Pain relief for osteoarthritis in knees

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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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

forgot to say that with 50 I'm pain free

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!

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.

Go to that appointment and cry!

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.

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...

Tegan

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!

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.

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 .

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.

Good luck, teacheranne!

fennel can I ask if the hyaluronan injections were via the NHS? I was told recently these are only available privately. Wondering if it is just this area or nationwide.

It was done in France - partially reimbursed by our health insurance, but still quite expensive.
But worth it.

I also take curcumin and curcuma - in capsule form- 1 curcumin and 3 curcuma daily. Started doing so after going to a lecture about plant pharmacology last year, by a Professor from Lausanne, Geneva and several Chinese Unis.

One great advantage is that the anti-imflammatory effect also acts on the brain- and it seems to be the bes prophylactic stuff to take to ward dementia and Alzheimers- and no side-effects.

BTW Tramal/Tramadol is an opiate and closely related to morphine- and in some people, can be very addictive.

OldMeg I thought exactly the same WTF. I re-read everything as sometimes the written word doesn't come across the same as if spoken, and still no idea!

OP I have no clues for pain relief I'm sorry to say. I have OA all over, including my sternum which is a swine but all the GP says is "we cant replace every joint in your body" yet doesn't suggest replacing even one!! I asked "So what will you do instead then"? Referred me to a gym which is hilarious as most days I literally can't move so for a start couldn't even get there even if I wanted to!

Dontaskme, that's exactly what I was told, do more exercise! How, when it hurts to even walk? I know swimming or aquarobics would help but I am not comfortable in exposing my obese body to other people! You sound a lot worse than me yet are also not being offered surgery, that seems unfair as I know loads of people who have had new knees or hips without having to fight for them.

But, on a positive note, I took three lots of tramodol yesterday and also 40 mg I'd amitriptylin ( apparently you need to reduce amitriptylin doses slowly) and the pain in my knees seemed to reduce! I have researched on Arthritis UK website and it looks as if you can take both these medicines together so I will mention this to my GP when I see her in two weeks - provided that the improvement is sustained!

I have taken tramodol before and had no problems re addiction, I often forgot to take a dose and never took the full daily amount so was not needing a higher dose or clock watching for the next "fix". Also when I changed to amitriptylin, I just stopped taking the tramodol immediately and had no withdrawal symptoms. I do not really like taking such strong painkillers but needs must - I live on my own so have to shop, drive, clean etc for myself.

I'll keep you informed if the improvement is sustained as it might just be a placebo effect as I am desperate!

cornergran - this is the product which was used for husband's knee:
www.fillerworld.com/orthopedics/ostenil-mini-1x10mg1ml
Only he had a larger amount, supposed to last for 6 months.
The injection probably has to be done by a specialist ( his was done by a rheumatologist.) And an xray first to locate the exact spot for the injection.He had had various other treatments before that.
TG his knee is still holding up, since 2-3 months.

I go to an aquafit class and find it reduces pain and helps keeps the joints supple. I put my swimsuit on at home under my clothes. Several obese ladies attend. Could you bite the bullet and give it a try?