Keen walker with diagnosed knee issues
Being a keen walker,I have just been diagnosed with Arthritus of the left knee,can any members be assistance on how they carried on their walking hobby without making their condition worse.
I have been using an a velcro elasticated knee support,and any decorating type jobs I now use knee pads.
Consultant is recommending injections,after physio sessions.
Comments
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Bad luck Fozzie - I have knee issues too - and try and pace myself to get exercise without overdoing it - easier said than done! I am a believer in natural supplements and personally would avoid injections if possible - but each to their own. If you try supplements its worth going for the best you can afford (in my opinion) and my joints certainly know when I have run out of something. Turmeric is a great all rounder not so well known as the Glucosamine and fish oil ones. I buy some of mine from Healthspan well advertised in the CC Magazine. Good luck.
PS I was diagnosed with arthritis in my neck in about 1987 and told to stop any active work - since I was running an Equestrian Centre at the time this wasn't really an option - so I went to an osteopath instead who sorted the problem enough for me to carry on being pretty active since then - keeping on with occasional osteopathy. I am rather glad I didn't listen to the doctor or I certainly wouldn't still be caravanning on my own!
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Fozzie
Join the club!!! I expect there is no exact answer to your question. Unless you have had a Scan on the knee the full extent of the problem is likely not to be known. It also depends on what sort of pain you have and where it is. My right knee is badly worn
and depending how much worse that gets I will need a replacement as the only means of getting a better quality of life. If you have been offered an injection I would certainly accept it with open arms as it might provide some relief. Unfortunately I only found
that it offered short term relief. I am limited on how far I can walk. Yesterday we did walk from the Minehead site down to the seafront which about 3km but I do have to stop and rest which was recommended by the physio. By all means try supplements but I
have never found them very effective. You will, have, no doubt been given exercises by the Physio. Try and keep going with those. The ability to walk without pain s as much to do with the strength of the leg muscles as the knee itself. You have to be realistic
on how far you walk but there is no reason why you can't carry on and of course walking is very good for you. Good Luck.David
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Depends on how bad the condition is, i have psoriatic arthritis in my spine, right knee, right elbow, right wrist and left knee. i have been put on methotrexate injections weekly which have definately helped(you can also get in tablet form). However this
is backed up with 1000mg paracetamol 4 times daily which also helps but must be taken regularily. If it is not to bad i used to use Ibuprofen gel which worked great. But the chronic pain clinic i attend preach exercise in moderation that is to find the correct
level of exercise that can be maintained without flair ups of the condition as the worst thing to do is over stress the joints and then not do anything for the next few days Better to do little and often until you find the balance between pain and mobility.
Hope that helps.BTW Having been as low as 100yds in one go i am now back up to walks of 4-8mls. Good Luck
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I too have degenerative arthritis in my left knee. A scan also revealed a rather large tear in the meniscus on the inside of the knee, the medial meniscus, in addition the scan showed bone odoema. An injection of cortisone seems to have cured the odoema
but of course degeneration of the cartilage will only get worse. I'm having a total knee replacement on 22nd November so fingers crossed that'll cure it. In the meantime I'm taking paracetamol with codeine for the pain. Unfortunately I'm getting the early
signs in the other knee.0 -
Good luck with the operation for a new knee.I had mine on January19th and great I am pain free and recovered very quickly.The only downside is that you are recommended not to kneel.Due to the fact that there is little skin and tissue covering the repalcement
joint, however I have found by placing a thick cushion under my knee I can lightly place my knee down, but pegging the awning is difficult.To add to this my left knee is due to be done in a couple of months but it is a joy to be free from pain and be able
to walk upstairs on my feet instead of crawling up on all fours.... Good luck but make sure you do your exercises both before and after the op.......Sg20 -
Good luck with the operation for a new knee.I had mine on January19th and great I am pain free and recovered very quickly.The only downside is that you are recommended not to kneel.Due to the fact that there is little skin and tissue covering the repalcement
joint, however I have found by placing a thick cushion under my knee I can lightly place my knee down, but pegging the awning is difficult.To add to this my left knee is due to be done in a couple of months but it is a joy to be free from pain and be able
to walk upstairs on my feet instead of crawling up on all fours.... Good luck but make sure you do your exercises both before and after the op.......Sg2I know what you mean about kneeling Sailorgirl. I had my left knee done a few years back, but I still get some pain from time to time. Kneeling can be a problem - it just doesn'tcfeel right, and even after all this time there is still some numbness. For
kneeling (pegging the awning) I use a garden kneeler with handles either side -it also helps me get up and down. Carol does quite a bit of the pegging these days - I tend to do the corners and she does the filling in. I've delayed having my right knee done
as I have some reservations about the success of the left knee. I'll have to have it done eventually though.David
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SG
Good to hear your operation has been so successful. It sounds as if you were in a far worse position than I am currently in. Something I have been experimenting with is coming off all pain killers and haven't taken any for three weeks now. The strange thing
is, thus far, I haven't really felt to need to go back on them. The pain killers have been replace, where possible, with regular walks or time on the exercise bike.David
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I believe there is some evidence that glucosamine can be effective. My knee surgeon didn't sound impressed with glucosamine but other medics say it can be a help.
When I mentioned it to my (non-surgical) endocrine consultant he was more optomistic. I shall not forget his comment. "The thing is", he said, "surgeons work with their hands, we work with our brains".
David
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Hmmm, I've had both knees replaced with Titanium joints,about 4 years ago.No problems with walking ,climbing on & off boats/yachts etc.Only run (if i have to) for a VERY short distance .As for kneeling ,go down VERY gently to protect the covering skin tissue,for
short periods.The REAL secret ,is plenty of physio therapy & excersise after the operation.I now have a conciderably better quality of life ,without both legs bowed outwards,and walk without any pain.Don't put off the 'op'for too long ,as one knee will be
compensating for the other ,so therefore will also have to be done later too.All the best .Pete .
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To the OP, a pair of sprung hiking sticks will make a huge difference, especially going downhill.
To David (DSB) Your endocrinologist would soon shout for a orthopaedic surgeon (orthopod) if he wanted to sort out his own knee problems. He won't be popping glucosamine pills that's for sure. He would be better sticking to treating diabetic patients.
Cheeky blighter.Ask him why surgeons are called "Mr" and why he is called "Doctor" but only ask him when leaving the consuling room not before/ during the consultation
If he won't tell you, I will
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Hmmm, I've had both knees replaced with Titanium joints,about 4 years ago.No problems with walking ,climbing on & off boats/yachts etc.Only run (if i have to) for a VERY short distance .As for kneeling ,go down VERY gently to protect the covering skin tissue,for
short periods.The REAL secret ,is plenty of physio therapy & excersise after the operation.I now have a conciderably better quality of life ,without both legs bowed outwards,and walk without any pain.Don't put off the 'op'for too long ,as one knee will be
compensating for the other ,so therefore will also have to be done later too.All the best .Pete ..I was going to type something myself about my friend's experiences. She was in a lot of pain in both knees, tried to continue walking, and at each appointment was told she was making things worse. She persisted as she wanted to be able to keep up with
her friends who didn't have knee problems. She was in her early fifties at the time.Eventually she was told she required two knee replacements and that each knee was so bad that it wouldn't support the other during 'rehabilitation. She was given no option but to have both done at once! Fortunately she made a quick recovery from the surgery,
took no longer to get back on her feet than someone with a single replacement, and is now keeping up with us all again - pain free. She went back to her 'on her feet' teaching job within just a few months.Listen to your doctors, strap your knees if it helps, have injections, have physiotherapy, take supplements, have electro-therapy, homoeopathy, chinese medicine, hypnosis, or any of the other things which may be suggested, but don't think this will stop
your knees wearing out even more if you have diagnosed arthritis, and when surgery is suggested think of it in positive terms (I will be much better) rather than that it will limit your mobility and what you are able to do afterwards.0 -
Thanks for the good wishes SG. At the moment I'm managing some walking as I believe it's the best way to keep muscle tone. As an aside the surgeon asked me if I had researched this operation and I said I'd seen a couple of videos on utube. He asked me if
I'd seen his video and gave me his web site address which hadn't a link to his video. So I' ve seen him in action so to speak. Whilst the whole thing seems a bit brutal with lots of sawing and hammering I'll hopefully sleep through it all.0 -
Good luck Papgeno - I'm lucky enough not to suffer (yet!) but our neighbour had trouble literally walking from the front door to the car - she had one knee done and she's well away now - she's no longer worried about the prospect of the next! She was done in Sheffield hospital.
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To all thanks for all the replies and yes will take advice from consultant when appointment is confirmed.I have already found how to manage discomfort by not sitting with knee bent and using freezer gel when sore.Training type walking shoes with cushion
soles help rather than wearing walking boots.The joys of getting old!0 -
SG
Good to hear your operation has been so successful. It sounds as if you were in a far worse position than I am currently in. Something I have been experimenting with is coming off all pain killers and haven't taken any for three weeks now. The strange thing
is, thus far, I haven't really felt to need to go back on them. The pain killers have been replace, where possible, with regular walks or time on the exercise bike.David
Write your comments here...David, I was advised to take Apple cider Vinegar by my GP. I take the liquid vinegar which contains the "mothers" the thick bits and have half a glass with a tablespoon of honey and warm water.It is amazing the relief it gives
to fingers, knees and other arthritic joints.It is an acquired tatse but it does work.but does not have the same effect as a gin and tonic.....SG20 -
I take ACV every day! Amazing stuff! Not just for joints, skin, digestion etc but they say although it's an acid, it makes the body alkaline in which cancer cells cannot survive! They thrive in an acidic body apparently. As sailor girl says, you need to get organic ACV with 'The mother' in it. There is a company on the internet in Somerset that does it. You can buy 'Braggs' from various places which contains it. Fresh lemon juice every day is excellent too.
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SWIM! Only way out, build up the muscle to hold the joints apart. In water it takes the weight off.
Flat feet will also make your knees worse and aggravate athritis, and almost all people's arches drop as they get older, or in your case walk uneven ground regularly.
You can exercise you arches by standing on toes, rolling ankles out to walk on edge of feet, so your bug toe is only just tounching the ground. Arch supports can also be used to push the arch up.
Not saying that you DO have flat, but usually they go hand in hand.IIRC you should be able to fit a wine cork under your arch without feeling it or being uncomfortable. Another way would be looking at shoe sole wear, which should be on the outer edge.
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Have arthritic hip joints but keeping up walking, don't want to give in! Don't go quite as far and rest occasionally. Find it helps to reorientate aching joints, ( bending limbs that have been straight) Interesting to read how others cope. My doctors tip
was helpful to me - try to relax into your stride, and not go too fast, the instinct is to tense up when something hurts.mrs Steve
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I had my pre op assessment this week. Apparently apart from a gammy knee I'm as fit as a fiddle. Blood pressure perfect, ECG ok, resting heart rate of an athlete and I even managed to blow a good figure on the peak flow meter. I'm to have a regional anaesthetic
such an epidural. I have to decide whether I want to stay awake or go to sleep. I'm leaning towards staying awake, not because I'm brave, but because I'm nosy. No doubt I'll change my mind several time between now and the big day0 -
I had my pre op assessment this week. Apparently apart from a gammy knee I'm as fit as a fiddle. Blood pressure perfect, ECG ok, resting heart rate of an athlete and I even managed to blow a good figure on the peak flow meter.
I'm to have a regional anaesthetic such an epidural. I have to decide whether I want to stay awake or go to sleep. I'm leaning towards staying awake, not because I'm brave, but because I'm nosy. No doubt I'll change my mind several time between
now and the big dayI had the same when I had my hip done and I said that I did not want to know what was happening. Don't even remember going into the theatre and woke up in the ward several hours later!!! I just think it could be quite traumatic'
David
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Quick update on left knee.Have been "discharged" from consultant at this stage,and just completed first session of physiotherapy.The physio completed a range of basically stretching and manipulation exercises until the knee hurt.He was pleased to see how
I have been manageing the condition so far.I have purchased more comfortable walking shoes with a softer foam sole and just take it slower now.Certainly sitting with knee bent and weight on it and crouching is a no no.Bike riding (with gears) and swimming
is ok.Not sure about the cider vinegar as currently on Spitfire ale!!!
Just not sure if I have a painful swelling issue in the future who I actually come under,doctor ,consultant,or physio.
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Hope you can keep going Fozzie. Not always easy I have arthritis in both wrists plus another hand problem, since there are no replacements available I try to tackle what I can (including knitting, something I enjoy.) I make some things easier using equipment in the kitchen etc. Best wishes for your efforts!
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Fozzie
Exercise will help. I seem to find (strangely) that being away in the motorhome seems to help the knee. Perhaps because you always going off on little trips like the loo or the fresh water point to fill the kettle. I think also the settees in the motorhome
are higher than our settees at home and that helps. I seem to have reached a sort of plateau with the pain and some weeks ago I decided to come off painkillers which seems to have worked. Don't get me wrong I still get discomfort. We walked down to the surgery
for our flu jabs today which is a round trip of a couple of kilometres and by the time I get home my lower back hurts but it soon passes. I always take a stick when I go for walks although yesterday walking around the Shopping Centre in CMK I didn't bother.
Good luck.David
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