arthritis in my left knee

Hi everyone, I twisted my left knee a couple of days ago when I was trying to exercise. I put ice, heat and elevated it for long periods of time and it seemed like it was getting better but last night I woke up from the pain that was shooting up my leg and spasms to my calf, foot and upper thigh. First I took liquid Tylenol for adults and the pain was unbearable and began to escalate so then I took the liquid oxycodone that was given to me after the surgery. It did not work either and at this point I was crying and in such pain. I have a high tolerance of pain but this was so bad I could not bear it. I became nauseated and my leg was throbbing. My husband took me to Burnaby General Hospital by 6 am. I had a very positive experience as they fast tracked me in within 10 minutes of arrival. I thought it may have been a torn ligament or a twisted knee as my left knee started to swell and there were many bruises. Well after they checked my history and saw that I had surgery 6 weeks ago they wanted to rule out a blood clot and a few hours later after getting an ultrasound and an X-ray they told me that I had severe arthritis in my left knee. They gave me a shot of morphine for pain which helped a little later but I still could not put weight on my left leg as my knee would buckle and start to shake. They discharged me by 10:30 am. The emergency doctor said to go to my physician and get them to refer me to orthopedic surgeon as they said I may need to have surgery on my knee. They also called my surgeon in Seattle who told them that one of the contributing factors to all of this is the rapid weight loss I have had in the last 6 weeks and that my body is trying to realign itself and of course the heavy weight on my knees for the past several years has made it worse. This was the first time I heard that I had arthritis!!! Anyway, I slept on and off on the couch for the rest of the day as the morphine finally kicked in and I was like a zombie and now I have this dull pain and still can not put weight on the leg but the pain is a 7 out of 10 now so it is tolerable. I was going to ask my husband to go to the Red Cross to borrow some crutches for a while. I don't think a walker will do the trick. Maybe a cane would be better? They said to put ice on it and elevate it as much as you can and rest. Please any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I feel like my body is falling apart and I am so emotional these days as it is one thing after another. Any advice for arthritis? I want to be able to exercise eventually again so I guess swimming will be the way to go for now. Thank you for your help. Sim --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- " Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has" Margaret Mead HW: 323 lbs; SW: 307 lbs CW: 261 lbs; GW: 150

Dear Sim, I am sorry to hear that you are in such pain...sounds like a hell of a lot of pain for arthritis. The arthitis society website might be a starting point..and the main boards here..there will likely be others in the same boat. You sure are learning lots about how to take care of yourself. It's hard to make good decisions with all this worry and pain. I am glad you have your husband to support you. I will connect with you by phone sometime this weekend and update you about my Friday morning appt. Take care and gets lots of rest/sleep Janice

I have never heard of arthritis coming on so quickly. It is usually a gradual buildup so I would really question the diagnosis. I have been dealing with severe arthritis for some time now, it is the main reason that I put on so much weight and why I could not get it off. It is hard to excersize and get the old heart rate up when it is so dang painful to move the knees. I just had an appt with an orthopod in Victoria after I tore my meniscus last Oct. I waited 8 months to see him to be told that my knees were too wrecked to do anything about, an arthroscopy to fix the meniscus (cartilage) would be futile as the arthritis is going to grind it all to crap again anyway. I opted to get shots into the synovial fluid that adds some cushion between the bones (I am mostly bone on bone now) REALLY expensive $666 for two knees and it might work and it might work for up to 6 months. I am guardedly optimistic that it will work. Nothing else seems to. It is best to move with arthritis if you can. Go to the arthritis foundation, they have good physio and information sessions. You will learn about what to do if it truly is arthritis. Good luck eh Holly

Hi Holly Take water arobics or just go and walk in the pool. I also have very bad knees. My mother is 76 and recieved her second new knee at Easter. She goes to water arobics. Its great for the knees. Good luck Sharon

Dear Holly, Yes, I questioned it too, but they did Xrays and said that is what they saw!! I also remember a few things that happened in the past few years. About 15 months ago, I remember my knee popped when I stood up suddenly one time and I was in such pain for about a week and could not put any weight on it but eventually the pain went away. Also a few months ago before my surgery I was cleaning the bathroom and my knees gave out and I fell to the floor taking the towel rack with me as I held onto it to break my fall!! After that I have been extra careful and do not trust my body anymore to stand up so this may have been something that was coming on for a while? My family doctor is away on holidays until the end of the month. I have already made an appt with him so we will see what he says and he can refer me to someone. Thanks everyone for your suggestions regarding the arthritis foundation. I will look into it. Sim

Hi, I'm a liitle slow at replying. I have Fibromyalgia and arthritis in various joints. I go to acupuncture 2 - 4 times a month. I jus****ched a study of acupuncture on the knowledge network Monday night. They conducted studies of acupuncture on osteoarthritis of the knee and have proven that it benefits. I also go to the pool and do water exercise. I find it easier to walk in the pool far less pounding on my joints then when I walk on land. Hope that helps and definitely hope by now that you are felling better. Take care, Gale..

Hi Gale, Unfortunately I have another ear infection that came on last week for the third time since January of this year !!! How frustrating I tell you. You can read my other post about it so swimming is out of the question again for a while. I am going to see an ear, nose, throat specialist about it when my doctor can refer me soon. Thanks for your suggestions. I want to swim when my ears are healed. Take care, Sim