Hello and knee OA (I think)

Kate_Aitch

Hi, I'm just 60, one week into retirement and have been diagnosed with a misaligned left knee 'due to arthritis' (x ray a couple of weeks back. So many symptoms and I don't know whether anyone can tell me whether this is normal, or at least nothing unheard of please?

1 - sometimes leg below knee doesn't feel like it's attached to my upper leg with a kind of 'pins and needles' feeling…most odd

2 - swollen and painful back of calf and ankle, same leg as 'bad' knee

3 - a kind of strained muscle feeling, as though something is stretching in the groin/hip of bad knee leg..shall I just say left leg as it's all the same side?

4 - painful hips on both sides

5 - lower back pain

I'm assuming 3,4 and 5 are from overcompensating to try to protect my left knee. These pains are generally when I'm transitioning from one position to another, so from sitting to standing mainly though I've had the nagging back pain all day today from getting up. And the crunching and crackling from both knees is mad, it's like I'm walking through the New Forest in Autumn!

After I'd had my xray I saw my GP who has given me Ibuprofen and Omeprazole which are not really working. My husband had some leftover Naproxen which might be helping a bit, I'm not sure. I have co-codamol for a pre-existing, longstanding frozen shoulder but these are not really helping my knee - tbh I've been taking them for so long that I'm not sure they work for anything any more.

So please, new friends, throw your experiences at me - have you had similar symptoms? What helps you? Where did you go from Ibuprofen (which I don't have a lot of faith in, they seem a bit…pedestrian…but I guess there are levels you have to pass through before you get different meds)? What is helping you in terms of strapping, exercises etc? My GP suggested cycling and I'm looking for an exercise bike (too scared to risk the roads around here!) and what do you know? When you don't want on Facebay is full of them, when you DO want one you can't find one!

Thanks in advance everyone, hope to hear from you soon!

Kate

enna

Hi....I am new on here. This is my first post. MI have really painful knees especially the left. I take Naproxen but it doesnt really help my knee. I saw a gp who gave me analgesics which did nothing and coulnt take naproxen as well. Nafepem didnt go snywhere near the pain so I am back on the naproxen. I had a steroid injection in my k ee and it made the pain a hundred times worse. Now, I just dont know what next to do.

I have also tried all kinds of straps and supports but nothing has helped. If you fi d something good will you share please?

MaryL44

Hello @enna  and welcome to the Community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that will be your experience as well.

Our website is a mine of information so do look at it. You might be particularly interested in:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/painkillers-and-nsaids/

Please keep posting now you are here and let us know how you are getting on

Best wishes

Mary