Hi Jeanne, I had neovisc injections in both knees every 3 to 4 months for about 4 years.  I'd say overall it's worthwhile.  I could literally feel that my knees had more "juice" in them - and anything that could lessen the friction of the bone on bone was good enough for me! Sometimes, the injections would pop your eyeballs out with the pain.  Other times, it was ho-hum.  My ortho said that when your knee is really inflammed, there are more nerves jumping around - so when the needle goes in he's more likely to hit more nerves.  Another indicator of bad inflammation is the amount of blood that wells up at the injection spot. I'm happy I had the injections, I think they provided me relief a little longer and a little more mobility.  About 1 1/2 years ago though, I found that they didn't really work anymore.  I scratched it up to I was too far gone. What I like about these injections over the cortisone is that you can get them done as often as you need them.  I think smaller people can go 6 months or a year before having a repeat of the 3 shots.  I may be wrong about the weight situation ... but we all know that the more weight you have, the more pressure you put on  your joints. Get the shots as soon as you can.   Start it up so you can get more cushioning in there!   It's expensive though.  My insurance wouldn't pay for them .. and the set of shots for both knees was about $500.  ACCK! Cheers, Marie

Hi there, Yes, arthritis is definitely a co-morbidity.  That is the one reason I was approved by OHIP for out of country WLS.  (Still early days for me though .. just getting set up for the initial consultation.) Has your personal care physician suggested WLS?  Or do you know if they are open to it? Unfortunately, I do not know about the specific drugs that you are on and whether or not you could still take them after the surgery.   Good luck! Marie

Hi there, I'm currently using a walker, can't stand but for a minute, take Naproxen and tylenol athritis in order to get from bed to my chair, and to the loo.  If I have to go out, I'm on hillbilly heroin (oxy).  I'm 45.  I have had neovisc injections about every 3 months in each knee for about 4 years.  I stopped doing that 16 months ago because the cost was tremendous ($500/set).  I've had one set of corisone shots but the ortho didn't recommend me continuing them because it destroys the soft tissue in the joint if you do it more than once a year.  (And even then, for someone bone on bone ... why bother.) I've been to see several ortho specialists.  I've only found one that will do my knees.  However, he won't do anything until I am at or under 250 pds.  His approach is that he will try to do a half knee replacement, if he can. All the other doctors have said no because of age and weight.  When I query the ones that said no because of weight, they say they still wouldn't operate because of my age.  They say it would be a dis-service.  They cannot understand why a doctor WOULD operate. As you probably already know, there are risks involved with the surgery.  It's not a 100% effective.  I forget the actual percentages .. but something like 80% of the first knee surgeries are ok.  They currently anticpate that a replaced knee joint will last approx. 10 years or so.  A second knee operation goes down to a success rate of like 50% ok.  There is more liklihood of issues with ligaments and other soft tissue that are required to support the joint.  Or, you have the "joy" of a fused knee. So, even taking that all into account, I still desperately want a knee operation and am doing what I can to loose the weight.  It just takes so darn long if you want to do it healthy and you can't move!  I'm seriously looking at WLS to help me get the weight down quicker. I hope you find your doctor.  Check out sports doctors.  He's the guy that will do my knees.  The regular guys wouldn't. Good luck! Marie

Hi, I live in Philadelphia, my ortho doc is part of Temple University and he will do me once I reach 250 lbs.  I am 52 yrs. old and one knee is bone on bone and the other is following.  My GBS surgeon who is part of the U o P group is a general surgeon and he says by all means have the surgery if it gets you off your a$$ and into the gym.  I love him, he is so down to earth.  I have been doing the Synthis shots every 6 months (not much relief), a shot of cortizone (10 weeks) really helped but still can't walk great distances, I use Repargen (I have noticed a difference) and Ultram (generic) for pain, gets me through the day. That is my story.  The day the scale says 250 I am booking my table in the operating room. Good luck to you I would look around and get another if not a few more opinions. You don't need to wait until you are 60 to do what you need to have your life back. Jeanne

You should get a second opinion.  I have had a specialist tell me I need knee replacement and would do it but I needed to lose some weight first.  I weighed at the time 300 lbs and was asking me to come back at 250 lbs.   I gained weight instead of lost. Bonnie