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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask about osteoarthritis?

17 replies

Babypassport · 26/05/2017 22:27

I've just been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee after a decade of minor discomfort following running a marathon.

AIBU to ask you what I'm in for?

OP posts:

CoteDAzur · 26/05/2017 22:29

How advanced?

Ask your doctor if you would benefit from hyaluronic acid injections.

Original poster

Babypassport · 26/05/2017 22:33

I don't know how advanced... I had the MRI this evening, and where I live in France they type a letter for you to pass on to your GP. I was happily assuming there wasn't much wrong til I saw on the letter it was osteoarthritis.

Saying that, I don't think it can be terribly bad. I walked for 3 hours yesterday and rode my horse for 1.5 and I couldn't bend it much afterwards but it didn't actually hurt.

What do the injections do?

OP posts:

CoteDAzur · 26/05/2017 22:43

If you are in France, why are you even bothering with a GP? You have a knee problem, go to a knee specialist - an orthopedist or better yet, a sports doctor. You don't need to be referee by a GP.

Can you post a picture of the letter?

CoteDAzur · 26/05/2017 22:43

Referred by the GP

PlayOnWurtz · 26/05/2017 22:46

Ultimately pain. They don't like replacing knees until the very latest point because they can only replace a replacement once and they only last 10 years. Knees are fuckers. Explore any and all treatment options

CoteDAzur · 26/05/2017 22:49

The injection coats and cushions damaged cartilage. It's used over time and needs to be repeated apparently, but mine has been going strong for nearly 3 years now.

Original poster

Babypassport · 26/05/2017 22:50

Cotedazur goodness only knows. I guess you can take the girl out of England etc. My GP is useless at the beSt of times.

I don't much want to post a picture but it essentially says that the cavity is screwed and I have a cyst but my side bits are okay.

Playonwurtz thanks for that! I look forward to it

OP posts:

Original poster

Babypassport · 26/05/2017 22:53

I was really hoping to get a more productive diagnosis so I could get it sorted and go back to running etc. As it stands it just seems it'll get gradually worse and I just have to work on damage limitation. Hopefully injections might help a bit then.

OP posts:

BrexitSucks · 26/05/2017 22:57

hmm. I know someone who had a knee replacement at age 26 so I suspect he's getting repeat replacements, not only once.

Physiotherapy & painkillers for osteoA I read. I'm being checked for OA in my shoulder.

PlayOnWurtz · 26/05/2017 22:59

Sorry!

@brexit I'm going by what I've been told. I also Know someone who had one young (30) but was told once it wore out they get one more replacement then that's it. As a rule my understanding is joint replacements are left as late as possible.

Original poster

Babypassport · 26/05/2017 23:04

Not at all playonwurtz, you're just telling me the truth!

I know it's very little to complain about in the grand scheme of things but the idea of already having my mobility limited in my 30s is really shit. I was very upset about it earlier but I have drunk gin so am now feeling anaesthetised, at least for this evening!

OP posts:

Original poster

Babypassport · 26/05/2017 23:09

Brexit hope you get the all clear or athe least there's a way of making it more comfortable for you

OP posts:

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 26/05/2017 23:19

DH has osteoarthritis in both knees, and it has now spread to his hands and neck. He can't walk very far, is reliant on painkillers and on occasion has to use a stick. In damp weather it is worse.

He has had an operation to shave the cartilage in his knee but it didn't really help. He has also had the injections but they only lasted a couple of months and then the pain returned. He really needs a knee replacement but they won't do it till he retires, he had to medically retire from his post office job because he couldn't do the walks and now has a sedentary job that he dislikes but it suits his knees. He won't retire for at least another 7 years but will have to put up with constant pain and discomfort all that time.

BrexitSucks · 27/05/2017 00:24

Looks like good advice here about runners don't need to stop if they have OA in the knee.

My shoulder doesn't seem that bad. I've had pain on-off for 4 yrs & reckon it's not self-resolving, so decided to ask. GP had me do some exercises (all fine) then went straight to suggesting X-ray for possible OA. Probably physio, too, and maybe only physio will be able to help me. I wonder if it's something besides OA.

MatildaTheCat · 27/05/2017 00:33

I have OA in both knees, worse on one side. Had it about ten years and it's been very well controlled by Ostenil injextions( as pp), doing exercise, keeping my weight down and painkillers.

I saw my consultant this week to arrange more injextions and he said I was 'music to his ears' because so many people want a surgical solution which does not exist.

Try a specialist Pilates instructor and work those muscles. I can squat better now than ten years ago and although I officially need a knee replacement my knees aren't actually giving me much trouble.

So research, do the work and don't think you can't get better without surgery. It's a drag but after ten years I reckon I'm doing ok. I won't be having a knee replacement any time soon.

Original poster

Babypassport · 27/05/2017 07:49

Gretchen (love your username!!) Sorry to hear about your DH; what a shitty awful situation. Doesn't he want to push for an early replacement given the severity of the situation?

Brexit thanks for the link - I've had a read of a good few articles on that site this morning and really appreciate how positive it all is!

Matilda thanks for your post too; you make OA seem manageable and not the complete misery that a lot of websites are making it out to be! Can you really squat? I've avoided doing it for a while now, not due to pain as it doesn't hurt but just as it makes the most horrible grinding noise and I've always been a bit queasy about knees! Even my baby touching them is enough to make me feel a bit sick!

OP posts:

CoteDAzur · 27/05/2017 09:18

Baby - It's important to know if your problem is a general thinning of the cartilage (usually due to old age & accompanied by similar problems in other joints - probably not your case) or damage on one side of the cartilage, which could be due to patella-fémoral misalignment and can be directed with physio.

Mine was the latter. I was in so much pain that I literally could not walk. Then had 1 cortisone injection followed by 1 hyaluronic acid injection 2 weeks later, then started physio aimed at strengthening inner leg muscles to pull back the kneecap to its ideal position.

Physio exercises looked a lot like yoga to me (bend front knee, one leg back, hold position = Warrior I pose, for example) so I started yoga again. It all worked and I haven't had a problem since. I feel it a little bit if I walk a lot but it's not painful.

If you are in the South-East, I can recommend a great sports doctor / knee specialist.

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