knee pain

Is the pain in both knees? You mentioned it was a biproduct of PT you had been doing for a month. I think if it were me, I would try to find out if there is anything else that might be causing the pain. There are many discussions and comments on knee pain that might be worth looking through - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=knee%20pain

Hi, Jeff (@jeffrushka)

Knee pain? Yes, but my predates my PN by decades. Still, I thought I'd mention what my orthopedist has been doing for me that largely keeps the pain at bay. For the past year and a half, I've been taking two time-release diclofenac tablets. It's my left knee that's the big crybaby: it's got lots of arthritis. My right knee is prosthetic; all the same, the soft tissue surrounding my titanium add-on can get pretty cranky. For both knees, however, those diclofenac tablets have worked wonders. I hope soon find a solution that's right for you!

Ray (@ray666)

Have you had an MRI in your knee to see if you have arthritis or tore something? If it’s autoimmune then the cortisone would make a huge difference and it does come back after it’s worn off.

Oh, I have awful knees. I've known that for years. The left one has already been scoped. I am trying to avoid knee replacement for both of them. But the occasional pain was nothing compared to what it was once I started PT for the edema and neuropathy. It became the worst symptom I continue to deal with once the steroid wore off.

That was why I specifically chose to get my right knee replaced. Degenerative arthritis and steroid shots no longer helped. I had it done at age 75 and am extremely happy with it other than not being able to get down on my knees which I couldn’t do with the bad knee anyway.

I, too, am extremely happy with my right knee replacement. I had it done … well, so long ago that it's hard for me to remember, anyway, a year or two before I retired, and I retired in 2011. My left knee–the one with all the arthritis–has gone both routes: cortisone and gel. The gel, especially, worked wonders. As I finished one of the gel series, the orthopedist asked if I might like to try the time-release diclofenac, which I've been on now for quite some time (many months). My knee will occasionally be ouchy, but never what I'd call "painful."

Thanks for the insight.
Jeff

I get cortisone shots in both knees every 3 months, started in 2019. I know there is some controversy about these shots, but the pain level is serious in the 4 weeks prior to the upcoming injections. I also get the gel shots every 6 months, not so helpful. I am bone on bone on both knees. Been to 2 orthopedic surgeons and due to my PN, both surgeons, one I know well, refuse to do knee replacement due to my tendency to trip and fall and land on either knee. I'm told in a fall there is too much risk to damage to bone in leg where the replacement knee is attached. So, for the next 7 - 8 weeks, I feel better and can do more things. I've always responded well to cortisone shots. My knees were not bad prior to my PN becoming worse so knee replacement was not a consideration prior to 2019. Ed

I was put on 60mg of Cymbalta (anti-depressant) for the pain on both my knees… approximately 10 years ago. Knee pain disappeared and has not come back. I was skeptical at 1st, but became a believer of “other uses” for medications.
Ask your doctor what they think!

Are you still taking the Cymbalta 10 years later?
Jeff