when the cartilage goes away...

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barbie.gee - 25 Oct 2007 03:58 GMT

OA diagnosed 2 years ago in both knees. Recently has been a real
bother, Bakers cyst developed, reduced mobility.

Standing knee x-rays showed that I have pretty much no cartilage on the
inside (medial side) of the knee joint; bone on bone. The rest of the
joint looks okay, but I suspect I've got the same exact thing in the
other knee as well. Doc said pretty much TKR is the thing to start
thinking about.

So, now what, other than sleep on that diagnosis for a few days?
He's not impressed w/ synvisc, says a partial replacement only will
delay the inevitable. Got a cortisone shot, we'll see how it feels and
for how long. (yeah, I'll get a second opinion, I'll work to drop 20
lbs. to feel a bit better, find some yoga and water aerobics classes,
tweak up the NSAIDs.)

but once you're at bone on bone, what else is there to do, really?

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california_chief - 25 Oct 2007 06:21 GMT

> OA diagnosed 2 years ago in both knees.
>
> no cartilage on the inside (medial side) of the knee joint; bone on bone.
> Doc said pretty much TKR is the thing to start thinking about.
>
> He's not impressed w/ synvisc,

Tell him you want to try it. I get 12 to 18 months relief.

> says a partial replacement only will delay the inevitable.

He's probably correct with that statement. Then a 2nd surgery is necessary.
Not the way to go.

> but once you're at bone on bone, what else is there to do, really?

I had a THR in July 2000. I had the opposite THR this July.

... Why not upset the apple cart? They'll rot anyway.

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Navy - 25 Oct 2007 22:13 GMT

I have had three series on my left knee and I get, like Chief, 12 to 18
months relief. Its a lot easier to try that than a TKR with all that is
involved there. I did have trouble with the bursa around the knee, but
cortisone shots helped those a lot.

Signature

Navy
Take out the FISH to email me.

>
>> OA diagnosed 2 years ago in both knees.
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> ... Why not upset the apple cart? They'll rot anyway.

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jofirey - 25 Oct 2007 16:49 GMT

> OA diagnosed 2 years ago in both knees. Recently has been a real bother,
> Bakers cyst developed, reduced mobility.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> but once you're at bone on bone, what else is there to do, really?

Sounds like time to replace it and enjoy the new knee while you are young.
(Or at least as young as you will ever be.

Jo

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Cindy - 26 Oct 2007 14:13 GMT

I did not get the relief from the synvisc...But I know that everyone is
different. Suffering from FM, sometimes it is hard to figure out what is my
OA and what is my FM or if the FM makes me feel my OA worse...I know
...sounds crazy...like me.LOL but I have had several very wise people from
this site tell me...That you are never too young to have TKR and if your
doctor tells you that...find another doctor...
I am still getting around pretty well and since I don't work on my feet all
day long anymore, my knees are better... Wish this darn FM would go away...
Cindy

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california_chief - 26 Oct 2007 17:25 GMT

> I did not get the relief from the synvisc...But I know that everyone
> is different.

Cindy, did your rheumy try any of the other brands? They are all made from
the same source, but different manufacturing techniques may result is
different results for different people. (Is that a mouthful???)

... And Adam asked, "What's a headache?"

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Jane - 27 Oct 2007 14:04 GMT

On Oct 26, 12:25 pm, "california_chief"
<Fire_Chief@Jamacha_Junction_FD.ca.us> wrote:

> > I did not get the relief from the synvisc...But I know that everyone
> > is different.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> ... And Adam asked, "What's a headache?"

Hi Chief - a question about Synvisc. I've just had my second
Orthovisc shot (both knees). So far not much change. I know it can
take a while to notice an improvement. Was that your experience?

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california_chief - 28 Oct 2007 05:01 GMT

> Hi Chief - a question about Synvisc. I've just had my second
> Orthovisc shot (both knees). So far not much change. I know it can
> take a while to notice an improvement. Was that your experience?

I have had 3 series of Synvisc injection over the past 5 years. Each
provided 12 to 18 months relief.

The rheumy "freezes" the kneecap, injects a pain killer, then the Synvisc.

... I feel more like I do now than I did before I started.

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