Osteoarthritis Community

Hi Evrhpfl,

I am sorry you are in pain. Have you considered asking your doctor for help with disability, or consider working from home? You can Google WAH Customer Service and do some research.

Take care,

Lainey

evrhpfl,

have you tried enzyme therapy with joint hydration?
like you, me and my family have experiences similar to yours
and have found relief naturally

David

evrhpfl: Hi, I am soooo sorry that your ortho doc wasn't nicer or more helpful. I have bad OA in both of my knees from working for many years in positions that require a lot of walking and standing and probably faulty genetics!

As for doctors - there are many with difficult personalities and some are good clnicians with difficult personalities while others are difficult and also not great clinicians. So choosing a physician is really up to you! I always start by researching out the doctor by asking asking trusted people that I know, google the provider seeking information regarding ratings and statements by other patients (see ratemds.com) for example.

Do your homework, don't go to any physician ever just because they are in the phone book, the last doctor in a graduating class is still called "doctor"! Do your research, read information from internet sources that are reptuable -google OA and read information from the association of orthopedic surgeons, webmd, mayo clinic and other reputable web sites. Stay away from message board discussions that discuss "personal experience" as the criteria from which to make medical decisions from, seek well stated professional medical information and then make a provider selection based on how you have armed yourself. Go in with a check list, read about artifical synovial fluid replacement (knee fluid replacement), hydrocortisone injections (decreases inflamation - result of wear and tear on joint - increased swelling equals massive pain!) and develop a personalized question list based on what you have read and understood.. Look at common treatment guidelines and then go into the doctor's office well informed with a checklist of questions. Take someone with you who will remember what you forget that is a normal response to fear, stress or pain who will be able to help you. You will have a much better patient/physician relationship and office visit! Remember to shop around . .. you are the driver here and the provider should respect you, adress all of your concerns and not leave until you are comfortable with the issues. Be respectful of the provider time though by being well informed, they have to move patients in and out quickly to be able to pay bills and cover the office expenses. Be blessed!

Thank you, Lainey!

I would LOVE to work from home! TALK about job security! As a waitress, I've known I was on a limited time span...even if it HAS lasted almost forty years. And, NO, that first jerk doctor didn't even allow me time to ask questions, spent LESS than 20 minutes with me. I have an appointment for a different doctor in about 10 days. If he's no better, I'll keep searching!

THANK YOU so much for that link! I'm going to explore that!


K

No, but I'll look into it! I am doing the glucosamine/chondriotin/MSM though...I had good results with that years ago with mild arthritis in my hands. I would MUCH prefer the natural/homeopathic route than the western medicine/invasive route!

THANK YOU!!

Kimberly

THANK YOU, anonymous writer! That was a wonderful, INFORMATIVE and VERY helpful reply!

This site alone has now brought me MUCH comfort! Just knowing I'm not the only one suffering...and BOY OH BOY is it painful when it "flares up". I have no better word for it..sometimes it's manageable, sometimes it's cripplingly painful.

But the response that you sent, whoever you are!, is immensely helpful and I'm VERY appreciative!

Kimberly

Kim: your welcome . . .just one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread! For me, my ortho dude recommended supartz injections which I do every 6 months (weekly x 5 weeks) and steroid injections every 4 months initially and now down to 3 month intervals. I figure I have 1.4 million "new" best friends (fellow OA suffers).

The injections help a bit - somewhat protective, the steroids are good for me for a couple of months and then I spend one month in agony which is just a sign of the significance of the wear and tear. Would delay the inevitabe TKR into never if I could -so faith, prescription drugs significant lifestyle modification (ice is my best friend) all helps.

Take care

OMG IT SOUNDS LIKE THE DOC I HAD ON MY BACK. ASK YOUR REGULAR DOC FOR A TENS UNIT. IT PUT ELECTRICAL SHOCK WAVES ON THE NERVE ENDINGS AND BELIEVE ME IT HELPS WITH THE PAIN.
I SAW A BACK SURGEON ON MY BACK FOR OSTEO AND DEGENIRTIVE DISKS. HE TOLD ME TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT ALSO CAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO BUT PAIN PILLS AND SHOTS.
A FRIEND SUGGESSTED THE TENS UNIT SO I TALKED TO MY DOC ABOUT IT. I HAVE HAD IT FOR SIX MONTHS NOW AND I SWEAR BY IT. I USE IT 2 TIMES A DAY AND IT HELPS ME GET THROUGH THE DAY WITH HARDLY ANY PAIN. YOU CAN ALSO RESEARCH IT ON THE NET. JUST TYPE IN TENS UNIT FOR PAIN.
HOPE THIS HELPS HON. IT'S HELL LIVING WITH PAIN 24-7.
GOD BLESS
BONNIE

I'm sorry to hear of your misery. Because of a 1989 spinal cord injury, I've been unable to work as a college professor or anything else since 2000, and I too live with severe pain. But you should not put up with what sounds like an uncaring, if not incompetent, doctor. I've been seeing a pain management specialist for several years for the back and front pain I have (I have to use a wheelchair). My wife, who has severe osteoarthritis in her knee, sees a rheumatologist periodically. She has prescribed Celebrex (Celecoxib) for her knee pain, with excellent results.
If you are disabled but under 65, you can still apply for Social Security Disability payments and get into Medicare early; I got a Medicare card when I was only 60!
I almost forgot to tell you that my preferred analgesic is Percocet, which takes the edge off--though it is extremely constipating.
Good luck. For what it's worth, know that you're not alone. There may even be a support group where you live. Ask at your local Senior Center, if there is one.

One more resource, which you probably already know:
http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/default.htm.

OMG, So sorry your doctor sound like he needs bedside manner classes again. That was SSO cold. Not sure where you live at dear, but you can try to get intouch with UNC in Chapel- Hill they have real Doctors that actually treat these types of things you may want to get intouch with them. You should keep your chin-up don't give up. I feel that there they maybe able to help you .And if they ca'nt then they can help you other ways . Maybe even get you dissability. Please give them a try. I have R.A. if they had not had a clinic in my area I do not know what I would have done. They really helped.
Will be praying for you.

I also know of another place you may try Call Duke Medicine.
They have a whole thing on knee and hips they may also be able to help. Good Doctors here in NC.

Had the same problem 17 years ago. Alleve gave me some relief. Took to my bed with with a number of self-help Health books. Figured out my near vegetarian diet was the culprit - it was high in purims from the beans and lentils that were supposed to lower cholesterol. I had GOUT. Went back to a normal diet. I have too much Uric acid. Whenever my knees act up I check diet and drink lots of water, I regularly visit a.
chiropractor and this I think keeps me in good shape. Keep an open mind. I went through hell when I could not sit and now through chiropractic I am a good sitter. Being unable to sit is as bad as being unable to walk. Hope this hells. God Bless.

I would advise you to get another DR. Many people and even elderly have knee replacements, and if a good ORTHOPEDIC doc says no then ask for options, there are usually always options. I think heat wraps from bengay are great, at least for me. I have severe back problems and am down to getting a pain block, but I am going to try exercises everyday first. One month and I should know something. I am 57 and like you do not and don't intend to give up yet. I have a friend who has just gotten both knees done, one at a time,around our age and is doing great. She works on her feet all the time in a hospital. Hang in there!