Best way forward?

fluffball
fluffball Member Posts: 6
in Chat to our Helpline Team

Hello,

I have quite severe knee arthritis in both knees. I really do not want to have knee replacements. Please what are the best options for me? I have looked at PRP injections. I do not want steroids as I already have osteoporosis. I also have Ehlers Danlos so I dislocate a lot , Lupus and Sjorgrens and I can't take pain killers because of problems with my stomach due to malabsorption.

Any advice grateful received.


Many thanks

Fluffball

Comments

  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,713

    Hi @fluffball

    Thank you for posting on our Online Community. I am sorry to hear about the severe osteoarthritis (OA) you are experiencing in your knees in addition to other health conditions. It is understandable that you would prefer not to go ahead with knee replacement surgery, although it is worth bearing in mind that this operation can be very successful for some people, reducing pain and increasing mobility and quality of life. Your concern about having steroid injections is also understandable in view of your osteoporosis. However, the risk of side effects after one injection is much less compared to a course of steroid tablets.

    It sounds as if you have been going through a rough time. Living with pain can drag you down and feel very debilitating, impacting your mobility and daily activities. There are things you can do to help to manage your condition even if you decide not to go ahead with surgery.

    It sounds as if it would be good to go back to your GP to talk things through further, review your pain medication and explore treatment options. NSAID gels and Capsaicin cream on prescription may be worth considering as you can’t take some types of pain tablets. You could also try a heat or cold pack. The right kind of exercise a little and often, pacing yourself, and balancing activity with rest may all help to make a difference to how you feel. Eating a healthy balanced diet and keeping a healthy weight will help to put less strain on your joints. Referral to physiotherapy may be worth considering. You may want to ask if hydrotherapy (exercises in warm water) is available in your area. If you are experiencing a lot of pain, referral to a specialist pain clinic may be worth considering too.

    I hope the information given below will be of some help. 

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

    If you would like to have more replies to your post, you are welcome to repost on our Living with Arthritis forum which is another source of support to ask questions and share experiences with others facing similar challenges.

    Best wishes,

    Fiona, Helpline Advisor 

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