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Post by tod2 on Nov 23, 2010 11:06:46 GMT
Oh! Woe is me I had a very bad fall 2years ago in Paris after missing a step and crash landed on both knees. The swelling was horrific but I soldiered on with the help of anti-inflammatory's. Now after walking in Paris for nearly three weeks in July & August I seemed to have revived the old injury but only in the last two weeks. My knee became swollen overnight and then went back to normal until last night............The pain was so severe I could not walk without limping. My mother mentioned DVT so I went off to the Doc. Not DVT because the leg was not red and hot to the touch and he could flex my toes towards my shin without me screaming. Water on the knee is the most likely prognosis as I also have a cystic mass at the back of my leg in the knee joint. He gave me 2 intravenous injections - I'm guessing the one was probably Voltaren. A script for pain-killers & thats that. What I would like to know is this - has anyone had Water-on-the-knee (sounds like a place in England) and what was the outcome....I mean like an operation?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2010 12:58:45 GMT
I know that my knees are going to turn on me some day (they have brought themselves to my attention on my building stairs from time to time), but so far I have deprived them of medical attention. Several colleagues have had knee operations and disappeared for weeks.
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Post by tod2 on Nov 23, 2010 15:35:00 GMT
To keep your knee joints in good nick there is that supplement made from shark cartilage. Most are called things like "Osteo Ease". I'm bad at taking things regularly for years on end but today I'm starting before the New Year's resolutions come into force!!
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Post by mickthecactus on Nov 23, 2010 15:58:02 GMT
But sharks don't have knees?
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Post by tod2 on Nov 23, 2010 16:41:05 GMT
What can I say to this man..... My knee was slightly better today but I hate hobbling around. My hairdresser even had a 'walker frame' ready for me this morning...that really sent me into the world of the 80+ hobblers!
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Post by mickthecactus on Nov 23, 2010 17:00:24 GMT
Sorry tod2.......... I've been very lucky - played a lot of sport into my 50's and still have no joint problems at all.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2010 18:25:07 GMT
I first had "water on the knee" as a result of a bad tennis injury in High School. It's fluid retention from torn cartilage,meniscus. One can have the fluid drained and it will give relief,but,the torn meniscus remains,and depending on the severity of the tear ,one can get by without surgery. Repeated injuries of the same knee over a long period of time resulted in my finally having it orperated on in 2009. Best move I ever made. Have had no problems with it since then. The rehab time was minor compared to what I was facing had I not had the surgery. While the surgeon was operating on said knee he noted the early onset of some arthritis. I do knee exercises religiously every day,sometimes twice a day,and ride a bicyle almost daily along with a daily yoga routine to insure no further problems. Calcium supplements and some other minerals are helpful as well I've been told. Good luck with this.
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Post by tod2 on Nov 24, 2010 14:06:43 GMT
Thank you casimira. I think when I fell I must have injured my knee in the same way you did. With constant walking of around 12 hours a day this must have aggrivated the old wound. Still very painful so I'm doped to the eyeballs The arthritis doesn't surprise me - most rugby players have terrible arthritis in the knees and other joints from constant pounding. A doctor friend told me everyone starts getting arthritis from the age of 18. That was a surprise!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2010 22:05:29 GMT
When it tears you know it, believe me...this last time, I felt it actually shredding as I went down and the swelling that ensued was monstrous. You can get some relief from acupuncture,but, if it's torn,somewhere down the line,surgery is your best bet. I was reluctant at first, until ,several kind souls persuaded me otherwise. Until then,I had envisioned major cutting,huge scar,long rehab time. The orthoscopic routine is a piece of cake. Probably the most important post op advice I have to offer should you go that route, is,ice,ice,ice,ice!!! And,start flexing,exercising it almost immediately and, follow the post op physical therapy advice given religiously.
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Post by spindrift on Nov 25, 2010 17:51:51 GMT
tod2 - it is in your interests that you have an MRI scan of your knee. Find a recommended knee specialist. This is what I did. The MRI very clearly showed that I had torn the cartilage in my right knee. Casimira is right about saying that you definitely know if it has been torn. The pain is intense. My consultant advised me to have knee surgery because a cartilage never heals itself. The pain around it can be less or more but in the final analysis the older one gets the more pain there will be. An arthroscopy is the answer. I had a general anaesthetic for mine and was in hospital for just one night. I have to admit that I suffered excruciating pain after the op for about ten days. I was told this was because the knee area is filled with water and 'blown up' for the surgeon to do his work.
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Post by tod2 on Nov 26, 2010 6:08:11 GMT
I am grateful for your input Spindrift! Every bit of advice helps me decide what do do about this sore knee. At the moment it has eased slightly probably because of the anti-inflams, but I am going to get my doctor to give me the necessary letter of introduction to an orthopedic surgeon. Thanks for the good advice.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2010 17:59:49 GMT
Yes, Spindrift is spot on about the arthroscopy,it is what I had as well. Mine was done in the early a.m. and I was out of there,(the hospital) on the same day,albeit,plied with heavy,heavy painkillers. Best move I ever made.
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Post by spindrift on Nov 27, 2010 21:10:37 GMT
tod2 - don't forget that you really need to have an MRI on the knee before you see the orthopod. This way you only pay him for one consultation instead of two!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2010 21:34:39 GMT
Tod2,there's a thread on this topic on page 4 of Free Clinic,titled Medial Meniscus Tear,that covers many of,these points. My online knee guru, Any Port member, and dear friend Happytraveller guided me through my knee crisis in this particular thread.
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Post by tod2 on Nov 29, 2010 8:03:31 GMT
Thank you! Very informative - I am a firm believer that one cannot have too much information I will be seeing my GP tomorrow and get the necessary for further investigation on my knee - which took a hammering yesterday as it was a BIG Sunday lunch with my son & daughter-in-law (who is having my second grandson today at 1pm). I was up at 5.30am picking spinach in the garden, putting the slow-roast into the oven etc.etc. I needn't tell you I went to bed at 4pm with a very painful knee!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2010 17:32:53 GMT
My strong advice to any and everyone when they have any sprain,strain,or even after a strenuous workout is,ice,ice,ice!!!!!
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Post by tod2 on Dec 2, 2010 17:05:45 GMT
I had an ultrasound on my knee this afternoon. Lots and lots of water and a large dark inflamed area. I do not have a torn cartilage thank goodness. Tomorrow I will be at the doctors at 8am to see what he makes of it all and hopefully start some treatment.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 3, 2010 15:44:59 GMT
I was at the doctors rooms this morning and he aspirated my knee. After the local anaesthetic he stuck a larger needle in and had to jump out of the way as the 'water' shot across the room (hit the doc slightly) and onto the floor! It then continued to drizzle out quite a bit. He said I must have been in a lot of pain under that pressure..........yeh Doc, I was in flippin' agony mate! Now on anti-inflams called ARCOXIA 90mg (Etoricoxib). Feeling a bit better I must say.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 4, 2010 13:06:15 GMT
Oh happy day I can walk around for the first time in a month without the slightest hint of PAIN! That draining of the fluid around my knee seems to have done the trick. I now can start my walking programme - YAY!
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Post by tod2 on Dec 13, 2010 17:45:45 GMT
More bad news... I have something everyone dreads and which I thought only men suffered from - Gout! Shit!
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 13, 2010 20:24:06 GMT
Oh no! No wonder you were in pain.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2010 21:38:16 GMT
Gout has increased in frequency in recent decades affecting approximately 1–2% of the Western population at some point in their lives. The increase is believed to be due to increasing risk factors in the population, such as metabolic syndrome, longer life expectancy and changes in diet. Gout was historically known as "the disease of kings" or "rich man's disease".Tod2, you are so lucky! You are rich! (Excuse me for being flippant, but I always have to look up gout whenever it is mentioned, because I never have the slightest idea what it is, in spite of having seen it mentioned in books all my life. If I had to answer a quiz question such as "From what disease did Scrooge suffer?" [not having the slightest idea if Scrooge suffered from anything other than his own nastiness], my spontaneous reply would almost certainly be "gout.")
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 14, 2010 3:17:14 GMT
The irony of gout is that it's associated with over-indulgence and rich food. But the other group who can suffer from it are the opposite of wealthy Victorian club men -- those who practice an ascetic lifestyle. This is because excessive fasting can cause a build up of uric acid which can trigger gout.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2010 3:19:29 GMT
More bad news... I have something everyone dreads and which I thought only men suffered from - Gout! Shit! Please go and get yourself some black cherry extract or unfiltered juice and drink this for your ailment. My husband used to get frequent bouts of gout,extremely excruciatingly painful episodes of,usually in one of his feet,occasionally his knee. The black cherry juice/extract really, really works!!! I only know of one woman who had it. She was a hairdresser,and she got it in/on her hands!! OUCH!!!!!!!
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Post by tod2 on Dec 14, 2010 5:01:10 GMT
Kerouac, Bixa & Casimira - I guess it is a combination of many factors relating to diet. It's hard not to eat rich-ish food nowadays. I am very guilty of putting cream into sauces, using butter not margarine (made healthy for ones heart) and eating a LOT of red meat. Adding to this scenario no meal is complete without a glass or two or three of wine! My doctor has put me on Puricos - 300 . one tablet after a meal. I also found a bottle of "Herbology PH Balance" in my medicine cupboard so am taking those again. On the bottle it says 'Restores Healthy Alkalinity'. In addition to all that I will go and get Casimira's recommendation of black berry extract. That's if we even have it here! I will report back. The bottom line really is that I have to cut right down on the vino. My sister says I should only drink a single malt whiskey. Mmmmmmm - doesn't that give one a red nose
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 14, 2010 14:28:07 GMT
The black cherry thing really works. My stepfather and a sister have both used it with excellent results. Apparently, any cherry or cherry juice is good for gout, but black cherry is the best. Check in your health food stores, Tod. I think it comes in tablets and powders if you can't get the juice.
Another thing that really works is to drink lots of water throughout the day. It will not only help flush uric acid out, it apparently helps other gout remedies to work better.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 14, 2010 15:10:47 GMT
Thank you so much Casimira and Bixa. I called in at my pharmacy and got the only one they keep. HerbaForce Schlehen Blackthorn Berry Elixir. It doesn't say a word about gout but does say it's ideal for breastfeeding as it stimulates lactation........ too late here I'm afraid ;D
The pharmacist also told me that the tablets perscribed ' Puricos 300' actually make the gout worse to start off with. I was wondering why my knee has got slightly painful again! He says it's because the medication is chasing the build up of urate chrystals out of the blood.
Thanks again -I will have my blackberry liquid three times a day.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2010 15:36:58 GMT
Actually, at my last blood test about five years ago, I had high levels of uric acid as usual, and I recall that it was mentioned that this could cause 'la goutte'.
I was asked if I had been consuming white wine or prawns in quantity recently. Since I don't much care for white wine, I had to admit that I had been eating prawns regularly.
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Post by tod2 on Dec 14, 2010 15:47:54 GMT
And here I thought the prawns were bad for one because they gave you bad cholesterol Well, I'm sure we will both ignore that fact about gout and carry on enjoying our food!
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Post by tod2 on Dec 14, 2010 15:59:18 GMT
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