Knees - finally know what’s wrong

[Tradd]

I’ve been babying my bad knees for years. Anyway, right has been hurting a lot more and doc suggested at annual yesterday that I get them x-rayed so we had a baseline. They have a machine right in the office and there was a tech, so easy peasy.

Moderate to severe osteoarthritis in both knees. Got the results yesterday via patient portal. So still need to talk to doc on what to do. She’s getting me a referral to ortho after holiday.

Believe it or not, there have been some people, especially within diving community, who accused me of faking it.

I meant to ask doc about a temporary handicapped parking permit but forgot.

[Tybee]

I’ve been babying my bad knees for years. Anyway, right has been hurting a lot more and doc suggested at annual yesterday that I get them x-rayed so we had a baseline. They have a machine right in the office and there was a tech, so easy peasy.

Moderate to severe osteoarthritis in both knees. Got the results yesterday via patient portal. So still need to talk to doc on what to do. She’s getting me a referral to ortho after holiday.

Believe it or not, there have been some people, especially within diving community, who accused me of faking it.

I meant to ask doc about a temporary handicapped parking permit but forgot.

While I'm sorry to hear this, at least you have an answer that validates your experience. My ortho says I need two total knee replacements, but I sure don't want to do that, so interested to hear what yours says, and if there are alternatives to replacement.

If you call the doctor they will do the parking permit--my husband got one because of his hip arthritis and he likes it so much I am afraid he will chicken out of the replacement, just to keep his sticker.

[Tradd]

While I'm sorry to hear this, at least you have an answer that validates your experience. My ortho says I need two total knee replacements, but I sure don't want to do that, so interested to hear what yours says, and if there are alternatives to replacement.

If you call the doctor they will do the parking permit--my husband got one because of his hip arthritis and he likes it so much I am afraid he will chicken out of the replacement, just to keep his sticker.

From what a nurse friend with knee issues from a long ago car crash, some sort of steroid/silicone injections are the first thing to try. She had her bad knee replaced about 18 months ago.

[Tradd]

About the handicapped parking placard, I actually don’t go into stores that often these days. Even before the knees hurt more, I was doing a lot of online shopping. Stuff from Amazon, grocery delivery, etc. My only real reason to go into a physical store is to get diving tanks filled! But there are diving sites, etc., where having the placard will make things easier for parking.

[pinkytoe]

I have one painful knee that xray revealed as mild arthritis and a cyst. Time (six months) and targeted physical therapy have greatly improved it. Insurance companies are starting to require pt before elective joint replacements.

[Tybee]

My ortho drained one knee and shot it full of cortisone, but it did not seem to help for more than a week. So he didn't drain the other one, unfortunately. He says there is nothing he can do except replace them. Not a fan.

[sweetana3]

It is amazing to me how many people I know with joints replaced and many with multiple. I did not think much about it until I hurt my knee and was crying that they could take it out. Doctor knew it needed time but I sure did not believe him. Took several months and a shot to get thru it but now it is back to normal. I am keeping the muscles around the knee in good shape just in case I should need surgery in the future.

[Teacher Terry]

I have heard from friends that knee replacement is more painful than a hip replacement. A friend of mine is having stem cell treatments for her knee. I am so glad that I don’t have that problem.

[jp1]

I’m sorry you’re going through this. Hopefully less invasive treatments will work and it won’t get to the joint replacement stage. That said, I’ve known a few people that have had knee replacements and although not a speedy recovery they are all glad they had it done.

[Tradd]

Thanks, all.

Fortunately, I have a desk job that can be done from home. I live in a ground floor apartment with one step up into building. I’m used to getting pretty much everything delivered. I could even put the rebreather to the side for a while and go back to diving open circuit sidemount (tanks on my sides, clipped on in the water). Rebreather is 40lbs plus 22 lbs of lead on my back (sidemount rebreathers don’t work for boat diving), and just skip boat diving or just dive off the friend’s charter boat in MI that has a diver lift (elevator). Uncommon here, but very common overseas.

[Teacher Terry]

Although they don’t like to do knee replacement young my friend got it in his late thirties because he was in so much pain and it lasted until he died at 71. Glad you can modify your diving if you need to Tradd.

[happystuff]

I agree that finally knowing has such value! Good luck with the Dr. discussion!

[Tradd]

I have an appt with an ortho in a couple of weeks.

[Tradd]

Ortho appt today. Doc is a diver, too (warm water) so he has an idea of what I’m talking about with dealing with dive boat ladder.

Both knees not yet bone on bone, but I am a candidate for eventual replacement. Got cortisone shot in both knees today. Ortho office requesting insurance approval for the hyaluronic acid gel injections. They’re five injections over five weeks. Can repeat every six months.

[Tradd]

Oh, forgot to add - ortho gave me signed application for handicapped placard. I just have to fill my portion out and mail it.

[iris lilies]

Oh, forgot to add - ortho gave me signed application for handicapped placard. I just have to fill my portion out and mail it.
I hope these treatments work for you and you can stave off surgeries for many years.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I’m sorry you’re going through this. Hopefully less invasive treatments will work and it won’t get to the joint replacement stage. That said, I’ve known a few people that have had knee replacements and although not a speedy recovery they are all glad they had it done.

my mom, among them as I have mentioned here. Both knees, one at a time. Yes she can walk better, and is in MUCH less pain (so sometimes nothing is 100% and she still has to use NSAIDS sometimes, but vastly better). If an 80 something woman (in fairly good health) can do ok ... age is not considered to make the surgery all that much more risky though from what I read. She got the steroid shots for awhile before then. Her knees were far too far gone for the non-steroid shots or stem cell treatments to be viable.

[jp1]

I’ve known two people to do the injections you’re doing. One has had success with them. The other has two fake knees. Both are doing fine. Hope the injections work for you. That is certainly less invasive.

[SiouzQ.]

I had the hyaluronic injections in both knees in April, three rounds, once a week for three weeks. They were very hard to get approved by my insurance, as they are denying that treatment more and more (says my orthopedic doctor). I think they've helped some, but I still can get some knee pain here and there the more I do active things. My knees are nowhere near needing a replacement, so I guess it's just injections for me for the time being. I have what they call Chondromalsia, which from what I understand is roughness under the patella that irritates the tendons and ligaments as they slide over. The hyaluronic stuff is supposed to add lubrication under there. I may try cortisone next to see if that works any better.

I hope it helps your knees. Keep us posted.

[Tradd]

I had the hyaluronic injections in both knees in April, three rounds, once a week for three weeks. They were very hard to get approved by my insurance, as they are denying that treatment more and more (says my orthopedic doctor). I think they've helped some, but I still can get some knee pain here and there the more I do active things. My knees are nowhere near needing a replacement, so I guess it's just injections for me for the time being. I have what they call Chondromalsia, which from what I understand is roughness under the patella that irritates the tendons and ligaments as they slide over. The hyaluronic stuff is supposed to add lubrication under there. I may try cortisone next to see if that works any better.

I hope it helps your knees. Keep us posted.

Thanks, all.

Yes, I read online the hyaluronic injections are not even recommended by the American Orthopedic Society (or whatever they call themselves) and their efficacy is debatable. We’ll see what my insurance says.

[happystuff]

Hope the injections help! Good luck going forward.

[Tradd]

Insurance approved the hyaluronic (sp?) injections, but I have a high deductible ($4K) on my PPO. The shots are $390 for both knees for each visit (5 weeks in a row), plus $200 office visit. So almost $600. When I was told it had been approved (yesterday), I told them I had to look at my finances before I made an appt. I’m doing OK with the cortisone injection. I may wait until January when deductible resets.

I also got my temporary 6 month handicapped placard.

[SiouzQ.]

Yes, my knee injections cost a ridiculous amount as well and I am still paying for them on the payment plan I set up with the health system. I started the year with a healthcare goal to hit my deductible and out-of-pocket expenses as early as I could so I could finally find out what is going on with my left shoulder, elbow and wrist, knowing that I would probably end up getting surgery done on my wrist and elbow after a year and a half of various MRI's, PT, and EMG testing. I hit my expenses in May so now my surgery tomorrow is paid for 100%.

If you end up going with the cortisone injections instead let me know if they work for you. I might try those the next time around to see if they work better than the hyaluronic ones.