Severe knee arthritis...how does it end??

[FOF44]

My elderly mum has such severe arthritis that she can barely walk. She is morbidly obese which clearly doesn't help. At 85 having been overweight for decades she isnt going to lose weight now, this being the only suggestion she gets from health professionals. She has morphine patches, steroid injections...yet it doesn't really touch the pain. One day soon she wont be able to stand up. She still lives at home alone...and is adamant she wont leave her home and go into a care home....any advice??

New knees would sort it out but unfortunately at her age and weight it's not going to happen. Losing weight is the only way forward.

I was going to suggest injections but i see shes tried them,( my last one didnt work ) by the sounds of it she really would benefit from losing weight, even a stone or 2 would help a bit. other than that she may have to go into a home at least for a while to help with her mobility

HCP are suggesting weight loss because that can result in a reduction to the amount of pain. Being morbidly obese they aren’t likely to operate to give her new knees so weight loss is the only option. When she is unable to stand she will have no choice but to go into a home so, although you say she isn’t going to lose weight now, if you could somehow persuade her to do so she will be more likely to be able to stay in her home.

I was going to say knee replacement but not when she's obese.