Any DUers with knee problems?

[slor]

I have lost 60% of the cartilage in both of my knees. Anyone have any suggestions for what may have helped you, besides surgery? Thanks!

[Lerkfish]

1. my wife takes glucosamine chondroitin (sp?) tablets

and they seem to help her knees. You have to take them over a couple of week period before you feel anything, to accumulate it.

after that, you just need to keep taking them. She swears by them. She still has knee problems, but its about 3/4 better, she says.

[malmapus]

8. ditto on that

Both me and my fiancee take these, recommended by her sister to us who has major cartilage problems with her wrists.

But yeah, it does seem to help too.

[Lannes]

2. Calcium?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

3. Glucosamine

I have arthritis in both my knees. Glucosamine helps.

[ewagner]

4. Both of my knees

hurt like hell after a jog or run....stay that way for two or three days....is Glucosamine available without a perscription? Is it safe on the stomach?

[Lannes]

5. Aircast cryocuff

I got one for my ankle when I tore it up playing bball and it really helped.

http://www.aircast.com/products/product.htm?pid=23&pgid=53AF5B11-7E54-45F7-AEC9-81D5BD77A9D6&rnd=172754036

[OldLeftieLawyer]

6. You lose cartilage as you age,

then the bones end up rubbing against each other, and voila! Instant arthritis, instant pain.

There aren't any medications that will cause cartilage to regrow, in spite of claims made, but there are exercises you can do to build up the muscles and strength in your quadriceps (the frontal thigh muscles, which hold up your knees). I got that advice more than 20 years ago from an orthopedist friend - who specialized in knees - and who turned me over to a physical therapist who showed me a regimen I practice to this day.

I had been told that surgery on both knees was inevitable. Now, the physicians who told me that are retired or dead, and I'm still skiing.

The best one - for starters - is backing into a wall, hands down at your sides, and lowering yourself as if you were to sit on a straight-back chair. See how long you can hold yourself in that posture - don't be surprised if it's no more than 2 or 3 seconds at first.

Do that three times. You'll have given your thighs a good start on getting strong.

Find a good physical therapist. They help immensely and forestall any future problems.

[malmapus]

7. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be in the same boat

My knees got pretty abused in the Army, mostly from being Airborne and all the jumps. But now I'm already starting to feel like I'm paying for it.

Would this be something heat could help? My finacee makes the rice heating pads and they help mine. Throw it in the microwave for about a minute and its good for a while.

[Blue Diadem]

9. Have you seen an orthopedic Dr?

I'm with the others that glucosamine Chondrotin does help. It helped hubby for a while, but he ended up having surgery done..bone and cartilage plugs taken from his good areas and put in the bare areas. They told him he was too young for knee replacement. Lengthy recovery though, 6 weeks of absolutely no weight bearing, then physical therapy etc.

I've heard there is some type of shot..rather pricey that helps some people. Think it's called Synvis. I just remember hearing about it and that if you're allergic to eggs you can't use it.
Google search turned up this:

http://www.jbrmarketing.com/products.htm

[sakabatou]

10. Tendonitis in both knees

[nini]

11. glucosomine will help against further loss but you won't get any back

there's also an injection therapy called Synvisc or Hylan that is helpful to some people. http://us.synvisc.com/

IF you have loose cartilage you'll have to have the knee scoped and cleaned up though. My knee was killing me and after having loose cartilage removed I walked out of the hospital pain free for the first time in months.

good luck.. aching knees suck.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

12. You can talk to an orthopedist about Synvisc injections

It costs about 650 for a set of three injections and Synvisc creates lubrication between the joints in the knee to ease the pain of bone on bone contact. The results are not permanent but can help keep you more active.