Problems diagnosed as Osteoarthritis CAN be cured in some cases.
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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
angelikamarlies susan67756
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Guest susan67756
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susan67756 Guest
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My thoughts on exercise:
1. Exercise is SO important. More important than ever now as it's keeping soft tissue strong and healthy and joints moving that will stop this condition from getting worse. They used to say that things like running (high impact) *caused* OA. That's since been debunked and latest research shows that it helps to prevent it. It's now starting to become apparant that it's even good for people that have been diagnosed with OA in hips and knees. The simple rule is I think to let pain be your guide. If doing a certain thing makes you worse then cut back a bit and try building up to it more slowly. I wouldn't worry about feeling worse for 24 hours afterwards - you want to look at the overall trend. Am I getting better or worse over time, and what impact is my exercise having on this. Use a spreadsheet if you can to record what you do and how you feel.
That was the simple way of looking at it. Now point 2 - the more complex view:
2. Assuming the problem is muscle imbalance/movement impairement, then exercise is a double edged sword. Strengthening the muscles, keep weight down, keeping joints moving is all extremely good for you. HOWEVER, if your body has got into bad movement patterns then you will have developed a habit of using the WRONG muscles to get a job done. So even in every day movements such as walking and running, chances are you're doing it with the wrong muscles. In which case you're strengthening the WRONG muscles and potentially making the problem worse.
So difficult as it is, I think it's SO important to try and build up an understanding of what your body does and what it's supposed to do. Know what muscles need to strengthen up, which need to loosen off and know which muscles should be firing to do certain tasks. Once you understand that well I think the sky is the limit. My posture/movement still isn't perfect but I'm able to do very extreme gymnastics, olympic lifting, hill running etc. I know certain movements need to be avoided as I still do them badly. I try to structure my training in a way that I'm doing things that will help fix my dysfunctions.
Yoga I think could be helpful with a good teacher as she will spot your movement impairments and help you to fix them. Pilates might be even better. But don't be afraid of more rigorous exercise - just take it slowly, build up gradually and keep a close eye on the long term effect it's having on you. Wherever possible get an experienced trainer to check your form with everything you do. This is how you'll learn more about the way in which you're moving and learn to correct it.
carole1948 susan67756
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I have just spent the last hour reading this thread and found it very informative and have added lots of data, which I will look into later . I did start a thread this week and found lots of helpful comments. I'm particularly interested to learn whether you have started your own blog and would appreciate contact details. If not allowed on the open site, perhaps you could private message me with this info.
Thanks for all your contributions to this site, you have certainly sparked my enthusiasm to finding out more re hip OA.
susan67756 carole1948
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I have a training blog that I think I'll probably start using instead of other peoples' forums.
It's Imposible Takes Longer with hyphens between the words. A dot com. I don't know if the moderators will allow me to share this, but hopefully they will as I'm giving up my time to share information that's really helpful to others. Certainly this website is getting traffic from search engines due to my efforts.
Guest susan67756
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Meanwhile I do believe a website would make a great difference to all those out there who haven't found you yet. Countless Google searches on my part, over the best part of twelve months have never spotted your comments until now, so heavily surrounded and deeply hidden among doom and gloom sites recommending surgery and claiming OA is not repairable. So if ever you find the time I would urge you to set one up but if not, let's just be grateful you find time to reply to these posts.
susan67756 Guest
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I purchased a domain - "the osteoarthritis cure" but not sure I want to call it that. As I said, so many people with identical symptoms but no degenerative changes on x-ray. So I think this really isn't an OA problem - it just gets diagnosed as OA frequently....and of course ends up as full blown OA if the real problem isn't addressed.
I have another site Impossible-takes-longer where I talk about my training and there's a section there where I tell my OA story. It's a blog, so that might be a good place to put all this info. It's a .com site. So you can take a look at that and see the kind of training I'm managing to do. Very soon I'll get to work posting up all my thoughts and resources on resetting the rebalance and getting everything working properly.
Guest susan67756
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The Trigger Point Therapy book arrived and for the last fifteen days I have been exploring and massaging, disposing of some potential problem areas and discovering new ones. The results are astonishing in two main respects. First, most of the pain was on the right side of the body and leg when the hip pain on the left. Secondly, by this stage, now that the initial soreness has gone, it’s also obvious that much of the serious pain has gone with it. Now I have to say, I am not unused to this since I already had complete success with a tennis ball a few years back sorting out carpel tunnel and tinnitus but what surprised me this time is the speed with which the techniques advocated in the manual, have got to grips with my hip situation. In fact, as in your own case, this is not a hip problem at all - just years and years of abusing my muscles. It has given me great hope and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting me onto the right trail.
But now – what next? I have, with the exception of walking an average of 35 miles a week, given up all forms of exercise and now feel I want to make a start. I travel a good deal and so it’s not possible to find a trainer but in ten days time I shall have access to a gym so I would like to see what happens when I add in some weight training and aerobics. Your web pages leave me breathless but at 64 I don’t think I’m ever going to have the stamina or technique to hang like a flag so what do you suggest? I am used to most gym kit but wonder how useful abductor and adductor machines, leg presses and for that matter squats might be? And then there’s cycling or cross training? I guess if I keep using the tennis ball in before and after sessions maybe it’s all worth a go. You seem to have marched on regardless so I’d love your feedback on this.
As for your new website, if you don't like the osteoarthritis cure for your domain name, how about Osteo-fight?
Janet
susan67756 Guest
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It's so hard to advise on exercise as we're all different. I'll do my best to share something that will be useful.
1. Number one rule - track progress and if you're getting worse over time back off and try a different approach. If you're staying the same see if you can change things about a bit for better results. You want to be improving - monitor and track and you won't go far wrong.
2. I'm a huge fan of big, bodyweight exercises. And fortunately that doesn't even need a gym. Bodyweight squats (and later weighted squats) can be hugely beneficial for problems like ourse BUT you need to be meticulous about form and that really does mean some observation from someone that's very knoweledgeable about technique. A trainer with weightlifting / powerlifting experience could get you on the right track with this. IF you find the right one. I'm reluctant to recommend trainers because I've had so many bad experiences. Many are clueless, many think ladies of your age shouldn't be exerting themselves. But at the end of the day you'll struggle to learn correct technique on your own.
Running was hard for me until recently. Spin classes were a great way for me to build up endurance and strength. If you can tollerate it try some spin classes!
But yes, then I'd get onto a program of squats & deadlifts, pushups, band assisted pullups, bodyweight rows. You can do all of this stuff because it can always be scaled. And it'll make you feel good hanging from a bar doing pullups at age 64!!!
But ultimately it has to be something you like.
High impact gets a bad rep for people with joint problems but research is showing it can be protective. If you tollerate it well then do it. Rule of thumb - you don't want to be re-enforcing bad movement patterns. Always be vigilent, read up on correct posture and form and when you find things where you're perhaps not moving correctly work hard to fix it.
I'll get back to you if I can think of anything else that might help.
Guest susan67756
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Janet
susan67756 Guest
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Getting training regularly (and MY way) soon got it back down.
You've got a good training history behind you so you'll do fine I'm sure - you know how things *should* feel.
RCLS susan67756
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You tell an interesting even inspiring story. It would be very helpful to all if you would tell us about your process. What type of profesional help if any?
How did you work out which exercises and for which muscle, and how to know that the hip was healing.
As much information as possible will allow others to at least begin to check themselves out. It would be a pity to tell your story and stop there.
Many Thanks
RCLS
susan67756 RCLS
Posted
Not their fault. I think the problem is that little is known about soft tissue problems (which I believe is the REAL culprit for much of what is written off as OA). Some private therapits have some good knowledge but the underlying causes are so diverse that it's very hit and miss. You might get lucky and find someone that's seen your specific problem before, but it's more likely you'll pay out a lot of money to get nowhere.
I believe you do have to solve these problems by educating yourself. You are the only one that's going to put in the time and effort necessary to figure it out.
The good news is that in very many cases you can get yourself onto a fun training program that's reducingsymptoms and getting you fitter while you gradually learn more and home in on the type of stuff that's really going to help you beat the problem completely.
Really you need to let pain and rom - or symptoms be your guide.
I've said to someone else - if you know very little then a good pilates class is a great starting point. From there, see how you feel and experiment with introducing other types of exercise.
Change one variable at a time. Monitor. If things get worse re-evaluate.
Good luck!
angelikamarlies susan67756
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I also have had great success with the Trigger Therapy book and in fact my knees are now painless except for the times I kneel down and twist them a bit to the side but that I can cure by straightening them again. So overall a very good result !! But I am also wondering if I could do exercises, I am nearly 63 now and that would be for the first time in my life, so I am thinking I have to be careful to build up my muscles?
Please let us have your experience in this because it would help a lot of us to sort our lives out again.
thanks
Angelika
susan67756 angelikamarlies
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Find something you like, build up slowly and always monitor to make sure that long term you're feeling better and not worse.
If you have no experience at all then your best bet would be to get along to a local gym and ask them for advice. Or else a class of some kind. What do you fancy - dance? yoga? Pilates would be an EXCELENT choice as the instructor will be able to work out what your imbalances are and help you with very specific corrective stuff. Perhaps get recommendations for someone that's good with working with people with injuries etc.
Small steps to start with. I completely disregard the professionals because I've trained all my life and know what my body is capable of. I honestly do know better than them! Starting out for the first time you need to err on the side of caution because you have no experience to fall back on.
Good luck!