Osteoarthritis Community

Perhaps you have already received your answer. I too have severe arthritis in both knees, and have had excellent luck with Synvisc injections. The first time I was almost pain free for a year and a half. I went back for more injections, and had a full year of being pain free. Unfortunately, I had a reaction the third time I went back, but I would highly recommend at least trying this.
Good Luck

Hopefully, you've seen a rheumatologist by now! One who reveals your options, e.g. biologic injections, medicines available according to your lab work & inform you, the patient to research arthritis kinds: is yours rheumatoid or osteopenia or even shadowed by/evidence example of connective tissuee disease present? Your former doctor can't make any money & some M.D.'s have their way of non-literally stating: "I don't want you/me as a patient or don't care to treat you any more!
God bless you and go to the very source of the your PAIN should be your #1 goal! Even if it has to be homeopathic way synthetic drugs. Knee exercises are good also, but have your PCP or 'rheumy' inform you which ones. Better days...

I recently experienced severe pain in my right knee only to learn it was OA. There are alot of things you can do to help first if you are over weight at all get down to an ideal weight. Every pound over is 5 lbs extra on the knees. Also modify your diet there are foods that are good for OA. You can also get a cortizone shot every 3 months if that helps. Last but not least what has helped me the most (even though I hate it) is physical therapy, which works to make the whole area stronger. When all else fails there is always knee replacement. But that is the last thing you want to resort to. Any doctor who tells you there is nothing he can do isn't worth your time. PT has helped me to be pain free, and I am very complient with my exercise at home. I also lost that extra 10 pounds which may be helping.

evrhpfl: I'd like to tell you of the potential cures for your problem but,after many years of treatment for OA, inluding epidurals,injections,manipulations,physical and water therapies,hot and cold therapies,pain opiates and finally an infusion pump for morphine,and accupuncture, I can say that none of those tratments gave me any lasting effects. I've had bone density checks, MRI's, Xrays and CAT scans. It turns out the doctors really only need the X-rays to make a diagnosis for knee surgery which I had done on my left knee( Partial ) in January. It's the only thing that has given me relief and allowed me to walk again. Still haven't found anything for relief of lower back pain due to OA but at 81 years old,I don't figure I have tht many more years to put up with it. Your doctor is,unfortunately,right when he says there isn't anything that he can do to help you except you might try steroid injections directly into your knee.If that doesn't help you a knee replacement may be your only hope. Good luck !

Your orthopedist's treatment of you seems at best misguided. It's important to know that there is great variability in the quality of physicians. The world-class people in medicine are often an order of magnitude superior -- in every way, including empathy for the patient -- to their lesser peers. I'd advise you to look for the best orthopedist you can find and try again.

Here are some Web links that may help you advance the process and find someone first-class in your own city or town:

http://www.consumersresearchcncl.org/Healthcare/Orthopedists/orthop_chapts.html#find

http://www.healtharticles101.com/10-best-orthopedic-surgeons-in-us/

http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/orthopedics

Hi, just came across your ordeal and the hopeless response from the PROFESSIONAL..
Forget about the guy. He's also human with mistakes.

Whether osteoarthritis, RA, or, both, you are often in pains and with swellings.
I have both. What helps me suppress them for the past 3 years are consistently...

1. my morning 1 table-spoon of extra virgin olive oil (b4 breakfast), and 1 hour before sleep;
2. my breakfast of 5 table-spoon of uncooked rolled-oats soaked in RO water overnight;
3. my seal-oil capsules after meals (less red meat); and
4. my non-alcoholic beverage usually with 1 tea-spoon ginger powder, and half tea-spoon cucurmin powder

If medical science treatment/surgery is not available or expensive, there is still hope from our kitchen - BETTER than none.

Nothing to lose, take care...

I too have arthritis in both knees and could barely walk on bad days. I went to a Rhuematologist and told her even though I was taking mega doses of Napralean, I was still having a lot of discomfort and she said we could try steroid injections in each knee. I was all for it since I had been suffering with this for a year. She said most people get at least a 50% decrease in pain and some get complete relief! It very individual though some get relief for a week or so and some get relief for about a year or more. You don't need to worry about weight gain either! Yeh! It's been about a month for me and I am doing a lot better. I've cut back on my Naprolean and have very little discomfort, as long as I remember to take my medicine every day. If I forget it then I have some discomfort. So far I've had no more bad days were I could barely walk. I hope you find a more competent and caring doctor. I hope this helps. Oh, The injections sounds horrible but, was not. She numbed the area just before and it was a breeze. She said that that is key to it being painless.

I had moderate osteoarthritis in my knees, especially one of them. A few months ago I reported this to my HMO doc, who said not severe enough to consider surgery, offered no further help. He did mention in passing that some studies showed MSM supplements might help.

I had taken glucosamine about five years, nothing else. I suppose would have been worse otherwise, but the osteo was still present and bothersome. I has seen see a recent article saying that apparently pure glucosamine sulfate, no MSM or chonroitin included, was best, so I had been taking just that. But his comment got me to thinking, so I soon went to what I regard the best search engine for serious inquiries, altavista, and as my search typed in something like "supplements used for osteoarthritis". Several suggestions, and I spent all told probably 30 hours researching them. Every time I found one that looked really promising, I went back to altavista and typed in as my search its name and the words "side effects and drug interactions". If we are serious about wanting to get better, I now believe that our results may depend upon our being proactive and how much effort we put into the search.

In the end I wrote off several but wound up with a list of seven:
glucosamine sulfate, pure MSM, SAM-e, celabrin, biocell collagen II, stinging nettle either root or leaf, and ginger root. For about two months I have been taking these daily as directed. I was guided somewhat by the number and quality of ratings by users, and went to www.vitacost.com to get those ratings. When I had condensed my list, I ordered all 7 of the above through them. I'm sure other distributors have all or most. I am 71, recently retired from a state agency, never affiliated with Vitacost or any other supplement dealer or maker.

As I said, has now been two months. All pain is gone. What was most helpful, and whether this will be long lasting relief I of course can't say.....but so far am highly pleased. Many of the customers ratings I read were similarly praising, perhaps more of Celadrin than any one of the others.

I think doctors, especially those with HMO's, won't go out on a limb and suggest something their HMO does not officially endorse, and lots of useful supplements are never exhaustively enough tested for the HMO to approve them. HMO's are ever mindful of possible lawsuits. So my doctor, capable in many areas, was of no help with osteo, just like yours wasn't. But if you will pay your dues and search for yourself, there may be lots of other professionals and doctors on the Internet who can help.

Good luck to both of us!

I made a typo above and spelled one supplement two different ways. Celabrin is incorrect, should be Celadrin. Apparently there is a company by this name that originally made it, now made by various companies as well, all using the name celadrin.

Hi - I also have osteoarthritis in both knees AND both hips. I recently had a total hip replacement on the R side. I had a cortisone injection at my L knee, for patello - femoral pain and it made a huge difference....so I could recommend it. Also, regarding knee braces....Ossur makes an 'off loading' brace for the knee and users report that it was remarkable as to the difference it made for them MInd you, it is costly, about $1,000 so I hope you have some sort of extended medical benefits. Also, Voltaren cream helps alot, Costco sells it at a very reasonable price. Off course, good shoes are essential....Allegria makes some great ones - look for their 'duty shoes' line. Also, check out 'Recovery Complex" for symptom relief. Also, check out 'Traumeel' tincture or homeopathic tablets - when it works, it's like a miracle.
Good luck!
Jannie

HI there,
I am (was) in the same position..... in the restaurant business,
working as a waiter for many many years, THEN the knees...
has so much pain that it was almost impossible to work.
doctor send me to an orthopedic surgeon, then had an
"arthroscopy" done ! 3 weeks later I was at my job. then a year later my other knee...same story.
it has been now almost 3 years and I am doing fine, it will
NEVER be a 100 % but I can support myself!
good luck
hermann

The most important thng is to find a good Orthopedic Doctor. My husband had both knees replaced at the same time 4 years ago, and is doing excellent. He is now able to hunt and fish and all the things he enjoyed. He was walking unassisted on his new knees in less than 3 weeks from the surgery. I also have bad knees, but not ready for replacement. I have a couple things that help greatly with the pain. My left knee is worse than my right, and if I do too much walking, I used to have to resort to crutches for a day or so, but my doctor told me to try a Knee support. It is elastic that slips over the knee with stays in the back and a hole over the knee cap. It really makes a big difference. Also, if you are using heavy blankets and bedding, change to a light blanket because just the weight of the blanket will cause lots of pain. Another thing that helps tremendously is a good memory foam pad on your bed. And this also works for me, although, like Glucosamine-Chondroitin, it doesn't work for everyone. There is an over the counter cream called Castiva. I was having trouble with my right shoulder and could not raise it above my head, but when the pain got really bad, I could massage a pea sized drop of Castiva (with capsaicin) into my shoulder and the pain was gone in 5 minutes. I hope someone can be helped with these tips that have worked for me.

Excellent advice. nealy