Hi, my mum (67 yrs old, obese, no prior illness) since August of last year has had swelling on her left knee only. Hurts like hell when she stands up, when walking it's not too painful.



Timeline:

August: Consult GP: said just normal injury, kept saying no fluid in knees, put icepack, get painkillers, no effect

August: chinese medicine: said it's fluid in knees, did accupuncture + herbs, no effect

September: Consult klinik kesihatan: said it's rheumatoid arthritis, keep saying confirm no fluid in knees only prescribe painkillers and said must take glucosamine, no effect

November: pain didn't go away, end up consulting this physiotherapist, he tried adjusting back, helped a bit with the pain. he also said there's no fluid

Late November: consulted the same physio again, pain like shit, he decides to inject anesthesia (Xylocaine 2%) + medication (Triamcinolone Acetonide) into the knee, then find out actually got fluid inside when the syringe suddenly starts filling with yellow fluid.




throw syringe away, and injected with new batch of the medication.

Problem went away for 1.5 months, pain almost totally gone.

Early January, problem came back, hurts like shit again, and knee swollen. Mid january go back to physio, he injected empty syringe (said can't inject in medication as that is not the right practice) to drain the fluids, now it's one full syringe of fluids, much more than first extraction.






Background of my mum: not overly obese, but refuses to do exercises, always drink cold drinks, does not do heavy lifting or squatting or frequent stairs climb. All doctors consulted said no problem with the knees itself as it doesn't make any sound and can bend in full.


1 week after the above photo, the problem came back again, and it's back to day 1 of pain. I'm really tired of dealing with this already and had spent a lot of money with little results, need recommendation from fellow LYNers on any knee doctors to recommend


I think the proper next step now is to stop it with the extractions as i'm sure it's not healthy to be sticking needles into joints regularly. I should be finding a specialist on issues like this, anyone got someone to recommend? Any opinions to share would be very appreciated

Try lose weight and eat healthy

Yr mon take those supplement how long? Take before knee got problem or after?

after

That the problem. Supplement not eat today tonorrow see effect of it, it will take quite some time 2-3month min to see any effect if u eat the right supplement.

Start exercising and walk bit by bit
Might be painful

How about xray? Just to confirm the position of the bone,for future reference

I don't hv experience with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). My parents only had the osteo arthritis.(OA)

"The main difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is the cause behind the joint symptoms. Osteoarthritis is caused by mechanical wear and tear on joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own immune system attacks the body's joints."

There are 3 types of glucosamine, I was told. But the one that works is branded as Viatril-S and effect can only be felt after 3-4 months. But I also read that glucosamine doesn't help patient with RA.

My parents go to Hukm. It's the closest and it has one of the best orthopaedic surgeon in this country. Just like each gov/semigov hosp is specialised in. Hukm is for orthopaedic. Hukm also have private specialist centre at level 7. Which means you only see the specialist, not just postgraduate med students for the visit like at normal clinic downstairs.

http://www.ukmsc.com.my/orthopaedic/

Get a referral letter to meet a specialist. In my mom's case, she meets a physiotherapist only after surgery,not before.
Her path was see specialist, eat glucosamine, inject gel into knees, surgery, physio. Can walk normally again.

Thanks for your reply! Really helpful. Is it very costly? Since it's private

Not very costly, compared to other private hospitals out there. Consultation fee per visit is Rm50 for cash payment patient iinm

A lot of medical cards also can cover clinical visit, diagnostic procedures, surgery and admissions stay at level 7

You can also register you mom at normal hukm orthopaedic clinic department at ground floor level. It's just there are more patients. Usually specialist meet patient before surgery and let the postgrad dr students handle the post surgery visits, with their observation of course.

If case more severe, the waiting time between follow up visit is less.

Some wise words maybe, Mr.Docter danny_sp15?

This post has been edited by UnknownH: Feb 6 2020, 08:08 PM

+1

Very good suggestion and comprehensive. Regardless, this kind of issues need confirmation from radiological point of view. X-ray will be a good start.

If u want your mom to lose weight she need to cut the intake of rice & anything made from wheat by 50% from her usual diet.

Try morning walk or evening walk for 30 minutes daily. No need anything vigorous.

Exercise therapy and education will be the best solution for your mother. Strengthen the muscles and re educate neurologicaly. There are no short-cut for treatment.

Trust me. I'm a physiotherapist.

This post has been edited by eekhai: Feb 8 2020, 10:52 PM