Osgood Schlatters / Osteoarthritis 34 years
In 1970 I was diagnosed with Osgood Schlatters disease due to having fallen to the ground and not having been able to move my right leg as if it were parilized. The pain of course was excruciating as all others have indicated here. For five years I suffered with the Osgood Schlatters Disease and in 1975 had two x-rays of both knees. Indications of old Osgood Schlatters Disease was stated on my report by the radiologist and my physician, however, I remained to experience the pain. In 1976 I joined the Navy with all due respect to my physicians diagnosis of the Osgood Schlatters Disease having been run through its cycle, so I was under the impression that I no longer had Osgood Schlatters Disease. Six days after entering into boot camp I began experiencing excruciating pain again as before. By the time boot camp was over and I was on my ship I had seen military physicians eight times for this condition, only it had spread to my left knee as well. Two months before my dischage date on my ship I was diagnosed again with Osgood Schlatters Disease, however, all of the symtoms that the physician indicated in his report did not match the full scope of Osgood Schlatters Disease, they included additional factors of knee popping and crunching noises. After I was discharged from the Navy and living back in my home town I once again fell to the ground with my knee giving out on me. I was seen by my same physician as prior to the Navy, and I was diagnosed with full degenerative bone disease (Osteoarthritis) of both knees. I was walking bone on bone the physician stated and hammered spurs were forming from the jolting and meshing movement of the bones rubbing together. Having served in the Navy I was covered by the VA. I went to my nearest VA Medical Center and seen a physician there. Again x-rays and the physician indicated the same prognosis, and wanted to send me to another facility to have my knees cleaned and pumped full of sylicone to recreated the cartilage. I was informed it would take six months to relearn how to walk through theropy, and thus, declined the treatment due to lack of financial assistance in living. I just couldn't leave my work for a period of six months and survive with no income. I am now 46 years old, and due to the gait of my walking shortly after the finding of the Osteoarthritis, I was found to have Osteoarthritis in both hips due to the offset gait in walking due to my condition. I am on several pain medications that sometimes reduces the pain to a tollerable level. Several Orthopedic Surgeons have been seen and all had the same advice of waiting until I am in my later fifty's to have the replacement of both hips and both knees, due to their having to replace them because of my structure every three to five years. They have indicated by the age of fifty five I will have slowed down enough to prolong the replacements. I am unactive now due to the pain. Any movement flares my condition, and there are no positions found in either standing up, walking, laying down, or sitting that releive the pain. I'm to young to be going through all this, and I recomend to anyone that has any symtoms of my condition to try to find surgical help during your earlier stage of your condition. Fore I know wish that I would have taken the sylicone injections into my knees back in the 70's to have given me a possible better chance at living a better life.
Respectfully
