Horribly swollen knees...

There are a few things I will whine about but usually I keep the whining about my knee's to a minimum. Most people who haven't known me forever don't even know I have horrible knees.  Horrible knees doesn't quite describe however.  The cartilage in both of my knee's have been deteriorating since I was a teenager.  My orthopedic doctor found this out around my 6th knee surgery.  I woke up in recovery and he told me my cartilage is sloughing off and I would be looking at knee replacements for both of my knee's by 40.  I was told this about 13 years ago.  I was still groggy from the anesthesia but I remember looking at my mom and crying. In total I have had 9 surgeries on my knees and finally my doctor told me there was nothing else he could do. I had to wait for my knee replacements.  I suffered through a pregnancy with my twins on bad knees. I suffer through chasing after my 4 year old and my 2 year old twins on bad knees. Most days I can barely get up the stairs but I just have to keep plugging along.  I saw the orthopedic doctor here at Fort Bragg last year who told me I was too young for a knee replacement (let alone two knee replacements) and his direct quote was for me to "suck it up."  Encouraging words right? I don't think this man realizes what it takes to get through a day with three little kids.  I don't have the luxury of laying on the couch icing my knee's. I am up and going all day. Not to mention all the up and down that comes with constantly changing the twins diapers... and the up and down of the stairs chasing them around the house. Carrying Buddy up the stairs when he has fallen asleep. Just lots of little things that most people can just do pain free.

Well in February we all went to Washington D.C. for Keri to have a procedure done and then we went sightseeing.  I remember we were walking to the White House and I had to use the bathroom.  Instead of making everyone wait I told them to go ahead and I would catch up.  Well they must have been speed walking because when I got done they were quite a ways away.  I made a stupid decision. I decided to run to them.  Running isn't something I can do with these knee's but I did it.  Now four months later I am still regretting that decision to run. The next day following my run to catch up (which was quite a distance) I could barely walk.  Then it was insane swelling.  I got home and trying to up and down the stairs was ridiculous. I would get this intensely sharp pain shooting up and down my leg every time I bent it.  Whhhhhy didn't I just tell them to wait for me in that bathroom?! Well I went to my pain management doctor and luckily she ordered some new MRI's on my knees.  I just got the results and took them to my doctor.  Now on top of my catilage being gone and arthritis I have joint effusion which is fluid in my knee.  The report says Medial femoral condyle articular cartilage thinning with subchondral edema and fissuring involving the patellar articular cartilage with suchondral edema  and joint effusion.,  

So basically that is the reason my knee's have been extra worse. I have all this fluid in my joint causing the incredible pain. Well I was able to get a referral back to orthopedic's and I am in the process of getting another appointment.  Basically what they would do is taking a huge needle and draw the fluid out.  To be honest it sounds painful.  I don't know if anyone has had a cortisone shot in their knee or a synvic shot but those things are sooooooooo painful. Honestly I try to avoid cortisone shots because it hurts so bad. However it is nice to know this might be able to ease some pain. 

Anyway, I'm trying to be positive. My brother is struggling to even walk right now so I am extremely grateful I can still walk. I am grateful that eventually my problem can be resolved.  There are a lot worse things I could have.  I just hope I can get into orthopedic's fast and they can be more helpful than last time! I have my fingers crossed!!