Hi everyone,
I'm a new member, looking for information, support and advice about my father's situation. He is 80 and has OA in both knees, cartilage worn down, the first knee affected for a long time and second knee worse in the last year- to the point where he uses two sticks and can barely walk around the house now. His referral for knee ops is potentially a two year wait and I'm so worried about him and also my Mum coping with it. Luckily I live close by and can help a lot. He has Fenbid gel and also takes Co-codomol, The latter has been changed to a stronger one 2 weeks ago. They made him sleep already but this stronger one knocks him out - just taking one a day - and it's not as if it helps the pain a great deal. This really worries me, the parents had an OT visit last week - very helpful and gave such good info and is sorting a walker for him etc., but she suggested taking more co-codomol. How can this be a good idea, if only one a day has such an effect?!
It's obviously getting him down, affects sleep, and it in turns affect Mum. And constipation has been a recent issue too, but that seems eased by powders he was given by doc. I hope someone has had similar experiences and can share advice. He is also taking cider vinegar and honey and turmeric, which may only scratch the surface, but can't do any harm!
If an operation is such a long way off, I worry about the time between now and then so much.
Best wishes to you all,
Dan
