Knee/legs/walking problems

May 13, 2010

I would very much appreciate some advice on the following please. As a very

brief background, I currently have a myriad of hypot related health problems,

despite being on Armour and Eltroxin. Due to the usual problems with my GP (who

doesn't monitor my thyroid at all now) I went privately, several years ago, to a

fantastic doctor who I know w're all familiar with on this forum. Severe

financial problems over the last year or two has meant I've been unable to

continue with this so basically my thyroid/level of medication has been pretty

much unmonitored (bar some tests in Nov 09). I'm getting the money together to

see Dr P and am about to make an appt to see him (for the first time) shortly.

I'm trying to tackle my health problems one at a time as it's all a bit

overwhelming. The most pressing/severe of these at the moment is with my

knees/leg/hip pain; it's the 'most pressing' because the problem is so severe I

have very limited mobility which is affecting my ability to continue with my

part time job. My GP referred me to a specialist re this in January this year.

X-rays were taken of my knees and osteoarthritis diagnosed. The thing is, the

specialist has said that althogh he can see from the x-ray that I do, indeed,

have a 'problem' he thinks the arthritic changes are moderate and should not be

causing me the severe pain/lack of mobility that I'm experiencing. I had a

steroid injection in each knee; this helped somewhat for 3/4 months but the

pain/lack of mobility is now back with a vengeance. I'm due to see him again

later today. The lower leg/knee and now hip pain I'm experiencing is appalling,

whether at rest or walking.

Sorry, this has become rather lengthy. I think what I'd basically like to ask

is could this mostly be as a result of my thyroid medication level not being

correct - or rather, insufficient? In January the consultant said he would

offer me keyhole surgery to 'tidy up' my knees if the steroids didn't prove very

helpful. I'm really loathe to undergo yet another surgery, possibly all as a

result of my possibly mismanaged (on my part, I admit) thyroid.

Would it best better to delay (or not do at all) further treatment for my knees

until I've seen Dr P, had a complete review of my thyroid problem, some tests,

etc. I'm just not sure if if I'm an 'unlucky' 50 year old to have such

apparently bad osteoarthritis.. or if much of this is caused, or at least

worsened, by my hypot.

Again, sorry for the ramble but I'd very much appreciate some opinions.

Thanks

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