Keen walker with diagnosed knee issues

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! 

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

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

I am with David on the supplements i found them a total waste of time, may be ok for minor pain but if there is damage/wear then they will not work(i must have spent Hundreds finding this out)

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.

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.......Sg2

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.......Sg2

I 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 

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

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

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 ..