article_snippet.sent: At first, I just put the pain down to ageing and tried to soldier on, but as time went on, over-the-counter painkillers stopped working and the niggling, arthritic pains were keeping me awake at night,' Susan Owens says. '
article_snippet.sent: Six months after they started, I went to see my doctor and was given steroid injections in my knee.
article_snippet.sent: Within six weeks of having my knee replaced I was driving again and went on holiday to Italy. '
article_snippet.sent: Within nine weeks, I could ride my bike and go back to ballroom dancing.
article_snippet.sent: I was also given exercises to follow to strengthen my abdominals and back muscles, and help correct the poor postural habits I had developed, which were putting strain on my lower back. '
article_snippet.sent: But when it comes to knees, keeping your weight down and exercising regularly to keep the supportive muscles around the knees fit and strong are, in my opinion, by far the most important steps you can take to prevent or slow down arthritis in the knees.'