Knees starting to be a problem - advice?

Yes. Invest in a session with a very good physio - get their tailored advice and exercise recommendations. Don’t self diagnose or copy others we are all different. If can’t stretch to private, ask GP for referral to physio assessment- you may be surprised at response - our surgery has an in-house physio. Even if there is a wait, make the referral, ageing joints don’t disappear! A good physio can refer for scans if needed. Don’t assume anyone else’s creaks are the same as yours. Surgery is last resort and most folk don’t need it, knee surgery much tougher than hips and many unsatisfied afterwards, though if it becomes completely necessary go for it!

My DH who has had awful knees for about 10 years has been taking rose hip tablets for the last 3. He absolutely swears by them as says he notices immediately if he has forgotten to take them. One of his knees is ‘bone on bone, with fragments’.

pinkquartz try an Acti Patch for pain relief ,you can see the range online on their website or buy from some Boots or Amazon .Everyone I've recommended them to tells me they have had great results with pain relief .

I have been prescribed the capsaican cream by G.P in past it did not seem to work! But my osteoarthritis is pretty bad now so maybe thats why..What i would say is ...please DONT try any self help things before going to your Dr and getting an xray or scan of some kind first so you know exactly what is the knee problem- Especially if you're on other medications- on warfarin for example i discovered you cannot take even glucosamine, nor the volterol rubs etc- if you have epilepsy you cant use Revitiv- So please do check with your Doctor- My knee trouble started at just 42 and was just a 'clicking' noise i had noticed when i knelt down.Now im 60 soon and i was offered a double knee op about 5 yrs ago- but i had to lose a stone first but was waiting on dietician then covid hit- so once things were open again i never got the op as my other health problems had worsened so now its too risky.😐

Even some mild or herbal relief CANNOT be taken or used with other medications, even rose hip- so i cant stress enough that ANYONE who has other health/medical problems, or is on other medications MUST check with their own G.P. first before taking or using anything- even essential oils.

Twenty five years ago I suddenly developed osteoarthritis in my left knee. I was given a hip replacement as was told that would ease the knee pain. An appointment came for knee replacement but as I was recovering from an op for bowel cancer I asked for it to be deferred. Meanwhile my daughter in laws young sister had an appendix op and died from MRSA.
Because the hospital where I had the hip op was so filthy I didn’t have the knee op.
I find that if I sit too long the pain is worse. I have spent a lot of money on all kinds of remedies but nothing really works. Currently taking turmeric but find it gives me indigestion.
As it it bone rubbing on bone on painkillers don’t really help.
I do take co-codamol but because I live alone must keep alert.

You need to be assessed as to what the problem is before you try anything. I found steroid injections worked wonders on my arthritic knee.

I have had both my knees Xray'd and they both have arthritis. Both my shoulders have had an ultrasound done and they too show arthritis.
My knees are unbearably painful all the time. I take Pregabalin for nerve pain and nerve damage as I have neck problems giving pain. I take Co Proxamol, which I can take up to 8 tablets within any 24 hour period, because I have bad reactions to many other painkillers including all anti inflammatory medication. I also have Oramorph to take twice daily.
It is extremely difficult for me to walk, even using a Trionic Veloped. In fact I am unable to use that at the moment as it's much too painful.
Every night is really difficult for me as I'm in so much pain. I feel like crying with it but that's no help!
I was referred for my left knee a year ago but I don't have an appointment date yet. My GP has also referred me for my right knee which is currently more painful than my left. The pain travels down my inner calf to my inner ankle and up my inner thigh the bones underneath me on the right side. It's really all my right leg, rather than just the knee but that's where it starts from and where the most intense pain is.
It's pretty much driving me up the wall!
Oh for a speedy response from the NHS, or failing that a windfall enough to pay for private treatment on both knees.

Sounds awful Dutchdoll. Can you really nag your GP? Don't stop complaining about it. If they don't do it soon you'll need your hip replacing soon as well as damaging your other leg joints as they'll be under extra pressure too. Good luck.

My husband uses Diclofenac 10% in Ultramax from his GP,appears to help,anti-inflammatory may help as well,hope you get relief soon.

I don’t have problems with my knees but my dh does. He has arthritis in both knees , decades of kneeling for his job as an electrician. He takes anti inflammatory meds and has lost weight which has helped and he walks daily with our dog. I have a question about turmeric and glucosamine. Taken daily how long is it before you see an improvement? . Thanks

I have knee problems and pain too but am not a candidate for replacement.

It’s arthritis. Have your Doctor check which it is so you are doing the correct meds, exercises, treatment.

Your knee joints need to be pampered because they take the worst physical stress of any joint in your body. If weight is an issue (for some) then losing weight will almost instantly give you relief.

Touch wood, so far I have no problems with knees.

I do, however, have back issues and all I would advise if physiotherapy, physiotherapy, physiotherapy.

Find an experienced physiotherapist and stick with it. Mine is Royal Navy and NHS trained. Without her I really don't think I would be able to do much.

Turmeric capsules, not cheap but hubby and I swear by them

Glucosamine and Chondroitin, cod liver oil capsules and turmeric

This is slightly off topic but I am due to have a knee replacement in about 4 weeks and I know it's pathetic but I am really worried about the level of pain involved.

If anybody has had a knee replacement and been able to have the pain controlled, please let me know how!

I am grateful for so many helpful responses.
I am going to go through them and list the ones I haven't yet tried.
I booked an appointment to talk to my GP and that is 6 weeks away!

I have been refused TKR by 2 hospitals on the basis that I am too unwell to exercise.......I tried it out and sadly I cannot do the exercises.
I was told if I go ahead as I am I will end up even more disabled.
I am already a wheelchair user.....I cannot change this, its not due the OsteoArthritis.
I am overweight though. I have put on more weight as the OA has increased.

The doctors won't talk to me about what options I have so the responses here are very helpful.
I have tried Tumeric twice and not had any improvement Which is a great shame. I do know people who swear by it for increased health.

Alison333 don't worry about the pain relief. The hospital will be absolutely in top of it. I didn't like the opioides offered and they gave me alternatives while in hospital. However, when I got home I found that paracetamol four times a day did very well. Ice packs also help. Pain really wasn't a big deal in my case. Good luck. You'll not regret the op. It gave me my active life back.

I know this wasn't my thread but it has so much help.

This is such an interesting and helpful thread. I learn so much from Gransnet. I get pain in my knees after gardening and struggle to get up again. I’ve just looked up the kneelers with handles, they’re not expensive, so I’m going to buy one.
Thanks to everyone for the advice on here.

I have arthritis in one knee I do aqua aerobics it helps build muscle around the knee which alleviates soreness.
If you’re on Instagram there is an expert on there called posturemike he’s brilliant he shows you all these different things to do to stop bone on bone.

Aveline

Alison333 don't worry about the pain relief. The hospital will be absolutely in top of it. I didn't like the opioides offered and they gave me alternatives while in hospital. However, when I got home I found that paracetamol four times a day did very well. Ice packs also help. Pain really wasn't a big deal in my case. Good luck. You'll not regret the op. It gave me my active life back.

I sometimes forget to take paracetamol: I tend to think of it as just for headaches which, touch wood, I no longer get. My back was bad recently and it didn’t cross my mind that paracetamol would help but when I took some it really helped.

Aveline

Alison333 don't worry about the pain relief. The hospital will be absolutely in top of it. I didn't like the opioides offered and they gave me alternatives while in hospital. However, when I got home I found that paracetamol four times a day did very well. Ice packs also help. Pain really wasn't a big deal in my case. Good luck. You'll not regret the op. It gave me my active life back.

Thank you for the reassurance Aveline! I'll get some frozen peas in ready for afterwards.

Get checked by gp. Could be various reasons. I had total 7 knee replacements so not intended to scare you. I had complex issues. But please do get checked. Hopefully you will just need physio which is beneficial

7?!!! Yikes