Comment from: jlssm1941, 65-74 Female (Patient)Published: August 14
When I first discovered that something was wrong with me, I was not surprised because I had had some type of pain in my legs since I was three years old. When I was 30 years old, I started getting stiff in the mornings and after sitting for a while, it was difficult for me to walk at first. While changing sheets on my king size bed, I climbed on the bed to place the sheet on the opposite side and suddenly realized that my knees were gone because I could not place any weight on them. All of a sudden I seemed like an invalid.
My husband had to help me get off the bed because my knees were locked in place.
Such terrific pain I had never experienced before in my life. This was 33 years ago; I now take a pain pill in the morning and one in the evening for some relief.
I had microscopic surgery on the left knee three years ago which helped quite a bit; but I am now starting to have severe pain in it again. I have a torn meniscus in the right leg and need surgery. I really would like to have a knee replacement in both legs.
I have sent for information on the ZIMMER for women only replacement. There is always hope for a better tomorrow; I hope this is it for me.
I went for my yearly physical, and complained of aching hands and that my hips hurt. Blood tests came back with a positive ANA test. The rheumatologist ran blood tests and took X rays of my hands. This came back with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. The hip pain was bursitis. She gave me cortisone shots in my hips and prescribed Arthrotec (NSAID) for the pain. I use hot wax dips, and lots of Aspercreme night time lotion (it smells good!). These things seem to help, since I teach special needs children and use a lot of sign language.
I was just recently diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in both knees. I am 31 years old. I started getting symptoms about 6 years ago while training for a marathon. I ran every day and did squats and lunges every other day too. That did me in. At first, doctors diagnosed me with patella tendonitis which coincided with the symptoms I had at the time. I stopped everything and gained weight. Since then, the pain returns when the weather is about to change. I used the Glucos/Chron blend and can tell it helps a bit. Frustrating because I can't really do any real workout, but I need to lose weight at the same time.
Comment from: Vinny152, 75 or over Female (Patient)Published: September 04
In 2005, my symptoms of osteoarthritis started with pain and stiffness of the knees, primarily over the next two years. The pain in my joints disappeared with the help of pain medication and salves, but the stiffness became worse, necessitating the use of a cane for walking. Now the joints in both hands are swollen and disfigured, but I have no pain in these deformed joints. Some weight reduction did not help the symptoms. Currently, sitting for more than two hours will cause severe stiffness. I try to maintain a moderate exercise program to reduce the stiffness, and I have moved to a warmer climate.
Comment from: Caberfay, 65-74 Female (Patient)Published: September 04
I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, but it is not in the usual sites that other people seem to suffer in. Mine is in my neck and shoulders. Initially, my pain was in my upper arms, in the muscles of my upper arms. When I went to the doctor, he immediately sent me for an X-ray as he suspected lung cancer, but my lungs were clear. The next day, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis.
I was prescribed Tramacet for six months and when I tried to reduce the intake of the pills, I was very surprised to find I was going through withdrawal symptoms. Since then, it is like my nervous system has been affected, and I have attacks of some kind of tension in my arms and legs and must shake them vigorously to settle them. This even wakes me up at night, with sweating and panic. I wonder if I have built up an aversion to acetaminophen, which is in Tramacet.
Comment from: genea_80, 25-34 Female (Patient)Published: August 22
I first noticed a problem about 5 months ago while lying on a pullout bed. I'd been staying at a relative's home helping her recover from knee surgery, when I noticed a dull ache in my right hip. I ignored it for 2 months before I went to the doctor. By then the pain went from only slightly uncomfortable, to almost unbearable. My doctor ordered x-rays, and he determined that I had secondary degenerative osteoarthritis in my right hip. He explained that my body had grown a small "patch" to correct an injury that I'd sustained as a teenager. When he asked if I played tennis, and I told him that I had and suffered a bad fall he told me that the injury likely surfaced from that incident. At 28, I'm finding myself stiff in the mornings and achy in the movie theater or on long bus rides. The pain is not debilitating, and I am working to keep the disease at bay. I have also noticed in the last month that my right knee (which was also injured in the same fall during the tennis match) is also causing me pain. To all who read this: don't ignore your body. If you have pain, please see a doctor. I waited just two short months, and now I regret it.
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There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
The knee joint is composed of three compartments and ligaments which stabilize the joint. Causes of knee pain may include injury, degeneration, infrequently infection and rarely bone tumors. Although routine x-rays do not revel meniscus tears, they can be used to exclude other problems of the bones and tissues. The knee joint is the most commonly involved joint in rheumatic disease, as well as immune diseases that affect various tissues of the body.
A torn meniscus (knee cartilage) may be caused by suddenly stopping, sharply twisting, or deep squatting or kneeling when lifting heavy weight. Symptoms of a meniscal tear include pain with running or walking long distances, popping when climbing stairs, a giving way sensation, locking, or swelling. Treatment depends upon the severity, location, and underlying disease of the knee joint.
Sacroiliac joint (SI) dysfunction is a general term to reflect pain in the SI joints. Causes of SI joint pain include osteoarthritis, abnormal walking pattern, and disorders that can cause SI joint inflammation including gout, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Treatment includes oral medications, cortisone injections, and surgery.
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain. There are over 100 types of
arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, gout,
and pseudogout.
A Baker cyst, also called a popliteal cyst, is swelling caused by knee joint fluid protruding to the back of the knee (popliteal area of the knee). Not uncommon, baker cysts can be caused by virtually any type of joint swelling (arthritis). They are often resolved with removal of excess knee fluid in conjunction with cortisone injections.
The common bunion, an enlargement of the inner portion of the joint at the base of the big toe, primarily affects women. The signs and symptoms of bunions include inflammation, redness, tenderness, and pain of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The little toe may also develop a bunion (tailor's bunion). Rest, walking shoes, stretching, cold packs, and antiinflammatory medications may alleviate pain. Surgery is also a treatment option.
Degenerative disc disease makes the disc more susceptible to herniation (rupture) which can lead to localized or radiating pain. The pain from degenerative disc or joint disease of the spine is usually treated conservatively with intermittent heat, rest, rehabilitative exercises and medications to relieve pain, muscle spasm and inflammation.
Radiculopathy, a condition in which a nerve or nerves along the spine are compressed causing pain, numbness, weakenss, and tingling along the nerve(s). Some causes of radiculopathy include bone spurs, disc hernation, osteoarthritis, tumors, infection, and neuropathy. Treatment depends on the are of nerve compression. Surgery is generally not required.
Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable, chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH or Forestier's disease) is a form of degenerative arthritis. It is characterized by calcification along the sides of the vertebrae of the spine. Symptoms include stiffness and pain in the upper and lower back. Anti-inflammatory medications are used to treat DISH.
A ganglion is a fluid-filled cyst that forms from the joint or tendon lining. Ganglia are most frequently found in the ankles and wrists and are usually painless. A ganglion often resolves on its own. Aspiration of the ganglion fluid or surgery may be necessary.
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed medications for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and more. One common side effect of NSAIDs is peptic ulcer (ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum). Side effects, drug interactions, warnings and precautions, and patient safety information should be reviewed prior to taking NSAIDs.
Biologic rhythms, or biorhythms, are how our bodies respond to the regular phases of the sun, moon, and seasons. A medical chronobiologist studies how the "body clock" or biorhythms affect diseases and how the body clock responds to treatment of diseases and conditions at different times of the day.
Alkaptonuria is a condition that causes urine to turn black when exposed to air. Alkaptonuria is inherited, and usually appears after 30 years of age. Kidney stones, heart problems, arthritis, and prostate stones are also conditions associated with alkaptonuria.
Arthritis patients are sometimes vulnerable to quackery (the business of promoting unproven remedies). These "quick fix" treatments are promoted as cure-alls, but they really have no right to such claims. Consumers should be wary of products that have marketing claims like "will cure," "ancient remedy," "has no side effects," and "revolutionary new scientific breakthrough." Read about arthritis remedies and tests that have no scientific proof of benefits.
Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure by which the internal
structure of a joint is examined for diagnosis and/or treatment using a
tube-like viewing instrument called an arthroscope. Arthroscopy was popularized in the 1960s
and is now commonplace throughout the world. Typically, it is performed by
orthopedic surgeons in an outpatient setting. When performed in the outpatient setting, patients can usually return
home after the procedure.
The technique of arthroscopy involves inserting the arthroscope, a small
tube that contains optical fibers and lenses, through tiny incisions in
the skin into the joint to be examined. The arthroscope is connected to a
video camera and the interior of the joint is seen on a television
monitor. The size of the arthroscope varies with the size of the joint
being examined. For example, the knee is examined with an arthroscope that
is approximately 5 millimeters in diameter. There are arthr...
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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When I first discovered that something was wrong with me, I was not surprised because I had had some type of pain in my legs since I was three years old. When I was 30 years old, I started getting stiff in the mornings and after sitting for a while, it was difficult for me to walk at first. While changing sheets on my king size bed, I climbed on the bed to place the sheet on the opposite side and suddenly realized that my knees were gone because I could not place any weight on them. All of a sudden I seemed like an invalid. My husband had to help me get off the bed because my knees were locked in place. Such terrific pain I had never experienced before in my life. This was 33 years ago; I now take a pain pill in the morning and one in the evening for some relief. I had microscopic surgery on the left knee three years ago which helped quite a bit; but I am now starting to have severe pain in it again. I have a torn meniscus in the right leg and need surgery. I really would like to have a knee replacement in both legs. I have sent for information on the ZIMMER for women only replacement. There is always hope for a better tomorrow; I hope this is it for me.
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