Osteoarthritis? Is this related?

I was diagnosed with arthritis in my knees when I was 13 years old ... not Rheumatoid Arthritis, plain old regular osteoarthritis. I'm almost 25 now, and I feel like my left knee has about had it. For the past two weeks, my knee feels like it "buckles" ... for example, when I go down the steps and put my weight on my left leg, it feels like my knee is going to give out from underneath me. And I'm really in an awful lot of pain. The saddest thing is that I'm allergic to basically everything in the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug family.

I've been to the ER, and they just tell me to see my family practitioner, and I can't do that because I have no insurance and can't afford to pay up front right now.

Has anyone else dealt with this problem? How did you handle it? And what can I do about all this chronic pain???

Dear friend do not worry. I am having arthritis for the last 30 years and am managing life with it nicely.Along with it I am having cervical spondylitis, which gives me hell of a lot of pain and even giddiness and one sided head ache.

As far as I know there is no complete cure for this. But I have found some method by which you can get relief.

1. Carry out lots of exercise.
2. Give hot water fermentation to the affected area. If you put little salt in the water, it will be lot better.
3. In ancient Indian Ayurveda system we have two ayurvedhik oils which I mixed together, warmed it and applied to the area and massaged. I did it for one week and the pain went and I became normal. Whenever the pain returns (about six months to a year) I repeated the same treatment and am OK, happy and keep fit.

I do not know from where you are from. If you want I can tell you the name of the oil and you could use the same. This oil is for external use only and available in India.

For the question whether it is related, yes. My mother was having this problem. I am having .My daughters are having. So I think it is hereditary.

You really need health insurance. It will be worth it to start paying for it. You could definitely benefit from surgery and or other treatments. Have you heard of synvisc? www.synvisc.com

You need to be treated by an orthopedist and not the ER docs or a general practitioner.

Odd for you to be diagnosed with Osteo Arthritis in the knees at 13, but there is an Arthritis that is common at that age. Perhaps you were mistaken and diagnosed with Oligoarthritis which is common in teens.

Osteo Arthritis is caused by excessive wear and tear on the joint, generally associated with much older adults.

Since you know you have a definite health challenge, it's very important for you to get on a good health insurance program so that you can see the doctor as needed.

Short of that my advise to you is to get on a very good nutritional program that feeds your joints, and stick with it. You don't want to end up crippled for life.

What you are dealing with is so serious because it will effect the rest of your life!!!! Don't mess with that.

I agree with the others. OA at 13 is not common unless perhaps you were involved in some form of accident. Many people state they are allergic to the NSAIDs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but I wonder why you would be taking these for OA, which is wear and tear and as such not a inflammatory condition. I agree you really need to seek prompt medical intervention, as at 25 you have a long life to live yet.