Five years ago my orthopedist said that my left knee had no cartilage left in it (showed me X-rays of both knees to demonstrate). He said that there were four treatment steps (cortisone injections, lubricant injections, I don't remember #3, and then knee joint replacement) but that I might try Glucosamine Chrondroitin. Well the Glucosimine Chrondroitin was successful for five years but the knees getting bad again so I'm back to the four step treatment.
Who has had these options, how successful were they, and what would you do if you had to do it over again? I've heard that the cortisone injections may or may not work, and tend not to last too long. Similar comments on the lubricant injections. And it'll have to hurt a while longer before I have knee replacement.
I've got an appointment with him tomorrow and wanted to get some independent opinions before I jump into a course of treatment.
Thanks for any input, I appreciate it,