Problems diagnosed as Osteoarthritis CAN be cured in some cases.
Posted , 118 users are following.
If you're a proactive individual that's been diagnosed with incurable Osteoarthritis it's *possible* that you can in fact beat the diagnosis and get back to full fitness and functionality. It happened to me.
I should add that I was diagnosed at age 42 and was very fit and active at the time. I think it might be very different for older individuals, people who's condition is advanced, or people that don't enjoy exercise.
Here's my story. I can't make any promises that it'll be the same for you. But I will if people are interested share some of the resources that helped me to beat what I considered to be a life shattering diagnosis, for which I was assured there was no possibility of a cure. I don't know whether to believe I was misdiagnosed and never actually had Osteoarthritis, or whether they're wrong when they say Osteoarthritis is incurable. What I can say is that I was told my symptoms were 'classic' and that the diagnosis was certain - that my symptoms couldn't be explained by anything else. The whole area is so poorly defined and slap-dash that it's impossible to tell. Either way, it means there's at least hope of beating it if that's what you want to try and do.
I've spent 8 years battling against the people that were hell bent on brow beating me into believing I had Hip Osteoarthritis when I knew I didn't. My real problems were ignored - I was essentially left to rot. I was treated like an idiot. Told I researched too much. That I was in denial. Told that I was making my problems worse by training to keep myself fit, strong and active. Told I should swim and cycle and give up all other sports. I was asked repeatedly "You've had numerous experts try to help you - don't you think one of them would have succeeded if this really was curable?".
Finally I've been vindicated. I figured it out for myself. A simple, treatable muscle imbalance causing all of my problems. Obviously I wanted to let the people know that have tried to help over the years. I expected them to be amazed - a breakthrough that could help lots of people. These cases that we think are incurable can in fact be fixed!!
My excitement was met with apathy: [paraphrasing]. "The reality is that most people are inactive and unwilling to put in the work needed to address muscle imbalances like this. Even if the correct diagnosis was made, for most people the end result would be the same. People who are willing to put in the work necessary to reverse the condition are so few and far between that they aren't statistically significant to make it worth the cost of training and research. We were unable to solve your problem because we've not been adequately trained to do so. But well done for hanging in and figuring it out yourself."
Why wasn't I told this BEFORE I discovered the solution for myself? Why did they try to convince me I had incurable OA when they knew how determined I was to beat it?
Here's the reality as I now understand it (as it's been explained to me). This may not reflect every health professionals view, but it is a summary of what I've been told by various health professionals:
GP's are responsible for diagnosing OA. Yet they know very little about bio mechanics (unless they've got an interest and educate themselves).
They don't understand the condition in great detail, but they don't need to. They're working to a script. It seems not to be widely known who writes that script (so who to go to with questions or doubts)...which is a little bit of a worry.
Some know that often it's a misdiagnosis - more forward thinking GP's are aware that it's frequently a treatable soft tissue issue. But like the physios, think it doesn't matter too much as for most patients it makes no difference. They lead inactive lifestyles and any attempts to restore them to full functionality will fail. There is little point in wasting resources trying to give an accurate diagnosis when the end result will usually be the same regardless. So OA is the 'catch all' category you put them in. There is no cure - you manage with drugs and operate if and when necessary.
Even when someone is in great shape, keen to be proactive in their treatment and has an active lifestyle worth preserving there's nothing to be gained in finding the correct diagnosis as there is no one to refer them to to get it fixed. People worth bothering with (because they can be restored to a good, active life) aren't statistically significant enough to be worth the research and training needed to put systems in place to help them.
So, the GP's make the OA diagnosis despite not necessarily knowing much about OA. Who are the specialists then if you're determined to find the real cause of your joint stiffness or pain? Well, there's a bit of an oversight there. There is no one.
Orthopedic surgeons know about surgery. If your problem is an easily curable soft tissue issue they probably won't know enough to detect it. They may well put you under the knife unnecessarily. Or tell you that you have an incurable problem that will deteriorate over time - that your active life is over (that's what happened to me). But this is more a case of them forcing your problem into something that fits their specialist knowledge. Not a proper diagnosis.
Then there's physios. They aren't trained to detect and treat curable soft tissue problems that lead to joint wear and might otherwise be diagnosed as OA. However, some are better than others. Some might actually be very capable. It's pot luck. I think it's unlikely to find someone with these skills working for the NHS, but I may be wrong. I have been told (by a physio) that the failure rate in these cases is 99% within the NHS.
There are people out there that do know how to diagnose and treat these soft tissue problems. And there's plenty of info on this on the internet that you can use to help yourself. It's down to the individual to separate the wheat from the chaff. Contrary to what we are led to believe, OA isn't an incurable degenerative disease. Strictly speaking it doesn't exist. It's a 'catch all' diagnosis used to put people with joint problems in when there aren't resources and training to find out and fix what's really wrong with them. Contrary to what we're led to believe, there is no category of the medical profession with expertise in the multitude of conditions commonly labeled as OA. If you think you've seen an expert and had a reliable diagnosis of OA - think again.
There is no easy fix - that's true. There is no way of knowing if yours is a curable soft tissue problem without trying to fix it. I'm led to believe that official research into OA is centered around keeping this 99% of people that are deemed incurable (because they are perceived to be inactive and unwilling or unable to adhere to the required rehab plan), as pain free and independent as possible at minimum cost. It's simply not cost effective to put time and effort into finding the cause, the cure, or training people to make diagnosis and cure soft tissue problems in the cases where how to do so is already known by some.
But there are people out there that have figured out how to diagnose and cure at least some of these cases. Some speculate that all OA is initially a soft tissue dysfunction. However, this is mainly in the private sector - or perhaps in the NHS, but on an unofficial level. You're faced with the dilemma of separating the fakes from the real deal. Most will claim to be able to help - and many will diagnose incurable OA when they fail. That doesn't necessarily mean you can't be helped. Many tried and failed with me before I figured it out for myself.
But if you're willing to work at it yourself - or maybe even find the right person (which is very difficult) then it is quite possible that what you have is very curable.
31 likes, 607 replies
Susanne62828 susan67756
Posted
Hi Susan,
I have been following your posts with interest. I would just like to know it's been a year since your last post. How are you getting on?
I am 45 years old and have been told that within the next two years I will need a hip replacement due to osteoarthritis. I believe this has been caused by a car accident. I am not too happy about this diagnosis so I am interested in any more advice updates you may have or reading material? Thanks
susan67756 Susanne62828
Posted
Hi Susanne,
I have been regularly posting to this thread - it's got a bit long and convoluted though.
My belief is that no matter what is at the root cause of your hip problem there will ALWAYS be muscle imbalances contributing to symptoms. I would work as hard as I could at tackling that before resorting to surgery. It is always possible that treating the imbalance could eliminate symptoms or bring them to a manageable level.
I finally got my book written and published it just the other day. You can find it via my website (url in my profile) or search for it on Amazon.
The book is called "Hip Osteoarthritis CAN be Cured"
ISBN-10: 1541100182
I'm planning on using my website to complement the book. I'll be adding more articles, videos and answering questions via my website and blog. So over time I would hope a good bank of material will build up there.
The best general advice I can give is to explore MFR/Trigger point treatment for symptomatic relief; don't think of it as a hip problem - it's a whole body imbalance; to fix it you need to get the lazy and inactive muscles working again. It's a moving target - just because a corrective exercise doesn't help today doesn't mean it won't help in 6 months time. Keep plugging away. Do your best to understand the nature of the imbalance. Challenge assumptions - your own and everyone elses.
Never give up. It's a difficult problem to tackle so early failures shouldn't put you off. It took me eight years (I hope with the info I've provided others will be a LOT less). Eight years seems a long time - too long. But when you're on the other side of that eight years and throwing yourself into challenging training - symptom free - then it's nothing. Well worth the effort. I'm glad I didn't listen to the experts that insisted I'd need a hip replacement within a year!!!
Good luck. Keep in touch. I can at the very least provide moral support!
sue31954 susan67756
Posted
Never mind, I found the wensite and ordered the book
Thanks!
sue31954 susan67756
Posted
Susan, if you're still out there, could you get some of the info you mentioned for help for this problem of osteo hip, pain in groin, feeling twisted, to me also - I believe this is my exact problem down to feeling one leg shorter than the other and I am determined to get an improvement in pain and movement if humanly possible. I have an osteopath that might help with it, but happy to do it myself.
susan67756 sue31954
Posted
Sue, I've put everything into a book which is now available on Amazon. I just got it published this week!
The book is called "Hip Osteoarthritis CAN be cured".
I'm planning on supplmenting the info in the book via my website, so in time I'll get lots of articles and videos up there. You'll find my website address in my profile. If you go to the book page you'll see the book contents page so you get an idea of what's in it.
My feeling is, based upon my own experiences and everyone else I've spoken to, is that you have to tackle this on your own. Health pros don't know how to help with complex imbalances - it takes too much time for you to convey all the important details about what you're feeling day by day, week by week to a health pro, and for them to explain what to do ..... even if they knew what to do!
My approach is to guide people down the self help route. I've explained the diagnosis, the theory etc and then provided a 6 week treatment plan that you cycle through, progressing each week's exercises as you improve. You start out blindly following, but learn as you go and gradually start to personalise the plan as you find your particular problem areas.
Health professionals can assist by contributing their expertise to your ever-building knowledge, and I've also included advice on how to get the best out of them. How to avoid having them shunt you onto a one-size-fits-all plan that won't work.
You'll find plenty of free help on my website over the coming months though.
I guess if I have to give one piece of advice it's 'don't chase the pain'. It feels like it's your hip that's the problem. Your hip is more of a victim really. It's very likely that it's the core and other leg that are creating most of the problem. Address the imbalances there first and that takes the strain off the symptomatic hip.
There's not much on the website now, but in the new year I'll be working hard to provide lots of good resources.
joseph09673 susan67756
Posted
I'm on page 53 of your book...haven't had anyone to measure length differential....did look in full length mirror...
My guess is left on left sacral torsion...not sure that's what you initially said
This book so far is much easier to follow...
Thanks
joseph09673 susan67756
Posted
In your book
P166 ankle looks like it's off the floor
P 167... Looks like it's on the floor.. Is that correct?
I'd think the ankle would be in the floor...
Thanks
susan67756 joseph09673
Posted
I don't think it matters - the goal is to feel the right muscle contract. I think I find it easier to have the heel on the floor with medial and off with lateral hamstring.
Using the bands or a rope in this way makes it easy for anyone to do this at home. As you have access to a gym you'll probably do better on a hamstring curl machine.
Sorry I haven't replied to your email yet - I had a couple of days off now I'm working through a backlog. I'll go reply to them now!
joseph09673 susan67756
Posted
The ball you use is 55cm I.presume...
Also..it is a bit daunting and scary...not sure I can feel each vertebrae...imagine the strings correctly...that being said....
I pick up cues in clients better and assess their imbalances better
I have left a message or 2 on your email....
Is it easier to reach you here??
Thanks again
susan67756 joseph09673
Posted
Hi, either is fine. I've been away for a couple of days and i'm still catching up with email.
I doubt anyone can feel each vertebrae. That's normal. Just keep trying and trust that you build awareness in time. You really won't ever move each individual vertebrae - it's just a visualisation to help you gain very fine control of the muscles acting on your spine. You need to do that because some of the little muscles in your spine will be weak and lazy. They need waking up. Just trust the process. Slowly but surely you'll build awareness - and as your understanding of what's wrong improves you'll adapt the exercises to things that suit you better. I did most of my rehab using strength training in the gym. But before you do that you'll need to be patient and spend some time getting to grips with this stuff.
I know you'll have goog knowledge of anatomy, but check out the resources section at the back. There's a link to Muscle and Motion there - HUGELY helpful to me in helping me to visualise the muscles and how they act on the skeleton. You might even find it handy in your work !
joseph09673 susan67756
Posted
Nice job
susan67756 joseph09673
Posted
that's good to hear - thank!!
Don't be afraid to give negative feedback too as I can put more info on my website and update the book to make things clearer or better.
There are some concepts to grasp - to understand why your body is responding the way it is (tight, sore hip). I'm hoping my explanations and treatment plan will get those concepts across to people. Once you've grasped that it puts you in the driving seat. You go from just doing what I say to figuring things out for yourself and fine tuning everything to make it perfect for you.
I think the reason health pros are no good at fixing this is because you need to feel your way with it. You need to understand what's wrong so that you can respond correctly to all the sensations in your body. A health pro can't do that - they're working in the dark because they don't know what you feel. It takes time to absorb all the info and get a feel for it, but trust the process. Just keep working - and trying to understand the theory.
sue31954 susan67756
Posted
BaileyJones susan67756
Posted
BaileyJones
Posted
I just ordered your book too
susan67756 BaileyJones
Posted
I would always have hope. The thing is, treating muscle imbalances can only do good no matter what the root cause is. So there is no down side to trying if you've already decided to hold off on that op!
Research shows that there is no correlation between radiographic evidence of oa and symptoms. Logic therefore dictates that if you can have trashed hip joints and no symptoms then it is (in theory) possible to get from trashed hip joints and BAD symptoms to trashed hip joints and no symptoms.
When muscle imbalances get deeply ingrained they can cause horrendous symptoms. Yet, in my case at least, despite the bad pain, limping, lost range of motion and major problems throughout your body there my not be anything really wrong. Once you balance out the muscles (which strictly speaking is a neural issue - so training the BRAIN to control the muscles correctly) there may not be anything actually wrong.
Trigger point treatment won't lead to cure - so don't do that at the expense of everything else. But certainly you can get some massive improvements in quality of life from really exploring and seeking out all of those trigger points. It's by far the best place to start.
I'm going to start adding a couple of posts a week to my blog. So perhaps targetting a specific trigger point that's likely to be contributing to hip OA pain, videos to better explain the exercises in the book, alternative exercises - different things will work better for different people, and addressing any questions or issues that people come back to me with. So check my website every so often, or join the newsletter mailing list.
BaileyJones susan67756
Posted
Thanks Susan - so far I AM seeing some impovement using the exercises in the book. Great explanations - I understand most of them (week 1-2) or figure them out eventually. you have given me hope!
My problem sounds exacly like you "right on right" issue - my biggest complaint - some days my muscles feel so twisted and tight as a rubber band - I know it is a slow process. Surgeon says I should just get the hip replaced - it will last 30 years. I am holding off for now.
thanks again - I am on your mailing list.
susan67756 BaileyJones
Posted
Thanks for the feedback. I've had a busy month so i've been a bit slow getting things started, but I'm going to add lots of posts to my blog with more ideas and info to keep things moving along. I'll send out a newsletter every month or so to let people know what new info is available. Feel free to get in touch if you're stuck with anything or have questions.
It's not a quick fix. You really need to hang in and keep working on it. The better you understand it the more confidence you'll have that you can beat it, so keep reading and building your understanding!