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Is this pain really osteoarthritis?

Posted , 10 users are following.

pam72307
pam72307

This is my first time on this site my GP thinks I have osteoarthritis in my left knee and hip and lower back. I am not getting very much sleep at the moment due to pain in my knee and hip. I can not get comfortable and I can not lay on my right or left side and if I lay on my back all night I can hardly move next morning. I am 51 and work full time. During the day I am ok it is only when resting. He has started me on 13 tablets a day for 6 was. Is this right and what will happen after the 6 was. I need advice.

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • elizabeth20203
    elizabeth20203 pam72307

    Posted

    I have had Osteoarthritis for a long time so i can try to help you answer questions. What drugs have you been given and have you had any x-rays? 
    • pam72307
      pam72307 elizabeth20203

      Posted

      Thank you for you reply. I have had an x-ray on my knee in

      November and the temp GP said oh it is just general wear and tear just take two co-codamol before bedtime and you should be fine. In May I could not stand the pain anymore and went

      back to my own GP. He said my knee and hip were inflamed

      and it is osteoarthritis. The tablets are 2 naproxen

      3 napropam 2 lansoprazole 2 paracetamol 2 co-codamol also I take 10mg ramipril for high blood pressure and 3 metoprol

      for irregular heart beat. I go back on the 3rd of July.

    • elizabeth20203
      elizabeth20203 pam72307

      Posted

      The Naproxen are for arthritis pain along with the co-codamol and paracetamol, i don't know of Napropam.  I am on Gaberpentin for nerve pain and Naproxen, Nefopam and Coedine. The Coedine helps me sleep. I would carry on with the tablets for a couple of weeks if you still cannot sleep go back to GP for referal to a specilist. You may get refered to a pain clinic for pain management. Is your mobility affected?

      Your mobility as to be severely affected before they will operate and

      your age will be taken into consideration. I have had my left knee replaced twice and i am only 58 as i had septic arthritis aged 11, my knee was deformed and my tibia and fibia had to be straighted and the ligaments had gone in my groin. I know of a young woman in her 30's who has a heredity hip problem and they will not operate because of her age, she needs new hips. She has to use crutches and her little boy has also been diagnosed with the same condition. What type of work do you do because you can get your employers to get proper seating etc. I am not a specilist so i would push to see a consultant and see what your options are. They are coming up with new things all the time. I am being refered again as i have problems with my right knee, i have had electical stimulation and my mobility is affected. I have been told that i may need a partial knee replacement. Doing stretching exercises are good to help with any stiffness. My arthritis in my spine i do stretching exercises. I walk outside with a stick always becuse of weakness in my second knee replacement. My first one was succsessful and pain free. The second one i have nerve pain and mobility is poor because of all the operations i had as a child as well as an adult as caused a lot of damage to the nerves. At the end of the day i can still walk thou restricted, but without medical advances i would of been in a wheelchair at the age of 38. 

       

  • wknight
    wknight pam72307

    Posted

    You should have some X-rays done to confirm its OA. A consultant can Advise your options, which could be joint replacement.

    I have had 2 fingers done and to be pain free is heaven

  • Peacock50
    Peacock50 pam72307

    Posted

    From a practical point of view have you tried getting up every two hours and moving around? A physiotherapist suggested I did this and my initial reaction was one of horror. However, combined with his exercise programme I have found it has made a huge difference. If you can get X-rays it may help but from what I can gather it's not just the degree of wear but also the condition of the muscles supporting the joints. I was diagnosed 8 years ago and loaded with Naproxin which I have thankfully been able to stop taking. 
  • heken
    heken pam72307

    Posted

    you should be sent for blood tests and an xray and then refered so the specialist can decide on course of treatment rather than being given a load of tabletss. So I would go back to your doctors and request these
  • sylvia64717
    sylvia64717 pam72307

    Posted

    I am very sorry for your predicament Pam - and was horrified at the amount of medication you are taking!  You say you are OK during the day and it is only bad when resting.  I have had Osteoarthritis in many joints for many years and get by with a minimum of tablets, luckily. However, about 15 years ago I had massive back problems which began on holiday in Lanzarote. Apart from bad back pain, my right foot and leg would suddenly go numb when walking and the consultant offered to fuse my spine but was reluctant to do it as he warned me it might not work so I should try and manage on medication. As it was far worse in bed, I decided to change my mattress.  My GP told me to buy something soft but supportive and NOT an orthopaedic one!  However, I still found the mattress slightly hard so I searched the internet and ordered a 6 ft. x 3 ft. piece of foam to use as an overlay (about 2" thick) - what a difference!  Also, having had nights away from home when I could not sleep because of the pain caused by the hard mattresses everywhere, I bought another piece of this foam 4 ft. x 2 ft. which, folded in half, just about goes in my suitcase on top of my clothes!  It means using a slightly larger case than I would otherwise need for shorter stays but that's a small price to pay for getting sleep! That piece has travelled thousands of miles over the years, both in the UK & abroad, & means I can continue with my holidays.  I still wake with back and knee pain in the night, but changing my position means I can go straight back to sleep again which I could never do before.  I have now left a piece of 4 ft. x 2 ft. foam with each of my family for when I visit. I'm sorry to have rambled on but, providing your present mattress is not worn and is still supporting you properly, you could initially try and buy a 6 ft. x 2 ft. 6 in. piece of foam overlay. The company who supply this are a family-run business and they were lovely to deal with - and so helpful!!  I am sure this would help with your hips especially.  I've had one replaced but the other one is OK at present.  I take two Co-codamol at bedtime, and, if away from home, 1/4 of a 2 mg. Diazepam tablet, which my GP allows me to have in small numbers as it helps relax everything.  I'll me interested to hear how you get on.

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  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK pam72307

    Posted

    Hi Pam

    I think your fist step is to go to your GP and request a visit to a consultant.

    If like some GP's they are a bit reluctant, just sit there and when you go over your 10 mins they will possibly send you {even if its just  to get rid of youcheesygrin}

    They will X Ray and give you a definite diagnosis.

    You may get sent to a pain clinic who can manage your tablets....a lot depends on your area.

    The tablets seem a mixture?

    I had a fracture {after the 2nd op but nothing to do with it} so I'm on crutches permanently now..

    My pain is managed by paracetamol, naproxen and lansoprozol {thats because of the naproxen}  I take 2 15mg codenine at night to help sleep. I can take them during the day if I want to but dont usually need them.

    Cant say I have heard of napropam

    Good Luck

    Love

    Eileen  UK

    • pam72307
      pam72307 eileen64__UK

      Posted

      Thanks to everyone who replied I think I need to try and talk to my GP again. I need to know why I am taking all these tablets.

      I am not a person who goes the doctor so I think I was a bit

      overwhelmed by so many tablets. I am so pleased I joined this site now and have received some good advice.

      Thanks to you all

      Pam

    • Enna1
      Enna1 eileen64__UK

      Posted

      Eileen i like your reply. Don't they have so many minutes to see a patient?  In spain you sit and wait for the person in front to have their say and appointments are always late. Which would you rather have, late appointments or be seen by a Dr who cares
    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK Enna1

      Posted

      Hi Enna

      I would much rather have a late appointment and know that the doc cared enough.  This particular GP is very strict with er 10 mins and is at the door wither her hand on the handle whether you have finished or not.!!! There arent any others close by that I could go to otherwise I would change.

      Love

      Eileen  UK

    • Enna1
      Enna1 eileen64__UK

      Posted

      so would i, only wish she understood (not speak) English, its very hard work for both of us thats why its easy just to go into the chemist we know and tell them what you want. Sometimes she goes off to see a patient  we all have a bit of a chat anyway in the waiting room, even though i can't speak spanish well, i understand but they all speak Valenciano here
  • cheryl90571
    cheryl90571 pam72307

    Posted

    One of my goals of having my Total Knee Replacements is to eliminate pain which eliminates all the pills needed for pain relief.

    My pain medication was causing ulcers in my upper and lower GI tracts. This was UNACCEPTABLE to me!

    I currently take only BP prescription medication. I take only over-the -counter Tylenol for pain.

  • Enna1
    Enna1 pam72307

    Posted

    Sorry, but "he thinks"  why does he not give you an X ray. This type of problem  makes me really annoyed in the UK.  I went for over 10 years with not having x rays, MRIS, MRIs that were read wrongly etc. etc.   Go in and demand
  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK pam72307

    Posted

    I totally agree with Enna

    Demand.....or at least be firm but polite.....like I said just sit and dont move and they'll soon give you a referral  LOL

    Love

    Eileen  UK

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