Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction.
Hi, I'm new and found this group after recently joining the one for Widows/Widowers
I'm female, 71, overweight with controlled high PB, cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes. Actually in pretty health even with the above. OA in knees for many years. Bone on bone now and always some level of pain. Have tried chiropractic, acupuncture, PT, Synvisc and PRP (stem cell) shots. All to no avail. Call me silly.....my family doctor does....but I'm really afraid to have the surgery. Everything about it scares me from the anesthesia to the loooooooong recovery. I am recently widowed and share a 2-family home with my 91-year-old mother (better knees than mine!). I'm on the second floor and have several pets to care for. Can't even imagine how I could be away from home for the time it takes for TKR now that my husband is not here to hold down the fort. But the fear factor is the biggie. I've been told that stem cells harvested from placentas might work better to regenerate cartilage because the cells are younger, fresher and stronger than those harvested from my own blood and fat. I'm hesitant to spend another several thousand $ for something that might give me a 70% chance to feel 50% better (per the stem cell specialist). Then there's cold laser therapy and something new called Calmare. Can anyone give me a reason to hope I can lick this thing without surgery.......pleeeeeze?
I'm female, 71, overweight with controlled high PB, cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes. Actually in pretty health even with the above. OA in knees for many years. Bone on bone now and always some level of pain. Have tried chiropractic, acupuncture, PT, Synvisc and PRP (stem cell) shots. All to no avail. Call me silly.....my family doctor does....but I'm really afraid to have the surgery. Everything about it scares me from the anesthesia to the loooooooong recovery. I am recently widowed and share a 2-family home with my 91-year-old mother (better knees than mine!). I'm on the second floor and have several pets to care for. Can't even imagine how I could be away from home for the time it takes for TKR now that my husband is not here to hold down the fort. But the fear factor is the biggie. I've been told that stem cells harvested from placentas might work better to regenerate cartilage because the cells are younger, fresher and stronger than those harvested from my own blood and fat. I'm hesitant to spend another several thousand $ for something that might give me a 70% chance to feel 50% better (per the stem cell specialist). Then there's cold laser therapy and something new called Calmare. Can anyone give me a reason to hope I can lick this thing without surgery.......pleeeeeze?
I'm so glad you're feeling more like your old sure-footed self.
Juanita