I am in my 24th year of it and it is everywhere. It is important to be as fit as possible before surgery in terms of not being severely overweight - well done on losing two stone, that is an achievement and proves you can do it! - because it helps recovery after and reduces the strain on both the artificial joints and the bone to which they are fixed. If you want surgery to be as effective as possible there is much you can do to make that happen, it isn't all in the surgeon's hands. Being a better weight also reduces the risk or need for a future revision where the replacement joint is replaced and more original bone taken away.

Pain is a fact of life with arthritis and the stronger the pain relief the more is required because the body grows to tolerate it. Pain is frightening, isolating, debilitating and demoralising but I found that life became easier as my arthritises spread. When it was confined to one or two joints it really stood out, now it's everywhere it doesn't. As yours is so localised that does makes it far harder to deal with, I am sorry. I count myself lucky I have had it for so long (I began when I was 37, now I am 61) because I have been there and done that with all the tough stuff whereas you are still in the early stages.

My OA is predictable, I know it will worsen in the cold and damp and if I overdo things. I exercise daily using isometric movements and resistance bands to keep my muscles as strong as possible to better support my joints. When my tea is brewing I walk at least 100 steps either round the kitchen island or up and down the hall - and I drink a lot of tea! Does it hurt to do? Yes. Does it hurt if I don't do it? Yes. Do I feel psychologically better if I do it? Yes. I was refused new knees when I was 52 (despite being bone-on-bone) due to youth and weight. Now things are so much worse I won't bother as the benefit will not be there.

If replacement joints are looked after they can last for far longer than ten years - a friend of mine has a metal knee which is only now falling apart after thirty-plus years. DD

Jules70

Hi kay@2403 sorry to hear you are having bad time of it and welcome to the forums .

I also have oesteoarthiritis in both knees and have had my TKR cancelled due to covid 19.

Well done on losing so much weight it will certainly help with your mobility and management of pain .

I too like you am in constant pain and it does wear you down at times .

Hope you find the forums helpful they are a good support 😊

Airwave!

A version of morphine is available in liquid form, just ask for that? It will make you bunged up, dehydrated, dozy and free you of pain for short periods until your body gets used to it and in need larger doses.

Mike1

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/667053#Comment_667053

I presume that you are talking about Oramorph. I have widespread OA and am on slow release Morphine pills twice a day and also unlimited amounts of Oramorph as and when I need it. It does not bung me up, does not make me dehydrated (but that may be because I drink copious cups of tea a day), it does not make me dozy and neither does it free me from pain, it merely knocks the edge off. I do, however, agree that the longer one takes it the larger doses are needed, I have been on it for over 6 years having tried every other OA med and a few surgical interventions and being discharged from the Pain Clinic after they said that there was nothing more that they could do for me. Everybody has different reactions to meds and meds act differently on different people.