Pain killers not working for severe degenerative knee osteoarthritis

Bella19

Hi, I'm new to the group and would really welcome some help / advice. I have been diagnosed with severe degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee and am waiting for a date for a TKR. Over the past year, I have seen a private physio (NHS was taking forever to send date!), and am still seeing her about every 4 weeks; I have had a steroid injection and effusion drained (38mls) privately (the injection didn't work but having the effusion drained did for about 5 weeks and then it started to reaccumulate unfortunately. I have been taking Ibuprofen and Paracetamol for the last few months and have purposely resisted going on codeine as I don't get on well with it. As my pain has intensified and mobility decreased over recent weeks my GP has started me on Naproxen 500mg a day which has had little impact on my pain levels so far but I have only been on it for 2 days. Unfortunately I can't take a higher dose as I am 75 and Naproxen is not generally recommended for elderly patients. I'm so disappointed the Naproxen doesn't appear to be helping and am getting increasingly anxious that I will always be in pain even after surgery. This past year has been one disappointment after another always appearing to be in a state of being going one step forward and 100 steps back all the time. It's had / having a significant impact in my emotional and mental health and I'm on the verge of tears and in a state of anxiety most of the time. I apologise this is a very long post but I really need help and advice from people who understand and are going through the same. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

DODGYKNEES

Hi @Bella19 I also have taken quite a few medications before I found something that works. I was originally on tramadol after my first ACL reconstruction, then I got taken off it and put on cocodamol. The cocodamol worked at first, but as time went on and the pain intensified they lost the effect. I was then put on zomorph. They have worked for me so far. I am also on amatriptaline. I don't think anything will ever give full pain relief, but it dulls the pain, making it more manageable. I also use hot and cold therapy, and I use knee braces and compression knee sleeves. I hope this helps

Bryony

Sorry to hear you are struggling. Naproxen did nothing for me. Neither did paracetamol or ibuprofen. Some people find that cutting out milk products reduces their pain, or perhaps that should be, that eating milk products increases their pain. Milk products do not agree with me, but I did start using butter (all those scare stories about vegetable oils and margarines made me try it, and butter does taste so nice!). I then stopped using it and the pain did reduce. It may have been a coincidence.

I'm bone on bone in both knees, but don't have much swelling.

Ellen

Hi @Bella19 welcome to the online community on behalf of the moderating team. I see you are really having a tough time with severe pain in your knee and are awaiting a date for a TKR. No pain relief is helping including naproxen, (the lower dose due to your age I understand), which so many of our members swear by.

I am glad to see some things have helped; the drainage for instance and that you are having some private physiotherapy. I wonder whether your GP is aware of just how low and anxious this is making you feel? It might help to see them perhaps with a trusted family member/partner/friend to see what they can offer? In addition you can always telephone our helpline here:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/get-help/helpline/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2023/january/how-to-look-after-your-mental-health-when-you-have-arthritis/

I am so glad to see some of our members have already reached out to you to share their experiences and very much hope you feel less alone now.

My very best wishes

Ellen.