I do, and if you search here you'll frequently find me talking about my damknee! Lifting is the absolute worst thing for it. I had injured my knee maybe 10 years ago and had occasional flareups of the arthritis in it but it didn't get terrible until I lifted a couple of those big - 30 lb - boxes of kitty litter. And it's been more or less constant pain for the last year and a half. So above everything, get him to do the heavy lifting, under your supervision.

Glucosamine chondrotin does help - and it's not just placebo bec. I know it is given to, and helps, a lot of our geriatric zoo animals (I volunteer at RWP zoo in Providence).

NSAIDS, like Aleve, Anacin, etc, help BUT I've gotten so I can't take them, they screw up my stomach. Tylenol helps and is not an NSAID. The point of NSAID is that they are "non-steroid anti-inflammatory" and you DO need to try to get the inflammation down. I've found ice packs help a lot with that. I also take Tramadol (Ultram) which is prescription/generic and which really does help. It also comes combined with tylenol - for a price, of course.

Some doctors give corticosteroid shots, My doctor won't hear of them. However, there's also SYNVISC, which is the cushioning stuff (made possibly from coxcombs!) and that does help. 3 shots, painful, weeks apart. You can only do it once a year, though it is paid for by medicare, and it doesn't last a year.

So now you're down to knee replacement, which is where I am now. It takes, apparently, at least a month to have the operation, go for rehab in-house for a couple of weeks, and then at least another week before you can, for instance, drive. The NH that I looked at that could take both of us, him for a month, me for the rehab, would cost $6650 for him. NOT Medicare for him. I am reluctant. OTOH, I'm not getting any younger and I probably will have to have the replacement sooner or later.

A wise doctor friend of mine, when asked if he recommended knee replacements, said, "Only when they come to me screaming in pain for months in a row."

I'd love to hear from someone who's had knee replacement, preferably at "a certain age". Frankly, my knee gives me more trouble than my husband does!

I had both knees replaced 20 years ago when I was 37 (RA) and I am now due for replacing the replacements. I understand the proceedure is quicker and less painful these days, but make no mistake about it, the recovery takes time and it is painful in the beginning. I agree with Marsh - have the operation when the pain is interfering with your life.

Don't quibble. Don't dither around. Work it out and get it done as soon as your Dr. says you can.
Be grateful for the option. Mine have been crashed down on so many times it's a miracle I can manage to tolerate the couple minutes I might have to kneel on them to get up from a fall. Can't take Ibuprofen, Naproxen is like drinking water, Tylenol only helps with pain, Tramadol slows my heart rate (40's is normal for me), tried Glucosamin-Chondroitin--no determinable affect, and I am not a candidate for replacement because my CMT means insufficient muscle/tendon/ligament support.
If I had the option to get a fix that let me keep on with the life I want the way I want it, I'd grab it and run.

I have it and glucosamine helps. Many years ago I went to a specialist who said I should wait as long as possible to have knee replacements, because I was still so active that they would only last me 7-8 years. (They may have better procedures and products now.)
So I gave up tennis (which did interfere with my life, actually) and I take glucosamine and one Ibu profen every morning and more when travelling or hiking. But I can walk all day or work in the garden all day if I have a couple ibu profen with me.
I actually started taking the glucosamine for terrible pains in my jaw. I could hardly open my mouth. The glucosamine cleared it up in a week and has helped the knees as well. On an ordinary (cycling) day I am not aware of the knees at all except when going down stairs. I can't really run very fast or far.

I had both knees replaced about three years ago when I was 62 - not at the same time, about three months apart. It was absolutely one of the best decisions I've ever made. Before I could only walk very short distances and going up and down stairs was almost impossible. At the time my doctor told me that the type of replacement he was using had been around about 25 years and very few had had to be replaced. Now I don't have any pain except minor twinges during storms - unless I try to kneel for a long time. I can walk, ride my exercise bike, and climb stairs with no problems. Since I got through the first few months and finished therapy, I could not be happier with the outcome. We've been able to make several trips that I would not have enjoyed before the surgery.

This may help for only mild cases, but both my husband and me found the knee supports or braces that you can buy at the drug store helpful. Sometimes it would take a couple of weeks with them. We had to put in an electric chair for the stairs as climbing stairs seemed to be the worst trigger. I remember using a 10% Diclofenac ointment, ordered by the doctor, bypassed the irritated GI tract that would have resulted from oral NSAIDS. One of those moldable cold packs at night was effective.

One of my sister's has 'bone on bone' and gets some relief from chiropractic. She has no medical insurance so can't do anything more. There are those that say glucosamine/chondriton works and those that say it doesn't so it is worth a try. When my BIL had his knee replaced at 82 he had a quick recovery because he faithfully did the pre-surgery exercises.
Fish Oil is an anti-inflammatory and some claim it helps with pain. Google natural knee pain remedies or something like that.

Get to a doctor. Turned out all I needed was to have one knee cleaned out (not replaced) and the other knee to get major cortisone shots while I was out because of the surgery. And, of all things, fish oil. It has been three years and I'm off all of the pain killers. And I was on Vioxx for more than 2 years and Naproxin after that.

You won't know what you need until you are assessed. Because I'm looking into what is out there in the way of help right now, I'm getting shocked at all of the options that actually do exist, including a temporary placement for him if I need surgery during the next year or two. I've had two surgery scares in the last year and didn't have a clue as to what to do about it. But there are services out there to tap. Until you go looking, you won't know they exist.

Oh, and about the fish oil. It was the orthopedic surgeon who put ALL of his surgery patients on fish oil. And himself too. It got us off some of the heavy drugs BEFORE the surgery and got me off all of them after it.

Starling, me too. Now that I think about it I was on fish oil this summer and when I ran out I just let it go...now the knees hurt again. I have even lost weight and they hurt More! Gotta go back on the fish oil. Any special brand or dose?

I had my left knee replaced 4 or 5 years ago. After shots in the knee, glucosamine/chond (spell?) which did not work for me, etc. Took Bextra, now off the market, for a couple of years. All went well with the surgery! My right knee, which had also hurt some, cured itself because I was no longer stressing it. Left knee was bone-on-bone, and sometimes collapsing.
My only regret is that I did not do it sooner.

Three weeks after surgery I tripped and fell on, of course, my left knee. Fell on our slate entrance and knocked myself out. No harm to knee! My scar is thin, only about 6 or 7 inches long. Faded now. I can walk a mile or two with no problem. [I was 74 or 75 when operated on.]

I can't take fish oil either. Noahcam, that sounds very hopeful.

I take a specific brand. The actual trick is to make sure you get pharmaceutical quality. I started out with a liquid that had to be refrigerated. I currently take something that comes in a packet that does not require refrigeration. But my SIL can't take it because it doesn't taste good to him. Tastes better than the tasteless oil I was taken to me.

The brand I take is Coromega. I like the orange-chocolate formula and I buy it is 90 packets to a box, but it also comes in 30 packets to a box. Basically you have to mail order the stuff.

I have seen enteric coated fish oil capsules, which should eliminate any stomach problems, but I don't know if they are pharmaceutical quality. Glucosamine and chondroitin do help a lot of people, and the liquid should, in theory, be more easily absorbed than tabs or capsules. Losing weight is always helpful to hips and knees, unless you're already a twig. (-:

I had rather suddenly gained 15 lb last spring into the summer. I had held at an overweight but not terribly obese level for years, so I was surprised. Yes, there was that Ben and Jerry's.. but not very much... I always feel that if I outwear clothes before I outgrow them, I'm okay..

Happened that I had my yearly visit with the PCP and blood work, and he said my thyroid level was down and doubled my prescription of levoxyl, which I've taken for years. I never saw any effect.. But this fall, as suddenly as it had come on, the 15 lb were GONE! and I really hadn't done anything except cut out the B&J. Great relief on my part - I think it was from the increased thyroid med. My son has just started on levoxyl and lost 10 lb very quickly.

Chris, I've heard that about having the knees done at the same time. My doctor would have done mine that way, but he wouldn't have been happy about it. He said that generally people who have both done together can't or don't do enough therapy for both and don't get as good results. The therapy and the exercises you are supposed to do between therapy sessions are pretty intense. My knees were quite painful at first, but the results on the first one were so good I was determined to have the other done.

just got an email from my brother answering about the fish oils. hes retired pharmacist and a health nut and wont take real meds but only natural stuff. he/wife have beenon enteric-coated fish omega3 capsules for many many yrs. says it must be working as they were at their 50th HS renunion and they two were the only ones with real knees! ha.
pharmaceutical grade ie meaning 'pure' is a relative idea as supposedly there isnt an agency that patrols to see if there is a USP guideline that woudl be used for fishoil production. he told me that whatever brand you buy should have omega 3 and EPA/DHA listed and their quantities. and should also list a source of the fish its from. cold water fish, ie-salmon, tuna, sardine, anchovy are all good source fish. none of the companies making 'pure' fishoils can really guaranteed its perfectly pure. so a good choice is one which includes all of the above. the enteric coated capsules work well to avoid gastro associated issues and should also be taken with a meal. taking fish oils are not without side effects and be sure to check with your dr if you take BP meds or blood thinners as fishoils can sometimes interfer. walmart has some good quality brands enteric coated. as does pilgrim pride- and nordic natural omega3 is what i use personally- i take with meals and have had no issue.
divvi

Since my stomach problems made it necessary to stay very close to a bathroom for a day and a half, I'm not planning to try again! I did it twice and that was enough!

inge, I've done the exercises too. I'm a fan of physical therapy exercises. It helps to have a real physical therapist teach them to you.

One particular stretch is great for your back (the original reason I was taught them), what they give you for your knees (second physical therapist), and it turns out it is what puts your plantar fasciitis back in place (podiatrist). You can find it on the Internet, but you really should actually talk to a therapist.

Pilates exercises for strengthening the midriff also help. Stronger abs help to take the strain off knees while walking, going up and down stairs, etc. I did Pilates for a year and am still reaping the benefits. Had to stop because DH was always very disturbed to see me exercising. I don't really know why.
Now that he's been going to day care I keep thinking that I should get started again.

i've had one knee replaced 9 years ago.i love it.my other knee needs replaced but because of my husbands condition i am putting it off.I can not take the gluco. or nsaids ,my dr gave me Flector Patches to apply to my knee.they work great for me.I use one once a week or so and it keeps the pain so i can sleep.I also go to gym and do knee crunches.Incidently I'm 76.good luck, no fun getting old

billeld, both of the OTC "vitamins" I take were prescribed by doctors, and in both cases they worked! And yes, both are rather pricey, but worth it.

Dado has arthritis in his knees, and I am noticing that his legs are becoming quite bowed. Now, I think that is a part of the reason he is falling, falling a bit less lately but still falling.

What can be done for a stage 6 person with terrible knees? I am going to mention it to the nurse when she calls tomorrow. I mean, he is obviously far along in his dementia, and won't likely be getting surgery, so I am now giving him aspirin every night.

Just some feedback please. He is really having a hard time walking, now I always walk him to the bathroom especially at night. I walk with him behind me holding my waist. I am so torn about having to place him , it is hard enough with everything else, if he cannot walk I just don't think I am up to it all. Incontinence, mental issues, leaving my job, yes, but if he cannot walk I just. don't. know.