Bad Knees

[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.