Bad Knees

[Bird]

I agree, Reg. Everything is changing all the time; sometimes for the better, but sometimes not.:laughing:

 

[texbaylea]

I guess this is actually a not related topic, but I was wondering whether anyone has had these Hyalgan injections.

I've been having a tough time with my right knee for quite some time and my wife had been fussing at me to see a doctor so the 18th of last month, I went to see an orthopedic knee specialist. X-rays showed a good cushion between the bones of the left knee and none in the right knee. He said, 'You don't need surgery yet." So he injected cortisone in the knee and said if that fixed it for 4 to 6 months, we'd do it again. However, it helped only for a week or less. So I saw him again Thursday and he said it was up to me whether I go ahead with the surgery or try the Hyalgan; 5 injections, each one a week apart.

It seems the knee surgery is quite common, but I tend to think of surgery as a last resort, so plan to try the Hyalgan but don't know anyone who has tried it, so thought I'd ask here.

Bird

I have bad knees also with almost no cushion. I tried steroid injections about every 60 days and that gives me three and sometims a little more relief.

I also undergone one series of Hyalgan injections and that lasted a little longer. I have not had the chance to repeat the series to see if works better after several series.

Does your specialist have a ultrasound unit? The rheumatologist that I go to does and uses the ultrasound to guide th extraction of any fluid buildup on the knee before injection. Check the Hyalgan site - I believe they recommend this procedure.

I am seriously considering a knee replacement for the left knee but not before I have recovered from my recent medical problems. I am currently practicing walking with two canes to get away from the walker (then maybe my orthopedic surgeon will let me go back to driving).

My other problem of incontinence will take a few months more.

In the words of a medical practitioner I know, Can't hurt - might help (Hyalgan).

Vernon

 

[Bird]

Vernon, I don't know whether they have their own ultrasound unit or not. I know they have their own MRI machine because my wife had one for her back a few years ago in that office. As you know, most of these doctors specialize now-a-days. The "Orthopedic Associates" includes 9 M.D.s. Our primary physician sent my wife to Dr. Giesler for back trouble, then I saw Dr. Corbitt when I had a shoulder problem, Drs. Williamson and Willenborg for the plantar fasciitis, and now Dr. Evanich for the knee.

Hope your recovery goes well. You obviously have tougher problems than I do. I do, part of the time, use my Bubba Stik and awhile back, Margaret bought me a pair of crutches at a garage sale for $2, in case I need them.:laughing:

 

[MarkV]

Bird it does sound like your Mother went through a hard time, sorry. Reg is right, the procedures have gotten so much better and less intrusive, in many cases, that you just have to have an open mind on all the options. My, 80 at the time, MIL had a knee replacement about three years ago and it has kept her mobile. She did a good job with the PT and she is not near as active as you are. The therapy really make the difference.

MarkV

 

[masscity]

I had knee problems for several years before I saw my Doctor about it. He told me that he didn't normally recommend non perscription treatments but he read an article a few years before about an over the counter treatment of Glucosime/ controtin, and he hed tried it himself based on the article. He said it really worked.

He mentioned that it isn't an over night fix and will take several months to see any difference but it did work. It helps rebuild the "stuff" that lubricates the joints. He didn't use "Stuff" but I can't remember what he called it.

I started taking it at the rate he recommended 1500mg of glucosimine and 1200mg of controitin each day and over the last year my knees and joints in general are 100% better.

You can buy it over the counter but I've found it online at a place called Swanson for half the over the counter price.

Might be worth a try for you, it was for me.

I agree with Toadhill. I've been taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin and MSM for 15 years. I take MSM by itself so I can increase or decrease the amount I take according to my pain.

Im taking 4000mg of MSM now. Back when I was still working I would take as much as 9000mg per day.

I don't take any pain killers for my knees at all. I still have pain, but it's acceptable.

 

[Reg]

I had knee problems for several years before I saw my Doctor about it. He told me that he didn't normally recommend non perscription treatments but he read an article a few years before about an over the counter treatment of Glucosime/ controtin, and he hed tried it himself based on the article. He said it really worked.

He mentioned that it isn't an over night fix and will take several months to see any difference but it did work. It helps rebuild the "stuff" that lubricates the joints. He didn't use "Stuff" but I can't remember what he called it.

I started taking it at the rate he recommended 1500mg of glucosimine and 1200mg of controitin each day and over the last year my knees and joints in general are 100% better.

You can buy it over the counter but I've found it online at a place called Swanson for half the over the counter price.

Might be worth a try for you, it was for me.

That has been shown to work on horses.
OK, so they're 5 times bigger, but the point is the placebo effect, i.e. they DON'T KNOW what effect a treatment is for, so they don't heal by believing in it.

 

[zzvyb6]

I had it for a while to address a painfull right knee. There is a history of bad rights in my family. My sister (4 years older) just had a RHS knee replacement.

I have also had a problem with torn cartilage that was addressed by surgery (orthoscopic). I play hockey yet in a league and played the next day. Slept great for the first time in 2 years. Since then, I've had symptoms of another tear in the same knee. This time I've been taking the glucosamine/chondritin pills (bought them for the dog at Costco but what the heck) and that seems to work, combined with dropping my weight by 15 lbs. The joint can spit out the torn part if you give it some decompression (space)

There are several guys in my Over-60 Hockey league that have had hip and knee replacement surgery. Seems like they are back on the ice in better than before condition in 4 - 6 weeks. Some of this fast time is probably because they already have strong knee and leg muscles.

I guess what I'm trying to convey is that the knee replacement technology has come quite a long way and is not the trauma that it was 10 years ago.

 

[heehaw]

my wife started injections in her knees about 6 months ago: its called synvist: don't know if i am any where close on the spelling, but its pronounced sin-vist or something like that: anyway its the final thing before surgery: suppose to have it ever 6 months but the Dr says the insurance co won't pay for it but every 9 months: an she has two different insurances???? the Dr wasn't even willing to try to do it at 6 months because of his "past" dealings with the insurance co: an she is in a lot of pain now, waiting for the last few months to get over so she can get the second round.
her surgeon said her knees were to bad to try cortizone shots: i figure we are looking at a replacement before to long
heehaw

 

[Chuck52]

My older sister has had both knees replaced, older brother had one, all recent, and mother had a hip done a few years ago. All say they would do it again, and all stress the importance of the rehab afterwards. Younger brother has a bad back. So far I just find I can't do some of the stuff I did 20 years ago, but any pain I have seems to fade fairly quickly. I don't know what I've done differently from my siblings....if I did I'd sure keep doing it!

Chuck

 

[Bird]

From what I find on the Internet, it may be spelled "Synvisc" and may be the same thing from a different manufacturer. A year ago last month we went to the funeral for my wife's oldest brother in Princeton, WV. He died of cancer, but I just learned yesterday that he had the 3 injections, which provided some temporary relief, but his wife said if he hadn't died, he was going to have to have the knee replacement surgery.

My doctor told me they had to order the hyalgan for me, but what the rascal didn't tell me was that he was going on vacation, so I'm scheduled to get the first injection this coming Tuesday, June 22.

 

[tommu56]

From what I find on the Internet, it may be spelled "Synvisc" and may be the same thing from a different manufacturer. A year ago last month we went to the funeral for my wife's oldest brother in Princeton, WV. He died of cancer, but I just learned yesterday that he had the 3 injections, which provided some temporary relief, but his wife said if he hadn't died, he was going to have to have the knee replacement surgery.

My doctor told me they had to order the hyalgan for me, but what the rascal didn't tell me was that he was going on vacation, so I'm scheduled to get the first injection this coming Tuesday, June 22.

After a couple injections you will be dancing the jig or maybe a square dance or 2 with your wife.

Happy Dancing!!!!

tom

 

[Bird]

After a couple injections you will be dancing the jig or maybe a square dance or 2 with your wife.

Happy Dancing!!!!

tom

I sure hope you're right, but at this point, I'm not very optimistic about anything working short of a knee replacement, but at least, if that's what's needed, it sure would be nice if it could be postponed about 4 months until we have some cooler weather.

 

[Bird]

So different treatments have had different results for different ones of us. And I'm sure that could be expected. The 3 shot series of Hyalgan did very little good, so we went ahead with the other 2 injections. So now my knee doesn't keep me awake, doesn't hurt hardly at all when I'm sitting, and doesn't even hurt a lot walking as long as I walk slowly and carefully and not very far at a time.

So the total knee replacement surgery is scheduled for the 23rd of next month. I asked the doctor how many of these he's done and he said, "Over a thousand." I didn't ask how many were successful.

 

[brin]

Bird ..over the years I have know many - many folks who have had total knee replacement and all did well including my Mother who had both of her knees replaced when she was near 80 yrs. old. I think it is now a very common procedure and I am sure yours will go well. They have you up walking the next day I think...keep us posted..

 

[MarkV]

Bird a friend was over the other night who did a total knee last year. I ask him how it was doing and he said it was the only joint in his body that didn't hurt.

MarkV

 

[LostInTheWoods]

I had knee problems for several years before I saw my Doctor about it. He told me that he didn't normally recommend non perscription treatments but he read an article a few years before about an over the counter treatment of Glucosime/ controtin, and he hed tried it himself based on the article. He said it really worked.

He mentioned that it isn't an over night fix and will take several months to see any difference but it did work.

I started taking it at the rate he recommended 1500mg of glucosimine and 1200mg of controitin each day and over the last year my knees and joints in general are 100% better.

You can buy it over the counter but I've found it online at a place called Swanson for half the over the counter price.

Might be worth a try for you, it was for me.

Agree 100%. Never personally used the stuff, but I have an associate at work that takes it (the glucosamine/chondroitin combo) daily and swears by it. I would estimate that I have in the neighborhood of 100 patients taking it as well.

As a general rule, I have very little faith in OTC "supplements". Most never deliver on their promises and the only thing they supplement is the manufacturer's wallet. Glucosamine/chondroitin is a rare exception. I would say the success rate in easing knee pain (for whatever reason, it seems to help knee pain more than other joint aches) in my patients exceeds 90%. Does it "fix" anything? No. And if you have severe arthritis of the knee, it might not provide enough relief to postpone surgery much longer. But if you are considering delaying surgery for a few months...maybe doing that concurrently with the glucosamine/chondroitin will keep you from going under the knife.

From my personal experience, it is as close to harmless as any treatment out there, and I have never seen it interfere with other medications or treatments. As stated by others, it is not an overnight fix...you'd need to take it for a good 4-6 months before you know if its working for you.

If you choose to try it, I'd look at places like Sam's Club. They have excellent prices for medications and supplements in my area.

 

[Bird]

Bird a friend was over the other night who did a total knee last year. I ask him how it was doing and he said it was the only joint in his body that didn't hurt.

MarkV

That sounds encouraging, Mark. One of the greeters at Walmart, with whom I visit frequently, is 85 years old and said he had one knee replaced about 10 years ago, and he stays on his feet a lot as a Walmart greeter.

 

[Reg]

So different treatments have had different results for different ones of us. And I'm sure that could be expected. The 3 shot series of Hyalgan did very little good, so we went ahead with the other 2 injections. So now my knee doesn't keep me awake, doesn't hurt hardly at all when I'm sitting, and doesn't even hurt a lot walking as long as I walk slowly and carefully and not very far at a time.

So the total knee replacement surgery is scheduled for the 23rd of next month. I asked the doctor how many of these he's done and he said, "Over a thousand." I didn't ask how many were successful.

Good luck with it Bird.

Since my last post on this both of my wife's knees have continued to heal and improve.
I have learned a little bit about massage too by attending her physio-therapy sessions and asking questions and "show me how to do that" and some "what am I feeling for here ?"
Basically she has some scar tissue in the second one that is taking some time to break up - not all connected to the knee replacement surgery, it is the site of a burn injury from when she was very young.
I have been very surprised at just how FIRMLY massage can be done over the actual surgery site.
Yes, right across the CUTS themselves, but she says it brings relief and I am having to do it less and less as time goes by.

Best !

\R

 

[Bird]

Reg, the "Joint Reconstruction Team" at the hospital puts on an hour and a half "pre-admission education class" a couple of times a month. It's certainly not required, but recommended that patients attend one and they recommend that you bring your "coach" along. So my wife and I plan to attend on the 4th. The nurse told me that class should tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the surgery, recovery, etc.

I'm glad to hear your wife's recovery is going pretty well; hope it continues to improve.

 

[orezok]

I have an associate at work that takes it (the glucosamine/chondroitin combo) daily and swears by it.

Fortunately my knees are holding up well for now, but my Golden started getting up slow and sometime limping after getting up. She pretty much stopped running. The vet recommended human G/C (sez it was same stuff and cheaper than animal version). She now gets up normal and is running like she used to. ..the dog not the vet!

I guess it worked for her.