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Knee News
Well, today was the big day...I went to meet with Dr. Diminick to get more information about my knee and try to figure out what we could do to help me rejoin the human race...the moving human race that is!
He spoke with me to get the history, then he read the report I had brought him and viewed the CD of my MRI. He said that there is thinning cartilage between my bones which at times causes the bones to just about rub together. Then there is the torn meniscus.
His recommendations were as follows:
1. try to lose weight (why do the doctors always start with that one????) But get this, for every pound I lose, I can take 5 pounds of pressure off of my knees! Can you believe that!!!???? If I lose 20 lbs, that gives me 100 pounds less pressure. Isn't that cool? we won't get into how much I need to lose, but if I do, let's just say a lot of pressure will be gone.
2. Take glucosamine for 6 weeks. It takes about that long to for it to make a difference in the knee.
3. Exercise with my brace on as much as I can. Since my knee is feeling pretty good right now, I am going to try the elliptical machine again. The last time I tried it, my knee was only recently recovered and I couldn't do it. But Dr. Diminick said that the elliptical is traditionally the best for people with knee joint problems. He said the exercise would strengthen the muscles as well as help me lose weight. But to be careful that I was not aggravating...sounds like a tightrope to me!
In 6 weeks, we reconvene and see where we go from there.
He said we had four other options at that point if I wasn't feeling like I could get along okay.
1. Cortisone shots. These relieve the pain almost immediately, but don't last very long.
2. Shots of some kind of lubricant type stuff. Can't remember what he called it. I get one shot a week for three weeks, then my knee should be good to go for about 6 months. He said there is a lot of success with this and I have a feeling it is the way I will be going.
3. Partial knee replacement surgery. He said surgery was his last choice, but I was a candidate if the other options didn't work out. It would give me 10-15 years and then I could transition to a complete replacement.
4. Complete knee replacement, but they really try not to do this until people reach 60 years of age or older. Mainly because the knee replacement doesn't last forever, so they tend to use it for people who are older and not as active.
So that is the end of the knee alert. We are glad to have some answers and to have made some progress.
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praying for you my friend
HUGS
Let us know what you decide to do. Sending prayers your way.
WOW, I need to lose "a pound or two" too! Praying for your knee
Sorry I haven't been around lately. I wish you all the best. My mother had a total knee replacement at the age of 49. She didn't do as the doctor told her to do and now her knee is in no better shape than before the surgery. Whatever they do, just follow the Doctors orders and you will be fine.
{{{HUGS}}}
Hopefully the 1st options will work out for you.