Managing osteoarthritis
About 10 years ago (at 30) I began getting clicking in my right knee. I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis at that time, but it didn't really bother me and my doctor did not explain that it would get worse.The past two years I have begun experiencing acute pain in my right knee and then my left knee(now my left hip and lower back like to get in on the action). It began to hurt too much to take walks for exercise, and since I have a desk job I put on weight. A year ago I joined Weight Watchers and have lost 20 pounds (need to loose 20 more). A year ago, I also began participation in an Arthritis study for Tidal Lavage. They took the first x-rays of my knees. They found that I had lost most of my cartilage on the inside of my knees. The outside looked relatively normal -- but even that has deteriorated over this past year.
I am hoping I can find the time (I'm married, work full time and go to school part time) to start swimming at the YMCA and that exercise will help decrease the pain. I am currently taking Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Glucosamine with Condritent(sp) and using Capsasin Cream in the morning. I use a heating pad nearly every night. I get good results most days, but nothing makes the pain go totally away.
Even though my pain continues to increase, it is my hope, that I will be eligible for Cartilage Replacement or some other treatment in the near future - before I must face knee replacement in 20 years. Who knows what treatments may be discovered by then!!
From:
Silvia Martin - smartin@ihets.org
