My MRI showed loss of cartilage on my R knee. I'm an active woman. Will this get better with PT? Will I be able to climb stairs and ride my bike again? Anyone out there? I'm very scared about this.
Hi Kay, Did you see a doctor/consultant with the results. Hopefully they will or should have explained how much damage. What were your symptoms which initiated the MRI scan?
No.. Cartilage gone is gone. There are a couple of injections that might help. Cortisone is a temporary relief that can be injected several times if it works. Sinivic is a rather iffy injection....somewhat expensive and requires a multiple series of injections. For those it helps it's a geat product but drs are careful to over reccomend because of cost. I'm not a scientist but have been told it is compounded from a fluid found i the cockscomb of a chicken. Get the opinion of a good orthopedic surgeon. PT can definitely help if its not too far gone
Hello Elaine. I did see doctor about results yes. He showed the MRI and it's just missing a small area of cartilage. I did not ask him the size. He prescribed PT for 6 weeks but said surgery was not a good option as you can't put cartilage back on. And I read that it won't grow back either. Symptoms are sharp pain at times when walking or if knee twists a certain way or squatting down. So I am walking very carefully but am scared this will be the way it is.
Thanks for feedback. I don't want injections. Maybe PT will help. Seriously depressed and afraid. Am just 48. Very sad
Do you still ride your bike? if not please do. You need to keep that cartilage lubricated and cycling is best. Take Glucosamine and Chrondoitrine supplements - these help the cartilage. Did he say an arthroscopy may help. This clears the debris of bits of cartilage that have eroded.
Don't be sad. I was younger than you when I learnt I had almost no cartilage in my right knee and it was a good 15 yrs on before I am now where I am having knee replacements.
I understand. I've been fighting a non malignent tumor for 13 years, 11 surgeries and radiation so I have complete empathy as well as sympathy for you. Hang in there and do the PT 1st. It may take a few weeks to see if its the answer so dont give up after a couple of sessions.
The orthopedic surgeon I saw said nothing about clearing any debris out. I was wondering about that myself. Where did it go? I specifically asked him about glucosamine and he said it would do nothing to for me. at all. I have not been on my bike since a week before the pain came on. August 14. I was putting groceries in a refrigerator, squatted down to floor and that's when the shooting pain happened. Just from a deep squat. Wish I could take it back.
Blessy OFG - I had no idea. I know you have posted about several ops, but I had no idea the cause. Hugs!
I am sorry for what you are going through. Very much so. Thank you for your kind advise and thoughts.
You have almost no cartilage? And were you able to be active? Excercise or did it keep you down?
Hi Kaydiane, as for glucosamine chrondoitrine goes, it works different in each person. Some it helps and some it doesn't. I found when you take a good brand like Instaflex, which has other ingredients that helps the main ingredients, it works better. I have taken different kinds and Instaflex works the best. I also had the Sinivic or I call it the chicken shot. And it did help for a time. Don't stop exercising and strengthening your knee. Keeping it moving and strong will help keep you going.
No I kept it active. I took the glucosamine and chrondrotine - strongly recommended by every doctor I have seen. I now have a knee replacement which includes a plastic cartilage, but as I said this is 15 years on from when I had my arthroscopy and the surgeon said my cartilage was like tissue paper.
Had a similar experience to you. Just stepped down from a curb and instant pain in my knee. It was torn cartilage. I had the arthroscopic surgery and it worked well The surgeon said sometimes a piece of the cartilage folds over causing more pain. He simply went in and cleaned up the rough edges. Knee was much better after with little down time. I think I stayed out of work for a week. It did take my knee about 6months to feel normal though.
I used to take Optiflex which is a mix of Chrondo and Glucosamine. I now take Chrondomax which is an advanced form of Optiflex. I think it is this that has helped me. You don't say where you are from, it is a good idea as on this forum we are from all corners of the globe - I am from UK. The reason it is helpful is because treatments are different in different areas.
Thank you. I will start the glucosamine. I am reading about how it DOES help and keeps joint and cartilage lubricated. So much infomration is overwhleming. I will try it with the PT and get up now and walk some.
I have to see my Orthopedic doc in 4 weeks for follow up. Start PT on Tuesday. I have many more questions for him after hearing from several of you on here. I just had no iead what to ask when I sat there crying with the results. He said surgery was not an option as cartildge could not be put back in. It was not torn, it was just gone. He said "broken off".
remember that it will take a few weeks to get into your system before you judge it. Good luck
At least consider the injections and check with your insurance on coverage. Some cover that you only have to get 1 injection while others make you go for a series of 3. Uflexxa which is a synthetic version worked better for me than Synvisc. My cartilage was almost gone before I started it but it still delayed my TKR for 5-6 years. Catching yours early might make the difference. Arthroscopic knee surgeries seem out of favor because they cause a lot of pain and rehab for a few years of relief.