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Suggest Treatment For Osteoarthritis

Posted on Fri, 24 Oct 2014

Question: My knee xray showed moderate joint effusion, more on right than left and spurring at the superior patella. I have been unable to walk without a cane and am in daily pain even with advil/aleve. What is the next step now that my doctor confirmed osteoarthritis (cracking of my knees when bending) and now the xray shows these symptoms? I'm only 40 and need relief. The pain in the night and morning is awful to where it takes me about 10 minutes to get out of bed because of the pain from the knee down.

Answered by Dr. Saurabh Gupta (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You should do following-

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for your query.

To have relief in osteoarthritis knee,you should do following-

-Start doing exercises for quadriceps muscles.You may learn this from your physiotherapist.

-Start doing warm fomentation with rubber bag over knee for at least 3 times a day.

-You can continue taking analgesic like advil or aleeve.

-There are some dietary substances like glucosamine ,chondroitin sulfate,MSM which can be taken OTC.These substances help in repairing of damaged cartilage of knee in early stages.

-Avoid climbing stairs,sitting on floor as far as possible. Avoid squatting movements at knee.

-If over weight is problem, weight reduction will work wonders for knee pain.

-In early stages exercises, medicines ,joint supplements & intra articular injections are helpful & may revert the changes but in late cases joint replacement is only option.

I do hope that you have found something helpful and I will be glad to answer any further query.

Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Saurabh Gupta (11 minutes later)

Thank you. I am over weight, but have lost 23lbs in two months trying to relieve pain. It has only worsened. I also started glucosamine, MSM and Chondriton supplements, but have been told that these can take 2 months to begin to relieve pain. My doctor has not referred me to a physical therapist or to an ortho specialist for injections. I have read there are multiple types of injections. Based on this added information, which would you recommend? Would you recommend injections now or in a few months? What level of OA would you say I have based on the xray and my symptoms? I walked the Golden Gate bridge with my daughter in May and walk on campus 2 days a week when I teach at a university. I've never had issues. But at the end of May it came on suddenly. I can now no longer take a bath due to the pain/instability of my knees.

Answered by Dr. Saurabh Gupta (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Consult a physical therapist.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

It's nice to hear that you have reduced the weight. I suggest you to consult a physical therapist for strengthening exercises and rehabilitation programme. Hyaluronic acid injections given into the joint in prescribed dosages will give good short term pain relief in arthritic joints ranging from 1-2 years. I recommend you injections when you have no relief with physical therapy.

If you wish, you can upload the xrays sothat I can level your OA.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj