Osteoarthritis Severe -age 36

[kneetroubled]

Hi I am going to try and keep this brief. My niece is mentally disabled, 36 years old and has osteoarthritis in both knees. It has become severe, to the point where she cannot even walk without the knee feeling like it will give, and the pain is bad. She was born with knock knee, she has also dislocated the knee caps multiple times.

We have seen 4 surgeons and none of them want to do the surgery right now, but all say the severity is incredible for someone at her age. Her left knee is now "locking" anytime she bends it.. we found out it is the inflammation causing this. Yes we do ice, heat etc etc believe me... we have done everything we were told. She was given a cortisone shot, her knee felt great and didnt "lock" for 3 days, but now it seems even worse. She cannot bend the knee to get in and out of the shower and requires help. She is using a walker, she cannot sleep in her bed. She rolls, and anytime she does, her knee gets stuck. She is on the couch and has been for almost 9 months.

I am growing tired of this and want to ask for a prescription for a real pain reliever, not this ibuprofen 600 that she has been on forever. But I do not know how to go about it. With the opiod abuse, and docs not wanting to prescribe.. I dont know how to ask for it. My friends with severe osteoarthritis (you know, people over 50) have a prescription but have had it for years. Any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

[dal_knee]

I'm sorry your niece is going through this. You should ask for a referral to a pain management specialist.