My Poor Old Knees: Dr Al ‘The Tech Guy’

Note from the Editor:
This article was kindly written for the SDC by member @Doctor Alan.

For most of us, mobility becomes more limited as we age. The movement we took for granted when we were indestructible teenagers later became a longed-for memory. Osteoarthritis is often the problem with our knees, and we find we can no longer run up and down stairs—or, in fact, run anywhere with ease—due to the pain from those knees.



What is osteoarthritis?
Probably because we’re now living a lot longer than our ancestors, we are aware of the gradual breaking down of our bodies with more and more regular visits to our GP to try to relieve our symptoms. Our mobility and balance deteriorate as we get older, and one of the most common causes of mobility problems is the deterioration of the knee joint, known as osteoarthritis. This is also known as ‘wear and tear’ arthritis and is caused by the knee cartilage gradually wearing away, leaving the bones to actually contact one another with very painful consequences.

My own knee problems were brought about some years ago when I had a split meniscus cartilage in one knee, then a couple of years later in the other knee. In a younger man, these splits could be repaired, but I was told that because of my age, there was not enough blood flow to sustain repair and that the offending flap of cartilage would simply have to be removed. The doctor commented after the second ‘repair’ that I could expect to have ‘trouble with my knees’ in later years.


shutterstock_2279531675 (1).jpg
Is your knee pain a sign of something else? Credit: Shutterstock



What is the cause of knee osteoarthritis?
Apart from a torn meniscus cartilage, there are a number of basic causes for the problem. These include:
  • age – as we get older, there is a decreasing ability for the cartilage to heal itself;
  • repetitive stress injuries: kneeling or squatting that may be part and parcel of a person’s occupation produces pressure on the knees which could stress the joint;
  • heredity: the bone shape around the knee joint may have inherited abnormalities;
  • sports/ athletics: while regular exercise is a very good activity to avoid the onset of osteoarthritis since it strengthens the muscles around the knee joint, sporting activities such as soccer, squash or tennis could put one at a higher risk of contracting osteoarthritis.


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I shredded the inside cartilage in my left knee when 16 and kept plain rugby etc until 35 - about 15 yrs ago I put a NEW Australian natural cream on my knee and the pain went but PAIN has recently come back on the outside cartilage, so I put an updated version of the cream on (putting it on my knee at night wrapped in glad wrap versus rubbing it on 3 time a day. The pain has reduced BIG time - the cream is only available via the USA at present. 4jointz.com
 
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I have just been diagnosed with severe arthritis in my left knee, and moderate arthritis in my right knee. I am on a prescribed medication and an over the counter medication which are helping with the pain. I have been using over the counter rubs which help to a degree. Now I am using a natural pain relief rub made by a herbalist, suggested to me by a friend, which I find is really helping. I have most pain after I work all day on a cement floor, standing serving customers. When I don’t work and can rest my knee more I have at least a 50% reduction in the pain. I’m not keen to have a replacement, hubby has had one and says he won’t have another one, and one of my brothers has had both his done and recently got a bad infection in one that almost cost him his life. He was in hospital for over eight weeks, had five operations, including a part replacement of his replacement. He is home now but still has a pinhole sized opening in his suture line that wont heal and oozes fluid. He is having home nursing visits every second day and weekly teleconferences with his specialist. It is a wait and see what happens now, hopefully he won’t need more hospital or surgeries.
 
I have just been diagnosed with severe arthritis in my left knee, and moderate arthritis in my right knee. I am on a prescribed medication and an over the counter medication which are helping with the pain. I have been using over the counter rubs which help to a degree. Now I am using a natural pain relief rub made by a herbalist, suggested to me by a friend, which I find is really helping. I have most pain after I work all day on a cement floor, standing serving customers. When I don’t work and can rest my knee more I have at least a 50% reduction in the pain. I’m not keen to have a replacement, hubby has had one and says he won’t have another one, and one of my brothers has had both his done and recently got a bad infection in one that almost cost him his life. He was in hospital for over eight weeks, had five operations, including a part replacement of his replacement. He is home now but still has a pinhole sized opening in his suture line that wont heal and oozes fluid. He is having home nursing visits every second day and weekly teleconferences with his specialist. It is a wait and see what happens now, hopefully he won’t need more hospital or surgeries.
The 4jointz cream is owned by an Aust company but can't be sold here (yet) sadly due to complicated TGA regulations apparently - ONLY available via USA online www.4jointz.com - might pay to try some?
 
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I really appreciated this article, especially the advice re losing weight and the exercises. Great article. Thankyou
 
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I am 83 had two knee replacements about 6 years ago, no more pain, but you can't kneel down or get out of a bath, as the knees don't bend back enough, so when I fell I had to shuffle on my backside to the bathroom rail, and my husband put the kitchen step under my backside so then I could pull a bit up and plant my backside on the step then could pull myself up. Or if you fall outside it takes two people to pull you up, your ok if you have only one knee done, but the op was worth it at least there is no more pain. And the specialist that did the op did a good job.
 

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