Osteoarthritis of the knee

YellowDaffodil

I'm also an osteoarthritis statistic Chronic pain both knees, both hips etc. Had to quit work 4 years before state pension kicks in.
Not sure if age would be prohibitive - take a look at Arthrosamid® injections for knee pain. Not available on the NHS and almost 3K, if it works can.last up to 4 years. I'm saving my pennies.

My brother had that done abroad on his private health insurance.
He said he didn’t advise me having that if it was offered as it didn’t make his pain any less, only increased his pain.
Might work for you though Yellowdaffodil

Overthemoongran

Marjgran

I feel for him! Both my knees swell and are so painful with OA. Left one was offered TKR three years ago but I prefered exercises which have really helped (much to my surprise) until now, I think it has all deteriorated. Right knee is in a dodgy leg! I’ve had three hip replacements (yep) and they are a doddle in comparison to TKR, a very painful operation for most people and lots of rehab and a 20% regret rate and better done late as possible but not too late to do the healing. Awful decision.

My surgeon held the opposite view -if it is REALLY necessary it’s best done as early as possible, because younger people heal so much quicker and they will get so much benefit from the operation. I was only 59 and could barely walk, the pain in both sides was very bad, my work & social life was virtually over. X-rays showed both knees to be bone on bone and wearing thinner all the time. He said these days the replacement knees should last 30 years, so with eleven months apart I had bilateral replacements. I have never looked backed, I go hiking in the Lakes, I’ve been to the top of Snowdon, I climb all the church & cathedral towers when on holiday, I do keep fit classes etc - so my health is so much better as I’m not sitting around.
If the operation is just not possible then I recommend a good knee brace, a physio should be able to advise.

I offered to pay for mine at 52, but was told it wasn’t about money but the fact I was too young. Anyway now getting it on the nhs any time soon.

YellowDaffodil

I'm also an osteoarthritis statistic Chronic pain both knees, both hips etc. Had to quit work 4 years before state pension kicks in.
Not sure if age would be prohibitive - take a look at Arthrosamid® injections for knee pain. Not available on the NHS and almost 3K, if it works can.last up to 4 years. I'm saving my pennies.

I’ve been looking at those. However my bad knee is completely bent and no amount of cushioning is going to change the shape of my knee back to normal which affects the way I walk.

I'm also an osteoarthritis statistic Chronic pain both knees, both hips etc. Had to quit work 4 years before state pension kicks in.
Not sure if age would be prohibitive - take a look at Arthrosamid® injections for knee pain. Not available on the NHS and almost 3K, if it works can.last up to 4 years. I'm saving my pennies.

I would suggest trying Uddermint. It is a product used by farmers for cows, sheep and goats. Particularly when they have mastitis. They can still be milked and milk processed. It is a Japanese mint and liniment cream. I’ve tried most of Voltarol type products. In my opinion they are a waste of money and don’t work. Even my GP agrees with me! The product is not passed for human use however most older and younger farmers swear by it for aches and pains. I use it myself for hips, knees and my back pain etc. I buy mine from local farm supplies stores. It can be found on Amazon also but hs generally more expensive. Hope this hells.

I have had increasingly severe knee pain and use various painkillers which numb the pain but don't stop me limping. I have used knee supports without much success but have just found one that is working for me. It is a band you wrap around your knee just under the patella (knee cap) and velcro it closed. It seems to support my knee and makes walking easier. I got it from Amazon.

I have a friend who’s 80 and he has had both knee joints replaced recently. Has he asked about it?

Visgir1

I had it too. Nothing really stops the pain, it's horrible, I did get steroid injection that kept it at bay for a few months but had to pay for it.
It's a shame he is he not suitable for a TKR? Double check this with your Medics, you never know?

Why is he not suitable for TKR? I had TKR at 73 years old. The best thing ever. No pain, just stiffness going upstairs. Unfortunately, I have lower back pain caused by arthritis in L5 so due to have injection in August to reduce inflammation.

I was fortunate to be sent to a knee specialist, as I have osteo-arthritis in one knee, who said he gives all his elderly patients (I am 80 v. soon) steroid jabs combined with a hyuaralonic acid jab (sp?). Had that a few months ago and have been totally out of pain etc I'd recommend trying to find someone who does that - my guy says he does that so that his elderly patients don't need a knee op. I'll keep going to him, annually, for as long as I can!! Volatrol etc. has never worked for me I have to confess.

Yes, Kiwiqueen. as others have said, ask why husband isn't suitable for TKR. And get a second opinion. My DH had his at 83 and it was transformative.

OH had a knee replacement years ago,when he started to have pain in his other one ,he was told just to take painkillers. I too have severe O A in left knee. GP who used to be a knee surgeon offered me a knee replacement , but I refused, I was 79 at the time, he said I was still young enough. sometimes my leg just gives way, so I use a walking stick. OH takes co codamol* he also has arthritis in his spine,and in a lot of pain

You can get a long sausage shaped heat cushion which you put in the microwave to heat up. Put it under or around the knee and let it work its magic.

I have had 2 knee replacements. I decided that if I lived as long as my other to 100 my own knees would not last It is better if you are going tohave them to have them erly rather than later Having them later you have lost more muscle power and have altered your body posture and got a different gait \it is better not to have got all these additional thigs as it i difficult to get back to where your were before the op and nearly ipossible when you are over 80 to get get back what you lost long ago..

My mother swore by green lipped mussel pills and now I take them and glucosamine and chondroitine, with turmeric when I remember, and this seems to be keeping the bad left knee arthritis at bay. Only hurts really badly if I overdo things. Have you tried the green lipped mussels?

I'm not far off 80, and had a total knee replacement a year ago. I found a brilliant bed excercise video on You Tube, for post operative TKR healing. For the first 6 weeks I religiously followed the list of exercises on this video, while either sitting or lying on my bed, twice a day. The post op pain was severe - worse than I ever imagined it could be, but I used flexible ice packs and took the prescribed pain killing tablets, so I got through it. After 5 weeks I attended physio sessions once a week for another 5 weeks at my local hospital. By the 5th week, I was on normal Paracetamol when needed, and driving again, and also walking with just one crutch for another few weeks - then no crutches and no walking stick at all. Today my "new" knee is wonderful, I feel 5 years younger. My surgeon says it was my strict adherence to the exercise regime that helped me heal so well. Anyone can do what I did. Apparently I had a robotic procedure for the joint replacement, so I don't know if this is also helped me heal so well.

Once its bone on bone, exercises are useless as far as l am concerned.
I have lost muscle tone in the upper legs as I can’t do squats, or anything like that. Even swimming & light walking is agonising.

Visgir1

I had it too. Nothing really stops the pain, it's horrible, I did get steroid injection that kept it at bay for a few months but had to pay for it.
It's a shame he is he not suitable for a TKR? Double check this with your Medics, you never know?

Why did you pay for it? Did you go private?
I’ve had ten in each knee, all free. which I don’t recommend.
I would try one if I was the husband to get some relief.

Marjgran

I feel for him! Both my knees swell and are so painful with OA. Left one was offered TKR three years ago but I prefered exercises which have really helped (much to my surprise) until now, I think it has all deteriorated. Right knee is in a dodgy leg! I’ve had three hip replacements (yep) and they are a doddle in comparison to TKR, a very painful operation for most people and lots of rehab and a 20% regret rate and better done late as possible but not too late to do the healing. Awful decision.

My surgeon held the opposite view -if it is REALLY necessary it’s best done as early as possible, because younger people heal so much quicker and they will get so much benefit from the operation. I was only 59 and could barely walk, the pain in both sides was very bad, my work & social life was virtually over. X-rays showed both knees to be bone on bone and wearing thinner all the time. He said these days the replacement knees should last 30 years, so with eleven months apart I had bilateral replacements. I have never looked backed, I go hiking in the Lakes, I’ve been to the top of Snowdon, I climb all the church & cathedral towers when on holiday, I do keep fit classes etc - so my health is so much better as I’m not sitting around.
If the operation is just not possible then I recommend a good knee brace, a physio should be able to advise.

I have just been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my knee it’s been painful for about 4 months I ve tried turmeric and black pepper (strong and quite expensive supposed to be a miracle but no help at all) I bought an expensive turmeric massage oil from PureXtracts which everyone raved about, and I think you are saying you used Susieq but no help AT all either
Paracetamol, volterol, ibrufen , Cocodamol don’t touch the sides.
Miserable isn’t it ? I m determined to keep doing everything I normally do, pain or not . I ve been given exercisers to do and
I m doing them although they re not very enjoyable to do.

There’s lots of ‘miracle cures’ on the market but not holding my breath

Anti-inflammatories are the only thing that can help my right knee.

I was advised to take glucosamine. I bought Joint Ave which also has turmeric and Omega 3 and it has helped.

For about 4 years, until he had a TKR aged 83, my DH devised a solution which worked pretty well for him. It was horse bandages, the type which has,a double layer of fleecy stuff with a foam inner. Somehow the extra warmth reduced the pain and helped mobility. The

I have had steroid injections too and they made a difference. I take turmeric every morning and use ibuprofen gel when necessary.
Try to find a good physio to help him as exercises are good for any joint pain.
I sometimes use an oil from Pure Xtracts , Turmeric massage oil , lemongrass . A few drops help .

There is some evidence for glucosamine in OA of the knee at 1500mg per day. Don't take this without checking with GP first. The best evidence is for losing weight - by diet rather than exercise.

What a pity the DH can't have a knee replacement, assume there is a medical reason for this.

What about ice? You can buy ice packs on Amazon and have one in the freezer and one in use. Great for inflammation which might be causing the pain.