How to Prevent Osteoarthritis in Knees

Posted by uirshad23 @uirshad23, Aug 3, 2019

Hello
I am a 29 yo male and I love to play basketaball. In 2008, I had an ACL reconstruction surgery of my left knee. A few months ago, i began to have swelling in my left knee. Doctor I went to recommended an MRI. The MRI revealed that I had a "markedly diminutive" medial meniscus and an oblique tear in the posterior horn of my lateral meniscus. It also showed that I had degenerative changes beginning in my knee. I love to play sports and lift weights. I am afraid that if I continue to play and compete the way i do (and I want to continue as I enjoy it) I will end up with osteoarthritis which will limit my activities. Is there anything I can do to prevent osteoarthritis and still play and lift weights. I heard about the MACI cartilage repair procedure and Meniscus Transplant - Are these probable options for me?

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Hi @uirshad23 and welcome to Connect. That must be frustrating to have those injuries affect your ability to live the active lifestyle you want to live.

I would like to introduce you to @bryan_in_dallas @kramarpie and @rbon1 may be able to offer you support as they have experience with osteoarthritis

Back to you @uirshad23, what has your doctor suggested you do to stave off the osteoarthritis?

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@ethanmcconkey Thank You for getting back to me. Yes, it is very frustrating but I’m hopping to find an answer so I can live my life the way I want to. I’m hoping someone here will be able to help me find an answer.
My doctor suggested to see an orthopedics, for Which I am currently trying to make an appointment for.

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@urishad23 Good morning . I have o.a. in both knees and just recently went to my pain management Dr for a shot of cortisone . Its been over a month and is doing really well. I don't ever want to have knee replacrment so am trying for myself Bio-Cell Collegeen with Hylaronic acid in it . I had a shot of H.A. in my thumb as I have bone on bone there it worked so well I have gone 6 years without getting another one. This is what works for me but everyone is different .

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@uirshad23

@ethanmcconkey Thank You for getting back to me. Yes, it is very frustrating but I’m hopping to find an answer so I can live my life the way I want to. I’m hoping someone here will be able to help me find an answer.
My doctor suggested to see an orthopedics, for Which I am currently trying to make an appointment for.

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@uirshad23 @lioness I had two meniscus surgeries and then had cortisone shots in my knees for a number of years. Eventually, when the cortisone was less effective, I had Synvisc. These things really did help so I hope that may be all you need. I did have TKRs on both knees eventually. Prior to the second, I exercised a lot to strengthen the surrounding muscles and that helped a lot. I almost decided to not go ahead with the TKR but I knew it would eventually flare up again so I did, and for me that was the right decision.

These days I have read that meniscus surgery is not done as frequently, supposedly PT is just as effective!

Linda, is "Bio-Cell Collagen with Hyaluronic acid" basically the same as Synvisc? I know Synvisc is only meant to be for knees but it is used by some doctors for off-label problems too. Six years is remarkable and very promising for people who have similar problems.
JK

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@ethanmcconkey

Hi @uirshad23 and welcome to Connect. That must be frustrating to have those injuries affect your ability to live the active lifestyle you want to live.

I would like to introduce you to @bryan_in_dallas @kramarpie and @rbon1 may be able to offer you support as they have experience with osteoarthritis

Back to you @uirshad23, what has your doctor suggested you do to stave off the osteoarthritis?

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Hi @uirshad23, sorry to hear about all your knee problems. My OA is in hips (totally destroyed and now bone on bone), spine and neck. Unfortunately, I don’t know anything regarding the knee, but I do know I’ve been told if I’d tried some things when I still had space in my hips, it might have delayed the degeneration. Hopefully you will have some options as you’re young and it sounds like you still some space in there to work with. I wish you all the best going forward. Stay strong. BD

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@contentandwell

@uirshad23 @lioness I had two meniscus surgeries and then had cortisone shots in my knees for a number of years. Eventually, when the cortisone was less effective, I had Synvisc. These things really did help so I hope that may be all you need. I did have TKRs on both knees eventually. Prior to the second, I exercised a lot to strengthen the surrounding muscles and that helped a lot. I almost decided to not go ahead with the TKR but I knew it would eventually flare up again so I did, and for me that was the right decision.

These days I have read that meniscus surgery is not done as frequently, supposedly PT is just as effective!

Linda, is "Bio-Cell Collagen with Hyaluronic acid" basically the same as Synvisc? I know Synvisc is only meant to be for knees but it is used by some doctors for off-label problems too. Six years is remarkable and very promising for people who have similar problems.
JK

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@contentandwell Good question I,ll have to research it and see I have heard of Synvisc You are right we all have to do whats best for us. I,ll get back to you . Just laid in bed most of day ourside of bathroom breaks ,calling my Dr tomorrow . those pain pills Dr. Unger gave me aren't helping at all. Hope you had a good weekend

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@contentandwell

@uirshad23 @lioness I had two meniscus surgeries and then had cortisone shots in my knees for a number of years. Eventually, when the cortisone was less effective, I had Synvisc. These things really did help so I hope that may be all you need. I did have TKRs on both knees eventually. Prior to the second, I exercised a lot to strengthen the surrounding muscles and that helped a lot. I almost decided to not go ahead with the TKR but I knew it would eventually flare up again so I did, and for me that was the right decision.

These days I have read that meniscus surgery is not done as frequently, supposedly PT is just as effective!

Linda, is "Bio-Cell Collagen with Hyaluronic acid" basically the same as Synvisc? I know Synvisc is only meant to be for knees but it is used by some doctors for off-label problems too. Six years is remarkable and very promising for people who have similar problems.
JK

Jump to this post

@contentandwell I did some research and yes it is also Snyvisc l H.A. acts like a lubricant for the jointsl Bio-cell colleegen and hylaronic acid.com Also it is used in facial creams it said. Since I had great response with my thumb injection that's why I'm taking it. Never did I have his kind of relief from cortisone. If it will prevent me from getting any more injections I,ll keep on it l There doesn't seem to be any side effects for me .I would suggest anyone interested in it research drugs.com or WebMD .com

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@lioness

@contentandwell I did some research and yes it is also Snyvisc l H.A. acts like a lubricant for the jointsl Bio-cell colleegen and hylaronic acid.com Also it is used in facial creams it said. Since I had great response with my thumb injection that's why I'm taking it. Never did I have his kind of relief from cortisone. If it will prevent me from getting any more injections I,ll keep on it l There doesn't seem to be any side effects for me .I would suggest anyone interested in it research drugs.com or WebMD .com

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@lioness I’m glad these shots are working well for you too. They were tremendously helpful for me for a long time but over time they got less helpful. I thought they just used them for knees. I had no side effects either.
JK

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@contentandwell When reading I saw they are doing research in other areas they may help.

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Thank you for everyone's replies. your suggestion were helpful. đŸ™‚ I will try to talk to my orthopedics about these options.

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