Osteoarthritis In The Knees

[Samuraisan]

Does anyone else have this ? Do you find it's particularly painful in bed at night ? Mine seems to be getting worse, I had to take a paracetamol during the night. Has anyone had knee replacements ? Are you pleased with the results ?

[Buenchico]

A Swiss/Canadian study has cast considerable doubt upon whether paracetamol is actually of any use in treating pain from osteoarthritis.

While that conflicts with the current advice in the UK to use paracetamol as the first drug for such pain, it seems likely that a review of the recommendations from NICE will see a change in what they suggest should be used:
https://www.nhs.uk/news/medication/paracetamol-useless-in-treating-osteoarthritis-pain/

So it might be worth asking your doctor (or pharmacist) about alternative painkillers.

One patient's experience of knee replacement surgery, from the NHS website:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/knee-replacement/janets-story/

[rowanwitch]

Have a look on the Arthritis Research Council website. Lots of helpful stuff including a comparative study of various treatments. Flexiseq did well as did some supplement combinations and magnesium oil worked for others. Toning your quad muscles to better support the knees is very good too. Ginger,and turmeric are showing promise too you can get them in concentrated form in health shops.

If you can take it ibuprofen is a better pain killer for joint pain but other anti inflammatory meds are available from your GP.

My regime is a joint care combined supplement containing glucosamine, chondroitin, msm, fish oil ,ginger, curcumin(turmeric) ,and vit c, regular exercises, and voltarol gel as I get side effect from anti inflammatory tablets. I am hoping losing weight will make the biggest difference though

[riptide]

I have ostearthritis in my knees and arthritis in my back, I find that avoiding milk and not eating cheese helps greatly, directly I start drinking milk, I get worse. May be just me, but worth a thought. I was told by the Consultant when this was first diagnosed to keep on walking as much as possible which I find helps. I have also lost weight which I am sure helps.

[Sqad]

No I don't have OA of the knee......but may I post?

Two different joints, bot reacting to OA in opposite ways:

OA hip......worse when walking but eased by rest.
OA knee.....worse on resting but eased by exercise.

Anti-inflammatorys e.g Ibuprofen or Volatarol are the best pain killers, whatever NICE or www. says.

"glucosamine, chondroitin, msm, fish oil ,ginger, curcumin(turmeric) ,and vit c," that is abracadbra treatment......no use at all.

Exercise, take NSAID's until life is intolerable, then choice carefully your hospital and go for knee replacement.

[New Judge]

I have two creaky knees and one dodgy hip. I can confirm sqad's symptoms - knees hurt at rest but reasonably OK when walking; hip hurts when walking though not when at rest. So I'm snookered!

My symptoms are not yet that severe. One knee is the biggest problem an seems to be worsening. However, I take no painkillers at present. I have had a couple of steroid injections which certainly eased it but have been told that they will not continually provide them because although it eases the symptoms it exacerbates the cause.

I have two friends who have each had one knee replaced. (A) recovered very well doing so almost completely within and few months. (B) is still suffering some two years later. (A) did all the exercises and physiotherapy as advised. (B) did not.

[New Judge]

I forgot to add that my bone doctor told me there is an adage in the his business: "If you can walk away from a knee replacement then do just that!"

[Sqad]

NJ...no! no!....they are not MY symptoms, they were just my comments on the disease........LOL

[maggiebee]

I have osteoarthritis in my right knee and am awaiting specialist appointment at the local hospital to see what's to be done as my knee is crumbling away - knee replacement a possibility. I was on Co-dydramol for the pain but it really upset my stomach. Doc suggested up to 8 paracetamol a day plus ibuprofen jel to rub in to knee. Has helped some but I am not pain free by any means. I sleep well at night and find that it's better when I am moving about rather than sitting during the day.

[New Judge]

So sorry, sqad !!!!!

[LadyCG]

Osteoarthritic pain does, by and large, respond best to Paracetamol. Having said that I never take a single type of painkiller, as pain responds best to a combination of analgesia such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. However the latter is not advised if you are asthmatic.

A knee prosthesis is the best long-term solution if your arthritis cannot be managed conservatively. Have you tried intra-articular steroid injections? If effective (and response varies from person to person) it can give you months of complete relief.

[LadyCG]

I should also add that, for reasons which remain unclear, people who omit dairy, wheat and red meat from their diet generally find their symptoms less intense.

[pastafreak]

At the moment my knees are not too bothersome. I take occasional paracetamol to alleviate stiffness...which can come from both sitting or standing too much. I've tried fish oil and glucosamine... neither of which helped much. I find staying away from wheat and grains to be very helpful as both are shown to be inflammatory. Sqad may not agree. It's what works for me.

[pastafreak]

Crossed posts with you, LadyCG.
I've not noticed a connection with red meat, but I don't eat huge amounts.

[Samuraisan]

Many thanks for all your advice. I will make an appointment to see my bone crusher after the summer. He did tell me a few years ago I was a bit young to consider replacements, but maybe I'm not now ! He did give me a prescrition for some pain killers that were not paracetamol, but I can't remember what they were called, I will have to search my old prescriptions. I have to be careful with Ibuprufen as it raises my BP. Anyway, I will leave some paracetamol beside my bed just in case.

[Giggsie]

I have had a knee replacement only recently. Well worth it so glad I got it totally pain free now.

[jno]

my sister is delighted with her new knee. She's a driver so it had to be done. She was back at work, starting slowly, in about 6 weeks.

[maggiebee]

Giggsie and jno, thanks for your positive comments. Been dreading what might be ahead of me but this gives me some comfort.

[Eve]

Yes, caused by a condition I have with my kneecaps being wonky. I sleep on my side with a large firm pillow between my knees which I find helps. I use a memory foam one. You can get special ones though which have a dip in the middle each side and some have straps to keep them in place.

I'm having physio at the moment. Consultant said I'm a few years off knee replacement when I last saw him so would be early forties then, I'm 39 now. Physio said if I put in the work now to make sure the muscles etc... are as strong as possible then rehab after the knee replacements will be significantly easier.

I have mobility issues generally though with other conditions too, so it's harder to be very active generally and I have more of a way to go physio wise. I'm hoping to get back in the pool too soon as that is brilliant for exercising.

[RAINYDAYS]

I had a hip replacement at 58 & knee replacement at 63. Same leg.Best thing l ever did no more pain.used to get pain in groin, back & legs. Wonderful to be able to walk again.