KNEE ARTHRITIS - Changing the forces through the joint :
new knee brace - - Posted by cindyl57 (cindyl57), 25 April 2003
This is my first post here. I have osteo arthritis, and my right knee is the first to go. I have had arthoscopy, and found to have bone on bone on the inside of my knee.
He thinks that repairing the acl would just be a waste of time with all the arthritis that I have. I am not ready fot TKR, so he says. He decided to put me in a brace to re align my knee. Has any one here done this, and can I expect some results. I wore it yesterday, and hurt like the dickens all night long. I haven't even begun to tighten the outside pad to push the knee to the inside
I am looking forward to getting to know you all and sharing with you. Thanks in advance for any help that you might be able to share with me.
Cindy 
Posted by lam651 (lam651), 26 April 2003
I have the same situation as you. I had a high tibial osteotomy on my left leg in Oct. 01 to realign my leg from bow legged to almost knock kneed. To make a long story short, I picked a poor choice for a surgeon to do this operation and it was a disaster. The bones never healed and the doctor never told me, so I walked around on a broken leg for a year and a half.
This is where my knee braces come into the picture. Trying to ease my pain, I got unloader knee braces for each leg. Using these and taking indocin 3 times a day helped me survive.
I like my knee braces and they served me well, but in my case they were not a permanent fix. I found it best to get used to them gradually. I wore them a little longer each day until I was used to them. Then I found that if I spent too much time off from them I would have to get used to them again. So I just started to wear them all the time whether I was doing much or not.
Good luck with your knee braces and see another OS, or more, before you decide your only option is TKR.
Larry
Posted by cindyl57 (cindyl57), 29 April 2003
Thanks Larry,
I am trying to get use to my brace. It is really making my knee hurt worse. But I am going to keep trying.
I don't know if it is doing the job, but I have to try.
Cindy
Posted by iancc (iancc), 30 April 2003
Hi Cindy
I have been wearing a knee brace for 2 months now for work only, I do find it makes a difference at the end of the day and there is some releaf if I carry heavy objects.
I have osteo arthritis in both knees, the right is also the worst, It is still real early for giving the thumbs up on the brace, I will report back in a couple of months with a better review,
the brace I have is the Generation 11
Posted by ATsoccergirl (ATsoccergirl), 1 May 2003
Just wondering is the brace aligned correctly? Unloaders are generally effective for unicompart OA. The goal of the brace is to open up the joint line on the side that is damaged. This takes pressure off of the damaged joint structures. If you have medial pain, you need a medial unloader which would put your knee in a more varus alignment. However, I believe that these braces are contraindicated if the OA Is present on both sides of the knee (I have more experiance in sport knee orthotics). If both sides are damaged unloading one side will only cause more pain on the other side, and will quicken degeneration of that side. I have used Unloaders on athletes, but for different reasons, they are great for collateral ligament injuries. By unloading the injured side, it allows the ligament to heal with decreased pain.
Posted by lbdeharak (Linda), 1 May 2003
Hi,
I used an unloader brace prior to my ACI (Cartecel) surgery. it took four different braces to get one that was even sort of functional for me. I was told that I had odd shaped legs. Imagine that! In any event, even the last one did not help much, and rubbed the heck out of me.
I would have the brace guy come and re-evaluate how it is fitting. Do it soon because there is a time limit on the fit warranty.
Good luck!
Linda
Posted by need_help (need_help), 30 May 2003
Hello: Well I have been wearing a knee brace now for 4 + years. I wear it all the time except to bed. It has helped me out but as the time goes by I am looking at a HTO to be done. If I can I will try and answer any questions that you may have, feel free to e-mail me at whippetpup@shaw.ca
Best of luck and make sure your doc is one of the best.
Posted by ldupre (ldupre), 27 June 2003
The knee brace will hurt for awhile, but you should get used to it. The main problem I have found with my brace is atrophy of the muscles from being braced. Hope it works okay for you.
Posted by dm (dm), 3 September 2003
cindy,
If you're in a lot of pain, have the fit checked. Make sure you're applying it right too. I found out that the application technique can make a difference in how it fits and if it stays put. If you're unintentionally torquing the brace as you put it on, you can cause more pain than you relieve.
dual hinge versus single hinge design may make a difference too. Mine's a dual hinge brace.
I ended up having the manufacturer's local rep make a house call with mine. He showed me some little things about how to apply it that made all the difference. Having a short, stocky body type makes it harder to fit me for a brace. My off the shelf model needed "tweaking".
perhaps having the person who fitted you observe you apply it might help determine if you're wearing it correctly. I do not know.
I do know that hinge alignment is critical. If it's not sitting correctly, maybe that's what's making you hurt?
good luck! keep us posted.
Posted by angela (angela), 21 July 2004
Dear Cindy
Has your OA tryed tapping the joint in place? I found that to be easier to cope with and more effective than a brace.
I also have OA (in both knees), and I have had an osteotomy, ( 4 wks post op).
The taping thing prior to the surgery was effective, it just took a while for me to learn how to do it properly
Love
Angie
Updated Sat Nov 21 2009
