Question
I am a 45-year-old, single white woman, non-smoking, very light drinking, and although I carry too much weight around the abdomen, I have been making a good effort to trim down, by eating healthy and walking a fair bit. I was also cycling average 4 miles every couple of days, until my knees suddenly became afflicted.

As of two years ago, I have osteoarthritis, reportedly originating in the right knee; however, the initial pain began after a 'wrench' (I would call it) of something in my left knee, on April 14th, 2005, approx. 2:55pm. I was due for a 2-hour stint as a hospital library cart volunteer- instead I spent those two hours in emergency, followed by a few days on crutches.
I was told it was a 'strained cartilage' .. THEN a month later told I had bursitis in the left knee. In September of that year X-rays confirmed that my RIGHT knee showed symptoms of osteoarthritis.
.. I'm very frustrated, sore, confused ~and often insulted by advice to 'lose weight' in the tone of voice suggesting I am inactive by habit and that this condition was carelessly self-inflicted.
I was cycling and my weight was dropping nicely. I was beginning to look and feel wonderful. Then something got 'jammed' as I tried to stand up, and I nearly fell over. It was like a finger caught in the door, or biting the tongue.

It seems there are those who just want a quick, textbook answer they can foist on me so that they don't have to spend time looking for anything further.

An MRI, X-ray.. ultrasound.. CT scan,  This week on a follow-up, the orthopaedic surgeon told me he saw that my left patella was turned inward laterally, and that this was quite likely the case since my teen years.
He said it was not indicative of any surgical benefit, and that I should use a stationary bicycle to build up my quadriceps. The pain, as such, is mildly achy most of the time, but flares up like a sudden, jarringly sharp 'chiselling' sensation or a thin, blunt poker in the soft space between joints. There is also always pain & tenderness along the joint line, but no inflammation.

I have this question, now that you've read the rest: WHY is it so hard to find out what's wrong with my knees, and is there some diplomatic way to answer well-meaning but intrusive efforts to point me at yet another remedy?  
Is what I have classic osteoarthritis or do I have some other additional cause for pain?

I'm just getting so tired of trying to get second, third, fourth?!! opinions, only to be told by them all "just lose weight, eat less and you'll feel better."

What thoughts might you be able to input? I could use some support.(the Arthritis Clinic here was not very helpful.. I left feeling viewed as wrong, self-pitying and stupid.)

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Kim Furey

Answer
Hi Kim,

I'm so sick and tired of idiot doctors that I volunteered here to give it straight.
OA is curable in most cases with a simple proven effective OTC supplement called Glucosamine Sulfate. Make sure it has MSM in it and you take the therapeutic dosage of 3000mg/day and you won't have to worry about the Osteo arthritis. Why you are not told of this researched and proven remedy is criminal on the part of the doctors you are seeing. They would rather see you mask the symptoms with Celebrex and treat additional side effects then recommend an easy fix. It's all about money. You have a common congenital tracking issue with the knee cap that needs Quad work to enable it to glide smoothly through the patellar groove, if it rubs the side it will prematurely wear out necessitating an unnecessary knee replacement which should also be outlawed since resurfacing is much better, less painful, invasive and durable. This is a simple birth defect corrected by exercising the correct muscle.
No money in that though. If I sound cynical it's because over the many years in practice I see sell out doctors to pharmaceutical companies cashing in on CME getaways on their dime. It's legalized bribery that has been going on for 50 yrs. Google GS and you won't look back.  


Dr. Durnin
PS: Arthritis Clinic? That's a joke, it's run and maintained by drug companies, you won't find a cure there.


Thanks Kim, but not so fast with dismissing GS, I bet you didn't try Glucosamine Hydrochloride, this preparation can work wonders in those that don't respond quick to the sulfate, add to that, many OTC products do not contain what is reflected on the label. Checking it out with ConsumersLab.com will tell you which brands to stay away from. Don't give up on it, the research is there and definative, it works.