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sandinnalee Posts: 18
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I was just diagnosed with arthritis in both knees and one hip. The left knee is not so bad. I forgot what the diagnosis was on that one. It just crunches no pain. The right knee is severely painful even when just sitting. My right hip also very stiff and painful. I am now in Physical Therapy. I have osteo-arthrits of the meniscus in the right knee. I am trying to build the knee up to relieve the pain. I don't want surgery for the knee or hip. I have heard horror stories. Does anyone have any experience with this type of pain and arthritis? Any suggestions will be appreciated. I am using Voltaren Gel, P.T. and Meloxicam, but it is not touching the pain. |
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DonnaEvans77 Posts: 2538
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Hi sandinnalee, Welcome to the group. So sorry to hear you have arthritis. Hope PT is helping you. I wish I knew what else to suggest to you. Have you asked the physical therapist about it? Others in the group probably have suggestions. I have OA in the neck, and see my regular doctor on Tuesday. I'll be talking to her about my OA and what else can be done. Hope you get to feeling better. "I am not a Doctor and there is NO substitute for getting proper medical diagnosis and advice."
I have Asthma, Bursitis in both hips, Celiac Disease, Dermatitis Herpetiformis (Skin version of Celiac Disease), Macular Degeneration, OsteoArthritis (according to Bone Density scan results, the area in my neck where OA is bad, is showing weakness in the bone. I start on Boniva, as of July 4, 2012 for it. |
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hatbox121 Posts: 10501
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Hey there and welcome. Those are fairly typical meds for arthritis. If the meloxicam isn't working well there are other options as far as anti inflammatories go. Some other things that people use are ice. PT takes a while to work so keep doing that. Amy~ “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
Current dxes-Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Mitral Valve Prolapse w/regurg, 2 other heart valves with regurg, POTS, DDD, scoliosis, various OA, polyneuropathy of unknown origin, SI joint dysfunction/fusion/collapse, chronic rotar cuff tendonitis, impingement syndrome of the shoulder, chronic bursitis in various locations, degeneration of the sternum, vertigo, GERD, FM, CFS, CPS, various bone marrow lesions, brain lesions of unknown cause, migraines, TMJ, vertically bulging discs, Raynaud's, anemia, tinnitus, high copper levels, borderline glaucoma, colon polyps, intermittent RLS, Vit D deficiency, depression, Eye accomodation disorder, Essential tremor, recurrent kidney stones, sacral spine disorder, inflammed tendons, and inflammation of spinal nerves(no specific dx).
I'm am not a dr. I am not a substitute for a dr. All advice I give is based on research and my personal experiences. |
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ElisabethNZ Posts: 8
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I sympathize! I was diagnosed with OA in my spine aged 28 and I am 50 next week so I have been dealing with it a long time. Some other therapies to consider are: 1. Heat- use a hot water bottle wrapped in a hand towel when you are feeling stiff. Leave it on for 15 minutes and take it off for an hour. Repeat if necessary. 2. Cold- use a packet of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel when you are in pain. Leave it on for 15 minutes and take it off for an hour. Repeat if necessary. 3. Using anti-inflammatory drugs for any length of time is not a good idea. They have serious side effects and interfere with the healing process. Use a good analgesic instead- talk to your Dr or pharmacist about this and use them only when ice fails. Over time they loss their effect and all drugs are chemicals so shouldn't be taken lightly. 4. Supplements can be useful. 5. PT is THE most important treatment. You should get something to reduce the inflammation of the soft tissue (e.g. massage, TENS, or ultrasound) and be given a set of exercises that start with stretching to increase flexibility and go on to strengthening. A program should start easy, build up and then drop off to a maintenance level to keep your condition controlled. I have lots of free information at my website about osteoarthritis so maybe that may help you. Please feel free to email me personally (address at the website) and I am happy to try and help you in any way I can, one to one. Have a big sympathetic hug from me. It is a horrible time for you but you can do a lot to manage your condition. |
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sjannettey Posts: 165
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This weekend with traveling my hips and knees have been hurting something terrible! I am happy to be home to move around a bit hoping it will help. It may be the air conditioning running because of the hot weather making my joints hurt more too! |
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hatbox121 Posts: 10501
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Traveling is hard on the body. Especially on people with hip/back/neck issues. All that sitting still in the car or someone's house or the plane or whatever. Hopefully moving some will get some of that stiffness out and help the pain lower. Amy~ “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
Current dxes-Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Mitral Valve Prolapse w/regurg, 2 other heart valves with regurg, POTS, DDD, scoliosis, various OA, polyneuropathy of unknown origin, SI joint dysfunction/fusion/collapse, chronic rotar cuff tendonitis, impingement syndrome of the shoulder, chronic bursitis in various locations, degeneration of the sternum, vertigo, GERD, FM, CFS, CPS, various bone marrow lesions, brain lesions of unknown cause, migraines, TMJ, vertically bulging discs, Raynaud's, anemia, tinnitus, high copper levels, borderline glaucoma, colon polyps, intermittent RLS, Vit D deficiency, depression, Eye accomodation disorder, Essential tremor, recurrent kidney stones, sacral spine disorder, inflammed tendons, and inflammation of spinal nerves(no specific dx).
I'm am not a dr. I am not a substitute for a dr. All advice I give is based on research and my personal experiences. |
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alice123 Posts: 40
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hiiii!  im 14 i hav psoriatic arthritis. i used to be on meloxicam, it ddnt help me at all. i have arthritis in my hands, wrists, jaw, ankles, knees, toes, elbows, nd my hips. the worst out of all my joints is my right knee. it hurts not stop! even wen i dnt move it. my left knee isnt so bad. wen my hips r acting up, its murderous!!!! like i cnt walk at all! i rly hope u find a medication tht will help ease ur pain!!!! |
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ElisabethNZ Posts: 8
New Member
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Horrible for you  You need to look at other forms of treatment other than drugs. Check your diet, use ice and exercises. I know exercises seem to be the last thing you want to do but they help by improving joint function and improving stability around the joint. For your knee ONLY: Use a packet of frozen pea, wrapped in a tea towel and wrap the whole of your knee up in it (use 2 packets if necessary by resting your knee on one and draping the other over the top and down the sides). Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Take off for an hour and repeat. Do this at least 4 times a day to reduce the inflammation in your knee. If using on smaller joints (eg hands) leave on for 10 minutes only. A lot of the diet advice for psoriatic arthritis is the same as for osteoarthritis and you can find lots of useful article at here |
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sjannettey Posts: 165
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I too suffer something terrible in my knees, hips, and back. But my knees are the worse of all the three! I don't have any more pain medication to take for it and it didn't help me anyways so why take it. I am at my wits end with this pain and do not want to live with it. |
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ElisabethNZ Posts: 8
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Hi Sjan, Try some natural remedies. Surgery and medication is not the only route you have to take. I was diagnosed 22 years ago with OA in my spine and I still ride and look after 5 horses! Some of the following may help; 1. Try using heat and cold packs as described below. 2. Rest when you are in pain, move about when you are stiff. 3. Use a splint or support if you are going to do something you know aggravates and always brings on the pain. 4. Use a good supplement 5. Change your diet so it is full of natural anti-inflammatory compounds rather than taking chemical ones 6. Do the exercises given by your PT. Make sure you have stretching, isometric strengthening exercises (ones that do not move the knee) and isotomic strengthening ones that do move the knee. Your program should build up and then drop of to a maintenance level over time as you improve. 7. Learn to massage your own knees. 8. Acupuncture has been shown to relieve the pain if your insurance will pay. There is more detailed information about all these forms of treatments at Natural Treatments and Exercises for Osteoarthritis |
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