Your doctors know your medical history, performed physical examinations, have seen your x-rays and other test results. They are going to be the best resource for accurate information. It’s never wrong to seek out a second opinion from another physician.

None of us can tell you whether you can or should keep running. I will say that technology is amazing and perhaps there will be more options that aren’t available now in the years to come. Wishing you the very best, and welcome to Fluther!

What @gorillapaws said. Excellent advice.

Tough one. Sorry to hear.

I was a competitive hoops player in college, but had to give it up following a serious injury. So, I can imagine how you feel being forced out of your sport because of a medical condition.

But – osteoartritis is very different from an actual injury. I think generally what you’ve heard so far may be the best advice: Continue to talk to & work with qualified doctors.

With that in mind I’ll just offer the following, for whatever it’s worth -

• From what I can tell osteo doesn’t heal on it’s own, even in younger people. It’s a degenerative disease that slowly becomes worse.

• Avoid trying to “push through” the pain to continue your regular running/training routine. Continued joint impact will not only hurt like hell, it’s possible it could even accellerate breakdown in your joints.

• Be careful with both over the counter & prescription pain meds. Most doctors will use caution in what they tell you to take, but many will fall back on pain killers just to provide you with relief as your condition gets worse.

• You haven’t said so, but I’m guessing you’re already seeing at least one specialist. If not I’d suggest you consult with a good provider with experience treating artritis and other bone/joint disorders. Your problem is already at a point where most sports med docs just won’t have much to offer.

• Finally, start learning as much as you can about long term treatment options. I’m only familiar with 3 – joint replacement surgery, stem cell therapy, and TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) pain management. Each of these has some limitations, and it’s likely none of them will fully restore your athletic performance. But with support from the right specialist you may find something that will help avoid chronic disabling pain.

Good luck.

Running is high impact. Maybe you should look into cycling. That is much gentler on the knees. Of course, check with your doctor first.

See a good orthopedist or family physician who specialize in sports medicine.

After you find a good doctor to consult with, find another good doctor and make an appointment with that one, to get a second opinion. Even a third opinion wouldn’t be a bad thing.

All good suggestions above
One more: every morning drink some hot black tea with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. It might help.

Join a support group.

New discoveries of cures come out daily.
Regard your diagnosis as treatable and curable, its not a death sentance as new cures are in the works.

Here is one link of such in regards to Osteoarthritis in January 2021

https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2021/january/new-treatment-target-discovered-that-halts-osteoarthritis-like-knee-cartilage-degeneration

I gave up running a decade ago because of my knees, but I miss it enough to have dreams of it.

I bicycle instead. Another running enthusiast I know had a hip replaced. Surprising to me, because she weighs about 100 pounds. Now she swims. In a lake in the summer, at the Y pool in the winter.

I was 17 when I heard this. Do the exercises your doctor explains to you, if he does. That is what I got from an ortho back then. Today you’ll likely be handed a prescription. Please don’t take arthritis drugs unless you research it to a T. Life isn’t over if you can’t run. Swim and be glad it isn’t a heart condition.