Dem bones, dem bones gon-na walk a-roun’
I was diagnosed last week with moderate to severe arthritis in my left knee (see that thinner space between the bones where the arrow is on the right side of the xray? that’s the problem area). At this point in the disease, 200 mg of Advil twice a day makes most of the pain go away. The orthopedist I saw on Monday said there were 4 things to do:
- take advil or aleve
- PT
- a brace
- lose weight
Well, I’m doing two of those (advil & losing weight) now. I don’t want to do PT, but will work on my quads at the gym with a trainer. I don’t feel a need for a brace right now, but if it comes to that, I’m open to it. He gave me a cortisone shot to my knee (oooh what a long needle) which didn’t hurt at all.
Ahhhh, the pleasures of growing old 
Of course, the doc told me people usually get this in their 60s or 70s, but you know me, I have to be different!
Did you see the full moon last night? I wasn’t able to here, too cloudy, but both Dave and I woke up at 1215, which I thought was weird. Felt like morning to me, but no…
Posted in it's all about me | 7 Comments
May 17th, 2011 at 9:03 am
My knees hurt too. Gah. Just two more reminders that it’s time to hit the gym and cut out the sugar. Gah. Also? GAH!
May 17th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
I’ve been taking 400-800mg of ibuprofen each morning for the past 6 years, and I’m younger than you are! Osteoarthritis in my right knee (and my left knee was hurting this morning as well). My husband is convinced my feet and knees will feel better a year from now when he helps me get all of the excess weight off my body… I’m not that convinced but I am going to do it anyway. I don’t like living in pain and “better living through chemicals” only goes so far
The full moon has bothered me for the past few months. I miss my sleep!
May 17th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
I have had osteoarthritis in my right knee for about twenty years and been on prescription anti-inflammatory meds for about 15. Oh, maybe make that 30 and twenty, god how time flies. The Voltaren emulgel that you can get over the counter really helps for the weather change swelling-aching days. It even helps on my hip for a short while. Bonus, it doesn’t stink like A5-35 or Ben-Gay
May 18th, 2011 at 10:38 am
Try some Osteo-BiFlex or generic glucosamine and chondrontin. It’s supposed to help cushion the joints. Don’t know if it will help, but it certainly can’t hurt!
May 18th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Congrats on your cancer free news. So cool.
I’m thinking I might need to start counting some points again soon.
xoxo
May 19th, 2011 at 9:36 am
I’ve got a long history of arthritis in my family, but so far I’m hanging in there with just a bit after yard work and if I get too carried away with needlework and/or crochet… I have gotten achy knees in the past, from running. (So I avoid that by not running, ha!) Hope your knees improve!
May 23rd, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Oh, golly. with everything else, I have arthritis in my knees too – mostly from an injury when I was young and foolish. Advil is good.
I haven’t done PT precisely, but when I had the luxury of a fitness trainer, he helped me strengthen some of the surrounding muscles, which really helped. I occasionally used a brace when I knew I was going to do something strenuous.
It’s true weight loss makes a big difference, too, and you seem to be doing great.