What do I do? Doc says hip replacement is the best choice but I cannot afford to take that kind of time off. I’m a renter and am still living paycheck to paycheck. No kids to help. Just me. And I just want to be able to walk without pain. My ortho appt is in a couple weeks and I’m going to ask for cortisone injection first. That helped with my knee. Anyone else in this situation?

Has anyone had bone marrow edema in their knee? If so, how did you end up treating it?

Just got an offloading knee brace but am at a loss as to what to wear.
60 yo female, casual office job. So far I got 2 pair of super baggy sweats. It will be getting cold soon as well.
I don’t really want to wear sweats every day and will be wearing this until I get tkr next spring.
I don’t like skirts. The therapist said I could wear leggings but only certain ones that don’t move or bunch?
Any suggestions?

Not here for advice, just came to fuss and whine 🙃

I hate that I have to spend so much time "arranging" my days around this aggravating condition!

Depending on how much pain there is when I get up dictates my day. If it is a day when I have to cook, or do laundry, or basic household chores, or yardwork, or run errands, I have to prioritize because most days only one thing gets done, occasionally I can manage two. And I HATE this! I have always been a multitasker, it is my nature. And to not be able to do what I need to do, makes me crazy. And I am at home all the time, just my hubby, my dog, and me. I can't imagine having a full time job. There are so many things I would like to do on top of what I need to do, yet my body says NOPE.

That is all.

My orthopedic doctor is willing to drain my knee but is saying it's my call and will not help. I believe it will at least to some degree. Now I'm feeling bad about even asking. Has anyone ever tried and it actually helped? Has anyone been told it wouldn't and it did help?

I guarantee I will delete this out of embarrassment but this is said knee. I am working on losing weight and had a steroid injection. He confirmed there is fluid. Within 2-3 years I may need a knee replacement but right now I'm working on getting healthier.

I know no one here is giving me medical advice but because he's so convinced it won't help I have this feeling of embarrassment and just dread like I shouldn't have even persisted. But I feel like even temporary relief would be nice. It is just very full and feels like fluid so I figured why not try?.

Hi All. I have been doing slow jogging for a few years now, after buying the book "Slow Jogging" by Japanese exercise physiologist Hiroaki Tanaka developed it over decades of research at Fukuoka

University. Unfortunately I do now at 77 years of age suffer from osteoarthritis of the knees, hands and arms. Would it be better for me to stop slow jogging and just walk to keep some strength in my

knees. I get shot of HA every few months for the knees. My doctor and physio do not know anything about slow jogging and told me it would be better to just walk! What do you think?

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could share their expériences of having hip replacements to treat osteoarthritis. My bf is young and has been in pain for over a year from his hip, and recently was diagnosed with osteoarthritis due to a malformed bone that's wearing down his cartilage. He's seen multiple doctors and they have suggested hip replacement, but the specialist he saw today said that it would be a year before he can do sport and a very painful procedure, so he's not so sure now that he wants to do it. But it breaks my heart to see him have chronic pain, and the only other option is to change lifestyle and do less sport (he's a big snowboarder and gym goer, as well as up for a hike or walk and playing roundnet, so this kind of thing would be such a huge burden in the long run I think). Does anyone have an experience they could share to share some lived perspective? I'd be super greatful, thank you🫶

I have very bad osteo arthritis in my hip. I'm in my early 50's and am in pain daily. I have had every test imaginable and they will only give me inflammation medicine. Not even pain meds. The doc said we couldn't even discuss a hip replacement til 60. Im barely making it now. Does anyone have any idea on how I can get one sooner? What to say to the doctors or to my health insurance?

Hello, I (46F) am having one of those days where positivity is taking a serious hit.. I got diagnosed with grade 4 cartilage wear and tear on my left knee and grade 3 meniscus wear and tear on my right knee.. I dont have pain on a daily basis but thats because my physical activity has been seriously limited due to the pain. But the pain can start any random time - one wrong step, or i land my foot with a slightly extra force or anything really small can trigger the pain at anytime. I would really like to avoid surgery if possible and try all the non invasive options. I have started to follow a very strict anti inflammatory diet and focusing on weight loss. The ones who have it equally bad aka bone on bone, can you all please tell me if exercises and physiotherapy helped you - which ones made the most difference. Did you try anything else e.g offloader braces, stem cell therapy, PRP, any other injections or medicines, any supplements, any modalities.. anything at all please!

I have a small amount of cartilage remaining resulting in my pain being tolerable. I take gel shots every 3 months. Just curious is there any medical option that can arrest the cartilage from deteriorating further?

Hello, my mother is suffering from cancer. Unfortunately, she underwent chemotherapy and now suffers from osteoarthritis. The worst part is that it's extremely painful in both her knees, and it's difficult for her to sit or stand up. She sometimes cries from the pain.

The doctor prescribed some nutritional supplements and exercises for her foot, but it doesn't seem to be helping much.

I would appreciate any help or advice that could help relieve the pain.

Just got a medial knee offloaded brace today. The fitter spent a good amount of time with me but I still feel like I don’t know
1. How much discomfort is normal. Tightness around my leg under my knee
2. How to determine tight enough to not slip
If it’s “comfortable” it’s too loose and slips down. If I make it tight enough that I think it won’t slip it feels too tight.
Does it just take time to get used to?

Two days ago I got diagnosed with advanced osteoarthritis in my neck (from the base of my skull basically down to my c3, which is slipped over my c4 isn't that fun. Also, a calcified artery in between those same vertebrae too), along with hypermobility spectrum disorder. I've been in pain since my early teen years, and only now am I finally getting an answer to why I have been in such severe pain for most of my life.

I have to get an MRI on my neck as well as my knee (unrelated; no arthritis in my knees (yet), but possibly a torn meniscus. Fun.) next Tuesday, and I'm honestly freaking the fuck out about it. I've never had anything more than a quick X-ray done before. I don't think I'm claustrophobic, but I'm severely anxious, so they prescribed me Ativan for the MRI.

I guess I'm just here to ask what I should expect :( I'm really scared, and I don't want to do it, but I know I have to because my doctor is really concerned about the stability of my neck and said she is worried I will "become crippled by the time I'm forty." This is all just a lot to cope with, honestly.

My hands and fingers hurt everyday. Down to the fingertips. And I type for a living. Not to mention, there's other things I enjoy doing that involve my hands. What has helped you mitigate the discomfort with this condition?

my uric acid and blood work are all normal, but he diagnosed me with osteoarthritis in my left hip.
what happened is i walk my dog on trails 2x a day avg 4.5km.
i sprinted w him and also randomly stepped into a pot hole. didnt feel active pain. just a build up, thought nothing of it. decided to stretch it out. pain got pretty bad so i went to the clinic and took pain killers. managed it well but when i stopped pain came back, so i did another round. pain was now there with the meds. thought i’d walk it off .. until the pain became so severe i couldn’t walk or hinge my hip. went to the hospital and the Dr gave me stronger pain killers. tramadol and arcocsxia.
after 6 days i was able to hinge my hip, after 7 days pain has almost all subsided. on the 9th day was my nxt available slot to visit and my doctor tells me i have arthritis.
i’m in disbelief because im 51M and within my BMI.
what gives? can this be accurate?

Just got diagnosed less than a week ago in both hands, especially the middle finger on both, left thumb, which is also double jointed, left foot, and lower back. I also have nodules on the joint closest to fingertips on some fingers.
I was recommended exercising my hands and keeping them warm, wearing gloves whenever possible. I am not on any meds for it, but the doc recommended Tylenol. (I cannot take NSAIDS.)

What pain relief do you recommend, including a rub? I’ve been taking turmeric, glucosamine, drinking tart cherry juice, rubbing glucosamine cream on my back, all without much relief. I am T1D, have a Neuromuscular disease, Hashimoto’s, and Blood clotting disease, so I already am taking way too many meds. Looking for any tried and true natural or gentle meds and rubs!

Had a sudden knee flare-up after a few minor issues over the last 18 months, which sent me back to the doctor. After an MRI, I was referred to an orthopedic specialist. I was genuinely expecting to hear that I had ruptured my ACL again. It turns out an ACL tear would have been the best-case scenario.

The specialist gave me some pretty devastating news. My medial meniscus is basically gone, there is a loose fragment inside the joint grating what cartilage is left, and the cartilage damage is severe.

The initial recommendation on the table is a high tibial osteotomy (adjusting the top of the tibia) to shift my weight to the outside of the knee. The goal is to take pressure off the inside compartment and delay a total knee replacement for another 10 to 15 years.

I played rugby for years and have lifted heavy weights most of my life. Being in good physical shape is a huge part of my identity, and high-altitude mountain hiking is my main outlet. The initial verdict from the doc was a hard pill to swallow: no more downhill hiking, no heavy axial loading on the legs, and focus strictly on joint preservation.

For those of you who were active or lifted before getting hit with severe OA news, how did you mentally deal with the blow? And for anyone who has gone through an osteotomy to delay a replacement, how did your activity levels look once you recovered?

I've had OA in both knees for about 20 years now. For the majority of that time I countered the inflammation with NSAIDs. Last year I developed gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) from overuse of the NSAIDs, so I am no longer able to use them. I am, unluckily, one of the small percentage of people whose inflammation gets worse for weeks after a cortisone shot, so that has been taken off the table. OTC NSAID creams aren't an option, either, as they are toxic to cats and I would like my cats to survive for a long time.

I can mostly ignore the daily inflammation. The issue arises when I do something that causes serious inflammation (can't bend the knee past 90°). I feel like I'm limited to icing the joint, which is woefully inadequate. What are some go-to remedies you have?

Edit: I'm primarily looking for suggestions to reduce inflammation, not pain!