Osteoarthritis in both knees

Hi Beth, sounds like you have a pretty full plate with various conditions going on. Osteo is part of the aging process, some get it much earlier. I have bad knees, stopped having scopes after 5 of them. Each time they were scoped it just got worse eventually. Its been recommended to have both replaced, I am not going there either. I am just done with surgery in general, lol. My last 2 were done 10 years ago, & I did Supartz injections afterwards. It helped some.

I live in a 2 story house (what were we thinking 28 yrs ago) & I have a difficult time with stairs. My knees sounds like Rice Krispies when you pour milk on them lol. They swell a lot if I am on my feet much.

I have tried every OTC analgesic out there & so far Tiger Balm is my favorite. I did get rx'd Voltaren gel & that also worked well. The thing about this a person has to keep moving the joints with osteo. The old saying move it or lose it is so true.

I have done more physical therapy over the years & found getting in a pool did more for my knees than anything. After the last 2 scopes I got in my pool & sat on a fat noodle & just did kicks around the pool every day. That honestly helped me more than anything. You are weightless in water & do not have to worry about injuring something. If you have a friend or a relative with a pool it would be worth trying. Or perhaps see about joining a YMCA if they have a heated pool. My scopes were not all because of osteo, have had many injuries to them.

The knee that feels like it is going to buckle, perhaps think about getting an MRI done it to see what is going on. Take care.

Hi Beth75 and hi Susie

I have a provisional diagnosis of arthritis ( don't know what kind because I'm still waiting to see a rheumatologist : two years and I'm
still on the darn waiting list ) and I too live on the second floor.

I've got to make a move to the first floor if I can find a place
( having a cat makes it difficult ) that will take me and my cat. Susie, I totally get what you mean about rice-crispies! ! What an
excellent description

Beth , this is my first post in arthritis as well, but I've been a member of Healing Well for about a year. I suspect I'll be participating in this post more as time goes on. I fear what may
lay ahead ( I'm 53 ) but I'm glad to have access to such great people at HW. HW has been a HUGE help to me. I also post in the
"PAIN" forum and the Depression forum.

Beth and straydog, thanks for sharing

Derwood.

PS - I feel the same way on stairways ; that my knees might just buckle. One day at a time.

Post Edited (Derwood) : 4/3/2017 1:55:04 PM (GMT-6)