Hey, hey! No surgery for me! Yippee!!!

I don't know how it works, but it does. I have told a few people about it and they tried it. They had good results. Alot cheaper than some of the things.

Well, it's definitely worth a shot! I just wouldn't want Vicks all over me if I had to go out. I'll try it when I know I can stay in and let you know if it works for me or not. Thanks for the tip!

I know that Vicks is good for congestion and chest colds, but how would it work on knee pain? Actually, my rheumatologist told me to use Capzaisin. It's found where they sell Ben Gay and Icy Hot, stuff like that. Only Capzaisin works differently than those others. It's made with capsaisin which is made by chili peppers. It does not have any odor and doesn't feel hot or cold on your skin. It really works! Sometimes, if the pain is really bad, it won't take all the pain away, but it takes at least 80% of it away! I love the stuff! You just don't want to get it in your eyes... MAN! Does that ever BURN!!!

Yes! When a doctor says you MUST have this done, it gives you a sense of not having any control. That's never a good feeling! I LOVE being given the choice! My doctor was waiting for the results of the MRI of my left knee before deciding on where to head next, since my right need showed 2 tears and my left knee began hurting just as bad not long after that. I'm definitely not a candidate for knee replacement... yet. I have arthritis in both knees but it's not so bad that I need replacement yet. So, it really boils down to the 2 tears in my right knee. I asked the surgeon yesterday if the tears could heal on their own. He said no; they'll either stay the same or get worse. But, since I can manage fairly well, I'm going to let things stay as they are, at least until the arthritis gets so bad I'll need knee replacement. Do you think your father would have elected NOT to have the surgery if he had been given the choice?

he'd been having pain and that gimp in his walk for many years..he finally had the income to be able to have it looked at and fixed..he was very happy lol! you should see how fast he walks now!

Hahahaha! Maybe I SHOULD think about that surgery then! Hmmm... Nah, I'll wait. If it gets more painful, to the point where I just can't stand it anymore, I'll probably go have it fixed. Until then, I'll just 'gimp' along! LOL I'm very happy for your father!

Thank you for the information, quarval! I'm going to look into acupuncture! I had thought of it years ago for other reasons and have even researched it, but never went. I have never thought of Chinese massage as a way to help knees! It might be hard to find a Chinese master around here, but I live not too far from Washington, D.C., where they have everything you could imagine! I might be able to find someone there who knows what they're doing. Thank you so much for this response, quarval! This is definitely something I'm going to do! I'll let you know if I find someone who is good and if he(she) helps me! Take care!

Hi, dragon! All of my surgeries in the past have been very necessary. There was no way diet or exercise could have helped. But, this time, I have the choice! I've been on a health kick through diet and exercise so I'm pretty healthy as far as weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar goes. I feel better and have more energy than I have in years! I KNOW what a healthy lifestyle can do for us! Unfortunately, nothing can get rid of torn cartilege except surgery. It will not heal on it's own. The only thing I can do, aside from surgery, is to be very careful so as not to tear it more, or create even more tears and to treat the pain as well as I can without medication. I'm going to look into acupuncture and massage therapy thanks to the advice I got above your response. It may just work! I'll keep you updated.

Thank you so much, bruce! I've had my fill of surgeries and hope I never have to have any more, either! Well, if they ever develop a way of doing full body transplants, I'll be the first in line! LOL

im glad your having better luck!! and like i said i dont know ANYONE that has had any kind of knee surgery and came out with less pain.. its insane.. that and back surgery seem to make more people worse than better!! which is why im keeping the doctors hands off my knees!! maybe when the injury had happened and if i had had surgery then it might have worked out but my parents never took me to the doc but to a chiropractor that confirmed both knees had torn ligaments in them and so i was hobbling and them giving out and falling etc for a few years.. now its just a grinding pain when i walk.. ugh!! thank goodness i dont have many reasons i would be walking far so a day shopping here and there is standable

Thank you, mimpi! I guess I am a fighter, but I've never felt like one. You do what you have to do. It's amazing how strong and resilient people really are in times like that when you really don't have a choice! You are very lucky to never have had surgery and I hope you never have to! I hope your colleague pulls through, too. I'm sure it has to be severe to be in the ICU! I have a friend who was there for 2 weeks with pancreatitis but she pulled through and is doing pretty well these days. Most people are fighters, I believe. They WANT to get better and I have the feeling that your colleague will fight as well to get out of that hospital and back to his or her normal life. You're right about never knowing what is ahead. It IS very strange.

I feel for you! Chronic pain is no fun! Just gotta grin and bear it, huh? That's one of the problems with having surgery like this on joints. We use them all the time so it's really hard to heal them quickly, even without having diabetes. And, of course, once you've had surgery, you develop scar tissue that can cause pain and you're very likely to have pain with changes in the weather, especially when it gets cold. Have you tried wrapping your knees with thermal bandages when you go out in the cold? My surgeon told me that a heating pad will help with the pain, but only when the pad is on my knees. But, even that will provide SOME relief when we're just sitting and resting. I CAN tell you about something that works for me, quite well, actually. It's a rub called Capzaisin. It costs a little more than stuff like Ben Gay or Icy Hot, but it has NO odor to it and it REALLY WORKS! It's made from capsaisin from chili peppers, I believe. That makes it very different from those other products. It doesn't feel hot or cold on your joints and, within minutes of applying it, a large percentage of the pain is gone! I mean, completely GONE! My rheumatologist recommended Capzaisin and I'm so glad she did!!! Good luck to you (AND me! LOL)!!!

I know exactly what you're saying! Some days, when I have to go to the bathroom, I'll put it off longer than I should because it means getting up and walking to it! It's horrible having so much pain you just don't want to stand up! I have found something that really helps to cut the pain level down pretty far... not completely, usually, but significantly. My rheumatologist recommended it to me and I'm so very glad she did! It's called Capzaisin. I don't know if you've used it or not, but you really should try it. It's in with the other pain rubs like Ben Gay and Icy Hot, but it's very different in the way it works. It contains capsaisin which is produced by chili peppers! Apparently, it stimulates nerves on the skin and cuts the pain receptors in your knee from reaching your brain, making it feel soooooo much better! At least, that's what I THINK it does. It works, no matter HOW it works! LOL I've tried all those others and they help a tiny bit, but Capzaisin takes at least 80% of the pain away! It has no odor at all and doesn't feel hot or cold when you apply it. It simply makes the pain go away! I love the stuff! I'd love to know how people invent these things! Good luck to you (and me!)! Guess will just be grinning and bearing it together, huh? Try the Capzaisin... it really helps!

Thank you so much, Chevee! It really does feel good to have the choice! I'm going to take one day at a time and maybe never have to have surgery on this knee. I've had 28 surgeries in my lifetime already and that's MORE than enough for anyone! I had a tear in my shoulder years ago, too. Torn rotator cuff. I also had a few other issues with my shoulder so I had laproscopic surgery on it. Two days later I was back at work! I had to take it easy with that arm, but it was great being back at work. I'm taking it easy on my knee... getting enough exercise to keep it moving but not so much that it gets even more painful. If it gets really bad, I'll rest. I'm not one to push myself. I used to be that way but learned the hard way that it's not a good idea to do things before you're ready.