Osteoarthritis of the knee

I’m dog sitting at my daughters and am using her walking machine. It’s wonderful being able to walk again albeit at one mile per hour. I wish I could have one. I realise how it affects me mentally not being able to just walk out of my front door. I still have no pain most of the time; just the stabbing pain when I’ve been walking for a while. I can walk upstairs and drive. That’s why my consultant didn’t try to persuade me to have it replaced. But the bowed leg seems to put a strain on my back which aches all of the time.

On holiday, I’ve never seen as many knee replacements.
Talked to one lady in her 70s, her leg did bow due to her knee she said, but the surgeon has straightened her leg. Not perfect but better than it was she said.
Mine is slightly bowed so hopefully they can straighten mine. Maybee70

seasider

I was coming on to ask about Arthrosamid. Disappointed to hear it’s not really effective 🙁

Me too. But is has saved me a few thousand pounds. My consultant had never heard of it.

I was coming on to ask about Arthrosamid. Disappointed to hear it’s not really effective 🙁

Mine has got worse but I do not want total knee replacement at 80. I cannot walk much due to pain but know I need to

I waited 3 years before my successful NHS knee op., I was in pain and discomfort all that time. I did exercises given to me by an NHS physio, and also took tumeric capsules and glucosamine tablets. But I hadn't heard of green-lipped mussel pills. My other knee is starting to hurt a little bit, now - so, maybe its a good time to consider trying your green-lipped mussel pills!

Doggie6

Hi, I’ve been using a knee pillow at night the relief ive felt after a couple of nights, I know it works as if I don’t use it I am back to not being able to hardly get out of bed because of the pain please try it for £30 Amazon have loads to choose from, good luck

I’ve always realised that my sleeping position affects how my knee is the following day. I’m staying at my daughters next week and tried using her treadmill. I used to use one at the gym until I stopped going because of covid and wanted to see if I could safely use it with me being on my own. And I could. So why can I walk around my house ok; use the stairs etc. Walk on a treadmill, albeit very slowly. But can’t walk outside of my house.I’ve asked my doctor, consultant, osteopath and physio this but none of them can give me a reason for it.I’ve even tried walking very slowly but that doesn’t work.

Hi, I’ve been using a knee pillow at night the relief ive felt after a couple of nights, I know it works as if I don’t use it I am back to not being able to hardly get out of bed because of the pain please try it for £30 Amazon have loads to choose from, good luck

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.