posted
Has anyone had any serious hip and knee pain? I've apparently had osteoarthritis since I was 12- a long time ago- but it's really gotten worse. My hip pain started over a year ago and when everything failed, I was given a steroid shot. That didn't help much at all. I've been on Celebrex, Calcium, Fosamax, Glucosamine by the handfuls and some cream too,you name it- and it's only getting worse. My knee really hurts and can be swollen and it feels like I'm losing tons of cartilage since the knee cap really wiggles around. I know I need to see a Dr. but I'm afraid that I'd eventually need a knee replacement and that's kind of major. I'm on my feet all day and wear a brace but that can hurt too. Any advice? Do magnets help? I'm at the end of my already thin rope!
Posts: 247 | From san antonio,tx | Registered: Oct 2004
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riversinger
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4851
posted
I'm sorry I don't have any good advice about this, but I'm boosting it back onto page one.
Aniek
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Member # 5374
posted
I've had knee problems since I was 14 (16 years ago, and about 18 months after my tick bite). But not as bad as yours sounds. My hips have flared since Lyme treatment.
Are you being treated for Lyme? If you have Lyme, then treatment is the best way to help your knee that I know of. As for your fear of needing a knee replacement, don't wait until damage is irreverceable. The sooner you go to a doctor about the knee, the sooner you can prevent further damage.
When my knee was bad I really couldn't do anything to reduce inflammation or pain. But I have helped my hips through yoga and light stretches I got from a physical therapist. Stretching is great for the hips. Just start real slow.
Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Can definately relate. 3 years ago - couldn't walk without use of cane or walker. Still have lyme arthritis in right knee - definately joint area. Left leg is more neuropathy symptoms. Problem - main treatment for arthritis is, you guessed it steriods. Had sterior injections in shoulder three years ago and am still paying price and now they can't offer me help of any kind. Permanent damage. Had MRI today - bottom line - if it's Lyme Arthritis - I think we're stuck, if it's cartalage related they can offer treatment. Don't wait until it's too late to find out for sure. I've been ducking my head in the sand for too long, but it does get old when you just take care of problem and problem after problem. Hang in there - and have it checked out. And make sure with others that I'm right on this - No Steriods!!
Posts: 140 | From Fayetteville, GA USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
I had bad knees, hip, wrist, elbows, finger pain. Add xrays, went to rheumy, all said reactive arthritis , psoriosis arthritis.,rumatoid arthritis. Probably caused by lyme. Tried all the high tech stuff, nothing worked well. Some said probably permanent. I got on the Marshall protocol, 8 months ago. After 5 months most all jiont pain gone, now zero jiont apin. I play handball 3 times a week and do 50 push-ups. I was a basket case 2-3 years ago. I'm now without any pain, my Igenex test is now negative. The MP, is a great protocol, for me, but if you try it do it exactly. Other things like combo antibiotics, rife, mag pulser can help and maybe work, too. Bottom line, it is the lyme, cure that and the joint pain goes away.Good luck.God Bless
Posts: 512 | From Memlo Park, Ca USA | Registered: Sep 2002
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liz28
Unregistered
posted
Yes, I had terrible knee pain the first couple of years I had Lyme, and figured it was just the effect of jogging for years. I couldn't sit in a chair for more than an hour without having to get up and stretch.
Was shocked when the pain abruptly disappeared after Lyme treatment.
Hope that will be the explanation for your symptoms, too!
posted
Hey I first had knee pain 29 days into my fisrt anitbiotic,Doxy. Since then my knees are sensitive and grow painful during herxes. Peace, BJG
Posts: 468 | From IL | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
But should I be getting WORSE? I mean, I know the storm comes before the calm- but I've been on antibiotics for 6 months after 6 years of not knowing what was wrong with me. I'm real worried that I'm losing cartilage big time and there's nothing much I can do about it. What's wrong with steroids and Lyme? That's probably what I'd be given for pain and I hear it's a big No-No.
Posts: 247 | From san antonio,tx | Registered: Oct 2004
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Controlling pain and preventing damage are two different things. In some ways, pain control can increase damage to the knee if you increase activity because of the pain control.
I'm not saying don't get pain control, but be aware of the use of your knee and hip when it is under control. Perhaps you can work with a good physical therapist?
Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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Sorry, I had no idea you were having such trouble with the hip and knee. You're dealing with so much.
They've started doing injections of Hyaluronic Acid for knees. It provides cushion for the knee & some folks can put off surgery or get out of pain.
Even traditional Orthos are doing these injections. If you research this out, just be sure you get someone with vast experience with hyaluronic acid & already believes in it himself.
You can also purchase Hyaluronic Acid in capsules by Solaray, but have no idea how long it takes to kick in.
Also, some use DMSO liquid in sports injuries. They use it for horses where they purchase it at a Vet supply store.
I use to put it on my forehead for pain. THe skin has to be meticulously clean. The DMSO goes straight to the damaged area via the bloodstream.
I cleaned my face very well. Then applied the purest aloe vera lotion I had; next, I diluted the DMSO with distilled water and applied to skin with Cu-Tip. You don't have to rub it in. Believe me, it penetrates the skin.
You can't get it on anything (clothes, jewelry, carpet) or it will ruin it.
After my dental surgery, I had an IV of DMSO. It completely took away the swelling; but you smell like garlic. (not fun)
DMSO is medically approved for interstitial cystitis.
A few health food stores sell a roll-on DMSO with aloe vera. The label reads to be sold as solvent.
As for your hip pain, I don't know. I've heard great things about prolotherapy------but it has to be done by an expert.
I was wondering about Plaquenil. It's for rheumatoid arthritis------don't know if it would help. Also, I don't know if you can take Plaquenil with the Lyme meds you're on.
Sorry, this is all I can come up with.
Let us know how you do.
Take Care, Jan
[This message has been edited by Recipegirl05 (edited 11 January 2005).]
posted
Hi -- I was recently diagnosed with Lyme after apparently having it for 25 years and not knowing it. I have been stretching in the pool for a couple years without knowing I was treating Lyme. All I knew is that all my muscles hurt and seemingly were in spasm. Slow pool stretching for at least an hour really helped ease the pain in the muscles. I have worn a torso wrap to hold me up, and goggles with snorkle to breathe under water as I stretch. When I went on clindamycin almost 2 months ago, for the first time the pain in the muscles went down and it doesn't hurt when I start stretching any more.
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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I saw an orthopedic doctor yesterday and he took xrays. Im not too sure what he saw on the xrays, but he wants me to have ten sessions of physical therapy to see if i get better.
My bad knee clicks, gives out, sharp pains, lingering pains and just doesnt feel like it is in the right place.
I had an RA blood test done and it showed no inflammation. Strange.
Does this sound like lyme arthritis?
Im afraid to exercise and make my knee worse.
Jordan
Posts: 593 | From Miami, Florida | Registered: Apr 2004
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Robin - Have you tried taking muscle relaxers? Flexeril is the first thing that really had a true impact on cutting down my muscle pain. I take it every night, which works better than just as needed.
Jordan - Lyme arthritis varies. With my knee pain, I never had any damage or physical abnormalities appear in x-rays or mri's. All blood tests for inflammation were always negative. My knee would become so filled with liquid, I could straighten it all the way. When I bent it, I could hear the liquid move.
The knee pain did radiate up my sciatic nerve to my lower back. This was a sharp pain in the back of my thigh.
Find out if there was damage in the x-ray. If there was no damage, then you probably don't need to worry about causing damage. If there was, then working with a physical therapist should allow you to work to strengthen rather than exarcerbate the damage.
But, if it's from Lyme, you know nothing will help the knee more than Lyme treatment. I'm all for treating the pain while on Lyme treatment though. So get whatever pain control you need so it doesn't hurt so much. I always found anti-inflammatories did nothing but make me tired. I need muscle relaxers and pain killers.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
(Oops! I just noticed this was an old post.)
Here's something that might help, at least it has helped us. I was having severe pain in my left shoulder and lower back, and was starting to have problems with my knees as well. It was getting worse despite at least mixed success with antibiotics for over a year.
When our caregiver moved away it seemed like a good time to see if there really was anything to the Rife machine stuff and to do some testing for ourselves. What we have seen is encouraging, but that is not what I wanted to tell you about.
One of the prototype machines which I have still not gotten to work as I intended puts out alot of Diathermy effect as a side effect.
If anyone is unfamilair with the term 'Diathermy', it is the application of gentle, deep, pleasant heat from high intensity radio waves.
The technique in its modern form has been around since about 1930, and was popular until the 1950's when pain killers and antibiotics displaced it as the new medicines of convenience. It is not widely used today, but it is still being used, mostly for physical therapy.
Anyway, that machine made my back and shoulder feel better from the first time I started running it. Within a couple of weeks of use the back, shoulder and knee pain is just gone.
I have it putting out what should be marginally effective Rife frequencies now, but much of the time at first that wasn't the case. I think it is just the old fashioned diathermy part of its personality that is getting rid of the pain.
It seems to work really well for this kind of pain. This is no new discovery... it was generally accepted 50 years ago that Diathermy was really good for chronic inflamatory pain, but somewhere along the way that was forgotten.
If you can find a chiropractor or a PT clinic that does Diathermy, It might be worth letting them try it on your parts that are hurting.
Posts: 714 | From San Antonio TX | Registered: Oct 2004
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
jo, breaking this up for us neuro lymies so we can read/comprehend. Please hit the enter key often and double space between each paragraph. You can edit/pencil icon your posts anytime. ok. We thank you for helping us all out!
fyi, there were some other long paragrahs replying too; please help us out folks? Could you edit your long ones too for us? Thanks
quote:Originally posted by jo3:
Has anyone had any serious hip and knee pain? I've apparently had osteoarthritis since I was 12- a long time ago- but it's really gotten worse.
My hip pain started over a year ago and when everything failed, I was given a steroid shot. That didn't help much at all.
I've been on Celebrex, Calcium, Fosamax, Glucosamine by the handfuls and some cream too, you name it- and it's only getting worse.
My knee really hurts and can be swollen and it feels like I'm losing tons of cartilage since the knee cap really wiggles around.
I know I need to see a Dr. but I'm afraid that I'd eventually need a knee replacement and that's kind of major.
I'm on my feet all day and wear a brace but that can hurt too. Any advice?
Do magnets help? I'm at the end of my already thin rope!
Jo, YES, I've had both since high school when I tore ligaments in the last 10 seconds of a basketball game, and then reinjuring it sliding into bases during softball, and volleyball. I just call it my "trick" knee. It goes out more than I do! lol
Terrible osteoarthritis in my left hip crease! Some days I can't walk at all due to the excruciating pain in it.
I've tried some of the stuff you have; no help at all. I use a moistened heating pad or my frozen ice packs on the area.
Night time, keep a large pillow between your knees helping to keep the hip up vs. down....eases the pain for me.
Have you been tested for OSTEOPOROSIS? You need to be. When I tested at age 50, mine came back with osteopenia; almost full osteoporosis.
My Dad had terrible OP hip/knees. He had full knees done separately; he was THANKFUL TO GOD for all the PAIN WAS GONE FOREVER so he could go dancing again, and he did his polkas/waltzs.
Dad was NEVER diagnosed with lyme disease, but I'm sure he had it from age 7 or 9 for almost 80 years! He had everything under the book in the symptoms area.
Twice, he was paralyzed from his neck down, and came out of it!
Surgery has its rewards but you just have to be aware of the spirochetes acting up during surgery! Dad had no regreats just that he wished he would have done it SOONER so he could have been dancing more!
I also know of someone in my fibro support group that got great relief from magnets. She wore them too.
Standing on your feet all day; uffda; my heart aches for your pain.
Suggestion: Do you have 1 of your feet UP 4-6 inches to help relieve the pain and switch feet often? This really helps me & others.
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Thanks for the suggestions. I take flexeril at night. Does that make you feel "spacey" the next day. Im feeling so out of it, i take 10mg at bedtime.
I refuse to take NSAIDS because i developed leaky gut from the ABX i took for lyme.
I guess i will just keep rifing, taking supplements and hope for the best.
Hope everyone is having a pain free day!
Jordan
Posts: 593 | From Miami, Florida | Registered: Apr 2004
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Jordan,
How long have you been taking the Flexeril ? I was foggy for a while and then my body adapted. And for over a year, I was at 30 mg a night.
I do have difficulty waking up because of the Flexeril. I'm ok when others wake me, or if I have an early plane to catch. But most days I can press snooze for an hour. Once I'm awake, I'm ok.
I stopped for a few months and found I needed much less sleep without it. But then my back muscles started tightening again. So now I'm on 10 mg a night.
NSAIDs did nothing for me but cause fatigue. I've been on so many. When I was on Vioxx, it made me so tired I got tested for things like leukemia. Flexeril, Vicodin and Ultracet were the only meds I took that did anything. But stay away from Ultracet while on Flexeril. They cause seizures when taken together.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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I have been taking the Flexeril for about 2 weeks.
I tried Cymbalta today for the leg pain and depression. I got so sick to my stomach from it. My pain management doctor wanted me to try it. I also use elavil (10mg). Vicodin takes the edge off and i use icy hot. If i put a brace on my knee, it hurts worse.
Jordan
Posts: 593 | From Miami, Florida | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
jo3, I just want to voice my opinion that antibiotic treatment will eventually make the joint pain go away. At least it did for me.
I will say, however that I caught my LD sooner than you did. I was undiagnosed for a little over a year before starting abx.
As for getting worse on abx, yes, some of my past herxes were so bad that in February I thought I might never be able to walk again. Every joint in my body hurt.
But now, about 9 months into treatment, I'm doing so much better. I can exercise again, I can play the piano again, and I can feel that my metabolism is getting back to normal. I've even lost a few pounds! Hallelujah!!
Maybe it will take you longer to get there, but I think you will. Be patient. Take your abx. Detox regularly. Do whatever alternative treatments you feel comfortably safe doing, whether it be ozone sauna, rife, or whatever. Exercise as you can tolerate it, but don't push yourself to overdo it. My goal was to hit Bb from any angle I could, and I think it's paying off.
Praise God!
Good luck to you. Hang in there.
Patti
Posts: 449 | From Pasadena, CA, usa | Registered: Aug 2005
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Jordan,
I'd try to stick through the Flexeril. For me it is a wonder drug. And you really do get more used to it. I personally didn't notice any difference until I hit 20mg, and I'm under 120 lbs. I'm currently back down to 10mg.
You can also cut it in half to take 5mg intervals. And I've started taking it earlier in the evening, but when I first started it made me tired so I took it right before bed.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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