Oh boy, much too young to feel this damn old
Posted , 3 users are following.
Question for the group. So about 18 months ago I had back surgery which laid up my exercise and mobility. I noticed “tightness “ in both knees and some minor difficulties bending.
Then about 12 months ago I was walking and boom super sharp burning pain. Wow, lasted 3 weeks. Laying in bed was horrible. Move a bit and shooting pain. Was actually able to get into specialist and he did a quick ultrasound and said he thinks torn miniscus and said they don’t operate on it anymore and especially if I have arthritis. He sent me to get X-ray, which confirmed arthritis.
Now the last year I have that miniscus feeling in both knees on and off. And the tightness is getting much worse. I cannot even bend down and go on knees. I am walking like I am 90.
Yesterday I actually took a 85 year old to a sports game and he walks better. My knees are both swollen and left is burning and sharp pain and sore from 4 inches below knee and up 8 inches.
What do u all think it is, arthritis or miniscus, or something else. What should I do. What helped u guys.
I been taking aleeve and ice but nothing touching it!!
At my end of the rope
0 likes, 2 replies
robin15577 roger12514
Posted
See if doctor for further advise. May need replacement
if you do be sure to schedule with doc you trust. It's a brutal recovery but it's worth it. 
Just my two cents
missmagwumps roger12514
Posted
Hi Roger,
Sounds like it could be "all of the above" if arthritis has been confirmed.
You don't actually say how old you are but I would go for a 2nd opinion if possible. So much has changed recently with knee conservation that if you are young enough you could even take part in a stem cell trial or have something inserted - all a bit cutting edge though and would require excellent health insurance to qualify I'm sure!
They can repair and/or not take out the whole cartilage but depends on the damage. Some surgeons are too quick to resort to surgery rather than conservation but then that's their job - to operate! I would ask for the least invasive route to start - if there is one !
You also didn't say to what degree you have arthritis....if it's early stages you may get away with steroid injections for a while! They can work well for some people to get rid of the inflammation but fairly short term in some cases or need repeating every 3 months or so.
I had my cartilage removed in the 80's after an injury and lasted well until back surgery threw me out of kilter and I compensated too much with my gait and put too much pressure on my knee without the miniscus and arthritis followed until I couldn't stand the pain any more and had a TKR last December. BUT I wouldn't recommend getting to that stage if you can do something else in conserving as much of your knees as you can in the beginning.....
If you do have the miniscus removed it may be a long time before you need a total or partial knee replacement but that seems to be the normal progression when your bones start rubbing together! I lasted from 1987 to 2017! Plus I am in my 70's - so not bad going.....
I wish you well.......let me know how you get on......kind regards, Maggie (London)