Silicon knee injections - upside, in six weeks, might be able to walk fairly normally again...

[haele]

Downside - knees will be stiff and getting out of chairs will be a count-down battle for the next 3-4 weeks while the silicon settles to where it is supposed to be. Dr. says "lots and lots of ice and Voltaran for the duration.
And the gel only lasts maybe a year.

Well, better than a month or two off for knee surgery, while I'm still the family driver.

Haele

[RAB910]

1. I assume you are talking about hyaluronan injections

I have had them twice in my life and they worked wonders.


Mine lasted more than a year (multiple years actually). Although it helps if you take that time to strengthen the knee, lose weight (if needed), and do stretches to keep the muscles from getting too tight

[haele]

2. Yes, that is what they are...

After 20 years in the Navy and 20 working shipyards, my knees were both shot. Probably will need to actually have surgery on the right one (bone on bone), but I do have to lose a couple dozen pounds (and get a family driver for the month) before that would be recommended.
The stiffness is what bothers me the most right now. Concentrating and counting to be able to push myself out of a chair (or off the necessary) is nerve-wracking. But knowing that other people have had good experience with them makes me feel better.

Haele

[RAB910]

6. I go to an orthopedic who only does knees and hips. He has a dietician

On staff because weight loss is a major way to help the knees

[Thekaspervote]

3. Synvisc wonderful stuff

Worked well for me for a while. Became highly sensitive to it and had to stop. But, that’s me..go for it and have it again when the knee starts acting up.

Hamstring stretches really helped me as well. Keeps the joint from completely collapsing

[TexasLefty29]

4. Hey!

Why did you have silicone injections in your knees? Just wondering, because I am nearing thirty and at the point where my left leg feels “out” sometimes, and it’s like a rubber band is loose in my kneecap, sometimes it can go for hours without feeling “in” or settled... what does it mean for your knee to be “shot”? What can you recommend to a young adult who has had a few previous osteo traumas (marching band, drum corps, car wrecks), and is nervous about what this could mean in a decade or two? Obviously I could google this, but I’d like to ask you ....

[RAB910]

7. Sounds like your knee cap isn't tracking properly

I have had that problem for decades. Strengthen the quads. Especially focus on the movement of the last few degrees before straight. The quad is multiple muscles and the one responsible for the last few degrees until straight often is the issue. You could use some stretching as well. Take it from me. Go see a doctor and get some therapy, unless you want early arthritis

[haele]

8. My issue is osteoarthritis in both knees. After 20 years in the Navy and 20 in the shipyards.

I also have degenerative arthritis, and a back injury, and was born with moderate scoliosis that was treated between the ages of 6 and 14 by all sorts of stretches and prosthetics that I wore in my shoes until I was 12.

At your age, first thing you need to see is an orthopedist to check your gait and see if you need shoe inserts to even out your gait, or if you need a referral to a skelatal-musculo specialist. I did that when I got out of the active Navy those inserts got me through 20 years in the shipyards.
Next, you should always sleep with a pillow under or between your knees. Your back, hips, and knees will thank you.

Regular low/no impact exercise, and stretches as recommended by your doctor (s).

You shouldn't need the injections unless you have no more cartilage left, or if your ligaments are shot. Preferably when you are closer to retirement age than I am, and not still running after grandchildren you are raising.

Haele

[snowybirdie]

5. Had it done five years ago

Amazing procedure. Already had one knee replacement. This was something new then. It worked like a charm. Knock wood, no problems since then. Good luck!

[Evergreen Emerald]

9. Keep me informed!

I have been considering trying those injections.

[Kali]

10. I was driving in one month after my first knee replacement

hope your temp fix works but just do the replacments as soon as you can. fucking virus screwed up my second.

[csziggy]

11. Best cold pack is self made

I used these after both knee surgeries, after both knee replacements, and after both carpal tunnel surgeries.

1 part rubbing alcohol to 3 parts water - put into a zip lock bag, then bag again with the zipper facing the other way. Put in the freezer flat. When you take it out, put a light weight towel between it and your skin. The cold pack will form around your joint and will stay cold longer than ice or even frozen peas or corn (my second favorite cold packs).

For a gallon sized cold pack, use one cup alcohol to three cups water. For a quart sized, one fourth cup alcohol to three quarter cup water. I usually put a couple of drops of blue coloring in the mix so it stands out as non-edible in the freezer.

For each of my surgery recovery periods, col packs helped more with the pain than any medications.

[Grammy23]

12. I concur about the utility of cold packs following knee surgery.

I’ve had both knees replaced and although strong pain meds were necessary the first few days, I found at home that a combination of pain meds and ice packs worked the best. I have an adjustable bed and could tinker with the angles needed to make my back happy and keep my knees in a good position.

Some people get an ice machine ordered by their surgeon but I’ve heard other people say the gel packs or ice packs are just as effective. The ice machines may be more convenient but if you can have multiple ice packs in the freezer and someone to help you retrieve fresh packs as needed, the ice machine may not be necessary. — just a luxury.

By the way, I had device called Onque (I think is how it is spelled) which is a rubber/silicone/plastic thing filled with a numbing agent. It drips into the knee area through a tiny catheter. You don’t have to do anything except pull out the tubing after it has all infused which takes 2-4 days. It was a wonder at reducing the initial pain — anesthesiologist said it reduces the pain by 60 %. So if offered this device, I highly recommend it. Just wish it could stay in longer....like 6 weeks. 😂😂😂

[csziggy]

13. They used the cold machine on my knees for the meniscus removal

But not after the knee replacements. That didn't bother me since my knees hurt less the day after each replacement surgery than they did the day before - that's how bad my knees had gotten.

I took the pain meds in the hospital, while in the rehab hospital, and the day I came home. After that, I never used them again, I just iced the knees and they did great.

I think they used one of those Onque (or whatever it is) machines when I had my hysterectomy up until they took the stitches out. It was definitely more effective than anything else I've had used on me!