{Disarmed} RE: New here

[Guest guest]

Man those cortisone shots hurt!!! I’ve never been prescribed anything for

pain. They always say to just take Advil. Problem is, it doesn’t work…not

for the knee pain and the bursitis. I guess I just don’t know what to do.

How can I get rid of the bursitis enough to be able to get my knees in

better shape? I can’t even lift that leg at all, let alone do any

strengthening exercises. My IT band is not tight…I can stretch the leg as

far as it can go with no problem.

These are my second set of orthotics. After tearing all the ligaments in my

left ankle, it changed how I walk, so the old ones slowly got worse and

worse and ended up feeling better without them, so I quit wearing them. For

the most part, it feels fine with out any orthotics unless I want to walk or

need to be on my feet. I’ll have to look into RA. My half-sister has it.

Thanks for the link. I’ll check those out.

Joi

_____

From: chondromalacia treatment

[mailto:chondromalacia treatment ] On Behalf Of Mike Bernhardt

Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 9:00 PM

chondromalacia treatment

Subject: Re: New here

I do know of a girl just west of us who had a TTT and partial knee

replacement when she was in her forties. She seems to be doing well.

I am also looking at other possible explanations for knee pain. I have had

knee pain in both knees for about 6 years now with four arthroscopic

surgeries. I also have what was diagnosed as hip and shoulder bursitis this

summer and had cortisone shots in both, and also a shot of cortisone in my

shoulder last summer. About 10 days ago both ankles became very painful. My

doctor did some bloodwork. My bloodwork came back negative for rheumatoid

arthritis, but positive for possibly another auto-immune disease. My doctor

put me on methylprednisone. I have also been taking Celebrex for some time.

He also set me up with a Rheumatologist who I see next Thursday. My blood

pressure always goes high when I am in a lot of pain, and it was high on

Tuesday when I went on the prednisone. This morning I was feeling very

peculiar. I went back to the clinic, and my bloodpressure was very high,

along with a suspicious EKG and positive blood marker for a heart attack. My

doctor rushed me to the regional medical centr in an ambulance where they

gave me a nitrogicerine patch. I started to feel much better right away, and

further tests ruled out a heart attack. My EKG, blood test for heart attack,

and blood pressure returned to normal and I was released. I think it was the

combination of Celebrex and methylprednisone. I don't blame my doctor

because I told him how much better I felt in the past with methylprednisone,

although even then I had some strange side effects at that time.

I was doing some reading on rheumatoid arthritis and it said about 20% of

people with RA actually have a negative blood test for RA. I will let you

know if I find out something on Thursday.

I was fitted for a $500 custom orthotic about 17 years ago after breaking my

foot. They were also very uncomfortable, and I ended up setting them aside.

I have been wearing just Spenco orthotics just off the shelf for around $20

and would recommend them;

http://www.spenco. <http://www.spenco.com/prod_footcare_greenortho.html>

com/prod_footcare_greenortho.html

Mike

MT

New here

Not sure if my other post came through, so I'll send another. I was

diagnosed with Chondromalacia about 26 years ago. My knees have each had

Arthroscopic surgery. My right knee had the patellar shave and lateral

release. That didn't work, so the Dr did a bone graft to raise the knee cap

up higher. That worked, but the pain has been coming back worse and worse as

time goes by. That surgery was done about 23 years ago. My left knee had a

patella shave and just generally clean up and looked at. The left knee has

never been as bad as the right until recently. They both grind and pop all

the time and I have had pain year round now for several years. They don't

prescribe anything for either the pain or the condition. I live in a

relatively small town compared to when the right knee was worked on. I've

pretty much been told I have no cartilage left in my right knee and very

little in my left knee and I'm " too young " for knee replacement. That's too

bad because I feel too old at only 44!

Where can I get some info on things they have been doing for those with

knees as bad as mine? I like the ortho Dr I have now, but he's very

conservative and doesn't like to do anything other that PT and that simply

doesn't work anymore. I do have orthotics, and just got new ones, but my

knees hurt so bad after wearing them! I also can't fit them in shoes

suitable for work. Any suggestions?

Another question.does the fact that I have Chondromalacia indicate other

possible problems? The reason I ask is I've had hip bursitis for about two

years now and can't get rid of it. The orthotics are supposed to help

re-align my knees so is the fact that my knees are so out of whack a

potential reason for other joint problems?

Last question.when they do a lateral release, what exactly are they

releasing? I can't remember! It's been tooooo long!

Joi