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Osteoarthritis

Posted , 6 users are following.

christine93040
christine93040

I have Osteoarthritis I think, although the doctor didnt really do any tests to confirm it.  Perhaps there's nothing they can do, I don't know.  Anyway, it started out when I had a frozen shoulder when I was sixty from fracturing a small bone without realizing it.  Because of the strain on the other shoulder that subsequently froze up as well.  I had to sleep on my back for nearly a year, but after two lots of cortisone injections into the joints and lots of active dancing in my bedroom whilst in agony, they finally freed themselves and got back to normal.  After that episode I found that my lower back was painful when I got out of bed in the mornings, and my right knee would collapse with pain up and down the stairs. My right hip now gives me a lot of pain too, and sometimes all of these joints play up together, leaving me in lots of pain. I do find that paracetamol helps, and I do use voltarol etc. I have tried using flexisque also, which is a topical treatment that is supposed to lubricate the joint, but it is very expensive at £18 a tube and I'm not really sure whether it works or not. It seems to work sometimes, but not others.

Also, I find that I can wake up occasionally with more or less no pain at all for no reason that I can make out.  I wish I knew what it was! Perhaps something I ate, or just didn't do the previous day??  who knows?? anyway, It's nice to know that there are others that I can talk to about this and listen to any tips and advice.  Good luck everyone.  Perhaps someday they'll put some money into it and find a cure!  I doubt it though!!  

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  • fran64082
    fran64082 christine93040

    Posted

    "No pain at all for no reason..." This is familiar. I have days when I feel absolutely fine, others when I am conscious of the pain but able to avoid worsening it. Then there was this one day when I was miserable all day and all night. The next morning...nothing.  It's as if something is loose in there, wandering around, getting caught up and then freeing itself again. I've almost come to think of it as a small being. Still not ready for a hip op, all the same. I want to observe this "critter" for a while longer, at least. 
    • CelsB
      CelsB fran64082

      Posted

      That's how mine feels Fran.  Sometimes I wonder if it's a piece of cartiledge or bone. Sometimes I feel that something needs to 'click' into place.  I woukd have a hip op tomorrow if I could.  My poor mum waited so long that she was in a wheelchair, and even so she ended up going privately because she was still nowhere near the top of the list.  Hopefully things have changed a bit now.  I don't have the money to go private.
    • libralady13
      libralady13 fran64082

      Posted

      Hi Fran I wonder if it similar to what I experienced last year with my knee

      I had been in excruiating pain for a few months which kept me mostly housebound because as soon as I walked the pain would go from back and front of knee right down outside of leg and into the foot. It used to make me shout out the only thing I could do was to take pain killers and rest with hot water bottle until pain gradually went.  To cut a long story short.  I was supposed to have an arthroscopy in the October to tidy up the loose cartilage wash out etc.  By the time the day came the pain and virtually gone and I was beginning to go out again.  The consultant would not do the op as he said it would probably start it up again and that sometimes nature does the job for him.  I know what you mean about something getting caught and then freeing itself.  When my pain was bad I could not bend the knee at all

      once the pain was gone I could.  Don't know if this helps at all.  Hope

      I have not gone on too much. Take care.

    • libralady13
      libralady13 CelsB

      Posted

      Yes I know what you mean every Saturday night I think if only I could win the lottery and then I could have my knees done privately and my husband his hip when the time comes.  I suppose must be grateful we have NHS despite all it's problems.
    • CelsB
      CelsB libralady13

      Posted

      Indeed.  I think things move more quickly now, but I find it ridiculous that when you have a progressive illness like OA, and that surgery is going to, in all likelihood, be the final option, that they don't refer you sooner, rather than waiting until your life is compromised.  I'm sure that in the end it would save the NHS money.  
    • libralady13
      libralady13 CelsB

      Posted

      I couldn't agree more.  They are always saying about older people being active and healthy in their old age, but I suppose because the replacement will only last 10 to 15 years and people are living longer they leave it as late as possible.  I don't relish having surgery from what I have heard the pain afterwards is bad and not being able to take the painkillers , although I assume I would have to lose weight before they

      would consider it which I understand.  The consultant did not even mention replacement only the arthroscopy which they were not sure would work anyway and was cancelled on surgeons advice because

      the pain had improved so much.  I had physio twice which did not really

      help.  Will carry on for the moment but do worry about the future.

    • CelsB
      CelsB libralady13

      Posted

      When my had her HR, I remember visiting her the day after and she was up and about with a frame and she looked so happy because even the next day, the pain was much less than she had been experiencing.  She had that same replacement until she died at 96, which would have been over 25 years later.  I know it won't be the same for everyone.  I have been going to weightwatchers for about 18 months and got down to my goal weight 6 months ago.  Maintaining is hard but maybe being offered a HR at some time in the future helps, as does the fact that my OA would probably be worse if I was as heavy as I was before.

      It is good to be able to chat to others on here.  So glad I found this place x

    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK CelsB

      Posted

      Hi

      I've had 2 THR's..One 4 years ago and one last Jan.  The first one went OK although my mobility got worse gradually but I think that was to do with spinal problems I have and not the THR.

      This time after the op I fractured the hip doing an NHS exercise so still on crutches 6 months later.

      Once again that was nothing to do with the THR ...they diagnosed osteoporosis.......I'm collecting these things LOL

      As for weight......I've tried WW but prefer slimming world...I havent bee for a couple of weeks because of appointments etc but I must get back

      Eileen

    • christine93040
      christine93040 fran64082

      Posted

      Hi there, yes my right knee is exactly like that. I guess it could literally be  bits of cartilage floating around. After all OA is just wear and tear I think.  Just listen to your knee and if it kills you going downstairs just keep it straight for. While. It will be ok in a few hours or next day! Dratted thing!!  Lol
    • fran64082
      fran64082 libralady13

      Posted

      I believe it's something to do with a groin injury that I've regularly repeated...never did learn what not to do when I'm feeling fine! So not treating this injury obviously upset the hip. But it's the groin that gives me the most pain, although not all the time. The wonder of getting up with NO pain in hip or groin is beyond explanation. I do not want to consider hip replacement (doc's only recommendation...but what do they really know?) while this groin thing is still active. I still believe, perhaps naively, that if I could treat the tissue damage there, the hip could repair itself, or at least not worsen. Stay in touch, please. 
  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK christine93040

    Posted

    Hi Christine

    I'm not meaning to moan.....Just thought I'd tell you how things are at this minute.

    7.20am here.....I'm up out of bed, I've put pernaton gel on, taken paracetamol,

    {and a BP med and also one for my stomachLansoprozol.....thats to stop ulcers etc because of the anti inflammatory}

    I'm very sore,so sitting here with a cup of tea and hoping the meds kick in a bit before I get ready this morning. So thats me now  LOL

    I dont envy you looking after your grandson at that age......I know I couldnt lift him without making my back worse,,,,,,,What about teaching him to come downstairs on his "bum" or is that a bad habit that his mam would not like.???? It wont be for that long then hopefully you can teach him to come downstairs on his own with you in front of him. My kids are 33 and 34 now and my grandaughter is 10 and I never had her when she was that age.

    Another thing.......I dont know how bad you are but please use a stick or somthing if it helps you wlk better or further.  I started off with a very nice patterned one which I folded up and put in my bag unless I really needed it....Never close to the housewink  Pride is a wonderful thing.!!!!!!! When I got much worse I was in a large shopping mall and my daughter nagged me to hire a mobility scooter....I'm not having one of those.....they're only for old people  LOL She said ......and was right......you are not giving in......its a coping mechanism to help you do things you otherwise couldnt do or go further than you can without pain.biggrin  That is role reversal isnt it???LOL

    Love

    Eileen

    • christine93040
      christine93040 eileen64__UK

      Posted

      Eileen I had to laugh when I read this mail cos that was exactly what I was doing this morning, in fact most mornings unless I'm lucky!  I do usually feel a bit better after half an hour or so and try not to take ibuprofen unless I have to.  Make do with paracetamol most times.  Cuppa works wonders! Xxx
    • eileen64__UK
      eileen64__UK christine93040

      Posted

      Morning Christine 

      LOL  LOL......  about half way through my cuppa when I read your message.

      I've taken paracetamol......see how long that lasts.  I'll put the pernaton on in a few mins. {when I've finished the tea LOL}

      Eileen

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