looking for answers
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi everyone,
Like so many of you I am searching for answers. I have OA in neck and spine, although I have been told by rhuematologist that it is early stages. My query is that if it is early stages then why am I in so much pain with clicking neck, headaches, fogginess and dizziness at times. I also have tinnitus, although it is bearable. My neck exercises don't seem to be doing anything. My life is on hold, I cannot do the things I usually do anymore, I am losing my confidence. Not taking meds apart from OTC painkillers and citalopram 10mg for anxiety. Can anyone relate please and give me some words of hope? I know that many of you are worse off than me and you have my sympathy. Apologies for moaning so much. Thankyou.
1 like, 13 replies
constance.de Guest
Posted
Never apologise for moaning. It HELPS to get things off your chest, and where better than 'talking' to people who really understand? All of us on this forum have been where you are now. It is very difficult to find OTC painkillers that help. Often doctors don't take new patients seriously - "here, take this pill and get on with it"!!! Easily said. Our life changes with this illness and we certainly can't do the things we used to. It's a hard 'pill' to swallow! There is no cure. The best thing you can do is eat correctly (look up on the internet for recipes for OA and the correct foods to eat), and download the arthritis excercise sheet. A little excercise everyday, at your own pace, helps.
Keep in touch and ask questions. There will always be someone on here to help/listen.
Good luck! 💐
Guest constance.de
Posted
Thank you so much for listening, I know what you say is true, it's so frustrating though. The hardest for me is trying to make family understand the way I feel. My husband doesn't seem to grasp the problems I have, he expects me to carry on as normal like it's something I have to get over. The truth is he cannot cope without me doing all the things that I do, he takes it all for granted. Each day I don't know how I am going to be, it could be a good or bad day. I cannot plan anything. Here's me telling you all this and you probably know it so well. Sorry for going on again but I have no one else to talk to about it. Thanks again and best wishes to you.
constance.de Guest
Posted
Morning Lina (well it is here in Europe)!
Have you actually talked with your husband about OA? Most of us DO try to carry on as usuall at first but there comes a time when we just CAN'T, not alone anyway. There are so many things, even small chores, that your husband might be willing to help you with, just ask him. Otherwise just start doing less, perhaps he will then realise you can't cope.
Enjoy the good days (even hours)! Relax, give yourself ME time. When you have to work, take a few minutes rest every now and again, stretch, move.
Feel sorry for yourself sometimes - it's not a crime. When you're ready do a little jig and then get on with it!😀 Go into the bathroom and smile at yourself in the mirror (first glance frightens the life out if me)😀. Then I think "not really SO bad at 77".
All the best. Constance.
Guest constance.de
Posted
Oh Constance, you've put a smile on my face, so funny and what a positive attitude you have. My husband is good, I don't mean to moan about him, he just is not good at dealing with illness. I've spoilt him you see. I worry too much about everything, I wish I didn't. Thank you for your good advice, it is all very reassuring. I hope you are coping well with your illness.
Best wishes to you,
Lina
constance.de Guest
Posted
It's a pleasure! Keep smiling.
💐🍾🍸
loxie Guest
Posted
I too have early onset OA in neck and spine (along with one ankle and both thumb joints). I recently discovered that much of the pain in my upper shoulders and arms is actually ruptured tendons (rotator cuff) rather than the OA, although both my doctor and the ortho consultant tried to blame everything on my arthritis at first. I have pain in the muscles both in the arms and legs and now in my back and was referred to a rheumatologist who basically said there was nothing else wrong with me and to take a pill (she actually stated that she was a pill pusher!) No exercises recommended, no surgery recommended, no help for the stress and fatigue being caused by so much pain and inability to do even simple things. I've lost all faith in doctors to be honest. Am trying, like others, to find my own way of dealing with all this and other more natural options. I said I preferred not to start taking addictive heavy duty pain meds plus masking the pain will not help with other symptoms and the rheumy lost her temper with me, I left the hospital appointment in tears. No more doctors - I'll find other ways to help - diet, exercise, meditation, anything but being zombied on dangerous drugs.
constance.de loxie
Posted
This has answered the questions I have just asked you on another post!😀🍾🍸
Guest loxie
Posted
I am so sorry that you have had this bad experience, I can understand how bitter it must make you feel. I too had shoulder and back pain along with the neck pain before I saw my rheumatologist but I was referred to a physiotherapist and I was given neck exercises to do. Since doing them my shoulder and back pain has almost gone but I still have neck pain. Can you not ask your doctor to refer you to a physiotherapist? I agree with you about helping ourselves with diet, exercise etc, after all OA is something we have to learn to live with. My worries are the other symptoms I am getting such as dizziness and tinnitus and I think I am going to have to go back to get these explained or treated. I hope you find ways to alleviate you pain, wishing you all the best, kind regards, Lina.
loxie Guest
Posted
I recently had some issues with dizziness - a bit scary at first as I've never experienced anything like that before. I called NHS Direct and a very helpful nurse talked to me for quite a while. She asked a lot of questions and was very helpful. She said it was probably an attack of vertigo and in my case could well be related to work stress - I sit all day at a screen - rather than a major underlying illness. She did tell me to go to my GP but I'd have to wait at least two weeks to get an appointment and it started to subside a lot within a few days so I didnt bother. I try now to get up from my desk at least once an hour and move around, stretch, drink water and get outside if only for a couple of minutes - it's really helped.
Guest loxie
Posted
Taking regular breaks from computer screen is a good idea. I tend to look away and focus on distant objects every now and again, it helps my eyes. I get migraines and these sometimes give me a muzzy head feeling with light headedness. I have read that neck OA can also cause these symptoms. Thanks for your post, upwards and onwards, as they say.
Best wishes
Lina
sartajiqbal Guest
Posted
Hi Lina,
I don't know how old you are but I m only 41 years old male and suffering from osteo in my neck , back , knees, hips, ankle, elbow, wrist and fingers of my both hands since last 3 years.
When I was diagnosed 3 years back I was feeling like I would die within few years as my doctor told me that it has no cure, I was so much depressed, crying all the time with pain becoz I can't take pain killers, I am allergic to pain killers.
But now after 3 years I have learnt to live with it, I know it can not be cured so I have to fight it whole life... get up , start doing exercise regularly, eat good and take plenty sleep if not naturally take Amitriptylene 25 mg daily but sleep at least 7 hours and I am sure after some time you will learn to live good with it.
Best of luck
Guest sartajiqbal
Posted
Hi sartajiqbal,
Thank you for your post. It's heartening to hear how you are coping with your illness, it gives hope to all. You are right, we have to learn how to adjust and cope with our illnesses and having a positive attitude like yours is a major step in the right direction. I am grateful for your post and my best wishes are sent to you, take care, Lina (53)
sartajiqbal Guest
Posted
God bless you