Hi!

I am a 53 yr. old female who started having severe bilateral knee pain on Thanksgiving, 2001. X-rays showed nothing. MRI showed bilateral knee osteonecrosis. Every few months I go for x-rays and so far the Dr. said the bones are still intact. Pain varies from day to day. (I also have severe osteo arthritis of both hands. Surgery was done on the right hand. My hand has been worse since, very limited use and severe swelling. Needless to say, I will leave my left hand alone. My question is I have limited mobility with my knees and if I walk for too long with my walker or pain, I am in severe pain the next day. Mornings are the worse with swelling and pain. Is it possible that the bones will stay intact so I won't have to have any knee replacements. Could I just stay the way I am. I could not make it through the day without pain meds. Walking stairs are pure torture. I don't know what to expect and I'm scared. Can you help me at all. Thank you, Concetta

-- Concetta Iversen (chetta2@hotmail.com), July 09, 2002

Answers

It is not possible to give you an answer without viewing your x-rays and giving you a thorought physical examination. Please contact our office if we can give you an appointment. 410-532-4730

-- Dotsie Czajkowski RNFA (hkhanuj1@jhmi.edu), October 22, 2002.

Sometimes the pain can be relieved with a simple procedure called a "core decompression." This involves drilling a hole in the bone to relieve the pressure. We would have to see you, your xrays and MRI's to determne if you are a candidate.

-- Marc Hungerford, M.D. (mhunger@jhmi.edu), December 27, 2002.