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I have been in chronic back pain for years

Posted , 6 users are following.

julie16669
julie16669

And I'm know being sent to see a specialist, because my Droctor says the pain in my hips and knees is osteoarthritis, I'm only 43, and I can hardly walk, and when I do, I get so tired I have slept for 24h, is there any one on here that has anything that sound the same? I'm loosing the will to go on.

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • heken
    heken julie16669

    Posted

    so sorry to hear that your suffering so much Julie have you ever been sent for xrays of knees and hips. What medication have you been given. Its good that your now being sent to a specialist. Have you been to a chiropracter for your back or healing/accupunture. I read that Brooks glycerin trainers they are expensive though they are what specialists recommend to people with knee replacements I have recently got these and my legs don't seem so bad. You could also try accupunture and buy glucosmaine/chrondritin/msm I get flexacil. I hope you get the help you need from the specialist.
  • julie16669
    julie16669

    Posted

    I'm on OxyContin for pain and melodicam For the swelling, I have nerve damage in my back so accupunture is a no go, and I'm under the care of a pain clinic also so chiropractor an doctor there have said there is nothing modern medicine can do, ie go home, but even with these pain medication this new problem in my hips and knees does not ease
  • julie16669
    julie16669

    Posted

    Also after seeing my own Dr today, I have a lump on my Achilles' tendon , and cannot bear weight on that ankle
  • elizabeth20203
    elizabeth20203 julie16669

    Posted

    Hello Julie, I have Osteoarthritis in the spine since the age of 40, had Septicarthritis at the age of 11 in my left knee, this as been replaced twice and i am only 58 now. I have Osteoarthritis in my right knee now and have just finished electrical stimulation treatment on that and no change. I have Acupunture and Steriods for my back to no avail. I was told by pain specilist to pace myself and live with it. I take Gaberpentin for nerve pain in my knee, Naproxen for my back and Coedine to help with sleeping. Amitriptyline is another drug used to help the nerves relax and helps with sleep. There are lots of different drugs out there to try. Stretching exercises help witht he spine. I struggle to walk now and i am in constant pain. It is good that you are being referredto a specilist as there are lots of options now and modern medicine is coming up with new things all the time. There is nothing much than can be done for Osteoarthritis of the spine apart from drugs and exercises. Your knees and hips can be replaced depending on the severity and pain, mobility etc. Age will be considered too as usually the first replacements are successful but revision ones not so. My first one i was pain free and walked well, even thou i had my Tibia and Fibia straighted as my leg was deformed and i was bow leged ligaments had gone in the groin.  Second one was done with a broken leg and needed bone graft and

    now i suffer nerve pain and mobility problems. Ask about all you options and revision of your drugs. Best of luck. Let us know how you get on when you have seen a specialist.

    • julie16669
      julie16669 elizabeth20203

      Posted

      thanks for your reply, I have tried many of the medication you have mentioned, with no avail, but it helps to know I'm not alone, as you know when you struggle with mobility you seem to loose a lot more, and it's a very lonely place to be, so thank you, and I will let you know how it goes
    • loxie
      loxie julie16669

      Posted

      Hi Julie.  So sorry to hear of your pain issues and to have had them from so young is not nice.  I do sympathise regarding the meds, I seem to have tried everything at some time or other and the more I took the less help they were and the more unwell I felt from 'side effects'.  I've reduced them now to just naproxen (plus a stomach protecfor) and paracetamol - ditched all the rest because they weren't any more effective and made me feel so ill.  Fatigue is chronic with OA, probably the thing that brings me down as much as the pain really.  Have a read up on 'mindfulness' meditation techniques.  Mindfulness is an historic technique (chinese in origin I think) but some doctors in the USA developed a specific way of using it for pain relief and it really does work.  To simplify it - it helps the mind focus away from the pain receptors in the brain - literally 'taking your mind off the pain'.  I find it also relaxes and de-stresses me, which lowers the cortisol production in the body which also provides pain relief (stress lowers our resistance to pain).  The only other thing I can recommend is long slow soaks in a warm bath with epsom salts, really eases the joints.  Big gentle hug xxxx
    • julie16669
      julie16669 loxie

      Posted

      Hi Loxie, yes I have tried mindfulness, did a course at  the pain clinic not sure it helped to much with the pain but has help with remembering when I have taking meds and help me focus a bit more at things I'm doing like if I'm cooking, thank you
  • Birgitbee
    Birgitbee julie16669

    Posted

    It must be tough for you living with this. I think the most difficult thing is knowing it won't get any better and in many cases worse. It can be quite depressing. I hope you get some help and relief. 
  • jacquie16342
    jacquie16342 julie16669

    Posted

    Hi Julie - I have OA in lower spine and both knees and recently had a total right hip reolacement.  That was 9 months ago.  My hip is pain free but I am still on a stick and not able to walk very far at all.  I am only 63 but feel 83 some days.  What I do to try to help myself is go to my sports physiotherapist.  We are  wrorking on building up muscles in the body, which help to support the joints more.  Perhaps you could be referred to a good physio.  I know how painful OA is so I am really sorry to hear it is bad for you.
    • julie16669
      julie16669 jacquie16342

      Posted

      Thanks, I was in a physio sport group, then my knee went so had to give it up, I can get referred back to it when the fix my Achilles' tendon, but on light because they might consider replacements knees and hips, as you say it is good to tone up. I to feel 83, but I'm only 43, tried to get some shopping today and my knees just kept buckling how I wish I was normal.
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