Does this sound like arthritis to you?

[Realitea]

Since March I’ve had really painful knees. They’ve always clicked and hurt on and off after exercise but this is constant now and I can’t go down steps easily or bend my knees without a lot of pain.
If I have to bend down I need help getting up. I can point to exactly the location on each knee that’s painful. The skin isn’t swollen or anything and they don’t feel stiff, it’s just the sharp pain.

Now since yesterday’s gardening session my hip hurts, it’s like a cramp. I couldn’t sleep last night because of it.

Im thinking it’s maybe osteoarthritis.
I’m 39 and I’m fat. My BMI is 31.
I will call the doctor but I’m thinking I should just lose some weight first and try volterol gel. Or should I phone them? Don’t know what much they can do without seeing me.

It certainly could be. I too have always had noisy knees and a crunchy/ grinding feeling when I bend them for years- even in my 20's! I've had recurrent episode of increased pain in 1 knee, which resolved after a few weeks. After a minor twisting injury, and MRI showed a meniscal tear. Long story short, despite physio and rest, 3mths later I was told I had osteoarthritis & would eventually need a knee replacement- I was also 39!

I'm putting off a replacement as long as possible, as they need to be re-done every 10-15yrs and subsequent ones are never as good as the 1st. I looked into various injections, which private clinics are happy to do, but my NHS consultant advised against, saying there was little evidence that stem cell & lubricant injections help. I was given an offloader brace, which opens up the osteo side, and puts weight down the unaffected side (only suitable if you have osteo only on half the knee!). Another option for me is a half knee replacement, so just removing the osteo side initially.

I was also sent for physio. Mainly given a list of pictures and told to do them at home! I also lost 10kg because I'd read that for every 1kg of weight reduction, takes 4kg of extra pressure off the knees. I still use the brace when I'm out of the house, but am now pain free. Prior to brace, and when I was heavier, I was in agony. Painkillers didn't touch it and I didn't sleep at all.

Have you checked the difference between rheumatoid and osteo arthritis? Its worth talking to your GP, if nothing else, they might line you up for an Xray/scan when things open up again. Losing weight will certainly help too. If you have questions, just ask.

Thank you so much for the detailed reply. I have never heard of those braces. It’s definitely on one part of each knee in the same place.
I’m shocked how just losing a small amount of weight can help. It’s the kick start I needed. It doesn’t help being off work, which was a very active job. I’ve put on quite a bit of weight since March! 😯

I really hope it isn’t rheumatoid arthritis. I will speak to my GP and meanwhile I’ll get the weight loss started. Thank you!

Are you drinking enough water OP? The body needs water to make the synovial fluid between the joints. I know that’s not the main issue here but perhaps that along with your planned weight loss could help a little? And if you usually drink sugary drinks swapping to water can help with the calorie intake too

Sorry my 1st email was SO long, but I wish I'd known about the brace and different options early on. It was only in passing that the consultant said the brace I'd bought myself was useless- which it was, and thought it worth a try for the offloader one. My hospital happened to have a fracture clinic/outpatient clinic that stocked a range of braces, but otherwise it might be something they order in.

I've had 2. One of them is £300 if bought yourself, but I was lucky to get it on the NHS. Its called a thusane, action reliever osteoarthritis brace, and has straps to adjust the tightness. Its great, because its not obvious under trouser, and meant I could actually walk again!

As I lost weight, the above one became lose and didn't provide any support. I was then given a more robust, but larger one. It is basically a metal, bendy pole with straps on it. Apparently its more expensive than the above one and does the same thing with opening up the osteo side! They way the straps are, I cant wear tighter trousers like jeans, because you can see the fat leg sticking out in between the tight straps!

At least you know there are options and can hopefully try then when the time comes. The 2nd link isn't my exact one, but looks very similar in design and concept- although seems much cheaper than what they told me it cost.

thuasne-store.co.uk/product/action-reliever/

www.orthomen.co.uk/products/oa-unloading-knee-brace?variant=42231879172&currency=GBP

Fantastic. Thank you! I love a long reply, no need to apologise for that at all.
Since writing the first post my hip pain has got really bad, I’m in bed unable to get comfortable. It’s just awful. More like a cramp rather than the knee pain which is sharp.

Definitely phoning the doctor tomorrow.

I do need to drink more water, I don’t drink much at all. I will start that tomorrow!