@@My Journey With Knee Pain -- And an Unexpected Alternative to Knee Replacement…read more
Good morning, everyone.
I wanted to share my personal journey with knee pain and the treatments I've tried, in hopes it might help someone going through the same thing.
The Beginning of My Knee Pain
About 10 years ago, I began experiencing serious knee pain. I'm now 67, so it wasn't exactly a surprise, but it was still life-changing. My orthopedic surgeon diagnosed me with bone-on-bone arthritis and recommended a knee replacement. Instead, I started with cortisone injections every three months.
For years, those shots worked like magic. Along with physical therapy, knee braces, topical creams, and supportive orthopedic shoes, I was able to manage the pain and live my life.
When the Injections Stopped Working
Unfortunately, this year everything changed. The cortisone injections only gave me mild relief, and the pain returned long before I could get the next one. I tried:
* Hyaluronic acid injections - no improvement
* PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections - mild relief for about a month
By June, my surgeon and I agreed it was time for knee replacement surgery. He also advised me to stop cortisone injections to reduce surgical risks. I scheduled the procedure and began preparing.
A Setback I Never Expected
Around this time, I joined this online knee replacement group for support -- but reading story after story of months-long pain and slow recoveries honestly scared me. Still, my pain was unbearable, so I was ready to proceed.
Then, the unthinkable happened. I fell off a ladder and suffered a severe injury to my right leg -- the same one scheduled for surgery. I had an 8-inch skin tear, all the way to the bone. My surgeon immediately canceled my surgery, saying I'd need to wait at least a year for the skin to fully heal.
The worst part? No more cortisone shots, ever. My skin was now too thin, and the risk was too high. My daily pain level was a 7 or 8 out of 10. I couldn't sleep, walking was torture, and my quality of life plummeted.
Searching for Another Option
Desperate for relief, I kept researching and came across Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) -- a procedure that blocks inflammation by targeting the tiny arteries around the knee.
I asked about it on social media, and a few people shared they had tried it years ago but only got short-term relief. However, the procedure recently received FDA approval, so I decided it was worth investigating.
I contacted the San Francisco Vein and Vascular Institute, and Dr. Nathanson was incredibly helpful. After discussing my situation, he encouraged me to give it a try.
The Procedure
On Monday, I went in for my GAE procedure. The facility was beautiful, the staff welcoming, and the equipment state-of-the-art. The entire procedure took less than an hour.
I limped in with a cane... and walked out normally just a few hours later.
No sharp pain -- only a dull ache.
Over the next couple of days, I experienced mild soreness when standing, but it was nothing compared to before. Today, three days after the procedure, I am 99% pain-free -- no pain medication, not even Tylenol.
Looking Back
What I once saw as a disaster -- my fall -- turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It forced me to seek an alternative to knee replacement, and I am so grateful I did.
I know GAE may not be permanent, but it can be repeated if needed, and by then, there may be even more options available.
Today, I am deeply thankful to Dr. Nathanson and the San Francisco Vein and Vascular Institute for giving me my mobility and my life back.
If you're struggling with knee pain and looking for alternatives, it may be worth exploring GAE. I'll continue to update my journey in the weeks ahead. Good luck everyone.
