Arthritis in the knee

Glucosamine seems to help and I've been taking the honey and cider vinegar. But consider looking into diet, ie avoiding inflammatory foods like grains, and processed foods.

I’ve tried jogging and love the cardiovascular workout and endorphin rush, but my knees nixed that crazy endeavor, as did my Arthritis. So I returned to what I do best: I walk with orthofeet Arthritis  comfortable shoes. These shoes are comfortable! My feet may need a specialist, but I am happy with this purchase. I wear these to walk the dogs, exercise, or anytime nights and weekends. They look great and feel even better.

My advice is to avoid surgery if at all possible. My wife has similar knee issues and had an arthroscopy several years back under our health insurance. Only subsequently did she read that trimming the damaged cartledge back (as she had done) was not advised when arthritis is present. Since then her knee has been worse and she feels like it is going to give way beneath her and is constantly painful.

As others have said, Ibuprofen has several side effects, one being possible stomach lining damage, hence why it is recommended to be taken with food. My wife was also prescribed Omeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor - cuts down stomach acid) to counter this side effect. Remember also that Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and not a direct pain killer...

I have recently seen new research regarding surgery to correct knee problems which look promising. First is stem cell related - trying to grow cartledge http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/AboutTheTrust/Newsandpublications/Latestnews/2014/Surgeons-create-new-knee-cartilage-from-stem-cells-in-hip.aspx

Radio 4 Inside Health did a piece about it here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09snj9d go 19 mins into the programme.

Another technique is from leading knee specialist Matt Dawson (no, not the one!) http://www.cumbriankneeclinic.co.uk/index.html where a magnetic rod is inserted down the shin and can be adjusted from outside the body using a magnet to reduce pressure/ pain. Details here http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/AboutTheTrust/Newsandpublications/Latestnews/2017/Surgeons-use-metal-nail-and-remote-controlled-magnet-to-help-treat-knee-arthritis.aspx

37 years ago a doctor diagnosed me with a form of arthritis. If you like using what you have then love life. Pain is like rhythms. Arthritis might be quite quick. Carry the low and let imagination become clear and thick.
Eat healthy helps better , so does keeping skin wetter. Enjoy

I was diagnosed a week ago with arthritis...  . Stage 3 on left knee and stage 4 on right knee. I am 38 and I ride both road and MTB. The news came to me like a blow in head. I got an MRI because I had knee pain in the last weeks. So here I have it. The doctors told me that is not normal to have it at such an early age. My kineto doctor said ''very intruiging''. Between 2005-2010 I made 55700km on a MTB-trainings, cotests and nice long mountain trips. In 2010 I got knee surgery-left knee- for something that is common for young boys 4-12 years old :osteochondritis. The doctor told me that I have had that for a long long time. But than in 2010 nobody said nothing about the arthritis. In my case the doctor said it can be auto immune provoked ..... I don't have extreme pain. But I can't go more than 30 minutes on a bike. This kills me. But I just got diagnosed and I am under treatment. Somewhere in the middle of march I will get knee shots with Synocrom. This will improve gliding of joints, release pain and protect the remaining cartilage. This first half of the year I have to take it slow but I will increase my bike runs. Probably not that long and not that hard. Or long runs but with no high preasssure in the knees. I'm not from UK, I'm from Romania but I found this forum with people that are also in the 30's or 40's with this shit desease. What I found in my research is that in some cases there is no medical clear explanation. It just is and they go in the direction of the auto immune... So I'll get back here with news after I finish with kineto and physiotherapy. And although I hate shots I just wait these Synocrom shots-it's not a miracle cure but it will improve the status.Expensive as hell also - 275EUR/shot. 

I have arthritis- very evident following an accident. I find it is better to cycle more and run less. I do knee strenthening and leg stretching exercises each day. This seems to help and recently I have been eating a small amount of fresh ginger each day - in the hope of keeping the inflamation down. The advice I have been given by the physio is not to stop but keep active!

I've had ongoing issues since childhood and more recently since being hit by a car, I've recently had a Retul bike fit done and honestly it's helped to improve on and off bike niggles so well, it's never been as comfortable to ride a bike.

While obviously arthritic pain is probably unavoidable, I'd definitely recommend a Retul fit just to accommodate for anything that's going on with your legs/posture.

Might be a bit pricey but you may be able to get some sort of subsidy if you try going through a Dr?

I commented in the other hip thread that Super D mentions. I had both hips replaced in the last 12 months. When my natural hips were at their worst I would only get relief when riding my bike, but the payback got dramatically worse in the final few months. Within an hour of getting off the bike I would be hobbling around. It was a year ago today for my right hip and 10 months for my left and I wish I'd got diagnosed and had the surgery earlier as it's only now that I realise how bad thing had got - restricted movement, splayed knees when pedalling, max cadence in the low 90's, no golf swing! and long bouts of pain.

Now I feel better than I can ever remember. I can ride further and more often, push my cadence higher (I've even bought an SS for winter commuting) and I'm faster with lower HR over the same routes - fitter, stronger, more efficient action?

Of course knees are completely different from hips, but I think I'd still be inclined to say that getting the surgery sooner rather than later is the best option. Entering into the process in better physical shape should not be underestimated. Not just the general fitness and strength allowing you to recover quicker, but also lower body weight and sufficient years left to achieve new goals. My surgeon repeated many times that my good fitness level and strong legs made the difference in my recovery.

My experience of arthritis is that once it's gotten hold of you it isn't letting go. If you are at the stage where daily medication is required just to get by then I'd say it's time to consider surgery.

I was lucky to have private cover. The NSH would have tried to delay me until I was 50 to minimise the risk of future revision surgery and I believe this often influences a GP's recommendation. Fair enough, they have genuine reasons for this, but if you are suffering then stand your ground.

So my conclusion. If it's your hips and they have got that bad then get them sorted as your current fitness will pay dividends in your recovery. I know very little about knees other than that the surgery is more difficult to recover from, but I'm sure there will be lots of information available on the internet. But in my view the general rule that the fitter you are when you enter the surgery the stronger you'll be during the most important phase of your recovery.

Gotta fly. Work beckon and the bike is ready to go.

Good luck guys.

Fair old bit of hip talk was here too:

http://road.cc/content/forum/94562-return-cycling-after-hip-resurfacing

I am riding more than ever and have applied for the Pru Ride London next year, hopefully for Arthritis research. Will be my first 100

I'm pretty determined to hold fire on a new hip (for now) so will also give glucosamine a try.

I have suffered with an arthritic hip for possibly last 30 years (now 56 years old) I have ridden to some extent during most of that time and am now increasing my mileage. I have taken Glucosamine since it was first mooted and feel sure it has enabled me to go this far. I seldom take Ibuprofen due to it's adverse stomach effects. Try ice packing the knee after a ride and take Turmeric daily (available as a tablet) for it's anti-inflammatory effects. High cadence should help due to lower stress through the joint. Do not take a doctors advice as a matter of course, after all they hand out statns because they are paid a bonus to do so even though they are effective in only a small number of cases. Lastly, the more I ride, the less my hip pains me! Surrounding muscle becomes stronger and supports the joint. Keep riding!

60-80 miles is not excessive.

I have arthritis in my left knee and have been told I will need a replacement in 2-5 years. When I asked the consultant about cycling he said so long as it was not excessive. I asked 60-80 miles? That's excessive he said!
Well I had a considered think and as cycling is the only time the knee does not give me pain at all I decided to carry on.
I have just started Glucausamine sulphate so don't know if that works yet. Ibuprofen does not touch the pain for me and it is painful 24/7 the worst at night or walking. I am hoping my Dr can suggest some good pain killers that don't have the aforementioned problems that might go with Ibuprofen.
Look on the Arthritis UK web site they have some good articles and seem to agree that excercise can be beneficial.
The trouble is your arthritis and mine might be completely different re pain, cause, outcome so it is a very personal issue.
Good luck!
Just as an aside I ride at 90-100 rpm normally and often go up to 110-120 on the turbo trainer without a problem

Interesting comment about the fs.
My year of groin pain, traced to hip problem, really started showing up after riding full sus. It just seemed to spark things off.
Not the cause, but rather than help it hindered.

I've also cut back the ibuprofen, as I found I was gettingbursts of palpitations when relaxed (ie. Watching tv, sitting reading, etc)

Try Devils claw. I think it works for me.
Many people will advise twiddling rather than pushing a big gear. worth a try but I find that worse as my knee moves more times and with less controlled/restrained pressure. I don't go silly high but do keep a low cadence where possible. I also found that my full suspension bike made things worse. It boiled down to my seat being further behind the BB and I was scooping the pedals more. the road bike is much better and moving the seat forward helped to a small extent.

I suffer from the same - arthritis of the RH knee - and find that cycling, and Paracetamol (occasionally - as and when) helps a lot - so far.

A word of warning though - taking Ibuprofen 'by the barrow load' - and particularly long term - raises Blood Pressure 'significantly'.

If they're prescribed by a doctor, though, I presume he'll monitor your BP regularly.

Mike