Bum knee :(

[Grammabear]

This morning I was walking from my laundry area to the kitchen when my left knee "gave out" and would not support me.  Because I have great difficulty doing simple things like walking from one room to the next, I made an appointment with the advance practice nurse at my GPs office.  There she ordered x-rays which showed mild degenerative changes in that knee.  The APN offered me an appointment with an orthopedic doctor where she said he would probably give me an injection.  To me that didn't sound like much fun so I asked for a referral to a physical therapist instead. 

I sure did not plan on limping around like I'm doing now. 

[Shanny]

If she's referring to cortisone shots in the joint, I gotta tell ya, they work really well when they work. But they gotta hit exactly the right spot for perfect efficiency. My BH had some in his hip during the year before his hip replacement surgery, and the first one was magic - all pain ceased instantly. Later ones helped, but nothing like the first one.

So sorry you have another ailment to add to the list. This aging business is sure not for sissies! 

[bigskygal]

I've had the shots in my low back a couple of times and they work great.  They have lasted a couple of years this time which is amazing!  While PT is probably a good idea too, I wouldn't discount the shot.

[Grammabear]

This might sound funny coming from someone who is insulin dependent, but the cortisone shot sounds like it would hurt like heck.  How do you know if the doctor is good at putting the shot where it is supposed to go?  When I had a shot in the joint of my large toe for surgery by the Podiatrist, I thought it couldn't possibly hurt anymore and then it did - when he put a second shot into the joint.  I am a "chicken".

[Shalynne]

Ouch, ouch ouch!

I know diddly-zip about shots vs. PT, but I hope you find The Perfect Treatment and feel better quicker than ASAP!

[walkerwally1]

I have osteoarthritis in both knees and cortisone injections are the only way I have gotten relief.  An injection lasts me about 9 months before needing another one but it varies from person to person.  I go to an orthopedic specialist and it is not an unpleasant experience at all.  The doctor uses an imaging device and very precisely  places the injection.  The one thing to be aware of is that cortisone can raise blood sugar quite a bit.  I am fortunate in that I don't seem to be affected and see almost no raise at all but some people see a very large increase.  Being on insulin at least you may be able to counter that.  Don't be afraid of it, it's not that bad at all and can give you a great amount of relief.

[Grammabear]

I have osteoarthritis in both knees and cortisone injections are the only way I have gotten relief.  An injection lasts me about 9 months before needing another one but it varies from person to person.  I go to an orthopedic specialist and it is not an unpleasant experience at all.  The doctor uses an imaging device and very precisely  places the injection.  The one thing to be aware of is that cortisone can raise blood sugar quite a bit.  I am fortunate in that I don't seem to be affected and see almost no raise at all but some people see a very large increase.  Being on insulin at least you may be able to counter that.  Don't be afraid of it, it's not that bad at all and can give you a great amount of relief.

It is some relief in knowing just how they place the injection.  I've had osteoarthritis for a long time and maybe it is time to consider getting relief from an injection.  Thank you for the information you have provided.   

[Timewise]

Ok, I have a different perspective.  At 65 and being an old football and wrestling guy my knees are a mess.   My main problem is torn meniscus, what we used to call torn cartilage.   My knees used to lock up at night and many times doing anything physical was problematic.   I tried cortisone and it was like pouring fire into the knee, although it did help for a time.

About four years ago my Orthopedic Surgeon recommended I try a new treatment.  It was a series of 5 injections spaced 7-10 days apart.  He said the way the do them it relatively painless and they were getting very good results.  So I went ahead and had them done and they were covered by my insurance so they were not terribly expensive.

The results were amazing!  After 2-3 weeks following the last injection, my pain stopped!  None.... 0....gone!   O happy days...

To give the injections in the office, they first put some cold spray on my skin to numb the surface.  Then an injection into the knee area with some type of numbing solution like the dentist uses.   That did not hurt much at all.  Then after a few minutes they injected this thick liquid into the center of the knee....did not feel a thing!   Five shots later plus a few days I have a new knee.

Doctor told me they typically last 6-12 months.   My first round lasted 12 months and then my knee pain came back, so I had another round, that was 18 months ago and still no pain....this is a miracle drug....

By the way my wife also has bad knees and she has also now had three rounds of injections...with the same results, no pain!

The name of the product they use is Halagon Injections.....do your own research but for my money they are life savers....but cannot be used anywhere other then the knees....but really work!

[walkerwally1]

I had a torn meniscus about 15 years ago.  My knee swelled up to about the size of a grapefruit and I went to my PCP who drained it and referred me to an Orthopedic Surgeon who had an MRI done and them used Arthroscopic knee surgery to repair the torn meniscus.  Quite amazing as they make three small incisions and insert a camera in one, instrument in another and flush with water in the third.  After the operation I never had a problem again with that.  The problem I am now dealing with is Osteoarthritis which is caused form the meniscus actually wearing down to the point it will not cushion the bone to bone contact in the joint.  My orthopedist has shown me an alternative called Supartz which may be the same as you have used but there are a few with different names.  With that one the injection actually replaces some of the synovial fluid with a denser fluid to cushion the joint.  I am interested in using it but as long as the cortisone does the job he would like to stick with it.  You are the first one I have heard of using that and I am glad it is working well, I may be joining you in the future. 

 

[Timewise]

WW...sounds like the same stuff.....it is a fairly inert product therefore little side effects...

Although cortisone has been around a long while, it has many side effects.....

You might investigate further, my wife and I just love this stuff....

[walkerwally1]

I did Google it and yep, it's all the same thing :

GENERIC NAME: sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronan) intra-articular injection

BRAND NAME: Hyalgan, Supartz, Euflexxa, Orthovisc

Quite interesting.  My orthopedist gave me the brochure for Supartz and suggested it as an alternative if the cortisone didn't work any more.  I asked him about it when I went for my last cortisone injection last month and he was reluctant to switch from the cortisone as long as it was working.  The cortisone does seem to do the job so far and I am lucky that I don't seem to have much of a problem with it raising my blood sugar but next time I need to renew the cortisone I am going to press a little harder for the alternative.  Thanks for letting me know how it is working for you. 

[starsign]

Most of this is over my head but I wish you a fast recovery.

[Maggie]

My knees have begun to bother me getting up if I sit too long. I hope this is not my future I see here. Is there something I can do to ward off developments like it giving out? I have never had any knee injuries, they just hurt sometimes when I stand after sitting a long time.

[Shanny]

Mine do too, Maggie, and before I forget . . . welcome aboard!


What I do when my knees act a little creaky is wear a knee brace for a day or three. Especially in bed it helps if aching develops during the night - the braces stabilize the joint and really make a difference. Just ordinary elastic braces - nothing fancy or expensive.

[walkerwally1]

A knee injury like a torn meniscus can happen at any time and is usually caused during something like sports but like in my case I don't even know what I did but the fix was surgery.  Osteoarthritis is more common as people get older and is caused by calcium build up on the bone in the joint.  It works just like sand paper and wears away the cartilage which is the meniscus and as it gets closer to bone on bone it gets more painful.  The only way I know to avoid it is to not get older but I don't know how to do that.  Sitting for prolonged periods however is not helpful and has been shown to be really bad for overall health.  The best thing I have found is to move more.  It helps me to make it a goal to get up and walk at least every hour, even for a short walk, and it does wonders for me.  Fitbit now has a record of every hour you walk at least 250 steps and tattles if I miss an hour.  It may be silly but it helps me keep track and it does help.
I've tried knee braces and sometimes they help and sometimes they don't.  It is certainly worth trying though.