Pain relief for osteoarthritis in knees

Gillybob wrote:
"My gran used to get injections into her knees. (she had already had replacements in the past). They lasted quite a long time and she said they were marvellous. I can't for the life of me remember what they were called though, sorry."
My husband has knee problems, and over the years has had 2 kinds of injections - cortisone first, and recently this:
www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/drugs/hyaluronan.aspx
I think it's a last resort before surgery. but TG very effective.

Just returned to GN after a busy day. Suggested the elimination diet to DH but he says he will not give up tomatoes! So no more sympathy for him then .

Would your GP prescribe Orlistat for you? I know the side effects are a bit grim, but it would help shift the weight. It's such a Catch 22 situation, isn't it; so hard to lose weight when your mobility goes.

Hmmm, not sure if I am satisfied after talking to my GP! I am going to go back to taking tramodol and paracetamol, gradually reducing the amitriptylin as I felt more in control of the pain previously - I could plan my activities around doses. My GP was not keen on prescribing morphine based painkillers ( the next level up) as apparently research has shown them to be ineffective with osteoarthritis. She wants me to try more exercise by joining the council run games as a reduced rate with her referral - water based classes. But I am not convinced I can walk from the car park to reception to the changing rooms and then to the pool!

There is really only one thing stopping a referral to a consultant to discuss surgery and that is my obese weight. I know that and it is up to me to sort it out! I need to lose at least four stone though! No point going to see a consultant to be told that!

So, I will persevere for the time being, lose weight and then get a referral, my GP supports me 100%. I am also going to dog out some knee support bands and bandages to see if they help.

I did some research on an arthritis website this afternoon and it suggested that taking amitriptylin and tramodol together can be effective so I will discuss that with the doctor at my next appointment in two weeks.

But in the meantime I am a bit p****d off - but my weight issues need dealing with before I complain more forcefully!

Tegan

I pop a turmeric/circumin capsule into my golden paste milky drink as well....the thing I do wrong is to add honey but I can't drink it without...

Aah Tegan - another Turmeric/Curcumin user!
Turmeric and Curcumin are the same thing - a natural spice with very effective anti-inflammatory (and anti-oxidant) properties. Has no harmful side effects. I find curcumin more convenient as it’s in capsule form. Really worth trying rather than taking strong painkillers with all their side effects.

Go to that appointment and cry!

Thank you to all the posters on this thread, including the opening one. I've gained a lot of information regarding diet and treatment and will certainly be trying the various recommendations as I cannot persuade my GP to let me be seen by a consultant; GP just calling it wear and tear - so frustrating and at times, downright upsetting. Unless you are a knee pain sufferer you can't begin to imagine how awful it can be at times. Again many thanks for all the info.

I've got OA in my knee too. Only in one as my other knee is a replacement. No pain at all in that one! It's traumatic but worth it. I was 61 at the time. No cartilage left at all. I was bone on bone so no supplements or painkillers could put off the evil hour!

forgot to say that with 50 I'm pain free

what dose of amitriptyline are you on ? I've just dropped from 50mg to 25 on the advice of my physio, mainly to see if physio was working. I'm in agony today

My gran used to get injections into her knees. (she had already had replacements in the past). They lasted quite a long time and she said they were marvellous. I can't for the life of me remember what they were called though, sorry.

Just tell the GP the pain is unbearable .
When I saw the Consultant he said I guess you are totally fed up with the pain and when I said yes he said that is good enough for me.
My knee had been left too long and although I made a good recovery, it is not as good as I think it could have been had it been done earlier.

Thanks for all the replies, you are right to tell me to stress my situation strongly to my doctor and get a referral to a consultant. My daughter will be coming to any consultants appointment, now she is a force to reckon with!

I have tried Flexiseq for the last two weeks as the physio recommended it but have not seen any changes.

My plan is to get stronger pain killers today, then I can do some exercise to lose weight then see a consultant. That way, I will not be told that I am too fat for surgery - which in essence is what I was recently told at an orthopaedic clinic!

I will let you know what my GP says shortly.

Teacheranne I have every sympathy with you. You must do whatever you can to make life more bearable.

It’s your GP appointment today. Let us know how you get on.

WTF are you talking about Jura why should I make you feel guilty about a knee replacement?

?

I use Voltarol 12 Hour pain relief. I am not sure how effective it will be on pain as intense as yours.

Have you tried Flexsiseq. It is a substance, non prescription that is supposed to help lubricate worn joints you can buy it over the counter. It seems to work on my thumbs. Arthritis UK were promoting it. Google it. I can't get a link on my tablet.

I certainly wouldn’t condemn your exclusions oldmeg. I have been advised to cut out or drastically reduce these foods by two different nutritionists along with aubergine. They are all part of the same plant family and in the view of the nutritionists aggravate inflammation of any kind. My advice came years ago when I sought help to manage fibromyalgia. I have osteoarthritis now and know that if I eat potato in particular the discomfort is much worse. I seem to be OK with peppers and aubergine, tomato is a definite source of increased pain. I go back to we’re all different and approaches will vary with us all. If something works and is not harmful in other ways why give ourselves a hard time about it?

A few years ago I had terrible tummy trouble. I did an elimination diet as advised in Dr Ali's Nutrition Bible. I still refer to it from time to time. I take my turmeric in the form of golden paste and I'm convinced it helps me, even if it's just a placebo effect. I was going to have radiation treatment on some benign lumps on my foo but when the consultant said that I'd have to stop taking turmeric before I had the treatment I realised that turmeric must do something for him to say that. So I just continued with the turmeric and, thus far, the lumps haven't grown any bigger.

It does seem strange that some foods seem to make things worse. I have had osteoarthritis in my knee for over twenty years and the pain is now less that it was in the early days. Why - possibly because I no longer sit on those tiny chairs in a reception class! I once did the 15 day no carbs diet and was amazed that my knee pain also went! But like all diets, I am not good at sticking to it. I had to stop pilates and swimming, but do still do yoga and cycling , and my walking is done mostly on the flat. Maybe that is why it is better now. I have an old book by Margaret Hills, called Curing Arthritis Diet Book, which recommends cutting out tomatoes, potatoes and peppers too. She recommends taking cider vinegar and also molasses daily. All best wishes to you TeacherAnne because it can be a very painful and debilitating condition.

Teacheranne I was told the same at your age but the consultant realised how my knees were deteriorating and went ahead. A friend of mine who lives in France and has had both his knees replaced says that they leave it much too late here sometimes. Mine were done 12 years ago and are still fine - and pain fgree!

Oldmeg- fair enough. I know what 'triggered it off' - a terrible car crash on the 22nd of December 1970 - which completely smashed my right side- and being in traction for over 4 months with a massive pin through my leg - 7.5 months in hospital and 2 years to learn to walk again and a leg permanently 2.5 cm than the other.

So I won't shoot you in flames - but I refuse to let you make me feel guilty for needing knee replacements. Thanks.

winterwhite there is really very little research into diet and OA, what little there is suggests there is a tentative link.

While the medical profession can offer very little in the way of help it’s up to us to manage the condition as best we can.

Losing weight is a first good step, but I’m only a couple of pounds overweight. Keeping moving is good advice, but what happens when it’s too painful to even walk?

The question I’m asking myself is why can I walk well this week but a couple of weeks ago I was almost crippled with the pain?

Something is setting this off and this is probably causing inflammation of the joints and damaging cartilage. It’s almost like rheumatoid arthritis but my GP tells me it’s OA.

I’m half expecting to be shot down in flames ? but I don’t care if I can find the trigger and eliminate them, or reduce the severity, that’s my aim.

So in the meantime I’m experimenting with elimination these plants and if it makes a difference (which it seems to be doing so far) then great! And if not then back to the drawing board.