OA in my knees

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Ajhaaz
Ajhaaz Member Posts: 1
edited 21. Jul 2025, 12:59 in Living with arthritis

Having been in a lot of pain over the past few years. Just recently got an xray and result shows bone on bone problem. Not ready for replacement they say but a steroid injection may ease the pain. Any one taken this option?

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  • Anna
    Anna Moderator Posts: 1,198

    Hi @Ajhaaz and welcome to the online community,

    Several of our members have had steroid injections to help ease the pain of arthritis in the knee. While you’re waiting for someone to come along, you might like to have a look at a thread from a couple of years ago where this issue is discussed:

    https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/57360/knee-replacement-or-steroid-injection

    Anna ( Moderator)

    Need more help? - call our Helpline on 0800 5200 520 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm


  • Hev34
    Hev34 Member Posts: 5

    I was refused any knee replacement due to my weight . I lost 5 stone but it still wasn’t enough in there eyes I’ve lost about 6 now I’ve had injections in both knees . They helped for a very short time but with bone on bone and a lump which could be a bony growth or cancer . it didn’t help much . I’m having physio and going to escape pain for exercise . It may work for you I’d say go for it what have you to lose . I may try again I think you can have them every few months .

  • Bryony
    Bryony Member Posts: 97

    Who told you that despite being bone on bone that it is not ready for replacement? GP, physiotherapist, consultant? I would query that. This seems to be a way some areas 'triage' patients, to ration treatment, to avoid adding to their knee replacement waiting lists and make them appear better than they are. I had that done on me, and have been unnecessarily been left in pain for years now, and partially disabled. It is now 3 and a half years on since it being confirmed both my knees were bone on bone I'm still waiting knee replacements. It is something I get very angry about, people being left in pain for years on end because the NHS doesn't have the money to do all the people needing hip and knee replacements, and fobbing them off with pretty useless treatments, or denying them access to the real treatment they need.

    Also is your osteoarthritis restricted to just one part of your knee? About 50% of those with knee osteoarthritis do have it restricted to the medial part, and partial knee replacements are often appropriate in these cases. Steroid injections may reduce pain levels for some people for a few months, but do degrade the cartilage further, and actually hasten the need for replacement. I don't know if it affects adversely the cartilage in the healthier compartments of the knee. To be honest steroid injections are little more than a sticking plaster and may be of use for someone who might not be suitable for knee replacement or for whom the timing is inconvenient and may want or need to postpone replacement. However it is just delaying the inevitable.

  • Bryony
    Bryony Member Posts: 97

    Hi Hev34

    Very sorry to hear that you are one of the many who are being denied knee replacements, as part of the inappropriate rationing of care by some ICBs. But congratulations on losing 5 stones. That is a big weight loss.

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