I appreciate everyone's input.  SKbeal  I did stop on the way home to get the Glucosamine and Chondroitin (sp) with MSM.  So hopefully that will help with the problem.  Anything till I get to the doctors.   Thanks agains.

please see a doctor for a more detailed explanation of your condition. Knowing specifically what the problem is can help you work your way around it.

I have fibromyalgia( I'm 49) and thought I was done gardening for good. I have the most problems with knees,hips,hands and shoulders. I've found anti-inflamatory meds help somewhat but doing things differently from the way I did before helps the most.

You can now see me in the garden with a kneeling pad (though I  kneel on my shins NOT my knees) a cane or shovel by my side to help me leverage to get up. I now think of how I'm going to manage the next step before I attempt anything.

Exercise is important to keep surrounding muscles strong but so is rest,elevation and hot or cold packs (whichever you find more soothing).Vitamins and supplements can help too. Vitamin D is turning out to be very important for women and those that consume few milk products.

I urge you to keep asking questions until you find a treatment or plan that will help your discomfort.

My 2 cents..you need to see a Dr. It could be several different things..gout..but that usually starts in the big toe but can start higher. Athritis..not much help but pain meds for that. Deteriation of the joints..replacement. And then it could be wear and tear on the knee cap and joint which would need a surgery to scrape and  remove bone spurs and clean up the the knee cap.

with your husband  Connie, I wish I hadn't taken so long to get the surgery. I waiting several years. I think that had to do with my recuperation.  I have bone spurs on my left knee but just don't want another surgery but know I will have to eventually. I need to do it before the knee goes completely out like my right one did. 

I think you need to see an orthopadic specialist will be the best option at this time so you can get the need test and know the best treatment plan for you.

My husband is 43 and needs 2 knee replacements now. But he is having other health problem that need to be taken care of first.

Sometimes age doesn't matter when it comes to your body. Everyone is different but things can happen at any age.

Take care of yourself and I hope you get the answer and the relief from pain you need.

It's a good choice to see an orthopedic specialist.  Most likely they will do xrays, but I guess I would make sure you're comfortable with their diagnosis if they don't.  My husband's ortho did xrays and an MRI right away so they knew exactly what was going on with his knees. Of course every case is different though.

He has had surgery on both knees. He had bone spurs removed and other repairs done.  He was in his 40's also, but spent a lot of time walking on concrete. He wished he hadn't waited so long to go... as he put up with the pain for quite a while. One surgery was a breeze, hardly no pain afterwards. The other was not so fun... pain for a couple weeks. It's been 2 years since that surgery and he has no pain in either knee.  

It all depends on your diagnosis, but it seems so often nowdays, you are your own best help. If you think more could be done, be sure to check out all the avenues you can. Best of luck... I hope you find relief quickly!

I have read many of your posts.  I'm not in what you call pain...  I just am uncomfortable.  My knee swells and I loose movement.  I put ice on and it's okay for alittle while.   Today is not a bad day.  I can put weight on without any complaint on most days.  I do hear my knees grind as I call it.  I am taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin and also Fish Oil tablets..  I am going to the orthopedic doctor maybe he will take xray and give me more info.  Keep all the advice coming.  This is just so much a downer  I would love to get down and garden but it's just so not happening.   I have been trying to sit and do things.  But it effects me trying to get up.  I'm going to have to demend on someone else to dig up my dahlia, cannas, and tropicals to bring in this fall.  Hopefully everything back to normal next spring.  I keep hoping... 

Thanks   barnbatt

Have you tried taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin (sp) with MSM? I used to have constant problems with my joints and I would always be in pain. I took G & C with MSM for a while and found it to be extremely helpful.

Have you been checked for gout? Do you have it all the time or just some of the time? My hubby has gout and takes a medication to help prevent outbreaks but there are also dietary things you can do if gout is what the problem is.....Gout is a build up of uric acid and it generally occurs in joints like knees. You doctor can do a blood test to see.....In my husband's case, on at least one occasion, he had to have the uric acid aspirated from his knee. It's horribly painful to have it done, but I think that ultimately, the brief pain of that procedure is infinitely less bothersome than the pain that lingers from gout!

two surgeries and now need surgery on my left knee. I refuse to have another because of the pain I went through after the two on my right knee.

I have had injections(synvisc) and steriods injections. I now get an IV infusion every four weeks. I was on Rhemicade for 1 year and recently changed to Orencia. It seems to help me more than the Rhemicade. I take Folic acid, Imurin, Ultram, and Laflunamide, everyday just to keep the pain and swelling down.  Predisone helps me the most but my Rhemotologist does not like me to have it very often.

You will need to get to a Rheumotologist so that you can find out what type of arthritis you have and get set up with a treatment plan. I hope this helps you and that you get some relief soon. I know what you are going through because I have had pain so severe I couldn't get out of my bed or stand up without help. I was constantly in tears.

Grannyrose - Calendar Team leader - Zone 9

Thanks for the advice..   I have also heard that many people do not have any relief after surgery.  So I am not sure if I'll opt for this.  However,  when I'm swollen.  I can hardly walk...  So I may have to aleast try.  Any suggestions are appreciated.  Or just your own views after surgery. 

barnbatt

had arthritis for many years now. I was diagnosed with osteoarthris first and had knee surgery or my right knew. My knew never did get better and I had total knee replacement in 2006 on my right knee. I am having problems with both of thm still. I have bones spurs on the left and a misplaced minescus(whatever that is). After I have the knee replacement and I took so long to recuperate I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthristis.

I find that getting as much exercise as you can tolerate is best. I have have aquatic therapy and now land therapy. It helps to strengthen the knees. Find some type of pain reliever that works for you and try to get exercise without a lot of walking on hard surfaces.

Grannyrose - Calendar Team Leader - Zone 9

The only thing I can think of would be pain-killers, but I certainly am not a medical person.  I have trouble with my knees too, but at 74 years old, that is only normal.  I believe that a knee replacement will be my only remedy, but I need to talk to the doctor.  There may be something else that can be done.  I was told several years back that they were just worn out.  But I could say that about the rest of me too.  LOL