[kimthecatlover]

I went to my doctor today because my right knee is swollen and painful beyond belief again...Doc said that the cartilage in my knee might be eroding or damaged...I have had on-and-off right knee trouble since injuring it during a high-school track meet, I came off the blocks wrong at the start of an event, and my right knee took the brunt of the fall...I am rather right-side dominant physically because of minimal brain damage during birth(and probably from mom's addiction to alcohol and Valium), so I have to use my right knee a lot when I climb stairs...I got a steroid injection, but doc really wants me to get an X-ray of the knee and said no more injections until I do. So I have to go to my local radiology center at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center(they are the best at what they do I know from experience)..this scares me, but I cannot have an active life like I want to have with this pain...I am so fed up, this has to happen my first semester at college..I was stifling tears on the bus ride home, I was in such pain..am now on Ultracet. The first 24 hours after a shot are always hard for me. If anyone can relate, feel free to post here...I feel so alone and scared with this.

[red_rose]

I can relate to you very well , I had knee sugary 6 years ago So I know how much pain involse ,I had shot after shot nothing worked had it drained and nother finaly they went in and found my carlage messed up. I know all to well where you are coming from if there is anything I can do Please Pm me I'll be glad to help you in anyway I can .I lost 16 weeks of work do to my knee.Please feel free yo ask me anything on this.

[kimthecatlover]

I feel so bad, sometimes I actually cry about it...I'm afraid to cry around my staff, I know they try to understand, but I don't know how much they have dealt with this issue with themselves as well as others like me.

[red_rose]

There are people who understand what you are going through,I am just one of many . Try to let it all come out when you are alone. Just take one day at a time it will all work out. Look at it this it could of been a lot wrose .Please let me know if there is anything I can do My heart goes out to you.

[Gemstone]

I have degenerative arthritis in both knees (and Im only 23, it makes me sound older to say it). I used to figure skate when I was a kid and the impact from the jumps I did over time damaged the cartilage. I had to quit skating because of it. The sports medicine doctor said I basically have no knee caps now.

They recomended surgery, but couldn't really guarantee anything so I didn't get it. At some point I may have to. I just wear knee braces when I exercise and make sure I do plenty of stretches and I guess just deal with the pain the best I can. I do feel for you. It is extremely painful sometimes especially if I try to push myself to hard on a long run.

One thing I suggest is to keep your weight as low as you can (while still staying healthy of course). In college I put on some extra weight, and it made me hurt a lot more. It made the condition a lot worse. I keep my weight low now and it helps tremendously. I also have done some physical therapy which also helped.

Good luck.

[kimthecatlover]

I'm trying hard to lose weight....It's just so painful when the knee flares up. Gets so I can't even sleep...the swelling is going down thanks to the steroid shot, but injection site is still sore...which goes away with time. I took a hot bath this evening, it seemed to help a little.

[January]

Hi Kim,

It may help you to use cold therapy on your knee. Heat stimulates inflammation, but cold reverses it it sometimes.

Ask if you can take aquatherapy. I know it sounds impossible, but it will make the pain completely go away, if only for a while. It really helps.

I hope you feel better.

Jan